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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />facilitating sampling efficiency. This orientation protocol follows that which is indicated on Figure <br />2.04.10-2. Depending on logistics, timing, and access points to the target sampling area, the field crew <br />would occasionally layout a set of points along coordinates in one direction and then sample them in <br />reverse order. However, orientation protocol was always maintained (i.e. in the direction of the next point <br />to be physically sampled). If the boundary of an area was encountered before reaching the full length of a <br />transect, the transect orientation was turned 900 in the appropriate direction so the transect could be <br />completed. In this manner, boundary transects were retained entirely within the target unit by "bouncing" <br />off the boundaries. Production quadrats were always oriented 90° to the right (clockwise) of the ground <br />cover transect and placed one meter from the starting point so as to avoid any trampled vegetation. <br />Where an insufficient number of samples were provided by this technique for any given variable, an <br />intergrid was utilized to facilitate the collection of additional samples. With regard to the Lower Wilson <br />sampling effort, this only occurred for the variable of herbaceous production within the grassland <br />community. Therefore, to obtain a sufficient number of samples to facilitate collection of a statistically <br />adequate sample, the original 75ft x 7511 grid was shifted about 10 feet (determined randomly) to the <br />north to provide an additional 20 production samples. <br />With regard to supplemental ground cover sampling of the remaining dominant types (for correlation with <br />historic data), a total of 10 transects per type (4 types therefore 40 transects) were placed in visually <br />representative locations across the study area, with the exception of the bottomland community. The <br />bottomland type only received 3 cover transects located near the northern Wilson Creek haul road <br />crossing. Only three transects were placed in this community / area for three principal reasons; 1) there is <br />no historic data for this community with which to compare, 2) the original delineation (riparian) was <br />extremely limited in extent, and 3) the areal extent of the northern area (22 acres) was relatively small in <br />comparison to the remaining portion of the study area (896 acres). <br />Determination of Ground Cover - Ground cover at each sample point was determined utilizing the point - <br />intercept methodology as illustrated on Figure 2.04.10-2. As indicated in this figure, Cedar Creek utilizes <br />state-of-the-art instrumentation it has pioneered to facilitate much more rapid and accurate collection of <br />data. A transect of 10 meters length was extended in the direction of the next sampling location from the <br />flagged center of each systematically located sample point. At each one -meter interval along the transect, <br />a "laser point bar" was situated parallel to, and 4.5 feet vertically above the ground. A set of 10 readings <br />was recorded as to hits on vegetation (by species), litter, rock (>2mm), or bare soil. Hits were determined <br />at each meter interval by activating a battery of 10 low-energy specialized lasers situated along the bar at <br />10 -centimeter intervals and recording the variable intercepted by each of the vertically -projected, narrow <br />(0.02") focused beams. In this manner, a total of 100 intercepts per transect were recorded resulting in 1 <br />percent cover per intercept. Plant identification and nomenclature follows Weber and Wittman 2001. <br />Determination of Current Annual Herbaceous Production - At each production sample site, current annual <br />herbaceous production was collected from a rectangular 1/2 m2 quadrat frame placed one meter and 90 <br />degrees to the right (clockwise) of the ground cover transect to facilitate avoidance of vegetation trampled <br />by investigators during sample site location. From within each quadrat, all above ground current annual <br />vegetation, with the exception of woody species, within the vertical boundaries of the frame were clipped <br />and bagged separately by life form as follows: <br />Perennial Grass Perennial Forbs <br />Annual Grass Annual / Biennial Forbs <br />Subshrubs Noxious Weeds <br />All production samples were returned to the lab for drying and weighing. Drying occurred at 105 degrees <br />Celsius until a stable weight was achieved (24 hours). Samples were then re -weighed to the nearest 0.1 <br />South Taylor/Lower Wilson — Rule 2, Page 50 Revision Date: 4/7/17 <br />Revision No.: RN -07 <br />