Laserfiche WebLink
III'II'lllllllll'11 Doc Date:12/11/2001 <br />sss <br />• <br />`~/ <br />`~ SECPION 7.0 Miscellaneous <br />7.1 Vegetation Monitoring for Seeding Exclusion in 1989 Derringer Pit Topsoil Amu <br />(1992 Sampling Year) <br />As required by the Division (TR-46), Trapper is submitting yearly vegetation sampling measurements for <br />the no seed topsoil plot (56 ac) established in Derringer Pit in 1989. The attached table 7-1 provides a list of <br />the plant species encountered, herbaceous canopy cover, herbaceous primary production and woody stem <br />densities. Vegetation sampling was conducted in the same manner on the exclusion plots as on other <br />reclaimed areas. <br />ethods <br />Herbaceous plant canopy cover, annual primary production, and woody stem densities were measured in <br />1992 on non-seeded plots (Derringer Pit) and seeded acreages in Derringer and Enfield pits (1981-1991 <br />reclamation). Three permanent 100-meter transects spaced 10 m apart were established in each reclaim <br />year in each pit in range sites A, B, and C. Herbaceous plant canopy cover and percent mulch cover were <br />estimated by species using the point-hit technique (Optical Point Bar). Each 100-meter permanent line <br />Vansea was estimated at each site and 10 observations recorded along each line transect at 10-meter <br />interval (tota1100 contacts/transect). <br />• Annual herbaceous primary production was estimated by clipping plots (20 m interval) in each reclaim area <br />(both range site A, B and C) by year. One-quarter-meter plots were clipped (total), placed into a labeled <br />paper sack, and brought to the laboratory for drying and weighing. Oven drying was performed at 50 <br />degrees centigrade for a 24hour period. <br />Woody stem density was calculated using the pointcenter~uarter (PCQ) method. Five PCQ's were <br />conducted on each line transect at 20-m spacing. Distances from the center of each PCQ to the nearest live <br />stem in each quarter was recorded and the plant species identified. <br />Results <br />Vegetation response during the third growing season on the seeding exclusion plot is dominated by <br />annualJbiennial plant species (Table 7-1). The herbaceous canopy cover provided by all plants was <br />approximately 67 percent Perennial plants represented 13 percent of the total herbaceous cover. Litter <br />cover was approximately 29 percent Primary herbaceous production in 1992 was 1300 #/ac. <br />Five woody plants (Saskatoon Serviceberry, Big Sagebrush, Common Chokecherry, Antelope Bitterbrush <br />and Mountain Snowberry) are represented in the 1992 woody stem density inventory. ,The approximate <br />woody stem density for the seeding exclusion area (RSA and RSB) is 83 stems per acre. The woody plant <br />density increased from that reported in 1991. Trapper will continue [o evaluate woody plant response <br />during future sampling years. <br />• <br />