2016-10-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (2)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS vertically above the ground surface, and a set of 10 readings recorded as to hits on vegetation (by species), litter, rock (>2mm), or bare soil. Hits will be determined at each meter interval as follows: 1. When a laser point bar is used, a battery of 10 specialized lasers situated along the bar at 10 - centimeter intervals will be activated and the variable intercepted by each of the narrow (0.02") focused beams will be recorded; 2. If an optical point bar is used, intercepts will be recorded based on the item intercepted by fine crosshairs situated within each of 10 optical scopes located at 10 -centimeter intervals. 3. If a 10 -point frame is used, sharpened pins will be used to determine intercepts at 10 -centimeter intervals. Care will be taken to NOT record "side touches" on the pins as this will result in a significant overestimation error. The following sampling rules should apply during data collection. Intercepts will be recorded for the first (typically highest) current annual (alive during the current growing season) plant part intercepted without regard to underlying intercepts or attachment to a living base except when multiple strata are present. In this circumstance, multiple live hits may be recorded, but only one hit per stratum with the second live hit being recorded separately and not used to calculate total ground cover. Otherwise, the intercept will be litter, rock or bare soil. Rock intercepts are based on a particle size of 2 mm or larger (MRCS definition), otherwise it would be classified as bare soil. To distinguish between current year senescent plant material and litter (including standing dead), the following rule should apply: 1) if the material is gray or faded tan it should be considered litter; and 2) if the material is bright yellow or beige it should be considered current annual (alive) and recorded by species. On occasion, experience with non -conforming taxa may override this rule. When using laser or optic instruments during windy field conditions, the observer should consistently utilize one of the following techniques for determining a hit: 1) record the first item focused upon that is intercepted by the narrow laser beam or cross -hair; 2) wait a few moments and record the item intercepted for the longest time, or 3) block the wind and record the intercept. When using a pin frame, the observer must wait for the wind to subside. With regard to gaps in the overstory, the point -intercept procedure naturally corrects for overestimations created by 2-dimensional areal (quadrat) or 1 -dimensional linear (line -intercept) techniques. In this regard, the 0 -dimensional point is extended along a line -of -sight until it "intercepts" something that is then recorded. Frequently points simply pass through overstory gaps until a lower plant part, litter, rock or bare soil is encountered. Regardless of instrument, a total of 100 intercepts per transect will be recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. This methodology and instrumentation (excepting the 10 -point frame) facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, precise, and cost-effective ground cover data possible. Identification and nomenclature of plant species should follow Weber and Wittman (1996) Colorado Flora: Western Slope or newer text. Determination of Production Where production samples are to be collected (7+ year-old units or Bond Release units) current annual herbaceous production will be collected from a 1/2 m2 quadrat frame placed one meter and 90° to the right (clockwise) of the ground cover transect to facilitate avoidance of vegetation trampled by investigators during sample site location. If more production samples are necessary than cover samples (typical case for bond release efforts), orientation protocol will be maintained except that no ground cover data will be Collom — Rule 4, Page 29 Revision Date: 4/18/16 Revision No.: PR -04