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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br /> 2. If an optical point bar is used,intercepts will be recorded based on the item intercepted by <br /> fine crosshairs situated within each of 10 optical scopes located at 10-centimeter intervals. <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 (NRCS 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 /> Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-65 Revision Date: 12/20/19 <br /> Revision No.: TR-135 <br />