Laserfiche WebLink
• Cover will be addressed in hypothesis testing as percent absolute first hit herbaceous vegetation <br />cover as adjusted for excessive contribution by annual /biennial spedes (CDMG 1995, Guidelines <br />Regazding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues, 1 (IV)A(4)). Cover from reclaimed azea samples <br />will be addressed as total percent fast hit herbaceous cover. Cover from reference area sampling will <br />be first hit herbaceous cover DOUBLED (see explanation of cover performance standazd as per <br />permit, above). <br />Hypothesis testing for production will be based on total annual herbaceous production also adjusted <br />for excessive contribution of annual /biennial species. Herbaceous cover or production values used <br />in hypothesis testing will exclude values for speaes present on the Routt County Prohibited or <br />Restricted Noxious list of that aze listed as noxious by the State of Colorado (Colorado Dept of <br />Agric.,Division of Plant Industry, Title 35, Article 5.5, 101-119, Lists A and B of Rules as replaced <br />2003). <br />Species Diversity <br />Species diverrity suitable to support the approvedport-mining land carer of rangeland and wildlife habitat mill be judged <br />caring the fallowing four (4) tern; success would be demonstrated by parting the first (A) and at kart hvo of the <br />remaining three (B, C, and D). <br />• Mandatory Test A): No Qvertvhrlm~ Dortinaar <br />No single plant species may exceed 60% relative cover. <br />• • Alternative Test B): Total Species Density Test <br />It is proposed that this overall reclamation diversity standard be judged based on the spedes density <br />values observed along with cover sampling in 100 sq.m. sample plots. It is further proposed that the <br />species density numbers be subjected [o sample adequacy assessment in the usual manner. <br />For purpose of establishing the Hoge of species density within the reference areas, the 75% range of <br />variation would be established as: <br />zxs <br />Where: <br />z =the number of standazd deviations (both ways from the mean) encompassing 75% of the <br />normal distribution (= 1.15; see Rohlf and Solta11969, Table P) <br />s = standazd deviation (n-1) <br />The standard would be the point at which the central 75% of the distribution of overall species <br />density in the reference azeas begins. Mathematically this would be: <br />Mean reference azea species density (no. of speaes per 100 sq.m.) - 1.15 s <br />The standard would be bated on a weighted average ar done with cover and production. In words, the selected standard <br />is the midpoint (in terms ofprobability distribution) of the lower half of the range of variation of the reference areas. <br />• Note that this test addresses total species density, not just native species density (but see Altemadve <br />Test C below). Noxious weeds aze oautted. The point of addressing total species density, including <br />ESCO Associates 13-13-8 TR-40 * 03/06 <br />