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' found in both the native vegetation community and the reclaimed area to be evaluated. <br />Vegetation sampling locations, dates, and methods were determined and performed by <br />' the Division of Minerals and Geology prior to fieldwork. <br />2.2 Sampling Design <br />Before field work commenced, the permit document, amendments to the permit, baseline <br />data, any prior sampling data, applicable maps, and aerial photographs were reviewed to <br />evaluate topography, reclamation timing, seed mixes, revegetation methods, and <br />applicable revegetation standards. <br />' A 1:1200 scale (1"=100') map of the reclaimed mine site was used to delineate the <br />sampling area within the former permit area. Computer generated random numbers were <br />used to establish a pool of x,y coordinates for a Cartesian grid that was overlain upon the <br />' reclaimed area. From these points, sample sites were randomly established. Thirty <br />random sample locations were established and sampled on the reclaimed area. Sample <br />sites were located in the field through pacing from known landmarks depicted on aerial <br />photographs. Figure I illustrates the location of the sample point locations. <br />2.3 Field Sampling <br />2.3.1 Vegetation Cover and Species Composition <br />Vegetation cover was estimated by the use of the point-intercept method. A laser (ten) <br />point frame was used to minimize instrument error and maximize precision and observer <br />accuracy. Cover transects were 25 meters in length, with ten sample data points collected <br />at 5.0 meter intervals along the transect on both sides of the transect centerline, for a total <br />of 50 points per transect. Transect orientation was randomly generated unless the transect <br />would overlap another transect. In those cases, the transect was oriented towazd an <br />unsampled area. In no event were transects allowed to extend within five feet of <br />revegetated area boundaries, to minimize impacts from "edge effect." <br />For statistical purposes, each cover transect served as a sample unit. Data points recorded <br />the first vertical "hit" on vegetation (as determined by the laser point frame), soil (bare <br />ground), rock, or litter. The data were summarized by computing absolute cover, relative <br />cover (percent of total vegetation cover attributed to each species), and species <br />composition. Species composition was determined from the relative cover of each plant <br />species within the quantitative cover sampling. Relative cover was calculated through <br />the summation of all "hits" on a given plant species, compared with the total "hits" on all <br />plant species. <br />2.4 Revegetation Success Criteria <br />La Plata Coal Corporation had requested assistance from the Division, during the permit <br />review process, in establishing revegetation success criteria for this site. Based on <br />la Piata ~ t Mine Page 2 <br />2003 Vegetation Sampling <br />