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DISCUSSION <br />Climatic Conditions <br />The year preceding 2011 sampling was characterized by a very wet fall and winter (precipitation in <br />December of 2010 totaled a record 2.98 inches), continuing in early spring with a very wet April and May <br />(Figure C -2). June precipitation was below average with a return to above average precipitation in July. <br />The abundant cold- season precipitation created above average snowpack levels for the region. These <br />wet months combined with a wet summer left precipitation total for the 12 months preceding sampling <br />well above average (Figure C-4b). In general, 2011 was the wettest and coolest observed in the last 26 <br />years. <br />Sample Adequacy Calculations <br />Sample adequacy of total first -hit vegetation cover was achieved in each of the reference areas as well as <br />BRB -5 (see below and Table C-4). Summaries of the allowable herbaceous calculations (Tables G -1, G- <br />2, and G -3) for each area are as follows: <br />2011 Assessment of BRB -5 for Compliance with Phase 111 Performance Standards <br />COVER - PERFORMANCE STANDARD BASED ON REFERENCE AREA MEANS <br />Calculation of 90 percent of the cover performance standard appropriate for 2011 sampling based on <br />reference area means is demonstrated below. <br />Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable First -Hit Herbaceous Cover *(21.0 %) X 2 = 41.9% <br />Sagebrush Reference Area Allowable First -Hit Herbaceous Cover *(44.4 %) X 2 = 88.8% <br />90 percent of the Cover Standard = 0.90 [0.83(41.9 %) + 0.17(88.8 %)] = 44.9% <br />* Herbaceous cover adjusted by subtracting noxious weeds and annual/biennial plant cover in excess of 10% of the remainder. <br />The mean allowable first -hit herbaceous vegetation cover sampled in 2011 BRB -5 was 59.7 percent, <br />exceeding 44.9 percent, which is 90 percent of the cover performance standard (Figure C -1, Table C -1). <br />The 2011 BRB -5 allowable first -hit herbaceous cover is the result of subtracting first -hit non - herbaceous <br />cover (shrubs) on an individual transect basis and subtracting the mean first -hit noxious weed cover and <br />the "excess" annual /biennial cover (greater than 10 percent of first -hit relative cover) from the observed <br />mean first -hit total vegetation cover. <br />16 <br />