PERMFILE61897 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• 4.0 SUMMARY The foregoing study has attempted to satisfy requirements of the CMLRB regarding establishment and characterization of vegetation reference areas, as described in their Rules and Regulations, section 4.15.7(3). The reference areas were chosen to be representative of the major plant com- munities on the mine plan area. The four communities encompassed suf- ficient vegetational diversity to allow a fifth recognized community, the serviceberrysagebrush community, to be incorporated in other communities, usually the chokecherry or sagebrush types. The reference areas were shown to be statistically comparable to the mine areas. In no case was herbaceous cover or productivity on a reference area significantly less than that measured on the mine area. This was tested, when necessary, with a onetailed ttest at the 95$ confidence level using the second formula in section 2.6. On each reference and mine sample area the parameters of herbaceous cover, productivity and woody plant density were sampled adequately: to predict within 10$ of the actual mean value with 80$ statistical confidence, using the first formula in sec- tion 2.6 Since livestock entry on vegetation measurement areas was limited, grazing had little impact on standing crop biomass estimates, even though no grazing exclosures were used. Each reference area was three or more acres in area, allowing for valid statistical compazisons with the mine plan areas. Sample locations were chosen randomly within both areas. It is the intent to manage the reference areas similarly to the mine plan areas, and for the approved postmining land uses of wildlife and livestock grazing. Currently, the mine plan azea and surroundings are being fenced to restrict livestock entry. When fencing is completed it is antici- pated that grazing access and vegetation utilization will be comparable on the mine plan and reference areas.