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Plant Species Frequency and Density Measurements <br />During the course of cover sampling, all plant species occurring within one meter of either side of the <br />cover sample transect were noted as present within each sample. Frequency for each plant species <br />observed during sampling of a particular area was calculated by dividing the number of sample transects <br />in which the species was observed by the total number of samples. As such, this value is probably more <br />correctly known as "constancy ". <br />The total number of species (within each lifeform) observed in each 100 m2 sample provides a measure <br />of species density, indicating the relative species richness of different areas. These measures provide a <br />means of examining progress toward the return of diverse species composition in the reclaimed areas. <br />Plant Species Listing <br />Scientific names used follow the Flora of North America (1993- 2013), common names cited are found in <br />Beetle (1970), Nickerson et al. (1976), or Soil Conservation Service (1979). Cross reference to the <br />substantially revised scientific nomenclature for the flora of Western Colorado may be determined by <br />reference to Appendix 2 of this report (Table 16). <br />During the course of the fieldwork, a list of all encountered plant species (quantitative plus incidental <br />observations) was compiled for each reclamation area and the reference areas. These lists are <br />summarized in Appendix 2, Table 16 It should be noted that all big sagebrush encountered were referred <br />to as Artemisia tridentata, without attempt to distinguish between basin big sagebrush (Artemisia <br />tridentata ssp. tridentata) and mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana), both of which <br />are present in varying relative proportion. <br />Photographic Record <br />Within each reclamation and reference area, representative color photographs were taken to document <br />the appearance of the vegetation in 2013 (Appendix 5). Within each photograph, a placard identifies the <br />particular area. <br />Statistical Design of Sampling <br />Cover and herbaceous production data were collected in all areas. Woody plant density samples were <br />collected in the 2006 and 2011 Reclaimed Areas and in the Shrub Concentration Areas as described <br />above, but woody plant density samples were not collected in any of the reference areas. Sampling <br />proceeded using a single stage statistical design. <br />Sample locations in reclaimed areas were randomly plotted by use of an internal script routine within <br />ArcGIS 9.3 software. Minimum spacing between sample points was 170 feet (one 50 m transect length). <br />In 2008 each extended reference area was gridded and numbered. Grid cell size was 200 feet X 200 feet. <br />These grid cells were placed contiguously by hand on maps of 1:4,800 scale. Sample locations were <br />3 <br />