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assessment are based on the criteria listed in Section II above. <br /> The standard for total plant cover is 40 percent, and achieving 90 percent of the standard is considered <br /> acceptable. Total plant cover measured in 2019 was 68.8 percent. Total plant cover in 2020 measured <br /> 51.6 percent. Total plant cover for the sample data exceeded the standard both years of sampling (even <br /> without the allowance of 90 percent of the standard). <br /> Annual herbaceous production is considered successful if the data illustrate results greater than or equal <br /> to 400 pounds of herbaceous biomass (herbaceous production must meet 90% of the standard). <br /> Herbaceous production measured 1,141 pounds per acre in 2019, and 951 pounds per acre in 2020. <br /> Herbaceous productivity for both years of sampling easily exceeded the required standard and is <br /> considered successful. <br /> Woody plant density for the reclaimed ROM area includes live trees,shrub species,and sub-shrub species. <br /> The woody plant density standard is 100 stems or more per acre. The standard must be met at a 90 percent <br /> level,so a minimum of 90 stems per acre is considered successful. Due to typical non-normal distribution <br /> of the woody stems throughout the reclaimed area,the operator was unable to meet sample adequacy or <br /> sample a minimum of 75 sample transects for woody plant sampling in 2019. As permitted by Rule <br /> 4.15.11(3)the operator used the sample median to determine woody plant density success. The operator <br /> measured 131 stems per acre on the reclaimed area in 2019 using the reverse null calculation and <br /> determining the median "ranked L test." This calculation is acceptable and the woody plant density <br /> requirement has been met for 2019. The 2020 sampling for woody plant density exceeded 75 transects <br /> (the operator collected 80 woody plant density transects). The 2020 sampling measured 331 woody stems <br /> per acres on the reclaimed ROM area. The data exceeded the woody plant standard for 2020, and is <br /> considered successful. <br /> Four criteria need to be met for species diversity. First, the reclaimed vegetative community requires <br /> greater than or equal to five perennial non-noxious plant species to be established. Each of the five species <br /> must comprise at least 0.5 percent relative cover,yet no more than 60 percent relative cover. The list of <br /> five or more species may include either native or introduces species. The data for both 2019 and 2020 <br /> demonstrate that the reclaimed community met this criterion. Six species met this standard in 2019, and <br /> eight species met his standard in 2020. The second criterion requires that a minimum of three native cool- <br /> season perennial grasses be established within the reclaimed community. Each of the three species must <br /> contribute a minimum of 0.5 percent relative cover, yet no greater than 60 percent relative cover. Four <br /> grass species met this requirement in 2019, and five grass species met the standard in 2020. The third <br /> criterion requires that the reclaimed community must contain a minimum of two native or introduced forb <br /> species. Once again, each of these species must contribute a minimum of 0.5 percent relative cover,but <br /> no greater than 60 percent relative cover. In 2019 two forb species met this requirement, and three forb <br /> species met the requirement in 2020. The fourth and final diversity standard requires a minimum of two <br /> native tree, shrub, or sub-shrub (woody) species be established in the reclaimed community. No one <br /> woody species may exceed greater than 80 percent relative cover. In 2019 seven woody species achieved <br /> this standard. In 2020 four woody species met this requirement. <br /> Permit Number G1981-038 Page 8 of 14 <br />