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2.3 Determination of Current Annual Herbaceous Production <br />At each sample site, current annual herbaceous production was collected from a'/z mZ quadrat <br />frame placed one meter and 90° to the right (clockwise) of the ground cover transact to fadlitate <br />avoidance of vegetation trampled by investigators during sample site location (see Figure 1). From <br />within each quadrat, all above ground current annual vegetation (as stated in permit documents), with <br />the exception of woody species, within the vertical boundaries of the frame were clipped and bagged <br />separately. Categories of separation included: 1) ail herbaceous species, and 2) noxious weeds. <br />All production samples were returned to the lab for drying and weighing. Drying occurred at 105° C <br />until a stable weight was achieved (24 hours). Samples were then re-weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram. <br />Wet weights determined in the field were used to fadlitate the collection of an adequate sample. <br />2.4 Determination of Woody Plant Density <br />Belt transel:ts were employed to obtain a reasonable estimate of the woody plant density of the two <br />revegetated communities. At each sample site in these two areas, a 2-meter wide by 50 meter long heft <br />trensect was established in the direction of the next sampling point (typically in a cardinal mmpass <br />direction -see Figure 1). Then within each belt, all woody plants (shrubs, trees, subshrubs, and <br />succulents) were enumerated by species and age dass. Determination of whether or not a plant could <br />be counted was dependent upon the location of its main stem or root collar where i[ exited the ground <br />surface with regard to heft limits. <br />2.5 Sample Adequacy Determination and Testing for Success <br />Subsequent to development of the original bond release text within approved permit documents for <br />the Blue Ribbon Mine, the Colorado DMG promulgated new guidelines (April 18, 1995) that offer new and <br />possibly more statistically appropriate testing procedures for the determination of revegetation success. <br />Since these new testing procedures do not supersede (predate) those in the approved permit, the <br />Applicant reserves the option of selecting the statistical procedures to be utilized for final testing. For <br />purposes of this current evaluation, the Applicant has opted to use the new protocols preferred by the <br />State (Reverse Nuil Hypothesis Testing). Testing occurred in a manner identical to that which would be <br />used for a bond release evaluation to obtain a better understanding of the status of site-specific <br />revegetation. <br />~D~AI~ ~1~~ A~8®4;DA7fIE$ ING Page 8 Blue Ribbon Mine - Revegetatlon Evaluation <br />