2015-10-13_REVISION - C1981014 (12)

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When sampled in 2013, "total plant cover" averaged 28.65 %, litter cover averaged 45.17 % and "allowable plant cover" averaged 28.06 %. When sampled in 2008, total canopy cover averaged 23.07 %. Warm season species contributed 2.87 % of the total plant cover or 12.44 % of the total relative cover. When sampled in 2008, the total perennial herbaceous forage production was 5.32 g/1/4m2 or 189.6 pounds of air-dry forage per acre. Species Diversity. The four most dominant plant species contributed 72.14 % of the total relative plant cover. There were three warm season grass species having more than three percent relative cover. Warm season grass species contributed 4.71 % of the total plant cover or 16.44 % of the total relative cover in 2014. When sampled in 2013, the four most dominant species contributed 20.70 percent of the total plant cover and 72.52 % of the total relative cover. In 2013 all warm season species contributed 4.71 % of the total cover or 16.44 % of the total relative cover. When this was sampled in 2008, all warm season grass species contributed 2.80 % of the total plant cover or 12.14 % of the total relative cover. The four most dominant plant species contributed 15.07 % of the total plant cover or 65.32 % of the total relative plant cover. Shrub Density. The results obtained from the sampling of the 30 shrub density are found in Table 11, New Portal Reference Area - 2014 Shrub Density. This table shows that the woody plant density averaged 30.17 woody plants per 20 m2 or 6,104.9 woody plants per acre. The locations of the 30 shrub density transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 12, New Portal Reference Area - 2014 Transect Location Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, 2014 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 41.3 transects. When sampled in 2013, woody plant density averaged 30.47 woody plants per 20 m2 or 6,164.9 woody plants per acre. When IME initially sampled this area in 2008, the average woody plant density value was 157.7 shrubs per 100 m' or 6,375.6 woody plants per acre VENTO PORTAL RECLAMATION STUDY AREA Plant Cover. The results obtained from the 2014 sampling of the 15 plant cover transects on the Vento Portal Reclamation Study Area, are presented in Table 12, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2014 Plant Cover. "Total plant cover" averaged 55.80 %, litter cover averaged 19.67 % and "allowable plant cover" averaged 54.13 %. Perennial grasses was the dominant plant life form contributing 44.47 % of the total plant cover or 79.69 % of the total relative plant cover on these reclaimed areas. Woody plants was the second most dominant plant life form contributing 8.13 % of the total plant cover or 14.58 % of the total relative plant cover. Perennial forbs was the third most dominant plant form, contributing 1.53 % of the total plant cover or 2.75 % of the total relative plant cover. Noxious weeds was the fourth most dominant plant form, contributing 1.13 % of the total plant cover or 2.03 % of the total relative plant cover. Annuals and Biennials was the fifth most dominant plant form, contributing 0.54 % of the total plant cover or 0.96 % of the total relative plant cover. The most dominant plant species was Western Wheatgrass which contributed 10.87 % of the total plant cover or 19.47 % of the total relative plant cover. Smooth Bromegrass, was the second most dominant plant species, contributing 10.20 % of the total plant cover or 18.28 % 14