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Quantitati.e Satnpgng of the Target Pbst-A'Gae Vegetation Community <br />The target vegetation community will be quantitatively sampled for total vegetation <br />cover, herbaceous producdon, woody plant density, and species composition. Fach of <br />these parameters will be sampled each year to sample adequacy for three yeah. Data <br />for each parameter will be reducod and reported yearly to Mountain Coal Company and <br />CDMG. At the end of the third sampling year, a final report will be prepared. <br />addressing sampling from previous years and averaging the data for each parameter. <br />Itevegetation success ctiteria will be proposed for total vegetation cover, herbaceous <br />production, woody phmt density, and species composition. <br />initial sampling of the target vegetation community for vegetation cover, herbaceous <br />production, woody plant density, and species composition accurned in August 1996. <br />Sampling methods for the parameters to be evaluated are detailed below. <br />Vegetation sampling will employ quantitative methods previously accepted by CDMG. <br />Timing of all sampling will be consistrnt with plant anthesis and/or ma~dmum biomass <br />development All transacts will be randomly located within each vegetation <br />comaiutdry. Fach vegetation oommtmiry will be gridded on a map and sample <br />tocatioos randomly selected through use of random numbers generated by computer and <br />assigned to the grid. Transacts will be randomly oriented in direction. <br />VegdriBoa Corer <br />Vegetation cover will be estimated by the use of the point-intercept method. An ocular <br />point frsne will be used to minimize insnnmrnt error and m~t;m;x p~jgpn and <br />observer accuracy. Transacts will be ZS meters is length, with two sample data points <br />collected at 1.0 meter intervals along the transact (one oa each side of the transact). <br />For statistical purposes, each cover transact (comprising 50 data points) will serve as a <br />sample unit. Data points will record the first vertical 'hit" on vegetation (above or <br />below the instrumrnt), rock, soil. or litter. Cover data will be recorded and reported <br />by iadividuai plant species. The fast iatemeption will be used to tralculaLe cover <br />values. Additional interceptions will be recorded separately, and will be used to <br />calculate relative cover values. Vegetation cover data will be collected until sample <br />adequacy is achieved. A minimum of 5fteen (15) transacts will be sampled. Cover <br />data will also provide the basis for calculation of species composition and diversity. <br />flert3aeeotrs Proatretioa <br />Herbaceous ptoduc~nn will be estimated by the harvest method. One herbaceous <br />production plot will be randomly selected and located along each cover transact. <br />Herbaceous production plob will be 0.5 square meters in area. All current year above <br />3 <br />