Laserfiche WebLink
<br />covers 206.03 square feet. From this it is calculated the average tree has a <br />diameter of 16.2 feet. host of the trees on the site are Pinyon Pine and 16.2 feet <br />is close to the actual size of this species at maturity. Therefore, it appears the <br />measurement of 74 trees per acre with a cover of 35/. is probably close to the true <br />value and tends to confirm the validity of the sampling methods. <br />Four examples are provided in the model. These examples are based upon the <br />calculations of the area appropriate for tree planting which was accomplished in the <br />first part of the model. Note that as tree density is increased from 35 trees per <br />acre to 80 trees per acre (over the entire amendment area) the mean basal area was <br />reduced slightly to account for crowding and possible growth reductions as a result <br />of increasing competition over moisture, light, and nutrients as density increases. <br />That is, within certain genetically determined limits, the dimensions of the mature <br />plants will be modified somewhat by alterations in the environment produced by the <br />density of the plants themselves as it relates to the available resources in the <br />environment. <br />From the examples it can be seen that the predicted average cover in areas <br />where trees are planted approximates the existing conditions with a density value of <br />35 to 40 trees per acre over the entire mining area. If the density of trees over <br />the entire mining area is increased to Sq trees per acre, the density within the <br />areas where trees can be grown increases to 100 trees per acre with a projected <br />average cover of very nearly 50%. If the density of trees aver the entire mining <br />area is increased to BO trees per acre (approximately the current density) the true <br />density will be 160 trees per acre with a cover of 75/.. It is unlikely that Pinyon <br />Pine could be grown at such a high density and corer value and produce very healthy <br />trees. Pinyon Pine tends to grow in quite open stands and has a high light <br />requirement. Therefore, replacing the existing 70 to 80 trees per acre would result <br />in a vegetation which would be self limiting and would probably limit the growth of <br />grasses, fortis, and shrubs among the trees. The smaller grass and shrub plants <br />would be highly restricted to the outer 15 to 25 feet of each bench. This pattern <br />would be a very poor simulation of the existing vegetation which is characterized by <br />clumps of trees separated by clumps of shrubs spotted with occasional stands of <br />grass. Instead the pattern would be intensely grassed on the rims of the benches <br />with intense tree growth on the backs of the benches. This would produce a stripe <br />pattern which would parallel the bench patterns and might not look very natural. <br />PA(~ 4 TREE hDDEL 4WDER N:J AhETmhETff EVIDENCE <br />