2015-10-13_REVISION - C1981014 (18)

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The locations of the 15 cover transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 13, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Revegetation Monitoring Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, 2013 Mine -Statistical Summary and Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of transects required to characterize the "total plant cover" was 3.9 transects and 4.6 transects for "allowable plant cover" at the 90% confidence interval. Forage Production. The results obtained from the sampling of the 30 forage production transects are found in Table 13, Vento Portal Reclamation - Production. The total perennial herbaceous forage production averaged 19.28 g/1/4 m2 or 687.1 pounds per acre. Perennial grasses produced 18.85 g/1/4 m2 or 671.8 pounds per acre and accounted for 97.8% of the forage production. Perennial forbs produced 0.43 g/1/4 m2 or 15.3 pounds per acre and accounted for 2.2% of the forage production. The locations of the 30 forage production transects are shown on Map 13, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Revegetation Monitoring Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, 2013 - Statistical Summary and Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of samples required to describe this site with respect to the parameter of forage production at the 90% confidence interval was 23.2 transects. When IME sampled this area in 2010, forage production averaged 42.74 g/1/4m2 or 1,523.3 pounds per acre. When IME sampled a large portion of this area in 2006, forage production averaged 32.70 g/1/4m2 or 1,165.4.4 pounds per acre. Species Diversity. The four most dominant plant species contributed 33.65% of the total plant cover or 75.91 % of the total relative plant cover. Warm season grass species contributed 21.19% of the total plant cover or 47.80% of the total relative cover. The two most dominant warm season plant species contributed 16.39% of the total plant cover or 36.97% of the total relative plant cover. When IME sampled a large portion of this area in 2010, warm season grass species contributed 8.10% of the total plant cover or 13.43% of the total relative cover. The two most dominant warm season plant species contributed 6.1% of the total plant cover or 10.12% of the total relative plant cover. The four most dominant plant species contributed 38.20% of the total plant cover or 63.35% of the total relative plant cover. When IME sampled a large portion of this area in 2006, warm season grass species contributed 5.33% of the total plant cover or 13.47% of the total relative cover. The two most dominant warm season plant species contributed 4.40% of the total plant cover or 10.35% of the total relative plant cover. The four most dominant plant species contributed 24.4% of the total plant cover or 57.37% of the total relative plant cover. Shrub Density. The results obtained from the sampling of the 30 shrub density transects are found in Table , New Portal Reference Area - 2013 Shrub Density. Woody plant density averaged 25.33 woody plants per 100 m2 or 1,025.2 woody plants per acre. The locations of the 30 shrub density transects are shown on Map 13, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Revegetation Monitoring Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, 2013 - Statistical Summary and Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of samples required to characterize the parameter of woody plant density at the 90% confidence interval was 75.8 transects. 14