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represent a reasonable average percentage value for anticipated plant Habit Diversity. The Habit Diversity goal percentages contained in Table l3 ate not intended to be absolute numeric requirements. The values indicated are targets. and variations from these targets may be expected. Generally, the larger the overall percentage contribution to diversity, the greater the range of acceptable values for that specific plan[ habit. Qualitative judgment will need to be exercised in determining the range of diversity values for revegetation success. For example, a healthy, developing, predominantly herbaceous vegetation community with a woody plant diversity goal oti 20% contribution to total vegetation cover but with a very small percentage of young healthy woody species contributing 3% to this habit at the end of the third growing season. would probably be considered successful. The same community with similar requirements and percentages a[ the end of the 20th growing season would probably represent inadequate woody plant habit development. Thoughtful evaluation of plant diversity, growth and development patterns and trends will be necessary when interpreting the adequacy of revegetation diversity within a young reclaimed area. A Woody Stem Density standard will also be applied to the shrub component of the plant communities reclaimed with the Permanent Revegetation seed mixtures. This standard will be defined by panel-specific determinations of shrub densities in predisturbance communities or in nearby undisturbed areas. With BLM review and approval. the minimum number of woody stems required per acre may be adjusted in accordance with the woody species used in reclamation and the posttnining land use goals (e.g., wildlife habitat mitigation/ requirements, livestock grazing, etc.). Bulk seeding rates or stem stocking rates may also be adjusted to result in the establishment of appropriate woody stem densitites within the 3 to 5 year revegetation evaluation time frame. Woody Stem Density measurements will be taken concurrently with Total Plant Ground Cover measurements during revegetation success monitoring. Woody Stem Density evaluation methodologies are described below under Final Revegetation Monitoring. As mentioned in Section S.1.3, the Yankee Gulch Project Wildlife Mitigation Plan specifies that up to 20 percent of the area requiring reclamation be specifically dedicated to providing desirable woody browse species appropriate for mule deer wintering range and other associated wildlife habitat. Within these :ueas, the ultimate goal would be to establish I S to 20 percent canopy cover of desired shrubs at maturity. By determining the average cover provided by individual shrubs of the appropriate species and degree of maturity at the Piceance Site. it will be possible to calculate the stem density that would eventually result in the desired canopy cover. This would then constitute a Woody Stem Density standard that could be used to indirectly predict the success of woody browse establishment. 5.2.2 Final Revegetation Monitoring The vegetation monitoring and measurement methodologies, frequency and timing that will be used to monitor revegetation success and the types of statistical testing [o be used in evaluating adequacy of monitoring sample populations are described in this section. The types of monitoring and measurement methodologies to be used include the following: • Total Plant Ground Cover and Diversity= First Hit Point-Intercept Transects using the IO- Point frame method (100 meter long with 100 hits taken per transect); • Woody Stem Density =Belt Transect with each individual shrub being counted and recorded by species (2 meters X 50 meters); and ~mrncan Soda. L.L.P. 5-15 Soil Conservanon, FlVSlon and Scdimcnr Convol, itclamanon and Reve¢euuon Plan UGODer _'tl. 1998 Revised Apnl 9. 1999