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• maximum of 50 transects was sampled. <br />Results <br />Field Sampling Dates. All of the data utilized in this evaluation were collected between June <br />18, 2007 and August 3, 2007. At the time of the field sampling, all of the plants were actively <br />growing and it is believed that the sampling was performed close to the period of optimum plant <br />growth, when the plant cover and production were near their peak. A total of 73 plant species <br />were identified in the 60 cover transects and 195 shrub density transects sampled in this <br />evaluation. A list of all of the plant species encountered in the field sampling efforts in this <br />evaluation is presented in Table 1, Northfield Mine Plant Species List. <br />Sample Adegnac~ A statistical analysis of the data collected to characterize the plant cover, <br />production, and shrub density is presented in Table 2, Northfield Mine Sample Adequacy <br />Calculations. This comparison documents that a sufficient number of samples were collected to <br />describe the parameters of total plant cover, herbaceous production and shrub density at the 90 <br />percent confidence interval or until the maximum of fifty transects as required by the Division's <br />directions were sampled. <br />Transact Locations. The locations and orientation of all of the cover, production and shrub <br />density transacts sampled in this evaluation are shown on the enclosed maps. The specific <br />details corresponding to cash proposed vegetation dishubance or reference area sampled will be <br />• discussed in connection with the discussion pertaining to each site. <br />JUNIPER-GRASSLAND PREDISTURBANCE AREA <br />Cover. Total plant cover obtained from the fi$een cover transacts evaluated on this site was <br />found to average 43.80 percent and litter averaged 24.60 percent (Table 3, Juniper-Grassland <br />Predisturbance Area -Plant Cover.) <br />Perennial grasses dominate the plant cover on this site, contributing 19.94 percent of the total <br />cover or 45.53 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Trees, shrubs and subshrubs <br />contributed a total of 7.07 percent or 16.14 percent of the total relative cover on this site. <br />Perennial forbs contributed a total of 6.00 percent of the total cover and 13.70 percent of the total <br />relative cover on this site. Succulents, contributed a total of 4.27 percent of the total plant cover <br />or 9.75 percent of the total relative cover of this site. Annuals and biennials contributed a total <br />of 3.87 percent of the total plant cover or 8.84 percent of the total relative cover of this site. <br />Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) was the dominant plant growing on this site, contributing a <br />total of 21.16 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Red Threeawn (Aristides longiseta), <br />Juniper (Juniperus monosperma) Pricklypear Cactus (Opuntia polyacantha) and Storksbill <br />(Erodium cicutarium) were the other dominate plants on this site, contributing 17.39, 9.43, 7.31 <br />and 7.15 percent, respectively, of the total relative cover on this area. <br />• 5 <br />