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<br />2.0 METHODS <br />2.1 Vegetation Mapping <br />A plant ecologist conducted a reconnaissance of the entire project <br />site and selected mapping units based upon vegetation structure and species <br />dominance. Black end white photography was used to precisely delineate the <br />boundaries of each vegetation type upon a photographic base map at a scale <br />of 1":300'. Field reconnaissance was used to verify the Doundaries of the <br />mopping units. <br />2.2 Affected Area Sampling Design <br />Cover, production, end density sampling was confined to areas surrounding <br />proposed disturbance. See Figure 3.1-1. All sample sites were located by <br />e random process. A grid system was constructed over a vegetation map of <br />the areas of proposed disturbance. Coordinates Ix, yl were determined by a <br />random number generator and used to locate a set number of sample points <br />within each sample unit. Thus, the required number of sample points was <br />generated. <br />• Each sample point was located in the field through the aid of compass, <br />USGS maps, and pacing where necessary. Range cages were not used es there <br />was no potential for domestic livestock grazing. <br />2.3 Reference Area Selection <br />Reference Brea establishment wns coordinated with regulatory agencies. <br />See Section 2.9. A reference Brea was set up for the Mountain Shrubland - <br />Dry Phase vegetation type. This reference Brea was selected following the <br />completion end analysis of cover tlaTa for The effected vegetation types. <br />This procedure permitted the integration of cover data into the reference <br />Brea selection process. Factors considered in the location and selection of <br />representative reference sites included similarity of vegetation end habitat <br />of the reference area compered to the affected area. Important vegetation <br />factors evaluated were vegetation structure, composition, end species dominance <br />as expressed by cover, production, end density. Prominent abiotic habitat <br />factors included soil type, topography, slope, end aspect. <br />Following collection end analysis of data the comparability of reference <br />areas end analogous effected areas was evaluated statistically for cover and <br />production with the formula <br />_ _ x = <br />I xi - x: ~ ~ t 5' + 5' <br />^+ nx <br /> <br />-2- <br />