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~~ ~i <br />III I II I II I II IIII III Doc Date:12/11/2001 <br />999 <br />• SECTION 7.0 Miscellaneous <br />7.1 Vegetation Monitoring for Seeding Exclusion in 1989 Derringer Pit Topsoil Area <br />(1993 Sampling Year) <br />As required by the Division (TR-46), Trapper is submitting yearly vegetation sampling measurements for <br />the no seed topsoil plot (56 ac) established in Derringer Pit in 1989. The attached table 7-1 provides a list <br />of the plant species encountered, herbaceous canopy cover, herbaceous primary production and woody <br />stem densities. Vegetation sampling was conducted in the same manner on the exclusion plots as on other <br />reclaimed areas. <br />Methods <br />Herbaceous plant canopy cover, annual primary production, and woody stem densities were measured in <br />1993 on non-seeded plots (Derringer Pit) and seeded acreages in Derringer and Enfield pits (1981-1991 <br />reclamation). Three permanent 100-meter transects spaced 10 m apart were established in each reclaim <br />year in each pit in range sites A, B, and C. Herbaceous plant canopy cover and percent mulch cover were <br />estimated by species using the point-hit technique (Optical Point Bar). Each 100-meter permanent line <br />transect was estimated at each site and 10 observations recorded along each line transect at 10-meter <br />interval (total 100 contacts/transect). <br />• Annual herbaceous primary production was estimated by clipping plots (20 m interval) in each reclaim <br />area (range sites A, B and C) by year. One-quarter-meter plots were clipped (total), placed into a labeled <br />paper sack, and brought to the laboratory for drying and weighing. Oven drying was performed at 50 <br />degrees centigrade fora 24-hour period. <br />Woody stem density was calculated using belt transects. All woody stems rooted within one meter of <br />either side of the 100m transect line were counted and tallied by shrub species. <br />Results <br />Vegetation on the seeding exclusion plot is still dominated by annual biennial plant species but perennial <br />plant cover, perennial plant production and shrub density increased significantly during 1993 (Table 7-1). <br />The herbaceous canopy cover provided by all plants was approximately 63 percent. Perennial plants <br />represented 23 percent of the total herbaceous cover compared to 13 percent in 1993. Litter cover was <br />approximately 25 percent. Perennial herbaceous production in 1993 was 635 Ibs/ac, compared to 573 <br />Ibs/ac in 1992. <br />Five plant species (Wood's Rose, Big Sagebrush, Common Chokecherry, Antelope Bitterbrush and Moun- <br />tain Snowberry) are represented in the 1993 woody stem density inventory. The approximate woody stem <br />density for the seeding exclusion area (RSA and R561 is 459 stems per acre. The woody plant density <br />increased significantly from that reported in 1992. Trapper will continue to evaluate woody plant <br />response during future sampling years. <br />u <br />