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First hit interceptions were used to calculate absolute top layer Ifirst hit) foliar cover by <br />dividing the number of interceptions for a particular specie or material by the total number of • <br />points projected (501. First hit relative vegetation cover was calculated by dividing first hit <br />absolute cover for each species by the total first hit vegetation cover. All-layer absolute cover <br />was calculated by dividing all hits for a particular species by the total number of points taken <br />(501. In addition, all-layer relative cover was calculated using all hits for a particular species <br />divided by the total plant hits accumulated during the sampling of the transact. For purposes <br />of sample adequacy calculation, each transact comprised one "sample." <br />Plant Species Frequency and Density Measurements <br />During the course of cover sampling, all plant species occurring within one meter on either side <br />of the cover sample transact were noted as present within each sample. Frequency for each <br />plant species observed during sampling was calculated by dividing the number of sample <br />transacts in which the species was observed by the total number of samples (see cover sample <br />distribution by area abovel. As such, this value is probably more correctly known as <br />"constancy". Relative vegetation cover was calculated by dividing the absolute cover of each <br />species by the total vegetation cover with the result expressed as a percent. <br />The total number of species (within each lifeforml observed in each sample provide a measure <br />of "species density", indicating relative species richness of different areas. These measures <br />reflect progress toward return of diverse species composition in reclaimed areas from a • <br />different perspective than is available from examination of cover data alone. <br />Herbaceous Production Sampling <br />Herbaceous production sampling was accomplished using one-half square meter 10.5 m21 <br />circular quadrats within which all herbaceous growth in a vertical projection was removed by <br />clipping, and placed in labeled paper bags. Clipped material was returned to the ESCO <br />laboratory and dried at 105° C for 24 hours, then weighed to the nearest 0.1 gm. Production <br />sample size was set at a maximum of 50 as per conversation with CDMG IRoutten 1997 <br />personal communicationl. The Mesic Drainage type was the exception in which only 15 <br />samples were taken to characterize this type that would not be returned in reclamation. <br />Shrub and Tree Density Sampling <br />Shrub density sampling was measured within 1 m x 50 m quadrats 1"belt transacts") oriented <br />along the cover transact (where a cover sample was also takenl. It should be noted that all big <br />sagebrush encountered were referred to Seraphidium tridentatum. All shrubs, including <br />seedlings, with root crowns found within the quadrat boundaries were tabulated by species and <br />by life stages as follows: Seedling, Mature, or Dead. Trees were sampled in the Aspen Forest <br />vegetation type. All trees found within a 5 m x 50 m quadrat oriented along the shrub density <br />and cover transacts were tallied. Typical maximum heights were noted and trees of <br />representative size classes were cored and aged. Sample size for shrub density was adequacy <br />46 Revised 9/98 <br />