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d \ <br /> COAL CANYON VEGETATION SAMPLING PROGRAM <br /> Vegetation Mapping <br /> A plant ecologist conducted a reconnaissance of the entire permit area <br /> (approximately 2,000 acres) and selected mapping units based upon vege— <br /> tatj on structure and species dominance. Photography will be used to e i <br /> precisely delineate the boundaries of each vegetation type upon a USGS ty/, l'. .� - <br /> base map at a scale of " = 400-700' . Extensive field reconnaissance <br /> will be employed to verify the boundaries of the mapping units. The <br /> area to be affected by physical disturbance has one shrubby vegetation <br /> type, Alttemi-4ia—At ipl_ association. <br /> Only disturbed area com unities will be quantitatively described. Other <br /> vegetation types within the permit area will be qualitatively described. <br /> Affected Area Sampling Design <br /> Cover, production, and density sampling will be confined to the area of <br /> proposed physical disturbance. All sample sites will be located by a <br /> random process. A grid system will be constructed over a vegetation <br /> map of the areas surrounding proposed disturbances. Coordinates (x,y) <br /> will be determined by a random number generator and used to locate a <br /> set number of sample points within each sample unit. Thus, the required <br /> number of sample points will be generated. <br /> Each sample point will a located in the field through the aid of a <br /> compass, USGS map, and acing where necessary. Cover transects will be <br /> randomly oriented. Rance cages will not be used as there is no potential <br /> for domestic livestock razing. <br /> Reference Area Selection <br /> A reference area will be established for the one vegetation type affected <br /> by di!*Turbance. The referent area wii1 be selected following the ccimple— <br /> tion and analysis of coverFafa� 'br tf�<e�affected vegetation types. This <br /> procedure will permit the integration of cover data into the reference <br /> area selection process. Factors to be considered in the location and <br /> selection of a representative reference site include similarity of vege— <br /> tation and habitat of the reference area compared to the affected area. <br /> Important vegetation factors to be evaluated will include: structure, <br /> composition, species dominance as expressed by cover, production, and <br /> density. Prominent abiotic habitat factors to be considered include <br /> soil type, topography, slope, and aspect. <br /> Following collection and analysis of data the comparability of reference <br /> areas and analogous affected areas will be evaluated statistically for <br /> cover and production with the formula <br /> —1— <br />