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Ground cover will be evaluated along each transect by sampling two points (1.0 -meter <br />apart) at 1.0 -m intervals. Cover will be classified as vegetation, litter, or rock. Lack of cover will <br />be classified as bare soil. Vegetation will be further classified by species. Each transect will <br />consist of 50 point samples. <br />Using a Cover -Point Optical Point Projection Device, each point sample will be <br />determined by projecting the ocular sight vertically downward to the sample location on the <br />transect and recording all "hits" on vegetation. The "hits" will be used to estimate total <br />vegetative cover for each transect according to equation 2. <br />(2) % Total Veg. Cover = No. Hits on Ve etg ation X 100 <br />Total Hits of Points <br />The mean vegetative cover for each of the two areas is the mean value for the ten <br />transects. <br />The composition of plant species in each area will also be evaluated using the data acquired from <br />the vegetative cover transects. Data from the transects will be used in equation 3 to determine the <br />relative cover of each species detected: <br />(3) Relative Cover of Species X = % Cover of Species X <br />% Total Veg. Cover <br />The percent total vegetative cover for each of the areas is the mean of the ten transects. <br />Diversity will be calculated by lumping the plants into groups of. cool season grasses, <br />warm season grasses, and forbs. Then comparing the number of species in each group to the <br />standard. <br />Production comparisons will be made by clipping six 0.5 m2 plots located along each <br />transect. The production plots will be located along one side of the transect. Sample size <br />adequacy will be determined by equation 1. <br />Data analysis will consist of comparing test plot production with reference area <br />production. If this comparison indicates production is insufficient, but close to the standard, a <br />statistical analysis will be conducted to determine if the vegetation is statistically acceptable. The <br />statistical methods that will be used are described below. <br />TR -57 2.05 -23 Revised 08/15/12 <br />