Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />• <br />The locations of the 15 shrub density transects sampled in the Irrigated Pasture Reference Area <br />are shown on Map 2.04.10 -3, Irrigated Pasture Reference Area. Examination of the sample <br />adequacy calculations in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -2, New Horizon North Mine Area - Sample <br />Adequacy Calculations, reveals the number of samples required to describe the shrub density on <br />this area at the 90 percent confidence interval was 792.4 transects. <br />DRYLAND PASTURE REFERENCE AREA <br />The Dryland Pasture Reference Area is the currently approved reference area for the Dryland <br />Pasture vegetation type for the existing NH2 Mine Permit Area and is located immediately to the <br />west of the existing Hopkins Field Airport, operated by Montrose County approximately four <br />miles to the south of the New Horizon Mine office. This site was sampled in anticipation that <br />the existing vegetation characteristics of this site would be similar to those associated with the <br />Dryland Pasture predisturbance area associated with the proposed NHN Mine permit area. <br />Plant Cover. The results obtained from the sampling of the 18 plant cover transects on the <br />Dryland Pasture Reference Area are presented in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -24, Dryland Pasture <br />Reference Area - Plant Cover. Total plant cover on this site averaged 16.39 percent and litter <br />averaged 24.83 percent (Appendix Table 2.04.10 -24, Dryland Pasture Reference Area - Plant <br />Cover). <br />Four plant life forms were encountered in the cover sampling of this site. Native shrub and <br />subshrubs were the dominant plant life form encountered on this site, contributing 8.00 percent <br />of the total plant cover and 48.81 percent of the total relative cover found on this site. Perennial <br />forbs were the second most dominant plant life form, contributing 5.00 percent of the total plant <br />cover and 30.51 percent of the total relative cover found on this site. Perennial grasses <br />contributed 2.78 percent of the total plant cover and 16.95 percent of the total relative cover <br />found on this area. Annuals and biennials contributed 0.56 percent of the total plant cover and <br />3.39 percent of the total relative cover and Noxious Weeds contributed 0.06 percent of the total <br />plant cover and 0.34 percent of the total relative cover on this site. <br />Brome Snakeweed, a native subshrub was the dominant plant species encountered, contributing <br />40.07 percent of the total relative plant cover found on this site. The other dominant plants <br />encountered were: Common Globemallow, Russian Wildrye, Fourwing Saltbush and Basin Big <br />Sagebrush contributed 29.83, 16.95, 7.12 and 4.75 percent, respectively, of the total relative <br />cover on this area. <br />The locations of the 18 cover transects sampled in the Dryland Pasture Reference Area are <br />shown on Map 2.04.10 -4, Dryland Pasture Reference Area. The sample adequacy calculations in <br />Appendix Table 2.04.10 -2, New Horizon North Mine Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, <br />Section 2.04.10 Page 23 April 2011 <br />