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Pryor Mine site to be at least three perennial grass species, each contributing at <br />least 3%, but not greater than 60% relative cover. At least one of these species <br />will be a warm season grass and at least one shall be a cool season grass. <br />The same map of the permit area that was used in 2002 for sampling design was <br />used for the 2003 sample design. A Cartesian grid was overlaid upon the <br />reclaimed areas and sample sites were established using a randomization <br />computer program. Computer generated random numbers were used to <br />establish a pool of (x,y) coordinates. Fifteen random locations were initially <br />plotted on the map within the reclaimed area. Sample locations were evaluated <br />to ensure representative sampling over the entire reclamation area. Sample <br />sites were located in the field by pacing from known landmarks. The transect <br />numbers marked in red on the map illustrate the location of the transect sample <br />start points. <br />Vegetation Cover and Species Comaosition <br />Vegetation cover was estimated by the use of the point-intercept method. A ten- <br />point laser point frame was used. Ten laser points were spaced every 10 cm <br />along a 1 meter bar, which was mounted on a tripod. The lasers projected down <br />to the ground surface. The point at which the laser was intercepted was <br />recorded as live vegetative material (identified to genus and species), litter, rock, <br />or bare ground. Shrubs were not counted as a component of the herbaceous <br />cover data. Transect length was 50 ft. long. Transect orientation was <br />determined by randomly generated numbers between 1 and 360 degrees. <br />Transects were not permitted to overlap or extend within 10 feet of revegetated <br />area boundaries, to avoid any "edge effects". Ten point-intercept observations of <br />the lasers were measured every ten (10) feet along the transect. <br />For statistical purposes, each cover transect served as a sample unit. Data <br />points recorded the first vertical "hit" on vegetation (as determined by the laser <br />point frame), soil (bare ground), rock, or litter. These data were summarized by <br />computing mean cover, relative cover (percent of total vegetation cover attributed <br />to each species), and species composition. Species composition information <br />was computed from vegetation cover data using a ratio of individual species <br />cover to total vegetation cover. <br />Production <br />Live herbaceous production was collected using a harvest method. All of the <br />current year's growth within a half meter quadrat (.25Mz) was clipped at both <br />ends of the 15 cover transects. An additional 20 quadrat locations were <br />randomly chosen and sampled to achieve vegetation production sample <br />adequacy. Full shrubs, succulents, noxious weeds, and cushion plants were not <br />clipped. Production clippings were placed in paper bags, then weighed wet <br />(fresh) in the field to assure sample adequacy. Paper bag weight was subtracted <br />from the biomass calculations. Life forms were combined together to represent <br />