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The Airport Dryland Pasture Reference Area is located within the fenced boundaries of the <br />Nucla Airport and is protected from domestic livestock grazing. Wildlife (deer, elk) utilize the <br />area as they will on the NHN reclaimed land. <br />For all reclaimed Dryland Pasture areas, vegetation cover and herbaceous production will be <br />measured at reclaimed sites and the reference area. Comparisons of the mean parameter values <br />between the reclaimed areas and the reference area will be used to determine revegetation <br />success, as described below. Vegetation cover will be measured as canopy cover of living <br />herbaceous and woody vegetation, as defined by CDRMS Regulation 4.15.8(3)(b). Perennial <br />herbaceous production will be measured as current year aboveground biomass of perennial <br />herbaceous vegetation, as defined by CDRMS Regulation 4.15.8(4). <br />Vegetation sampling for measuring reclamation success will be conducted to ensure a repeatable <br />and unbiased estimate of each vegetation population parameter. Measurements made on the <br />Dryland Pasture Reference Area will be performed concurrently with vegetation sampling of the <br />reclaimed lands, to ensure valid comparisons as specified in DRMS Regulation 4.15.11(1). <br />Measurements will be made at a time during the June through September growing season. <br />Vegetation cover will be measured by a point intercept method that meets the provisions of <br />DRMS Regulation 4.15.11(1)(a)(I). The observational unit will be a series of points along a <br />transect of at least 5 meters, and typically 50 meters in length, and at least 50 data points at either <br />random or regular intervals along the transect. A point sampling device supported by a rigid <br />frame will be used to ensure unbiased and vertical point placement. <br />Herbaceous production will be measured by a plot sampling method that meets the provisions of <br />DRMS Regulation 4.15.11(1)(b)(I). The observational unit will be a rectangular or circular plot <br />frame at least 3 square meter and large enough to encompass individual plants of the larger <br />species being sampled. Current year growth of herbaceous non -woody species will be clipped <br />within each sample plot. The sampled plant material will be bagged and taken to the laboratory <br />for drying and weighing. Samples will be oven -dried at 105 degrees C to a constant weight. <br />Sampling points for cover and herbaceous production will be located by using a random number <br />generating procedure to create up to 50 random co- ordinates within each study area (reclaimed <br />Section 2.05.4(2)(e) Page 26 April 2011 <br />