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Vegetation Cover <br />Vegetation cover will be estimated by the use of the point-intercept method. An ocular <br />point frame will be used to minimize instrument error and maximize precision and <br />observer accuracy. Transects will be either 12.5 meters or 25 meters in length, <br />depending on the density of the understory within the community. If the transects are <br />12.5 meters, two sample data points will be collected at 0.5 meter intervals along the <br />transect (one on each side of the transect). If the transects are 25 meters, two sample <br />data points will be collected at 1.0 meter intervals along the transect (one on each side <br />of the transact). For statistical purposes, each cover transact (comprising 50 data <br />points) will serve as a sample unit. Data points will record the first vertical "hit" on <br />vegetation, rock, soil, or litter (above or below the instrument). Cover data will be <br />recorded and reported by individual plant species. The fast interception will be used to <br />calculate cover values. Additional interceptions will be recorded separately, and will <br />be used to calculate relative cover values. Vegetation cover data will be collected until <br />sample adequacy is achieved. A minimum of fifteen (15) transacts will be sampled. <br />Cover data will also provide the basis for calculation of species composition and <br />diversity. <br />Herbaceous Productiou <br />Herbaceous production 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 plots will be 0.5 square meters in area. All current year above <br />ground live herbaceous plant biomass will be clipped within the 0.5 square meter <br />quadrat. Since the species diversity success standard is based on relative cover, <br />herbaceous production will not be separated by species or lifeform, but will be reported <br />as total herbaceous production, consistent with CDMG guidelines. Succulents, <br />suffrutescent, and woody plants will not be sampled. Production material will be air <br />dried until weights vary by no more than O.lg. Herbaceous production data will be <br />collected until sample adequacy is achieved. A minimum of fifteen (15) plots will be <br />sampled. Production values will be reported in grams per square meter (to the nearest <br />O. lg) and pounds per acre. <br />Species Composition <br />Species composition will be calculated from quantitative vegetation cover data. <br />Relative cover data will be derived for the plant species present in the revegetated area. <br />The relative cover data will be ranked to determine the importance of the species in the <br />oakbrush community. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />Woody plant density within the oakbrush community will be very high. A woody plant <br />density criterion has been established for the revegetated areas based on the need to <br />2 <br />