2015-10-13_REVISION - C1981014 (12)

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The locations of the 30 shrub density transects are shown on Map 13, Vento Portal Reclamation Area - 2014 Revegetation Monitoring 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 55.9 transects. When sampled in 2013, woody plant density averaged 25.33 woody plants per 100 m2 or 1,025.2 woody plants per acre. When sampled in 2010, the woody plant density average was 16.00 shrubs per 100 m2 or 647.5 woody plants per acre. When sampled in 2006, the woody plant density averaged 14.60 shrubs per 100 mZ or 590.9 woody plants per acre. Examination of Map 13, Vento Portal Reclamation - 2014 Revegetation Monitoring Map, shows that there are four shrub clumps located within this reclamation area. These four shrub clumps correspond to Shrub Clumps 3A, 313, 3C, and 3D. Maps of each of these shrub clumps are found on Map 14, Shrub Clump 3A Map; Map 15, Shrub Clump 3B Map; Map 16, Shrub Clump 3C Map; and Map 17, 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. Map 1, Southfield Mine - 2014 Reclamation Study Area Map, shows that the total area of the Vento Portal Reclamation Area is 445,155 SF or 10.22 acres. The total area of all four shrub clumps on this site is 159,273 SF or 3.06 acres and a total of 2,338 shrubs or trees were encountered within the boundaries of these shrub clumps. Thus, the calculated woody plant density for these four shrub clumps averaged 765.5 plants per acre. This map documents that the reclaimed area outside of the shrub clumps was 285,882 SF or 6.56 acres. When expressed as a percentage, these four shrub clumps comprise 35.78 % of the Vento Portal Reclamation site and the area outside of the shrub clumps corresponds to 64.22 % of this reclaimed area. Application of these percentages yields a weighted average woody plant density on the Vento Portal Reclamation of 932.3 woody plants per acre (1,025.2 X 0.6422 = 658.38 plus 765.5 X 0.3578=273.9). OLD PORTAL REFERENCE AREA Plant Cover. The results obtained from the sampling of the 31 plant cover transects on the Old Portal Reference Area, are presented in Table 15, Old Portal Reference Area - 2014 Plant Cover. "Total plant cover" averaged 31.23 %, litter cover averaged 52.67 % and "allowable plant cover" averaged 31.13 %. Woody plants consisting of trees, shrubs and subshrubs was the dominant plant life form, contributing 16.52 % of the total plant cover or 52.89 % of the total relative plant cover. Perennial grasses was the second most dominant plant life form and contributed 14.16 % of the total plant cover or 45.35 % of the total relative plant cover. Perennial forbs was the third most dominant plant form, contributing 0.36 % of the total plant cover or 1.14 % of the total relative plant cover. Annuals and biennials and succulents each contributed 0.10 % of the total cover and contributed 0.31 % or the total relative cover. No noxious weeds were encountered on his site. The most dominant plant species encountered was Gambel Oak which contributed 13.71 % of the total plant cover or 43.90 % of the total relative plant cover. Sun Sedge, was the second most dominant plant species, contributing 6.19 % of the total plant cover or 19.83 % of the total relative plant cover. The third most dominant species was Small -flowered Piptatherum, 16