C150240 Vegitation Montioring Analysis

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• August 2, 2012 ' • July 21 and August 6, 2014 Analysis Method Collected data was prepared and analyzed by Richard Alward, Ph.D. (Principal Ecologist, Aridlands Natural Resource Consulting) using the statistical package JMP 9.0 (SAS Institute ' 2009). Dr. Alward has extensive experience in research and analysis. To quantify potential secondary impacts to the vegetation, measurements were collected for each ' species within the quadrat to determine if there was a linear relationship of variables over time. Variables are defined as follows: ' • Herbaceous cover of individual groups (carex, graminoid, and forbs) • Willow cover and herbaceous understory • Canopy cover of species with the wetland indicators obligate (OBL), facultative wet (FACW), facultative (FAC), and other(ELSE) • Herbaceous cover in fen • Canopy cover of the various wetland indicator species within fen ' • Species richness • Species diversity ' Variables were further categorized by the following elevations (zones): • Above high water level (Above) • Newly inundated zone between restricted and high water levels (Inundated) • Below restricted level (Below) • All zones (Combined) ' Variables were also categorized by physical locations around the reservoir: • Site 0 (All sites combined) • Site 1 ' • Site 2 • Site 3 • Site 4 Scatter plots were created for initial assessment of the variables. The graphs visually display potential trends of percent cover, species richness, and species diversity at various elevations and locations over the monitoring period. A linear regression analysis was used to describe the linear relationship (change) between the ' variables over the monitoring period. Scatter plots and selected regression analysis are found on the accompanying compact disc. All regression analysis results are available upon request. WestWater Engineering Page 6 of 14 February 2015