2009-09-22_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1984067

• Permit No: C1984067
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 9/22/2009
• Doc Name: 2009 Revegetation Sampling
• From: Sandy Brown
• To: Tom Kaldenbach and Dan Hernandez
• Permit Index Doc Type: Vegetation
• Email Name: TAK
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
D I V I S I ON OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
TO: Tom Kaldenbac an Dan Hernandez Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
FROM: Sandy Brown Ronald W. Cattany
DATE: September 2 , 2 09 Division Director
RE: Coal Gulch - 2009 Revegetation Sampling Natural Resource Trustee
Vegetative cover data was collected at the reclaimed Coal Gulch Mine in LaPlata County
by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) staff. Data was collected
on July 29, 2009. Prior to collecting the field data, a map was prepared in the office
showing the reclaimed area. Random points were selected for the reclaimed area to
ensure the entire site was covered. A total of 20 randomly located sites were selected and
the data was collected at 18 points to ensure sample adequacy for cover was achieved.
Cover
Vegetation cover was estimated by the use of the point-intercept method. A laser (ten)
point frame was used to minimize instrument error and maximize precision and observer
accuracy. Cover transects were 25 meters in length, with ten sample data points collected
at 2.5 meter intervals along the transect on the right side of the transect centerline, for a
total of 100 points per transect. Transect orientation was determined by navigating with a
hand held GPS unit to the next transect point.
For statistical purposes, each cover transect served as a sample unit. Data points recorded
the first vertical "hit" on vegetation (as determined by the laser point frame), soil (bare
ground), rock, or litter. The data were summarized by computing mean cover, relative
cover (percent of total vegetation cover attributed to each species), and species
composition. Species composition information was computed from vegetation cover data
using a ratio of individual species cover to total vegetation cover.
Sample Adequacy
Sample adequacy calculations were made for vegetative cover of the sampled reclaimed
area. The following formula, accepted by the Division, was used for these calculations:
z z
nmin - t S
(d Xbar)2
where :
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines