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orientation protocol was always maintained (i.e. in the direction of the next point to be physically <br />sampled). If the boundary of an area was encountered before reaching the full length of a transect, the <br />orientation of the transect was turned 90° in the appropriate direction so the transect could be <br />completed. In this manner, boundary transacts were retained entirely within the target unit by <br />"bouncing" off the boundaries. Production quadrats were always oriented 90° to the right (clockwise) of <br />the ground cover transact and placed one meter from the starting point so as to avoid any trampled <br />vegetation. Because sample adequacy for ground cover measurement is typically reached well in <br />advance of production measurement, any sample point evenly divisible by 3 (riparian revegetation) or 2 <br />(all other areas) was skipped for cover depending on the area sampled. Woody plant density within the <br />riparian reclaimed area was determined by sampling large belt quadrats. At each sample site in the <br />reclaimed riparian area, a 2-meter wide by 50 meter long belt transact was established in the direction of <br />the next sampling point. Woody plant density within the grassland reclaimed area was determined by <br />total count. <br />2.2 Determination of Ground Cover <br />Ground cover at each sample point was determined utilizing the point-intercept methodology as <br />illustrated on Figure 1. As indicated in this figure, Cedar Creek utilizes state-of-the-art instrumentation it <br />has pioneered to facilitate much more rapid and accurate collection of data. A transact of 10 meters <br />length was extended in the direction of the next sampling location from the flagged center of each <br />systematically located sample point. At each one-meter interval along the transact, a "laser point bar" <br />was situated parallel to, and approximately 4.5 to 5.0 feet vertically above the ground surtace. A set of <br />10 readings was recorded as to hits on vegetation (by species), litter, rock (>2mm), or bare soil. Hits <br />were determined at each meter interval by activating a battery of 10 low-energy specialized lasers <br />situated along the bar at 10 centimeter intervals and recording the variable intercepted by each of the <br />narrowly focused (0.02' beams (see Figure 1). In this manner, a total of 100 intercepts per transact <br />were recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. All reclaimed area vegetation, as well as the <br />majority of reference area vegetation (especially herbaceous and shrub strata) was subject to sampling. <br />This methodology and instrumentation facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, and <br />precise ground cover data possible. Due to the paucity of woody species in the grassland reclaimed <br />community and the height of woody taxa in the riparian type, multiple-hit cover data were not collected, <br />only single hit data were recorded. Secondary hit data would have minimal impact on resulting data sets <br />(especially with regard to diversity issues). Identification and nomenclature of plant species followed <br />Weber and Wittman's Colorado Flora: Western Slone -Revised Edition: 1996: University Press of <br />Colorado. Niwot. Colorado. <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. Page 5 Blue Ribbon Mine - 2006 <br />Phase III Bond Release Evaluation <br />