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• <br />• <br /> <br />2.D METHODS <br />2.f YEQETATION MAPPING <br />A vegetation map of the Cypress Area (Study Area) provided by Peabody delineated five <br />vegetotion types, Aspen, Conifer, Mountoin Brush, Meadow, end Sagebrush. These mapping <br />units were examined in the field end minor adjustments to the mapping were made prior to <br />location of randomly selected sample points. <br />2.2 LOCATION OF SAMPLES <br />Sampling intensity by vegetation type was determined prior to project initiation in ansultaiion <br />with and approved by the Colorado Mined Lend Reclamation Division (CMLRD)(Renner 1987). <br />Semple points were located randomly in each of the five vegetation types according to the <br />following distribution: <br />Aspen -20 samples <br />Conifer - 15 samples <br />Mountain Brush - 50 samples <br />Meadow - 20 samples <br />5agetrrush - 50 samples <br />Pairs of random numbers were selected from a statistical table and used es Cartesian coordinates <br />to establish the required number of samples in each type, with the exception of the Conifer and <br />Meadow types. The Conifer vegetation type was Wmprised of a single small stand in which it was <br />deemed sensible to place the prescribed number of samples uniformly (i.e., systematically), <br />covering the entire extent of the vegetation type evenly. The Meadow type in the study area had <br />experienced substantial disturbance prior to sampling in pert due to livestock use end in part <br />the result of disturbance by heavy equipment constructing sediment pond 008. To make sure <br />that baseline dais reflected natural conditions, sampling of this vegetation type was confined to <br />an area oT meadow contiguous with the study area meows but located across a fence in the <br />existing Senate I I Mine permit area (see Mep 1). This area had not been grazed by livestock or <br />otherwise disturbed; the vegetational composition represented the wettest extreme of the <br />meadow variation within the study area. As such, production end cover data ere certain to be no <br />lower end probably are higher then those that would have wme from sampling of undisturbed <br />study area meadows. <br />-2- <br />