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transect, the orientation of the transect was turned 90 in the appropriate direction so the transect could <br />be completed within the target unit. In this manner, boundary samples were retained entirely within the <br />target unit by "bouncing" off the boundaries. <br />2.2 Determination of Ground Cover <br />Ground cover at each sample point was determined utilizing the point- intercept methodology as <br />illustrated on Figure 1. As indicated in this figure, Cedar Creek utilizes state -of- the -art instrumentation it <br />has pioneered to facilitate much more rapid and accurate collection of data. A transect of 10 meters <br />length was extended in the direction of the next sampling location from the center of each systematically <br />located sample point. At each one -meter interval along the cover transect, a "laser point bar" was <br />situated parallel to, and approximately 4.5 feet vertically above the ground surface. A set of 10 readings <br />was recorded as to hits on vegetation (by species), litter, rock ( >2mm), or bare soil. Hits were <br />determined at each meter interval by activating a battery of 10 low- energy specialized lasers situated <br />along the bar at 10 centimeter intervals and recording the variable intercepted by each of the vertically <br />projected narrow (0.5mm) focused beams (Figure 1). In this manner, a total of 100 intercepts per <br />transect were recorded resulting in 1 percent cover per intercept. All reclaimed area vegetation as well <br />as reference area vegetation (including both herbaceous and shrub strata) were subject to sampling. <br />This methodology and instrumentation facilitates the collection of the most unbiased, repeatable, and <br />precise ground cover data possible. <br />To facilitate diversity calculations, additional hits (beyond the 100 maximum) are recorded when an <br />overstory shrub or tree stratum is present. In this instance, the primary overstory hit is moved to the <br />side and any intercepts on underlying live herbaceous vegetation are recorded separately as "2 hits ". <br />Second hit data are used only for diversity calculations, not total ground cover estimates. <br />2.3 Determination of Current Annual Production <br />At all sample sites in the reference and reclamation areas, current annual herbaceous production <br />was collected from a 0.5 m quadrat frame placed one meter and 90° to the right (clockwise) of the <br />ground cover transect to facilitate avoidance of vegetation trampled by investigators during sample site <br />location (Figure 1). From within each quadrat, all above ground current annual vegetation within the <br />vertical boundaries of the frame was clipped and bagged separately by lifeform as follows: <br />Perennial Grasses Perennial Forbs <br />Annual Grasses Annual & Biennial Forbs <br />Sub - Shrubs Noxious Weeds <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. 11 Snowcap Mine - 2011 <br />Phase III Bond Release Evaluation - Year 1 <br />