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the field to locate random points. <br />Woody Plant Density areas such as may be included in eventual bond release blocks are judged <br />by a standard of 2000 stems per acre. Of Woody Plant Density areas that have been planted at <br />the Seneca IIW Mine, sampling has occurred in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. <br />Climatic Data <br />Seneca Coal Company has historically provided precipitation data for the nearby Seneca II and <br />IIW Mines, however 2011 data was not available as of March 2012, and therefore 2011 <br />precipitation data was obtained from the NOAA administered Western Regional Climate Center <br />(WRCC) for the nearby town of Hayden (Station 053867). Since the long -term average for the <br />Seneca IIW mine exists for only 26 years, the long -term average monthly precipitation data from <br />Hayden (Station 053867) was used as an appropriate base for comparison. Temperature data <br />from the Hayden station were used as well. <br />RESULTS <br />Data from sampling of Woody Plant Density blocks in 2011 (as well as trend data resulting from <br />the sampling of Woody Plant Density areas at the Seneca IIW Mine in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 <br />and 2011) are included in Tables 1 through 42 in Appendix 1. Graphs of woody plant density <br />data and climate data are presented in Figures la through 6 of this report. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Climatic Conditions <br />The year preceding 2011 sampling was characterized by a very wet fall and winter (precipitation <br />in December of 2010 totaled a record 2.98 inches), continuing in early spring with a very wet April <br />and May (Figure C -2). June precipitation was below average with a return to above average <br />precipitation in July. The abundant cold- season precipitation created above average snowpack <br />levels for the region. These wet months combined with a wet summer left precipitation total for <br />the 12 months preceding sampling well above average (Figure 3b). In general, 2011 was the <br />wettest and coolest observed in the last 26 years. <br />4 <br />