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• <br />• <br />• <br />Shrub Density. The shrub density counts obtained from the 15 belt transects sampled in this <br />area are summarized in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -8 Sagebrush - Shrub Density. The average shrub <br />density was determined to equal 56.53 shrubs per one hundred square meters or 2,287.8 shrubs <br />per acre. Basin Big Sagebrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush and Fourwing Saltbush were the most <br />commonly encountered shrubs. <br />The locations of the 15 shrub density transects sampled on the main block for this reclaimed site <br />are shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit Area Vegetation Map. Examination of the sample <br />adequacy calculations in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -2, North Mine Area - Sample Adequacy <br />Calculations, reveals the number of samples required to describe the shrub density on this area at <br />the 90 percent confidence interval was 40.0 transects. <br />IRRIGATED PASTURE <br />This vegetation type is found on those areas which are actively irrigated and are found down <br />slope of the existing irrigation ditches. The Irrigated Pasture is vegetation type is the third <br />largest plant community type found within the proposed NHN Mine permit area (Map 2.04.10 -1 <br />- Permit Area Vegetation Map). This area covers an area approximately 59.68 acres in size and <br />accounts for nearly 18.52 percent of the proposed permit area. <br />Plant Cover. The results obtained from the sampling of the 40 plant cover transects on the <br />Irrigated Pasture predisturbance area are presented in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -9, Irrigated <br />Pasture - Plant Cover. Total plant cover on this site averaged 70.63 percent and litter cover <br />averaged 32.32 percent. <br />Seeded perennial grasses were the dominant plant life form encountered on this site, contributing <br />39.38 percent of the total plant cover and 55.61 percent of the total relative cover found on this <br />site. Perennial forbs contributed 27.83 percent of the total plant cover and 39.40 percent of the <br />total relative cover found on this area. Noxious weeds contributed 8.18 percent of the total plant <br />cover and 11.57 percent of the total relative cover found on this area. Native shrubs contributed <br />0.73 percent of the total plant cover and 1.03 percent of the total relative cover found on this <br />area. Annuals and biennials contributed 0.20 percent of the total plant cover and 0.28 percent of <br />the total relative cover found on this site. <br />Alfalfa, a planted introduced perennial forb was the most dominant plant species encountered, <br />contributing 22.87 percent of the total relative plant cover found on this site. The other dominant <br />plants encountered were: Smooth Bromegrass, Tall Fescue, Orchardgrass and Kentucky <br />Bluegrass which contributed 16.21, 13.27, 12.21 and 5.42 percent, respectively, of the total <br />relative cover on this area. <br />The locations of the 40 cover transects sampled in the Irrigated Pasture predisturbance area are <br />shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit Area Vegetation Map. The sample adequacy calculations in <br />Section 2.04.10 Page 13 April 2011 <br />