2015-10-13_REVISION - C1981014 (18)

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When IME sampled a large portion of this area in 2006, the average woody plant density was 14.60 shrubs per 100 m2 or 590.9 woody plants per acre. When IME sampled this area in 2010, woody plant density averaged 16.00 shrubs per 100 m2 or 647.5 woody plants per acre. Examination of Map 13, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Revegetation Monitoring Map, shows that there are four shrub clumps located within this reclamation area. These four shrub clumps correspond to Shrub Clumps 3A, 3B, 3C, and 31). Maps of each of these shrub clumps are found on Map 14, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Shrub Clump 3A Map; Map 15, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Shrub Clump 3B Map; Map 16, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Shrub Clump 3C Map; and Map 17, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2013 Shrub Clump 3D Map. The measured area, total shrub counts by species are found on each of these maps. The shrubs encountered on these areas are listed in the tables by the first and last letter of their scientific names, which can be found in Table 1, Southfield Mine - Plant Species List. OLD PORTAL REFERENCE AREA Plant Cover. The results obtained from the 2013 sampling of the 30 plant cover transects on the Old Portal Reference Area, are presented in Table 15, Old Portal Reference Area - 2013 Plant Cover. "Total plant cover" averaged 13.26%, litter cover averaged 50.26% and "allowable plant cover" averaged 13.26%. Woody plants consisting of trees, shrubs and sub -shrubs was the dominant plant life form, contributing 7.06% of the total plant cover or 53.23% of the total relative plant cover. Perennial grasses was the second most dominant plant life form and contributed 5.94% of the total plant cover or 44.81 % of the total relative plant cover. Perennial forbs was the third most dominant plant form, contributing 0.26% of the total plant cover or 2.00% of the total relative plant cover. No annuals or noxious weeds were encountered on his site. The most dominant plant species encountered was Gambel Oak which contributed 5.44% of the total plant cover or 41.00% of the total relative plant cover. Blue Grama, was the second most dominant plant species, contributing 1.53% of the total plant cover or 11.53% of the total relative plant cover. The third most dominant species was Small -flowered Piptatherum, which contributed 1.29% of the total plant cover or 9.75% of the total relative plant cover. The third most dominant species was Sun Sedge, which contributed 1.29% of the total plant cover or 9.75% of the total relative plant cover. Littleseed Ricegrass, was the fourth most dominant plant and contributed 1.26% of the total plant cover or 9.53% of the total relative plant cover. The locations of the 34 cover transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 18, Old Portal Reference Area - 2013 Transect Location 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" and "allowable plant cover" was 22.3 transects at the 90% confidence interval. Warm season grass species on the Old Portal Reference Area equals 1.83% or 13.79% relative cover. (Table 15, Old Portal Reference Area- - 2013 Plant Cover). Forage Production. The results obtained from the sampling of the 30 forage production transects are found in Table 16, Old Portal Reference Area — 2013 Production. Forage production averaged 1.92 g/1/4 m2 or 68.4 pounds per acre. Perennial grasses produced 1.88 g/1/4 m2 or 67.0 pounds Per acre and accounted for 97.9% of the forage production. Perennial forbs produced 0.04 g/1/4 in or 1.4 pounds per acre and accounted for 2.1% of the total forage production. 15