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the instrument), soil (haze ground), rock, litter, or cryptogamic crust. Subsequent "hits" <br />on vegetation were also recorded. Cover data were recorded and reported by individual <br />plant species. The fast interception was used to calculate total vegetation cover values. <br />Additional interceptions were used to calculate relative cover of individual plant species <br />and lifefotms. The quantitative cover data also provided the basis for calculation of <br />species composition and relative importance. <br />Herbaceous Production <br />Herbaceous production was estimated by the harvest method. One herbaceous production <br />plot was located and randomly oriented at the origin of each cover transect. Additional <br />production plots were randomly located. Herbaceous production plots were 0.50 square <br />meters in area. All current yeaz above ground live herbaceous plant biomass was clipped <br />within the 0.50 square meter quadrat. Perennial grasses, annual grasses, and annual, <br />biennial, and perennial forbs were sepazated and reported by lifeform. Succulents, <br />suffrutescen[, and woody plants were not sampled. Production material was av dried until <br />weights varied by no more than 0.1 g. <br />Species Composition <br />Species composition information was derived from quantitative vegetation cover data. <br />Relative cover information provided a basis for evaluation of the importance of each <br />• encountered plant species and lifeform and for comparison to the final revegetation <br />success criterion. <br />SAMPLE NUMBERS/SAMPLE ADEQUACY <br />For the purposes of this monitoring, set numbers of samples were established for the <br />parameters to be sampled by Savage and Savage and Coors Energy Company. The <br />number of samples taken for each reclamation year was consistent with numbers agreed to <br />in the past by CDMG. [n each revegetated area, the size and number of parcels dictated <br />the total number of samples taken, as depicted above. In the Osgood sand reference area, <br />ten cover transects were sampled and fifteen (15) herbaceous production quadrats were <br />sampled. <br />Since the purpose of this sampling was the monitoring of the vegetative condition at the <br />revegetated areas of the mine and Osgood sand reference area, sampling need not meet <br />sample adequacy requirements. Minimum sample sizes and standard deviation are <br />reported as an indication of variability of the sampled parameters. Comparisons between <br />sample mean parameter values assume that the sample mean value accurately represents <br />the population mean in all cases. <br />• <br />-4- <br />