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65 <br />Using a Cover -Point Optical Point Projection Device (Model 2), each point <br />sample will be determined by projecting the ocular sight vertically downward to <br />the sample location on the transect and recording all "hits" on vegetation. <br />The "hits" will be used to estimate total vegetative cover for each transect <br />according to equation 2. <br />(2) % Total vegetative cover = # of hits on vegetation X 100 <br />Total hits of points <br />The mean vegetative cover for each of the two areas is the mean value for the <br />ten transects. <br />The composition of plant species in each area will also be evaluated using the <br />data acquired from the vegetative cover transects. Data from the transects <br />will be used in equation 3 below to determine the relative cover of each species <br />detected: <br />(3) % Relative Cover of Species A = % cover of Species A <br />% total Vegetative cover <br />The percent total vegetative cover for each of the areas is the mean of the ten <br />transects. Diversity will be calculated by lumping the plants into groups of <br />cool season grasses, warm season grasses, and forbs, then comparing the <br />number of species in each group to the standard. <br />Production comparisons will be made by clipping six 0.1 m2 plots located <br />along each transect. The production plots will be located along one side of the <br />transect. Sample size adequacy will be determined -by equation 1. <br />Data analysis will consist of comparing reclaimed area production with <br />reference area production. If this comparison indicates production is <br />insufficient, but close to the standard, a statistical analysis will be conducted to <br />determine if the vegetation is statistically acceptable. The statistical methods <br />that will be used are described below. <br />Mean production for the proposed release area will be compared to mean <br />production for the reference area using a one -tailed difference of the means <br />test. The null hypothesis for the test will be that production on the release areas is <br />greater or equal to production on the reference area. The model of test equation <br />that will be used will depend upon whether the variances of the two samples are <br />equal or unequal. The variances will be tested using equation 4. <br />(4) <br />Section 2.05 RN -6 10/17/2016 <br />