2015-04-01_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1982057

Home Browse Search

reclaimed area. Thus for 2014, successful revegetation with respect to allowable all -hit herbaceous cover is indicated. SPECIES DIVERSITY AND COMPOSITION With regard to Mandatory Test A, that no single species comprise greater than 60% relative cover in the 2014 BRB -2b. Table G -1 shows that the most abundant single species western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithi►) was 18.25% relative first -hit cover, well below the 60% threshold of concern. Hence Mandatory Test A is passed for 2014 data. With regard to Alternative Test B, Total Species Density test, the following is calculated for the 2014 BRB -2b (Table G -2): Mean Species density (Area- weighted) in the 5 reference areas = 26.05 species per 100 sq. m. Probability- adjusted density standard: Mean Reference Area Species Density —1.15s = 26.00 — (1.15" 5.69) =19.45 Mean total species density in the 2014 BRB -2b = 26.80* *Value after adjustment for noxious weeds Since the reclaimed area value was greater than the standard, Alternative Test B is passed for 2014 data. Regarding Alternative Test C, the similarity index between the lifeform species density values for the prescribed lifeforms for the 2014 BRB -2b and the Mean Species density (Area- weighted) in the five reference areas is 71 percent (Table G -3), exceeding 90% of the standard (0.9 x 72% = 65 %). Hence Alternative Test C is passed for 2014 data. Regards Alternative Test D, the total number of native species encountered in the first seventeen 100 sq. m. (2 m x 50 m) samples of the 2014 BRB -2b that constituted an adequate cover sample was 58 (Table G -4), substantially greater than the weighted reference area average species density (23.7 species per 100 sq.m.). Likewise the total number of native species encountered in the first eight 100 sq. m. (2 m x 50 m) samples of the 2014 BRB -2b that constituted an adequate species density sample was 17