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2.0 METHODS <br />2.1 Reconnaissance, Comparison and Reference Area Selection <br />Field work took place from late July through September. Reconnaissance <br />and sample area selection were accomplished early in August, field data <br />collection took place in the latter part of August and September. <br />A plant reference collection was made of flowering species present on the <br />mine property during the period of study. Reconnaissance emphasized <br />characterization of each plant community on the mine area, regarding vege- <br />tation parameters to be sampled. Reconaissance involved walking through <br />and observing each community type to develop a mental image of the vege- <br />tation, in terms of density and spacing of woody plants, and abundance of <br />herbaceous vegetation. This characterization of vegetation communities <br />enabled selection of what were felt to be the most comparable reference <br />areas for each community type. <br />Of the lands surrounding the Hayden Gulch Mine, only those within the <br />• HG Coal Company permit area were considered for selection as reference <br />areas. Outlying areas could not be considered since neither access nor <br />land use could be controlled. <br />Reference areas were selected after an extensive reconaissance of the <br />permit area. Only areas which would not be disturbed were considered for <br />reference area sites. Strongest consideration was given to sites which had <br />similar slope and aspect to that generally prevalent on the area to be <br />mined. After reconnoitering potentially suitable areas, reference areas <br />were selected which had relatively uniform and similar vegetation to that <br />previously reconnoitered on the mine. <br />2.2 Sample Site Selection <br />2.2.1 Community Characterization <br />During the process of reconaissance, comparison of vegetation types, and <br />reference area selection, for each vegetation type, an "image" developed of <br />the characteristics of that community and the vegetation components es- <br />. sential to identify it. This "image" was used to choose regions within each <br />community which were suitable for sampling. Extremely heterogeneous <br />