Laserfiche WebLink
Herbaceous production will be measured by a quadrat sampling method that meets the <br />provisions of DRMS Regulation 4.15.11(1)(b)(i). The observational unit will be a rectangular or <br />circular plot frame at least % square meter and large enough to encompass individual plants of <br />the larger species being sampled. Current year growth of herbaceous non -woody species will <br />be clipped within each quadrat. The sampled plant material will be bagged and taken to the <br />laboratory for drying and weighing. Samples will be oven -dried at 105 degrees C to a constant <br />weight. <br />Sampling points for cover and herbaceous production will be located by using a random <br />number generating procedure to create up to 50 random transects within each study area <br />(reclaimed sites and the reference area). These random coordinates will be entered into a <br />(GPS) unit and by means of the navigation feature, the transect coordinates will be located in <br />the field. The transect starting point will be located at the exact GPS coordinates. Cover <br />transects will be oriented along a preselected random compass bearing and the transect tape <br />will be laid out. When production sampling is done along the same transect tape, then a <br />minimum of at least one, but possibly three, predetermined randomly selected intervals will be <br />used as the production sampling points. Even numbers will be located along the right hand <br />side and odd numbers will be located along the left hand side of the transect tape. Cover will <br />be calculated as percent total plant cover for each transect, and the mean cover for the specific <br />area being studied will be calculated by averaging all of the transects collected for the study <br />area. Production will be calculated by averaging the individual clip plots collected along each <br />transect into a transect value and all of the transects from a specific area will be averaged into <br />an area value. Data will be reported as both grams per 1/4 square meter and in pounds of air <br />dry forage per acre. Cover will be calculated as percent total cover for each transect, and the <br />mean calculated for the study area. Cover sampling along a transect will be conducted prior to <br />production sampling along the same transect. <br />4.5.2 Irrigated Pastureland Reference Area Characterization and Management <br />With TR -58 a new reference area of 6.81 acres immediately south of the mine office was added <br />to evaluate Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland reclamation success. This reference area is shown <br />on Map 2.05.4(2)(e)-2. A detailed discussion of reference area characteristics and management <br />is presented below: <br />August 2013 PR -08 2.05.4(2)(e) - 25 <br />