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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />3. If a 10 -point frame is used, sharpened pins will be used to determine intercepts at 10 - <br />centimeter intervals. Care will be taken to NOT record "side touches" on the pins as this will <br />result in a significant overestimation error. <br />The following sampling rules should apply during data collection. Intercepts will be recorded for <br />the first (typically highest) current annual (alive during the current growing season) plant part <br />intercepted without regard to underlying intercepts or attachment to a living base except when <br />multiple strata are present. In this circumstance, multiple live hits may be recorded, but only one <br />hit per stratum with the second live hit being recorded separately and not used to calculate total <br />ground cover. Otherwise, the intercept will be litter, rock or bare soil. Rock intercepts are based <br />on a particle size of 2 mm or larger (MRCS definition), otherwise it would be classified as bare <br />soil. To distinguish between current year senescent plant material and litter (including standing <br />dead), the following rule should apply: 1) if the material is gray or faded tan it should be <br />considered litter; and 2) if the material is bright yellow or beige it should be considered current <br />annual (alive) and recorded by species. On occasion, experience with non -conforming taxa may <br />override this rule. <br />When using laser or optic instruments during windy field conditions, the observer should <br />consistently utilize one of the following techniques for determining a hit: 1) record the first item <br />focused upon that is intercepted by the narrow laser beam or cross -hair; 2) wait a few moments <br />and record the item intercepted for the longest time, or 3) block the wind and record the intercept. <br />When using a pin frame, the observer must wait for the wind to subside. <br />With regard to gaps in the overstory, the point -intercept procedure naturally corrects for <br />overestimations created by 2-dimensional areal (quadrat) or 1 -dimensional linear (line -intercept) <br />techniques. In this regard, the 0 -dimensional point is extended along a line -of -sight until it <br />"intercepts" something that is then recorded. Frequently points simply pass through overstory <br />gaps until a lower plant part, litter, rock or bare soil is encountered. <br />Regardless of instrument, a total of 100 intercepts per transect will be recorded resulting in 1 <br />percent cover per intercept. This methodology and instrumentation (excepting the 10 -point frame) <br />facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, precise, and cost-effective ground cover <br />data possible. Identification and nomenclature of plant species should follow Weber and Wittman <br />(1996) Colorado 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 <br />annual herbaceous production will be collected from a 1/2 m2 quadrat frame placed one meter and <br />90° to the right (clockwise) of the ground cover transect to facilitate avoidance of vegetation <br />trampled by investigators during sample site location. If more production samples are necessary <br />than cover samples (typical case for bond release efforts), orientation protocol will be maintained <br />except that no ground cover data will be collected. From within each quadrat, all above ground <br />current annual herbaceous vegetation within the vertical boundaries of the frame will be clipped <br />and bagged separately by life form as follows: <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-78 Revision Date: 5/25/18 <br />Revision No.: RN -07 <br />