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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br /> <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-45 Revision Date: 4/9/25 <br /> Revision No.: MR-261 <br />The sample layout protocol for revegetation monitoring and bond release evaluations shall be a <br />systematic procedure designed to better account for the heterogeneous expression of seedings <br />within reclaimed areas while precluding bias in the sample site selection process. By design, the <br />procedure is initiated randomly, and thereafter, samples are located in a systematic manner, along <br />grid coordinates spaced at fixed distances (e.g. 200 ft). In this manner, representation from across <br />the target reclamation unit is forced rather than risking the chance that significant pockets are <br />entirely missed, or overemphasized as often occurs with simple random sampling. <br /> <br />Older reclaimed units (e.g., 7+ years) shall receive a minimum of 20 ground cover transects and <br />co-located shrub density belts. Production for monitoring purposes shall be collected from a <br />representative five of these 20 sample points. For bond release efforts, production will be collected <br />from a statistically adequate sample as defined below. Monitoring efforts for younger reclaimed <br />units (e.g., 2 to 4 years) shall receive 15 transects and co-located woody density belts (as necessary) <br />but no production sampling. First year units will receive one cluster of five emergent density <br />quadrats spread in a representative manner for approximately every two acres of reclamation. For <br />units 50 acres or larger, a five-quadrat cluster should be collected from every 4 acres of <br />reclamation. With regard to any two-year old or older reclamation unit that is smaller than about <br />3 acres, the number of samples (for monitoring) shall be limited to five. <br /> <br />The systematic procedure for sample location in revegetated units shall occur in the following <br />stepwise manner. First, a fixed point of reference (e.g., fence corner) will be selected for the target <br />unit to facilitate location of the systematic grid in the field. Second, a systematic grid of <br />appropriate dimensions will be selected to provide a reasonable number of coordinate intersections <br />(e.g., 5, 15, 20, etc.) that would then be used for the set of sample sites. Third, a scaled <br />representation of the grid will be overlain on a computer-generated map of the target unit extending <br />along north/south and east/west lines. Fourth, the initial placement of this grid will be <br />implemented by selection of two random numbers (an X and Y distance) to be used for locating a <br />systematic coordinate from the fixed point of reference, thereby making the effort unbiased. Fifth, <br />where an excess number of potential sample points (grid intersections) is indicated by overlain <br />maps, the excess may be randomly chosen for elimination. (If later determined that additional <br />samples are needed, the eliminated potential sample sites would be added back in reverse order <br />until enough samples can be collected.) Sixth, using a handheld compass and pacing techniques, <br />or a hand-held GPS, sample points will be located in the field. <br /> <br />Once a selected grid (sample) point is located in the field, sampling metrics will be utilized in a <br />consistent and uniform manner. In this regard, ground cover sampling transects will always be <br />oriented in the direction of the next site to be physically sampled to further limit any potential bias <br />while facilitating sampling efficiency. Depending on logistics, timing, and access points to a target <br />sampling area, the field crew may occasionally layout a set of points along coordinates in one <br />direction and then sample them in reverse order. However, orientation protocol will always be <br />maintained (i.e. in the direction of the next point to be physically sampled). If the boundary of an <br />area is encountered before reaching the full length of a transect, the transect orientation will be <br />turned 90° in the appropriate direction so the transect will be completed within the target unit. In <br />this manner, edge transects will be retained entirely within the target unit by “bouncing” off the <br />boundaries. Production quadrats will always be 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.