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1 <br />VEGETATION SAMPLING FOR 1993 <br />Methods <br />Vegetative sampling was conducted on 14 and 15 July 1993. Vegetative cover was sampled <br />using point-intercept transects of 25 meters and 50 meters in the reference area and Reclaimed <br />' Area IV, respectively. Woody plant density was sampled by running 2-meter wide belt transects <br />along the same line as the point-intercept transects. Belt transects were also conducted in <br />Reclaimed Areas I, II, and III. <br />' The actual number of transects conducted in each of the areas was determined using the <br />Snedecor-Cochran sample adequacy formula (Equation 1 described above). <br />Transects were randomly located in each of the areas. Transect locations or orientation that <br />resulted in overlap of previous transects or the sampling area boundary were randomly redirected <br />' two meters before the point of overlap. <br />Data from the point-intercept transects was used to determine sample size adequacy for <br />vegetative cover. Sample size adequacy was reached on the Reference Area in 6 transects and <br />on Reclaimed Area IV in 10 transects. <br />' Ground cover was evaluated by sampling 2 points, one meter apart, along each transect at one <br />meter intervals. Cover was classified as vegetation, litter, or rock. Lack of cover was classified <br />' as bare soil. Vegetation was further classified by species. Transects consisted of 50 point <br />samples in the Reference Area and 100 point samples in Reclaimed Area IV. <br />' Each point sample was determined by projecting acover-point optical-point projection device <br />(model 2) vertically downward to the sample location and recording all "hits" on vegetation. <br />The "hits" were used to estimate total vegetative cover for each transect according to Equation <br />' 2 (described above). <br />The composition of plant species in each area was also evaluated using the data acquired from <br />the vegetative cover transects. Data from the transects were used in Equation 3 (described <br />above) to determine the relative cover of each species detected. <br />' Woody plant density was estimated by belt transects in all four of the reclaimed areas and in the <br />reference area. A 2-meter rod was carried the length of the transect. The mid-point of the rod <br />was aligned directly over the transect and every woody-stem that was rooted within the belt was <br />1 <br />~ ~~~ <br />' 4 <br /> <br />