Laserfiche WebLink
logistics, timing, and access points to the target sampling area, the field crew would occasionally layout a <br />set of points along coordinates in one direction and then sample them in reverse order. However, <br />orientation protocol was always maintained (i.e. in the direction of the next point to be physically <br />sampled). If the (boundary of an area was encountered before reaching the full length of a transect, the <br />orientation of this transect was turned 90° in the appropriate direction so the transect could be <br />completed. In i:his manner, boundary transects were retained entirely within the target unit by <br />"bouncing" off they boundaries. Production quadrats were always oriented 90° to the right (clockwise) of <br />the ground cover transect and placed one meter from the starting point so as to avoid any trampled <br />vegetation. Bec~juse sample adequacy for ground cover measurement is typically reached well in <br />advance of production measurement, any sample point evenly divisible by 3 (riparian revegetation) or 2 <br />(all other areas) uvas skipped for cover depending on the area sampled. Woody plant density within the <br />riparian reclaimed area was determined by sampling large belt quadrats. At each sample site in the <br />reclaimed riparian area, a 2-meter wide by 50 meter long belt transect was established in the direction of <br />the next sampling point. Because of the shorter grid interval, belt direction was adjusted to avoid <br />overlaps. Woody plant density within the grassland reclaimed area was determined by total count. <br />2.2 Determination of Ground Cover <br />Ground cover at each sample point was determined utilizing the point-intercept methodology as <br />illustrated on Figure 1. As indicated in this figure, Cedar Creek utilizes state-of-the-art instrumentation it <br />has pioneered to facilitate much more rapid and accurate collection of data. A transect of 10 meters <br />length was extended in the direction of the next sampling location from the flagged center of each <br />systematically located sample point. At each one-meter interval along the transect, a "laser point bar" <br />was situated parallel to, and approximately 4.5 to 5.0 feet vertically above the ground surface. A set of <br />10 readings was recorded as to hits on vegetation (by species), litter, rock (>2mm), or bare soil. Hits <br />were determined at each meter interval by activating a battery of 10 low-energy specialized lasers <br />situated along th~~ bar at 10 centimeter intervals and recording the variable intercepted by each of the <br />narrowly focused (0.02") beams (see Figure 1). In this manner, a total of 100 intercepts per transect <br />were recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. All reclaimed area vegetation, as well as the <br />majority of reference area vegetation (especially herbaceous and shrub strata) was subject to sampling. <br />This methodolog~i and instrumentation facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, and <br />precise ground Dover data possible. Due to the paucity of woody species in the grassland reclaimed <br />community and the height of woody taxa in the riparian type, multiple-hit cover data were not collected, <br />only single hit da~:a were recorded. Secondary hit data would have minimal impact on resulting data sets <br />(especially with regard to diversity issues). Identification and nomenclature of plant species followed <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 5 Blue Ribbon Mine -Phase III <br />Bond Release Evaluation - 2007 <br />