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Keenesburg Mine 2015 Vegetation Monitoring Report <br />Sample point numbers (1-15) were randomly assigned to the locations using a random number <br />generator. The points labelled 1-10 designated locations for both cover and production sampling <br />and points I 1-15 designated locations for production sampling only. Azimuths were also <br />assigned to each sample location using a random number generator. Sample points were located <br />in the field using a sub -meter GIS grade GPS unit. <br />2.2 Sample Timing <br />Vegetation monitoring occurred on August 17 — 18, 2015 which was consistent with the timing <br />of monitoring in previous years. Monitoring also coincided with maximum vegetation <br />development of the majority of plant species found in the reclaimed and adjacent native areas. <br />2.3 Vegetation Cover <br />Point -intercept methods were used to collect vegetation and ground cover, as well as species <br />composition data. Each 25 -meter transect represents a single sampling unit. Two data points <br />were recorded at one -meter intervals along each transect, 0.5 in to each side of and at a right <br />angle to the transect. A laser bar was used to determine intercepts, with the beam being projected <br />vertically to the ground surface. Each point -intercept was assigned an absolute cover value of <br />2%. <br />"First -hit" point -intercepts (the first item that the laser beam intercepts) were recorded as either: <br />live vegetation (by plant species), litter, rock, or bare ground. Litter includes all dead plant <br />material. Subsequent "hits" on vegetation (prior to interception of the ground) were also <br />recorded. Vegetation cover is reported in absolute percentages from the point -intercept data <br />using all 50 first -hit observations for each sample point. Additional interceptions were used to <br />calculate relative cover of individual plant species and life forms. The quantitative cover data <br />also provided the basis for calculation of species composition and relative importance. <br />2.4 Herbaceous Production <br />Herbaceous production was sampled at all 15 sample locations using 0.5 square meter circular <br />plots. For samples 1-10 where cover data was also collected, the plots were located adjacent to <br />the start point to the right of the transect. At sample points 11-15, the plot was centered on the <br />sample point. <br />Within each production plot, all herbaceous growth within the plot's vertical projection was <br />clipped, separated by growth form, and placed in labeled paper bags. Current year's herbaceous <br />growth of shrubs was collected in the same manner, but no woody tissue was harvested. The <br />bags containing the clipped material were returned to the Habitat Management office and dried at <br />30 degrees Celsius until weights stabilized to within 0.1 gram. Herbaceous production is reported <br />in grams per square meter. <br />2.5 Species Composition <br />Species composition information was derived from quantitative vegetation cover data. Relative <br />cover information provided a basis for evaluation of the importance of each encountered plant <br />species and lifeform and for comparison to the final revegetation success criterion. Data <br />summary tables for total vegetation cover also contain the relative cover by species, and a <br />column depicting the numerical ranking of significant species by relative cover (>3%) within <br />each reclamation area. <br />Habitat Management, Inc. 5 October 2015 <br />