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included in Appendix 10-3 "Mixed Brush Type Data" and Appendix 10-4 "Sagebrush Type Data." ~• <br />t <br />In the aspen type and associated reference area, data were collected using a <br />point-intercept method (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg, 1974, WDEO Guideline No. 2). <br />Points were systematically located at 1 m intervals along a SO m tra nsect. The tra nsect <br />originated 1 m away from the grazing exclosure (to avoid trampling effects) and ran in a <br />randomly determined direction. At each of the fifty points, vegetation intercepted by a <br />point projected downward (or upward if oversto ry vegetation was present) was recorded <br />by plant species, or as bare soil, litter (fallen organic debris), or rock (greater than 1 <br />cm diameter). Vegetation intercepted below the first hit was recorded separately by <br />species. <br />The sample point was defined by the tip of a fine line scribed on the glass of a viewing <br />device rigidly mounted to a heavy tripod. This device can be either directed straight <br />down or, if overstory vegetation is present, straight up. By this method, the tree, shrub, <br />and herbaceous strata are treated more equitably than any other cover estimation <br />method commonly used. The method is particularly well suited in tall mixed shrub or <br />forest types. Cover data were treated as follows: first hit data were used to calculate <br />absolute percent cover. All hit data were used to calculate relative cover. Relative <br />percent cover was also calculated from the first hit absolute data (the relative cover <br />data sum to 100 percent). For purposes of sample adequacy calculation, each transect <br />comprised one "sample." <br />On the haul road area, basal cover and species composition were collected during September <br />2 <br />1980. A O.Sm (1,0 m x 0.5 m) quadrat was subdivided into five 2 x 5 decimeter subplots <br />to improve sampling accuracy. Estimates in subplots were averaged to estimate cover over <br />2 <br />the entire O.Sm plot. Basal cover (crowns of individual plants at ground level) of all <br />herbaceous species, percent litter and rock, and percent bare ground were recorded. <br />Vegetation types sampled included wheat, sagebrush, and meadow types with the associated <br />reference areas. <br />See Appendix 10-8 for a discussion of 1985 tie-across haul road cover sampling <br />methodologies. <br />Species Composi ti nn. All species encountered during the cover sampling were recorded <br />10 <br />