2011-12-06_REVISION - C1981010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 C1981 -010; SL13 December 1, 2011 of relative cover of the principle species was 25.2 %; for 2011 it was 28.59 %. For both years no four species in combination exceeded 80% relative cover. Based on this data, the species diversity standard has been met. Herbaceous Production The harvest method was used to measure herbaceous production. Thirty randomly placed transects were measured throughout the bond release block. It appears the same transects used to measure plant cover were used to measure herbaceous production along with the addition of ten other transects. Perennial grasses and perennial forbs were clipped in three randomly selected one - quarter square meter plots per transect sampled. Annuals, biennials, noxious weeds and shrub production were not clipped. The harvested plant material was then oven dried and weighed. The sampling method used meets the criteria outlined in Rule 4.15.11(1) and the permit application. The 2010 and 2011 measurements indicated that an average of 226.5 and 380.4 grams per square meter are produced at this site respectively. The standard approved for the range site A is 62.39 grams per square meter. After calculating sample adequacy as cited in Rule 4.15.11(2)(a), the required number of transects to characterize this site at the 90% confidence interval exceeded the number of samples taken in 2010 and 2011. Given this, a "reverse" null hypothesis test was used to demonstrate reclamation success for production in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(2)(c). Based on this calculation, the sample was adequate and the success standard was met. Woody Plant Density A- modified -belt transect method was used to- measure - woody - plant - density -The -same30- randomly - - -- located transects used to measure production were used to measure woody plant density. One -meter wide belts were measured on each side of a 50 meter tape per transect sampled. The 2010 and 2011 measurements indicate on average 1,325 and 1,471 stems per acre, respectively, exist throughout the bond release block. The approved permit standard is 400 stems per acre. After calculating sample adequacy as cited in Rule•4.15.11(2)(a), the required number of transects to characterize this site at the 90% confidence interval exceeded the number of samples taken in 2010 and 2011. Given this, a "reverse" null hypothesis test was used to determine reclamation success for woody plant density in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(2)(c). Based on this calculation, the sample was adequate and the success standard was met. An additional component of the woody plant density standard for the Trapper Mine is comprised of concentrated shrub clumps to be established on range A and B sites. These shrub clumps are approximately 1.6 acres in size and are no more than 1,400 feet apart. Each clump is comprised of 250 transplanted mature shrub pads. A pad is considered a single front - end - loader bucket load of native shrub stems. Three shrub clumps were included in the lands requested for bond release in SL13: SC -A -01, SC -A -00 and SC -F -06. The shrub clumps are composed of transplanted shrub pads. If pads exhibit 10 or more live stems per pad, the pad is considered alive. If 50% or more of the shrub pads within a clump are considered alive, the clump is considered successful. The 2010 sample data found 83 % live pads within the clumps, while the 2011 sample data recorded approximately 66% live pads within the clump. I conducted a sample adequacy calculation as described in Rule 4.15.11(2)(a) on the 2010 and 2011 data submitted for shrub clump survival. For the 2010 data, the sample number was found to be adequate, and the success standard was met. The sample number was not found to be adequate for the 2011 data. Given this, a "reverse" null hypothesis test was run for the 2011 data, and based on this calculation the sample number taken were adequate and the standard was met.