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Colowyo SL4 3 October 29, 2010 <br />Mountain Shrub reference= 61.3% =live vegetative cover (Ivc) <br />Sagebrush reference= 48.35% live vegetative cover <br />Acreage weighted results Reference areas=55.47% Ivc. <br />2009 SL4 phase II bond release block=69.12% Ivc. <br />One noxious species, Cheatgrass, continues to be present in the BRB accounting for 8.44% relative cover. Total annuals <br />and biennials were minimal too, accounting for 10.29% relative cover. Even with removal of the Cheatgrass component <br />from the 2009 cover value, resulting in 63.13% live vegetative cover, the 2009 cover measured on the bond release <br />block was acceptable and the bond release block cover still met the cover standard. <br />Results: 2009 Bond Release Block cover > 2009 Acreage weighted reference area cover <br />Diversity: Eight species exhibited greater than 3% relative cover, but less than 50% relative cover. Six species were <br />perennial grasses, and two were perennial forbs. None of these species were considered noxious or toxic. The diversity <br />standard for this bond release block (parcels reclaimed prior to 2008) require at least two cool season grasses with <br />between 3% and 50% relative cover, and all forbs combined with between 1% and 50% relative cover. Although <br />diversity is not a requirement of phase II bond release, the Division evaluates this parameter to determine if the <br />reclaimed areas is progressing towards final success criteria. The SL4 Phase II Bond Release Block achieved the required <br />diversity standard with the 2009 vegetation sampling. <br />Based upon data collected in 2008 and 2009, the Division finds the vegetative cover on SL4 bond release block successful <br />for Phase II Bond Release requirements. <br />3. Adequacy comment: The sample location points shown on the maps included in each vegetation report are at a <br />huge scale, 225'diameter "dots" =.91 acres each. This is an issue when determining if all transects fall within the <br />parcels being requested for bond release. This was a concern in the 2008 sampling data. A smaller sized <br />identifier should be used to indicate the locations of the transect start points.