2008-07-11_REPORT - m1983194

• Permit No: m1983194
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 7/11/2008
• Doc Name: Annual Report
• From: Natural Soda
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: Annual Reclamation Report
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Vegetation Monitoring Results for Native Rangelands (undisturbed control)
Above ground biomass production, plant species composition and ground cover data were
collected from nearby native rangelands on July 27 and 28, 2007. The data were collected from
within twenty 9.6 square foot quadrates at the peak of production for most native plant species.
Quadrates were protected by enclosures to prevent vegetation removal by grazers and browsers.
The enclosures are relocated each growing season to prevent multiple years of protection. Above
ground vegetative biomass production was measured using a double sampling procedure of
estimates adjusted by actual values from representative samples. Six of the twenty quadrates
were estimated then clipped to obtain an actual weight correction factor to adjust estimated
weights. Clipped samples were oven dried to obtain an air dry weight correction factor for green
weights.
Table 6.3 shows a summary of the ground cover data collected from nearby native rangelands in
2007 and compares that data with data from previous years. The ground cover data in Table 6.3
is summarized by class of vegetation and cover type from data presented in Table Al. The
ground cover data in Table Al are shown by plant species or cover type. The scientific and
common names of the plant species encountered are also presented in that table.
Table 6.3 -
I r
II ound Cover for Native Rangeland (control)
July 2007
2004
%Cove
r 2005
%Cover 2006
%Cover 2007
%Cover % Change in
Cover
2006/2007
Perennial Grasses 27.2 26.6 27.7 26.9 -2.9%
Perennial Forbs 10.1 12.6 6.1 5.6 -8.2%
Annual Grasses 0.2 1.2 0.9 1.2 +25.0%
Weedy Forbs 1.1 3.0 0.8 0.6 -25.0%
Shrubs 13.9 14.8 14.9 18.7 +20.3%
Moss/Lichens 4.5 3.6 5.8 9.1 +36.3%
Vegetative Litter 7.6 7.4 14.3 12.6 -11.9%
Bare Ground 34.0 30.3 29.1 24.5 -15.8%
Rock 1.4 0.5 0.4 0.80 +50.0%
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 6.4 shows a summary of the above ground vegetation biomass production data collected
from native rangelands. Table 6.5 shows a summary of the plant species composition data
collected from native rangelands. Both tables also show a comparison of the 2007 data with data
from previous years. The 2007 data in Table 6.4 and Table 6.5 are summarized by class of
vegetation from data presented in Table A2. The data presented in Table A2 are quantitative
above ground vegetative production and plant species composition for each plant species
encountered within the study.
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