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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 '/4 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 be <br />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 number <br />generating procedure to create up to 50 random transects within each study area (reclaimed sites <br />and the reference area). These random coordinates will be entered into a (GPS) unit and by <br />means of the navigation feature, the transect coordinates will be located in the field. The transect <br />starting point will be located at the exact GPS coordinates. Cover transects will be oriented <br />along a preselected random compass bearing and the transect tape will be laid out. When <br />production sampling is done along the same transect tape, then a minimum of at least one, but <br />possibly three, predetermined randomly selected intervals will be used as the production <br />sampling points. Even numbers will be located along the right hand side and odd numbers will <br />be located along the left hand side of the transect tape. Cover will be calculated as percent total <br />plant cover for each transect, and the mean cover for the specific area being studied will be <br />calculated by averaging all of the transects collected for the study area. Production will be <br />calculated by averaging the individual clip plots collected along each transect into a transect <br />value and all of the transects from a specific area will be averaged into an area value. Data will <br />be reported as both grams per 1/4 square meter and in pounds of air dry forage per acre. Cover <br />will be calculated as percent total cover for each transect, and the mean calculated for the study <br />area. Cover sampling along a transect will be conducted prior to production sampling along the <br />same transect. <br />4.5.2 Irrigated Pastureland Reference Area Characterization and Mana eg`ment <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 on <br />Map 2.05.4(2)(e)-2. A detailed discussion of reference area characteristics and management is <br />presented below: <br />January 2015 TR -66 2.05.4(2)(e) - 24 <br />