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Lifeform <br />Reel. Area 23 <br />Reel. Area 29 <br />Reel. Area 30 <br />Reel. Area 31 <br />Perennial Grass <br />100.00 <br />100.00 <br />99.99 <br />92.4 <br />Annual Grass <br />0.01 <br />4.5 <br />Perennial Forbs <br />2.5 <br />Biennial Forbs <br />0.6 <br />Annual Forbs <br />time frame these species exhibit a downward trend as was observed in Reclamation Area <br />29. <br />Of note is the continued decrease in relative cover of Bromus tectorum in both <br />Reclamation Area 29 and 30. Application of a pre - emergent control agent has been <br />important in the decrease, as is evident from observation of adjacent "native" range, <br />where the species is largely co- dominant with Arteruesia filifolia (sand sage). <br />4.3 HERBACEOUS PRODUCTION <br />Total herbaceous production within Reclamation Areas 23, 29, 30, and 31 met or <br />exceeded the predicted success criterion for total herbaceous production this growing <br />season. <br />CDRMS expressed concerns with the inclusion of ineligible species (those listed by the <br />Colorado Department of Agriculture as weeds) in the total herbaceous production data <br />and subsequent success comparison in their review of the 2011 vegetation monitoring <br />report. As the revegetation success criterion for total herbaceous production was <br />developed with the inclusion of these now ineligible species, a comparison of herbaceous <br />production data with these species removed and the standard that includes these species <br />would be scientifically invalid. To assess the contributions of the ineligible species, <br />herbaceous production data was collected by lifeform this season. The annual grass <br />lifeform includes ineligible species only. No ineligible species were observed in the <br />sampling of any of the other lifeforms; perennial grasses, perennial forbs, biennial forbs, <br />or annual forbs. <br />The following table presents the percentage of total herbaceous production represented by <br />each of five lifeforms in each reclamation area this year. <br />Averaged over all reclamation areas sampled this season, ineligible species (annual <br />grasses) account for only 1.1 percent of total herbaceous production, a statistically <br />insignificant amount. <br />4.4 SPECIES COMPOSITION <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety considers species composition <br />of the revegetated and reclaimed areas to be an indicator of successful vegetation <br />establishment and a diverse vegetation community. The final reclamation species <br />composition standard for the Keenesburg Mine requires that there be at least four <br />Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 19 <br />2012 Revegetation Monitoring Report <br />