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METHODS • ..................: ................:. ~..:.::..:::...............R.::.::.::.:........n..~........~::..:..::..........................`.(,".59.i.':~e:.'.i::'.~iYi::n:.:~n::):/:::)::s,::.^.Y:.a:::::b:isi,:[::i~:ii:i:'(..i.':;::::::::f:: '::::......~...............• Greystone Development Consultants, Inc conducted vegetation sampling of two proposed reference areas at the Chimney Rock Mine on 12 through 13 June 1990. The following discussion presents the methods and results of the sampling. COVER Vegetative cover .vas sampled using 100-foot long point-intercept transects. The proposed irrigated pasture and dryland reference areas were sampled separately. In the field, transects were randomly located and oriented in the dryland pasture reference area using a random numbers table. Transect locations or orientations that resulted in overlap of previous transects or the sampling area boundary were discarded and new locations or orientations selected. In the irrigated pasture, transects were randomly located along two baselines. This method was chosen to minimize the amount of pasture fenced off for the reference area and the resulting inconvenience to the landowner. Initially, five transects were run in each area. Data from these transects were used to determine sample size adequacy with the Snedecor-Cochran sample size adequacy formula (CMLRD 1988). Sample size adequacy was reached on both areas with five transects • (Table 1). Ground cover was estimated along each transect at 1-foot intervals. Cover was classified as vegetation, litter, or rock. Lack of cover was classified as bare soil. Vegetation was also categorized by species. Each transect consisted of 100 point samples. Each point sample was determined by projecting an ocular siting device vertically downward to the sample location on the transect. The first intercept (vegetation, soil, rock, or litter) was recorded. These "hits" were used to estimate total vegetative cover for each transect according to the following formula: Percent Total Vegetation Cover . rNo. of hits on vegetation) (1~) l 100 1 Mean absolute vegetative cover for each area was the mean of the area's transects. PRODUCTION Herbaceous production was also sampled on both proposed reference areas. One-half meter plots were randomly located in each area using a random numbers table. Vegetation in each plot was clipped, bagged according to life form, and weighed. These weights were used to . determine sample size adequacy with the Snedecor-Cochran sample size adequacy formula.