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4.0 Vegetation Sampling Procedures <br />Vegetation cover for all reclaimed units will be measured by a point intercept method that <br />meets the provisions of Rule 4.15.11(1)(a)(i). The observational unit will be at intervals <br />along a transect at least 5 meters in length, where 100 data points will be collected. A point <br />sampling device supported by a rigid frame will be used to ensure unbiased and near vertical <br />point placement. <br />Herbaceous production will be measured by a quadrat sampling method that meets the <br />provisions of Rule 4.15.11(1)(b)(i). The observational unit will be a rectangular or circular plot <br />frame at least 1/4 square meter and large enough to encompass individual plants of the larger <br />species being sampled. Current year growth of herbaceous non -woody species will be clipped <br />within each quadrat. The sampled plant material will be bagged and taken to the laboratory for <br />oven -dried weighing. <br />Sampling points for cover and herbaceous production will be located by using a systemic grid <br />with a random start to create up to 50 transects within each study area (reclaimed sites and the <br />reference area). These coordinates will be entered into a (GPS) unit and by means of the <br />navigation feature, the transect coordinates will be located in the field. The production quadrat <br />will be placed 1 meter to the right of the origin to preclude trampling for the cover sampling. <br />Vegetation sampling for measuring reclamation success will be conducted to ensure a <br />repeatable and unbiased estimate of each vegetation population parameter. Measurements <br />made on the reference area will be done in the same manner and season as measurements made <br />on reclaimed lands, to ensure valid comparisons as specified in Rule 4.15.11(1). <br />Page 15 May 2016 (TR -75) <br />