2023-06-29_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981019A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/29/2023
• Doc Name: Volume 1 Rule 4
• Section_Exhibit Name: 4.01 Through 4.30
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

RULE 3 PERFORMANCE BOND REQUIREMENTS

Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-48 Revision Date: 6/13/23
Revision No.: MR-247
may be counted is dependent upon the location of its main stem or root collar where it exits the
ground surface with regard to belt limits. A total of 5 or 15 belt transects may be sampled for each
monitoring unit.

For bond release sampling with belts, sufficient samples must be collected to insure adequacy of
the effort (to facilitate valid testing) in accordance with one of the three methods under either Rule
4.15.11 (2), or Rule 4.15.11 (3). Depending on the selected protocol, care must be taken to collect
at least the minimum number of samples indicated.

The second method, total enumeration, may be employed for monitoring when the size of a unit is
less than approximately one to two acres in size. Total enumeration shall be the typical method
utilized for bond release purposes unless shrub patches are too large (e.g., greater than 10 to 15
acres) to practically utilize this technique (in which case belts will be utilized). This method
involves total counts of woody plant populations as opposed to estimates of mean densities through
statistical sampling. Implementation of the total count technique would involve circumscribing
the boundaries of a target polygon with hip chain thread or similar visible designation. Once a
unit is circumscribed in this manner, a team of two or more biologists walking shoulder-to-
shoulder traverse the plot enumerating each plant by species. The person farthest inside the line
of observers trails hip chain thread, or other means, to mark their path to prevent missing or double
counting specimens on subsequent passes. The distance between observers should be 15 to 20 feet
or less depending on the height of grasses and the presence of low growing taxa such as rose or
snowberry. Each internal observer should also “zigzag” as the team progresses, occasionally
turning to view the area just passed to ensure visual coverage of the entire survey path. Constant
communication among crew members precludes double counting or missing of plants located
along the margins of observed paths. Results from total enumeration efforts can be compared
directly with success criteria without statistical testing.

Sample Adequacy Determination
Sampling within each unit under consideration for bond release shall start with a minimum of 15
(reference area) or 20 samples (revegetated area) and continue until a statistically adequate sample
has been obtained in accordance with Rule 4.15.11 (2). Woody plant density success comparisons
can be obtained utilizing Rule 4.15.11(2) or Rule 4.15.11 (3). For woody plant density adequacy
determinations utilizing Rule 4.15.11 (2)(a), the estimate is to within 15% of the true mean. Where
sampling is for managerial (monitoring) information, adequacy is not necessary and is calculated
for informational purposes only.

Success Evaluation
To summarize, success evaluations involve either a direct or a statistical t-test comparison of
appropriate parameters for each variable of interest (cover, production, diversity, or woody plant
density). Ground cover and production comparisons shall be made against reference area data of
the same year. Diversity and woody plant density variables shall be compared against the
standards defined above.

For bond release efforts, direct comparisons are made when the revegetated area mean value for a
given variable is greater than either 90% of the standard or the reference area mean assuming that
a statistically adequate sample has been collected in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(2)(a). If a