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navigate to the sample points. Cover transects will be oriented along a random compass bearing <br />from the point of origin. When production sampling is done concurrently with the cover <br />sampling, clip plots will be randomly placed along the vegetation transect. Allowable cover will <br />be calculated as percent total of canopy cover for each transect, and the mean calculated for the <br />study area. Perennial herbaceous forage production will be calculated based upon the sampling <br />of perennial grasses and forbs and converted to pounds per acre as discussed for the Irrigated <br />Pasture areas. <br />As allowed in Rule 4.15.8(5), species diversity can be quantified using either plant cover or <br />forage production comparison. When TR -58 at the NH2 Mine was approved, the CDMRS <br />required that in lieu of a species diversity standard for the reclaimed irrigated pasture areas there <br />would instead be a forage quality diversity standard. Therefore, the following forage quality <br />diversity standard was proposed and approved for the NH2 Mine and is proposed for the NI-IN <br />Mine as well: <br />Production on all Dryland Pasture reclaimed areas will consist of "desirable plant <br />species, as defined below, which will contribute at least 75% of the relative <br />production will be comprised of seeded species or species of comparable quality as <br />livestock forage as compared to the Dryland Pasture Reference Area standard. As <br />are recommended on page 7 of the Bond Release Guideline, the production of all <br />annuals and biennials will not be sampled in either the Dryland Pasture reclaimed <br />areas or Dryland Pasture Reference Area. In addition, all Montrose County or San <br />Miguel County listed noxious weed species will not be counted toward the <br />revegetation success standard for cover or production in any reclaimed or reference <br />areas. For the purposes of this demonstration, a statistically adequate production <br />sample will be taken, or with a minimum of 15 cover samples and at least 30 <br />production samples. <br />As are recommended on page 7 of the Vegetation Guideline, the production plots on the Dryland <br />Pasture Reference Area will involve the sampling of perennial herbaceous plants which will be <br />clipped by life forms which will include perennial grasses and perennial forbs. While on the <br />Dryland Pasture reclaimed sites, the plants will be clipped by the categories of: seeded grasses, <br />Section 2.05.4(2)(e) Page 30 January 2012 <br />