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Sample sites will be located in the field by pacing. <br />- Cover: Total herbaceous cover will be sampled using randomly <br />located and oriented line transects. Cover will be determined by <br />species for all herbaceous vegetation and woody plants less than <br />0.5 meter in height. A minimum of ten (10) transects, 25 meters in <br />length will be sampled in each study area and corresponding re- <br />claimed area. Fifty points spaced at 0.5 meter intervals will <br />be recorded on each transect. Sample adequacy will be calculated <br />using the formula <br />M=t2s2 <br />~- <br />(Snedecor and Cochran, 1977), where: <br />M = the minimum number of observations needed, <br />t = the t distribution value of the 90% confidence level, <br />s = the variance estimate obtained from sampling, and <br />d = the level of accuracy desired for the estimate of <br />the mean. <br />Woody plant cover by species will be obtained separately from the <br />herbaceous line intercept transects. Additional lines per study <br />area or reclaimed area will be taken as necessary to attain sample <br />adequacy. <br />- Production: Total herbaceous production will be estimated from up to <br />50 random 1-m2 plots per study area or reclaimed area by clipping <br />live current year production at ground level to achieve sample <br />adequacy. Clipping will be done by major species plus miscellaneous <br />grasses, grasslikes and fortis. Clipped material will be oven dried <br />at 105° C for 24 hours in a forced air oven and the weight recorded <br />to the nearest 0.1 gram. Dry weight production will be reported on <br />a lb/acre basis. Sample adequacy will be calculated. <br />- Woody Plant Density and Height: Total number of stems per acre <br />will be sampled by direct count of stems greater than ~.5 meters <br />in height from rectangular plots, 1-m x 10-m, that are randomly <br />located. Fifteen plots per study area or reclaimed area will be <br />sampled and sample adequacy calculated. Up to ten (10) additional <br />plots per area will be taken as necessary to attain sample adequacy. <br />The height of each individual stem counted will be estimated and <br />recorded to the nearest 0.1 meter by species. Stem count will <br />also be recorded by species. All trees encountered in plots will <br />be measured for diameter at breast height (DBH) and basal area will <br />be calculated on a per acre basis. <br />- Diversity: The diversity calculation for herbaceous vegetation <br />in study areas and reclaimed areas will be based upon the relative <br />cover or production values of at least five (5) perennial species and <br />will incorporate a life form component based upon the land use <br />objective and local site conditions. Shrub diversity will be <br />based on relative density by species as determined from the <br />1 x 10 meter density plot sampling. <br />