2008-10-07_PERMIT FILE - C1981047 (4)

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Woody Plant Density Woody plant density within the grassland reclaimed area will be determined by total • count. Total count will be accomplished byforming a line of observers each standing about 15- feet apart. The line of observers systematically walks the entire reclaimed area counting each woody plant (shrubs and trees). The observers constantly communicate and only count woody plants to the observer's right or left to assure an accurate count. Additionally, the appropriate outside observer utilizes hip-chain string to delineate the area just counted. Woody plant density within the riparian reclaimed area will be determined by sampling large quadrats or belts. At each sample site in the reclaimed riparian area, a 2-meter wide by 50 meter long belt transect will be established in the direction of the next sampling point. Then within each belt, all woody plants (shrubs and trees) will be enumerated by species and age class. Detennination of whether or not a plant could be counted is dependent upon the location of its main stem orroot collar where it exits the ground surface with regard to belt limits. Testing for Success Reverse-null hypothesis testing will be utilized as the preferred testing protocol for cover, production, and woody plant density in the riparian area. For this procedure, collection of an "adequate" sample (where nm;° <_ n) is not necessary as it is in the operator's best interest to sample until a "tight" estimate of the mean is obtained Q.e., sampling should continue until the variance is "narrowly" defined). In the "classical" null hypothesis test, rejection of Ho means failure as the hypothesis • being tested is that the reclaimed area variable is greater than or equal to 90% of the reference area or standard. However, in the reverse null test, rejection of Ho means success as the hypothesis being tested is that the reclaimed area variable is less than or equal to 90% of the reference area or standard. Therefore, once a sample has been collected from both the target area of interest and the reference area (or standard), the means and variances (x and SZ) of those samples will be utilized for testing revegetation success orfailure. Testing will occur as follows: t~ = x S Q Where : Q = 90% of the Standard z =Sample mean of the reveg data s =Sample Standard Deviation n =Sample Size Then if t°> t for t (a=0.1,n-1 d.f.) the test is successful. A two sample reverse null t-test, with a minimum sample size of 30 in both the reference area and reclaimed area, will be employed if sample adequacy is not demonstrated in the reference area. ~ 1 U 113iii 06/05