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• Methodology for Vegetation Sampling /Comparison Methods - Colowyo Mine <br />1.0 Sample Site Selection /Location <br />The sample layout protocol for revegetation evaluations in 2004 largely followed CDMG approved <br />procedures developed by Cedar Creek to provide unbiased, representative, and cost-effective data for <br />evaluation of revegetation. These procedures are designed to better account for the heterogeneous <br />expression of vegetation within the various redaimed areas while precluding bias in the sample site <br />selection process. By design, the procedure is initiated randomly, and thereafter, samples are located in <br />a systematic manner, along grid coordinates spaced at f'aed distances, e.g. 200 ft. (see Fxhibit 1, Maps 2 <br />- 19 in the main document). In this manner, "representation" from across the entire reclaimed area is <br />"forced" rather than risking the chance that significant pockets (or seedings) are entirely missed, or <br />overemphasized as often happens with simple random sampling. Older reclaimed units (e.g., 7+ years} <br />received 20 ground cover transacts and shrub density belts. Production was collected from five of these <br />20 sample points from older reclaimed units. Younger reclaimed units (e.g., 2 to 4 years) received 15 <br />transacts and belts (and rro production sampling). First year units received one cluster of five emergent <br />density quadrats for approximately every two acres of reclamation. With regard to any two-year old or <br />• older reclamation unit and smaller than approximately 2 or 3 acres, the number of samples for <br />monitoring is limited to 5. <br />The systematic procedure for sample location in the revegetated units occurred in the following <br />stepwise manner. First, a fixed point of reference was selected for the unit to facilitate location of the <br />systematic grid in the field. second, a systematic grid of appropriate dimensions was selected to provide <br />a reasonable number of coordinate intersections (e.g., S, 15 or 20) that could then be used for the set of <br />sample sites. Third, a scaled representation of the grid was overlain on a computer map of the target <br />unit extending along north/south and east/west Tines. Fourth, the initial placement of this grid was <br />implemented by selection of two random numbers (an X and Y distance) to be used for kxating the first <br />coordinate from the faced point of reference, thereby making the effort unbiased. Fifth, where an excess <br />number of potential sample points (grid intersections) was indicated by overlain maps, the excess were <br />randomly chosen for elimination. (If later determined that additional samples would be needed, the <br />eliminated potential sample sites would be added back in reverse order until enough samples could be <br />collected.} sixth, utilizing a handheld compass and pacing techniques (or ahip-chain), the sample points <br />were located in the field. <br />• Once a selected grid point was located in the field, ground cover sampling transacts were always <br />oriented in the direction of the next site to be physically sampled to further limit any potential bias while <br />Kenneeon Energy r Cobwyo Coal Company AA -2 Revegetation Monnoring -2004 <br />