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be completed. In this manner, boundary transects were retained entirely within the target unit by <br />"bouncing" off the boundaries. Production quadrats were always oriented 90 to the right (clockwise) of <br />the ground cover transect and placed one meter from the starting point so as to avoid any trampled <br />vegetation. <br />2.2 Determination of Ground Cover <br />Ground cover at each sample point was determined utilizing the point - intercept methodology as <br />illustrated on Figure 1. As indicated on this figure, Cedar Creek utilizes state -of- the -art instrumentation it <br />has pioneered to facilitate much more rapid and accurate collection of data. A transect of 10 meters <br />length was extended in the direction of the next sampling location from the flagged center of each <br />systematically located sample point. At each one -meter interval along the transect, a "laser point bar" <br />was situated parallel to, and approximately 4.5 to 5.0 feet vertically above the ground surface. A set of <br />10 readings was recorded as to hits on vegetation (by species), litter, (including standing dead), rock <br />( >2mm), or bare soil. Hits were determined at each meter interval by activating a battery of 10 low - <br />energy specialized lasers ** situated along the bar at 10 centimeter intervals and recording the variable <br />intercepted by each of the narrowly focused (0.02 (see Figure 1). In this manner, a total of 100 <br />intercepts per transect were recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. This methodology and <br />instrumentation facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, and precise ground cover data <br />possible. Identification and nomenclature of plant species follows Weber and Wittman (1996) Colorado <br />Flora: Western Slope. <br />2.3 Determination of Woody Plant Densitv <br />Two sampling methods are employed for monitoring woody plant density within the revegetated <br />units at Colowyo. The first method, belt transects, was employed throughout the non -shrub patch <br />revegetation evaluated for Phase III bond release in both 2007 and 2008. At each sample site in the <br />Phase III area, a 2 -meter wide by 50 -meter long belt transect was established parallel to the ground <br />cover transect and in the direction of the next sampling point (in a cardinal direction — see Figure 1). <br />Then within each belt, all woody plants (shrubs, trees, and succulents) were enumerated by species. <br />** Lasers utilized for this instrument are state -of- the -art and of specialized design to emit a unique electro- magnetic <br />wavelength visible under full sunlight, a condition previously not possible with portable low- energy lasers. <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. Page 11 Colowyo Mine - Bond Release Evaluation <br />Phase III Year 2 <br />