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Woody Plant Density <br /> In 2018,regarding"background" woody plant density, the total density was found to be 819.5 stems per <br /> acre. Native shrubs were the dominate contributor, consisting primarily of mountain snowberry <br /> (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius), and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate). Regarding"volunteer" <br /> concentration area density,total density was 2,165.1 stems per acre. The primary species found within this <br /> area was mountain snowberry, big sagebrush, Wood's rose (Rosa woodsia), Saskatoon serviceberry <br /> (Amelanchier alnifolia)and rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus). <br /> In 2019, regarding"background" woody plant density, the total density was found to be 677.9 stems per <br /> acre. Native shrubs were the dominate contributor, consisting primarily of mountain snowberry,big <br /> sagebrush, and Wood's rose. Regarding"volunteer" concentration area density, total density was 1,296.1 <br /> stems per acre. The primary species found within this area was mountain snowberry, big sagebrush, Wood's <br /> rose, and Saskatoon serviceberry. <br /> The mean woody plant density in BRB5 exceeded 90% of the both Mandatory Standard 1 and 2. However, <br /> sample adequacy was not achieved for the background area sampling in either 2018 or 2019. <br /> Therefore,reclamation success under Phase III for woody plant density is demonstrated by passing a one- <br /> sample t-test of the"reverse null"hypothesis that the woody stem density found in the BRB5 is less than the <br /> performance standard. This hypothesis was rejected in both cases in 2018 and 2019 and therefore the BRB-5 <br /> passes the revegetation success standard for woody plant density in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(2)(c). It <br /> should be noted that CCAI conducted a normality test for the background area sample data and consequently <br /> conducted a square root transformation of the data for the success calculations for the hypothesis test. While <br /> this normality test and transformations are not addressed in the Rules, it was found that the same successful <br /> results would have been achieved using the raw/un-transformed values. <br /> In 2018,the mean density in the "volunteer" concentration area of the BRB-5 (2,165.1 stems per acre) <br /> exceeded 90%of the mandatory performance standard 2 (900 stems per acre). In 2019,the mean density in <br /> the "volunteer" concentration area of the BRB-5 (1,296.1 stems per acre) exceeded 90%of the mandatory <br /> performance standard 2 (900 stems per acre). Thus,revegetation success for the WPD mandatory <br /> performance standard 2 under Phase III was demonstrated in 2018 and 2019. Given that 75 samples were <br /> taken in the BRB5 volunteer concentration woody plant density area during both years, a direct comparison <br /> of reclaimed area mean to standard is allowed under Rule 4.15.11(3)(b)(1)). <br /> Species Diversity <br /> With regard to Mandatory Test A,that no single species comprise greater than 60%relative cover in the <br /> BRB5. The most abundant single species,Alfalfa,was 25.8%relative all-hit cover in 2018 and 36.9% <br /> relative all-hit cover in 2019, far below the 60%threshold of concern. Mandatory Test A passes for 2018 <br /> and 2019 data. <br /> For Alternative Test B, a total species density test was conducted for the BRB-5. The probability-adjusted <br /> density standard was 23.6 and 22.5 species per 100 in in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The mean total <br /> species density for BRB5 was 25.2 and 26.8 species per 100 in in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Since the <br /> reclaimed area value was greater than the standard,Alternative Test B is passed for 2018 and 2019 data. <br /> Permit Number: C1982057 Page 11 of 15 <br /> Phase III <br />