Laserfiche WebLink
are related to the type of vegetation, the morphology of the plants, and the structural <br />complexity of the herbaceous foliage. Primarily, the predominance of a rather tall and densely <br />intermingled stand of graminoids with long narrow stems, and a very heavy litter component in <br />the foliage contributed to the problem. The end result was that the observers were unable to <br />accurately determine the identity of the vegetation being contacted, or in cases where <br />vegetation was encountered deep within the canopy, whether a hit was indeed registered. <br />Shadowing within the canopy very nearly precluded any accurate observations even during <br />mid-day. When a hit could be registered, it usually required a thorough investigation through <br />the foliage to ascertain the species intercepted. The sorting through the canopy tended to <br />disturb the surrounding vegetation, thereby biasing adjacent point projections. With these <br />problems noted, alternate sampling methodology was selected (ocular estimates) which proved <br />more satisfactory. Concurrence with the change was obtained from the OMLR via letter <br />correspondence dated September 3, 1987 from Mr. Peter O'Connor to J. Lunan of Peabody. <br />Plant species frequency or presence was derived by dividing the number of plots or transects <br />at which a species occurred by the total number of plots or transects sampled in each of the <br />three vegetation types for which cover samples were obtained. Products were multiplied by <br />100 to express frequency as a percentage. <br />4.7 Vegetation Production - 1987 Quantitative measurements of vegetation production were <br />made in the sagebrush, irrigated pasture, graminoid component of the swale/drainage, and <br />irrigated hayland vegetation types. <br />Prior to the spring growing season in 1987, grazing exclosures were installed in the sagebrush, <br />irrigated pasture, and graminoid component of the swale/drainage types. Fifty randomly - <br />located sample points, protected by grazing exclosures were located in the irrigated pasture <br />type. Thirty protected sample points were randomly located in the sagebrush and <br />swale/drainage types (graminoid component). The grazing exclosures were designed in the <br />shape of a cone with a circular base that exceeded 1m in diameter. The exclosures were <br />constructed with four -inch mesh woven wire and were anchored in the ground with rebar. The <br />cages remained in place until the production samples were collected. <br />With the exception of the graminoid component of the swale/drainage type, all production data <br />was collected concurrently with measurements of vegetation cover and frequency. The 30 <br />February 2015 (TR -66) 2.04.10-18 <br />