2008-10-03_REPORT - C1981010 (2)

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"allowable cover" for this reclamation block averaged 75.22 that perennial plant cover averaged • 53.15 percent, thus the permit standards for plant cover have been achieved. Perennial grasses dominated the seeded vegetation on this reclaimed site, accounting for 58.90 percent of the total relative cover. Western Wheatgrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Great Basin Wddrye, Smooth Bromegmss and Intermediate Wheatgrass were the most commonly encountered grasses, contributing 16.38, 14.47, 8.03, 7.39 and 3.34 percent, respectively, of the total relative cover found on this site. Perennial forbs was the second most dominant life form found on this reclaimed site and contributed 23.77 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Alfalfa and Lewis Flax were the most commonly encountered perennial forbs on this site, contributing 13.34 and 4.53 percent of the total relative cover, respectively. The locations of the 20 cover transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 2, Trapper Mine - Vegetation Transect Area (D-Pit), Map 3, Trapper Mine - Vegetation Transect Area (H Pit) and on Map 4, Trapper Mine - Vegetation Transect Area (A Pit). Copies of the individual field data sheets for the plant cover sampling of this site are found in Exhibit A - Copies of Rangeland Reclamation Block AD&H-A/B - 96-98 - Plant Cover Field Data Sheets. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, Trapper Mine Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of samples required to describe this site at the 90 percent confidence interval was calculated to equal 4.0 transects for total plant cover. Production. The results of the 30 production transects sampled on this area are summarized in Table 4, Rangeland Reclamation Block AD&H AB - 96-98 - Production. Forage production on this site averaged 38.87g/1/4m2. Perennial grasses contributed 29.01 g/1/4m2 or 74.63 percent and perennial forbs, cont6buted 9.87 g/1/4mZ or 25.37 percent of the forage production on this reclaimed site. The revegetation forage production success standard for this area is 62.39 g/m2., . Since this site averaged 155.48 gW, it can be concluded that this area satisfies the revegetation success standard with respect to forage production. The locations of the 30 production transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 2, Trapper Mine - Vegetation Transect Area (D-Pit), Map 3, Trapper Mine - Vegetation Transect Area (H- Pit) and on Map 4, Trapper Mine - Vegetation Transect Area (A-Pit). Copies of the individuals field data sheets for the forage production sampling of this site are found in Exhibit B - Copies of Rangeland Reclamation Block AD&H-AB - 96-98 - Production Field Data Sheets. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, Trapper Mine Sample Adequacy Calculations, documents that the number of production transects required to characterize this site at the 90 percent confidence interval was 36.2. Since the reclaimed area production value (155.48 g/m?) exceeds the revegetation success standard of 62.39 gW with 30 transects, as allowed in the Division's existing regulations found in Section 4.15.11(2) and applying the reverse null statistical approach, it can be concluded that this area satisfies the monitoring requirements with respect to forage production Shrub Density. The shrub density counts obtained from the 30 belt transects taken in this area are summarized in Table 5, Rangeland Reclamation Block AD&H-AB - 96-98 - Shrub Density. The average shrub density was determined to equal 19.07 shrubs per one hundred square meters or 771.6 shrubs per acre. Big Sagebrush, Antelope Bitterbrush, Mountain Snowberry and Fourwing Saltbush were the most commonly encountered shrubs, contributing 264.4, 236. 1, 156.5 and 62.1 shrubs per acre respectively. The revegetation shrub density success standard for this area is 400 stems per acre. Since this site averaged 771.6 stems per acre, it can be concluded that this area satisfies the revegetation success standard with respect to shrub density. 5