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2.2 Determination of Ground Cover <br />Ground cover at each sample point was determined utilizing the point- intercept methodology as <br />illustrated on Figure 1. As indicated on this figure, Cedar Creek utilizes state -of- the -art instrumentation it <br />has pioneered to facilitate much more rapid and accurate collection of data. A transect of 10 meters <br />length was extended in the direction of the next sampling location from the flagged center of each <br />systematically located sample point. At each one -meter interval along the transect, a laser point bar was <br />situated parallel to, and approximately 4.5 to 5.0 feet vertically above the ground surface. A set of 10 <br />readings was taken specifically to record hits on vegetation (by species), litter, rock ( >2mm), or bare soil. <br />Hits were determined at each meter interval by activating 10 low- energy specialized lasers" situated <br />along the bar at 10 centimeter intervals and recording the variable intercepted by each of the narrowly <br />focused (0.02' beams (Figure 1). In this manner, a total of 100 intercepts per transect were recorded <br />resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. This methodology and instrumentation facilitates the collection <br />of the most unbiased, repeatable, and precise ground cover data possible. Identification and <br />nomenclature of plant species follows Colorado Flora: Western Slope (Weber and Wittman, 1996)_ <br />2.3 Sample Adequacy Determination <br />Sampling within the Loadout unit was conducted to a minimum of 10 samples. From these <br />preliminary efforts, sample means and standard deviations for total non - overlapping vegetation ground <br />cover were calculated. For non - monitoring applications, the typical procedure is that sampling continues <br />until an adequate sample, n,„;,,, has been collected in accordance with the Cochran formula (below) for <br />determining sample adequacy, whereby the population is estimated to within 10% of the true mean (N) <br />with 90% confidence. <br />When the inequality (nm;,, <_ n) is true, sampling is deemed adequate; and nmin is determined as <br />follows: <br />— Lasers utilized for this instrument are state -of- the -art and of specialized design to emit a unique electro- magnetic <br />wavelength visible under full sunlight, a condition previously not possible with portable low- energy lasers. <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 6 Munger Canyon - Loadout - 2013 <br />Revegetation Monitoring <br />