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• <br />• <br />• <br />term often used by the DRMS in permitting, which includes only perennial grasses, perennial <br />forbs and tree and shrub cover, accounts for only 17.07 total cover and 43.55 of the total relative <br />cover on this site. <br />Perennial grasses dominated the vegetation on this site accounting for 15.40 percent of the total <br />cover or 39.39 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Noxious weeds accounted for 14.27 <br />percent of the total cover or 36.39 percent of the total relative cover. Annuals and biennials <br />accounted for 8.27 percent of the total cover or 21.09 percent of the total relative cover and <br />shrubs and trees accounted for 0.40 percent of the total cover or 1.02 percent of the total relative <br />cover on this site. <br />The most commonly encountered plant species growing on this vegetation type was Russian <br />Knapweed, which provided 6.00 percent of the total plant cover and 15.30 percent of the total <br />relative cover of this site. The other dominant plant species were Field Bindweed, Kentucky <br />Bluegrass, Broadleaf Plantain, and Smooth Bromegrass which contributed 5.80 and 14.79, 4.27 <br />and 10.88 percent, 4.07 and 10.37 and 3.20 and 8.16 percent respectively of the total plant cover <br />and total relative cover respectively. <br />The locations of the 15 cover transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit <br />Area Vegetation Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -2, New <br />Horizon North Mine Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of <br />samples required to describe this site with respect to total plant cover at the 90 percent <br />confidence interval was determined to equal 3.9 transects. <br />Production. The results of the 50 production transects on this area are summarized in Appendix <br />Table 12.04.10 -13, Dryland Pasture - Production. The average forage production on this site <br />averaged 9.78 g/1 /4m or 348.6 pounds of air -dry forage per acre. Perennial grasses contributed <br />6.40 g /1/4m or 65.44 percent and perennial forbs contributed 3.38 g/1 /4m or 34.56 percent of <br />the total forage production on this area. <br />The locations of the 50 production transects sampled for this vegetation type are shown on Map <br />2.04.10 -1, Permit Area Vegetation Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Appendix Table <br />2.04.10 -2, New Horizon North Mine Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the <br />number of production transects required to characterize this site at the 90 percent confidence <br />interval was 121.1. Since 50 transects were sampled in this vegetation type, which satisfies the <br />maximum sample size of 50 transects as found in the Vegetation Guideline, it can be concluded <br />that this area satisfies the sample adequacy requirements with respect to forage production. <br />Shrub Density. The shrub density counts obtained from the 15 belt transects taken in this area <br />are summarized in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -14, Dryland Pasture - Shrub Density. The average <br />shrub density was determined to equal 1.67 shrubs per 100 m or 67.5 shrubs per acre. Rubber <br />Rabbitbrush, Siberian Elm and Basin Big Sagebrush were the only woody plants encountered. <br />Section 2.04.10 Page 15 April 2011 <br />