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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, precise, and cost-effective ground cover data possible. <br />Identification and nomenclature of plant species should follow Weber and Wittman (1996) Colorado <br />Flora: Western Slope or newer text. <br />Determination of Production <br />Where production samples are to be collected (7+ year-old units or Bond Release units) current annual <br />herbaceous production will be collected from a 1/2 in quadrat frame placed one meter and 901 to the right <br />(clockwise) of the ground cover transect to facilitate avoidance of vegetation trampled by investigators <br />during sample site location. If more production samples are necessary than cover samples (typical case <br />for bond release efforts), orientation protocol will be maintained except that no ground cover data will be <br />collected. From within each quadrat, all above ground current annual herbaceous vegetation within the <br />vertical boundaries of the frame will be clipped and bagged separately by life form as follows: <br />Perennial Grass <br />Annual Grass <br />Subshrub <br />Perennial Forb <br />Annual Forb <br />Noxious Weeds (if found) <br />All production samples will be returned to the lab for drying and weighing. Drying will occur at 105° C <br />until a stable weight is achieved (24 hours). Samples will then be re -weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram. <br />Determination of Woody Plant Density <br />Two sampling methods may be employed for monitoring woody plant density within Colowyo's <br />revegetated units. The first method, belt transects, may be employed when the size of the monitoring unit <br />exceeds one to two acres. At each sample site in such areas, a 2 -meter wide by 50 -meter long belt <br />transect (or alternately 4 x 25 meter transect) should be established parallel to the ground cover transect <br />and in the direction of the next sampling point. All woody plants (shrubs and trees) within each belt will <br />be enumerated by species. Determination of whether or not a plant may be counted is dependent upon the <br />location of its main stem or root collar where it exits the ground surface with regard to belt limits. A total <br />of 5, 15 or 20 belt transects may be sampled for each monitoring unit. <br />For bond release sampling with belts, sufficient samples must be collected to insure adequacy of the effort <br />(to facilitate valid testing) in accordance with one of the three methods under either Rule 4.15.11 (2), or <br />Rule 4.15.11 (3). Depending on the selected protocol, care must be taken to collect at least the minimum <br />number of samples indicated (15, 30, 40, or 75, depending on the procedure utilized). <br />The second method, total enumeration, may be employed for monitoring when the size of a unit is less <br />than approximately one to two acres in size. Total enumeration shall be the typical method utilized for <br />bond release purposes unless shrub patches are too large (e.g., greater than 10 to 15 acres) to practically <br />utilize this technique (in which case belts will be utilized). This method involves total counts of woody <br />plant populations as opposed to estimates of mean densities through statistical sampling. Implementation <br />of the total count technique would involve circumscribing the boundaries of a target polygon with hip <br />chain thread or similar visible designation. Once a unit is circumscribed in this manner, a team of two or <br />more biologists walking shoulder -to -shoulder traverse the plot enumerating each plant by species. The <br />person farthest inside the line of observers trails hip chain thread, or other means, to mark their path to <br />prevent missing or double counting specimens on subsequent passes. The distance between observers <br />should be 15 to 20 feet or less depending on the height of grasses and the presence of low growing taxa <br />such as rose or snowberry. Each internal observer should also "zigzag" as the team progresses, <br />occasionally turning to view the area just passed to ensure visual coverage of the entire survey path. <br />Constant communication among crew members precludes double counting or missing of plants located <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-70 Revision Date: 1/31/18 <br />Revision No.: TR -119 <br />