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involve measurement of total herbaceous vegetative cover. Determination of revegetation success <br />will involve a comparison of vegetative cover data for reclaimed and reference areas utilizing the "t <br />test" method (Larson, 1980). Reference area data for the grassland (Reference Plot A) and <br />ponderosa/pinon/juniper woodland (Reference Plot B) vegetation types will be combined using a <br />weighted average approach. Consistent with pre-disturbance vegetation boundaries, and disturbed <br />area mapping, the weighting factor will reflect 79.8 percent grassland and 20.2 percent <br />ponderosa/pinion/juniper woodland disturbed. If the absolute value of cover for reclaimed areas is <br />greater than or equal to the calculated 90 percent confidence level for the weighted-average reference <br />area value, then the means between [he areas shall be determined statistically equivalent and vegetative <br />cover will meet regulatory success standards. <br />Vegetative productivity of reclaimed areas will be evaluated by chpping one-quarter square meter <br />circular quadrates along the sample transect. Al] plant species will be clipped, dried and weighed and <br />determine total vegetative production. If the absolute value of production from the reclaimed area is <br />greater than or equal to the calculated 90 pexcentconEidence level for the weighted-average reference <br />area value, then the corresponding means shall be determined statistically equivalent and vegetative <br />productivity for the reclaimed area will be judged to be adequate to meet regulatory revegetation <br />success standards. <br />Species diversity will be evaluated for revegetated areas utilizing data from vegetative cover sampling. <br />Species diversity shall be considered adequate when the four (4) dominant species, based on plant <br />cover, comprise no more than 80 percent of the total species composition. The two dominant warm- <br />season grass species shall collectively comprise at least 50 percent of total plant cover composition. <br />Because woody plant occurrence in the loadout area is very limited, woody plant sampling data fox the <br />loadout area will be compared with the revised woody plant counts for the corresponding reference <br />area as documented in the baseline vegetation data. The revised woody plant count for the loadout <br />area is 6.3 (2 trees and 1 shrub on 0.48 acre area) stems per acre. If the woody plant density <br />(calculated on a stems per acre basis using woody plant sampling data) for the loadout area is greater <br />than or equal to the 90 percent confidence interval for corresponding revised woody plant counts, <br />revegetation will be deemed adequate relative to woody plant density. <br />MR-48 2.03.4-27 Revised March 2003 <br />