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locations within the reclaimed areas sampled in 2009, as well as photographs of the reference <br />areas, are included in Appendix 4. Graphs of vegetation and climate data are presented in <br />Figures 1 through 9 of this report <br />In the cover descriptions below, species listed as "also present" were not "hit' during point - <br />intercept sampling but were present within one meter of either side of the 50 m sample transect <br />line Unless otherwise stated, all cover values are for absolute first hit data only Percentages are <br />rounded to facilitate discussion of the results. <br />Phase 11 Bond Release <br />(Photographs 1 -16) <br />r`n\iF:o <br />(Table 1) <br />Calculation of 90 percent of the cover performance standard appropriate for 2009 sampling is <br />demonstrated below. <br />Aspen Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 76.5 (11% of premine) <br />Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 35 9 (34 5% of premine) <br />Sagebrush Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 29 2 (31 3% of premine) <br />Steep Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 16 4 (12 8% of premine) <br />Western Wheat Reference Area Allowable herbaceous cover* = 24.6 (10.4% of premine) <br />* All Hit Allowable Herbaceous cover adjusted by subtracting noxious weeds and annual /biennial <br />plant cover in excess of 10% of the remainder. <br />90 percent of the Cover Standard = <br />0 90 [0.11(76 5) + 0 345(35 9) + 0 313(29 2) + 0.128(16.4) + 0 104(24.6)] = 31.1 % <br />As can be seen in Figure la, the mean allowable total "all hit' herbaceous cover observed in the <br />Phase II reclaimed area (46.3 percent) exceeded 90 percent of the standard (31 1 percent) set by <br />the reference areas. <br />Native perennial cool season grasses, introduced perennial forbs and introduced perennial cool <br />season grasses were the predominant lifeforms observed in the Phase II Bond Release Area, <br />comprising 33 2, 27.1 and 14.0 percent of first -hit vegetation cover respectively Introduced <br />annual and biennial forbs, native perennial (orbs, native annual and biennial forbs, introduced <br />annual grasses and native shrubs comprised 12 2, 7 4, 2 1, 2.0 and 1 7 percent of cover, <br />respectively. Native perennial cool season grass cover was composed mostly of western <br />