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During the course of fieldwork, a list of all plant species encountered (quantitative plus incidental <br />observations) was compiled for each potentially affected vegetation type and for the three reference <br />areas. These lists are tabulated in Appendix D, "Species Presence for All Areas." Note that all big <br />sagebrush plants encountered were referred to as Seriphidium tridentatum. Plants referred to here as <br />Poa secunda are the plants formerly known as big bluegrass (Poa ampla) a species commonly included <br />in reclamation seed mixes. The taxonomic treatment of Weber and Wittmann (1996) places Poa ampla <br />(as well as Poa sandbergii) with Poa secunda. Despite this merger, the distinctness of Poa ampla is worth <br />noting. Mountain bromegrass encountered during sampling is referred to as Ceratochloa polyantha in <br />recognition of its perennial habit compared to the Ceratochloa carinatus taxon included in Weber and <br />Wittmann (2001) as the appropriate name for Colorado plants. The latter taxon (C. carinatus) is an <br />annual. Festuca ovina (sheep fescue) was included in the reclaimed area seed mixes generally. The <br />degree to which sheep fescue differs morphologically from the native Festuca saximontana (Rocky <br />Mountain fescue) is very minimal. Here all occurrences in the reclaimed and reference areas have been <br />called F. saximontana. <br />Photographic Record <br />Within each area, representative color photographs were taken to document the appearance of the <br />vegetation in 2012 (Appendix F). Where appropriate, a placard identifies the particular area and sample. <br />Statistical Methods <br />Sampling was conducted at randomly located sites. Random sampling locations were generated using <br />ESRI ArcMap 9.3 software and Hawth's Analysis Tools for ArcGIS (Beyer 2004). Garmin GPS60 units <br />(accuracy to 3 m) and topographic maps were used in the field to locate random points. Cover and <br />woody plant transects were randomly oriented; production samples were located randomly behind the <br />transect origin. At each cover /woody plant density sampling location, the slope, expressed as a percent, <br />and aspect of the site, in degrees not corrected for magnetic declination, were determined and recorded, <br />as was the orientation of the transect. <br />Assessment of Reclamation Adequacy <br />GENERAL <br />Formal (statistical) hypothesis testing (see below) was undertaken for the Phase III Bond Release Block <br />(post -law, Permanent program lands). <br />4 <br />