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each systematically located sample paint. At each one-meter Interval abng the transact, a 'laser point <br />bar" wa:; stuated parallel to, and approximately 4.5 to 5.0 feet vertically above the ground surtace. A set <br />of 10 readings was recorded as to hits on vegetation (by spades), litter, rock (>2mm), or bare soil. Hits <br />were determined at each meter interval by activating a battery of 10 lowrenergy spedalized lasers <br />situated along the bar at 10 centimeter intervals and recording the variable intercepted by each o1 the <br />vertically-projected, narrow (0.020 focused beams (see Fgure V-1). In this manner, a total of 100 <br />intercepts per transact were recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. This methodology and <br />instrumentation fadlitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, and precise ground cover data <br />possible. Plant identrCCation and nomendature follows Weber and Wittman 1996, and USDA Forest <br />Service 1977. <br />2.4 Q~tgrminadon of Current Annual Herbaceous Prod r~rdon <br />At ea~dt production sample site, current annual herbaceous production was collected trom a 'Jz rrt2 <br />quadrat frame placed one meter and 90° to the right (dockwise) of the ground cover transact to facilltate <br />avoidance of vegetation trampled by investigators during sample site location (see Fgure V-i). From <br />within cede quadrat, all above ground current annual vegetation, with the exception of woody species, <br />within the vertical boundaries of the frame were dipped and bagged separately by life form as follows: <br />Perennia! Grass Perennial Forts <br />Annual /Biennia! Forts and Grasses Noxious Weeds <br />All production samples were returned to the lab for drying and weighing. Drying occurred at 105° C <br />until a stably weight was achieved (24 hours). Samples were then re-weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram. <br />Wet weights detannined in the field were used to fadlitate the collection of an adequate sample where <br />necessary. <br />2.5 Determinarion of Tree Density <br />li has been found over the past several years that obtaining sampling adequacy wlth density belts as <br />the sampling unit is difficult and often impossible due to highly variable densities and patchiness of <br />populations. Even alternative sampling programs are often ineffective for capture of this variation. <br />~- Lasers utilized for this instrument are state-ol-the-art and of specialized design to emit a unique electro-magnetic • <br />wavelength visit~le under lull sunlight, a condition previously not possible with portable low-energy lasers. <br />Q."RIDN@ Q'IQ~ f~»Q.'H~7rB0. Inc. Page 9 Exhibit 5 -Bowie Baseline Vegetation Survey <br />