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The locations of the 15 shrub density transects sampled in the Irrigated Pasture predisturbance <br />area are shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit Area Vegetation Map. Examination of the sample <br />adequacy calculations in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -2, New Horizon North Mine Area - Sample <br />Adequacy Calculations, reveals the number of samples required to describe the shrub density on <br />this area at the 90 percent confidence interval was 679.9 transects. <br />DRYLAND PASTURE <br />This vegetation type is found on those portions of the proposed permit area which have been <br />planted to improved pasture species and which is some instances were historically irrigated 15 to <br />20 years ago and which are no longer being irrigated. The Dryland Pasture vegetation type is the <br />forth largest plant community type found within the proposed NHN Mine permit area (Map <br />2.04.10 -1 - Permit Area Vegetation Map). This vegetation type covers an area approximately <br />44.49 acres in size and accounts for nearly 13.81 percent of the proposed permit area. <br />Plant Cover. The results of the sampling of the 15 plant cover transects on this site are presented <br />in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -12, Dryland Pasture Plant Cover, Total plant cover on this site <br />averaged 39.20 percent, litter averaged 35.87 percent, bare ground averaged 23.40 percent and <br />rock averaged 1.53 percent ( Appendix Table 2.04.10 -12, Dryland Pasture Plant Cover). <br />However, noxious weeds, annuals and biennial plant cover accounted for 22.13 percent of the <br />total cover and 56.45 percent of the total relative cover on this site. "Total allowable cover" a <br />term often used by the DRMS in permitting, which includes only perennial grasses, perennial <br />forbs and tree and shrub cover, accounts for only 17.07 total cover and 43.55 of the total relative <br />cover on this site. <br />Perennial grasses dominated the vegetation on this site accounting for 15.40 percent of the total <br />cover or 39.39 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Noxious weeds accounted for 14.27 <br />percent of the total cover or 36.39 percent of the total relative cover. Annuals and biennials <br />accounted for 8.27 percent of the total cover or 21.09 percent of the total relative cover and <br />shrubs and trees accounted for 0.40 percent of the total cover or 1.02 percent of the total relative <br />cover on this site. <br />The most commonly encountered plant species growing on this vegetation type was Russian <br />Knapweed, which provided 6.00 percent of the total plant cover and 15.30 percent of the total <br />relative cover of this site. The other dominant plant species were Field Bindweed, Kentucky <br />Bluegrass, Broadleaf Plantain, and Smooth Bromegrass which contributed 5.80 and 14.79, 4.27 <br />and 10.88 percent, 4.07 and 10.37 and 3.20 and 8.16 percent respectively of the total plant cover <br />and total relative cover respectively. <br />The locations of the 15 cover transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit <br />Area Vegetation Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Appendix Table 2.04.10 -2, New <br />Horizon North Mine Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of <br />Section 2.04.10 Page 15 November 2011 <br />