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a vertical projection of everything that intercepts rainfall before it hits bare ground. <br /> Relative Cover measurements of Total Cover plus Bare Ground sum to 100 percent. <br /> It was not appropriate to determine Absolute Cover this site because of the paucity of <br /> growth. This study determined Relative Cover and all references in the report to cover <br /> infer Relative Cover. <br /> Total Cover is made up of the following components: <br /> • Live Cover = current year growth <br /> • Moss Cover <br /> • Litter Cover = dead vegetation, both standing and down <br /> • Rock Cover = Rock> 3/a inch diameter (up to a maximum of 20%) <br /> Live Cover and Moss sum to provide Vegetative Cover; Vegetative Cover plus Litter and <br /> Rock Cover sum to provide Total Cover; Total Cover and Bare Ground sum to 100 <br /> percent, all as shown in Table 1. <br /> One reason vegetation is important in nature is that it intercepts rain droplets before <br /> they hit the ground, thereby reducing the impact on the ground, and reducing the <br /> potential for erosion. Greater vegetative cover intercepts more droplets and provides <br /> more erosion control. Rock (> 3/ inch in diameter) also intercepts droplets and reduces <br /> erosion and is also included as a part of total cover (up to a maximum of 20 percent). <br /> Observations consisted of 50 readings (hits) along each 50-meter transect. Each <br /> transect is considered a single sample. Live Cover depicts the quality of the vegetative <br /> stand, and, when recorded by species, shows the diversity of the stand. Species <br /> percentages of the various cover values are determined by dividing the number of hits <br /> for a species by the total number of readings. <br /> The scope is leveled before each reading to provide the vertical projection required to <br /> accurately determine Vegetative Cover. Sampling consisted of taking one reading <br /> perpendicular to the tape with the scope approximately every one meter. Fifty readings <br /> per transect is generally considered sufficient to provide an accurate representation of <br /> the various cover values. <br /> Diversity: Vegetative Cover is recorded by species to give a measure of diversity. In <br /> addition, all species observed on the reclaimed area are listed whether recorded as a hit <br /> or not. The survey is best described as a "Pedestrian Survey". It is not a <br /> comprehensive effort to find and list every species growing on a site, but it provides a <br /> more accurate representation of diversity. <br /> 3 <br />