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Vegetation <br />The results of the 2013 monitoring survey are summarized in the Tables 1 and 2. Plant cover <br />was highest in two locations: surrounding the main pit in the northeastern portion of the site <br />(Photo 1) and on a separate hill in the southeastern portion of the site (Photo 2). The lowest <br />cover was on the Northwestern and northern hills (Photo 3) and the lower slopes and bottom of <br />the main pit (Photo 4). The central flat area had increased plant cover in 2013 (Photo 5). <br />Table 1. Vegetative Cover Values, Mesita Hill, June 2013 <br />Area <br />Average Cover ( %) <br />Range of Cover ( %) <br />NE hills <br />35 <br />30 to 40 <br />Main Pit (lower slopes & bottom) <br />5 <br />0 to 8 <br />Main Pit (upper slopes) <br />30 <br />30 to 35 <br />North hills <br />5 <br />0 to 10 <br />Central, flat <br />7 <br />0 to 15 <br />NW hills <br />3 <br />0 to 40 <br />West side (with spread topsoil) <br />25 <br />20 to 30 <br />SW hills <br />10 <br />0 to 45 <br />S hills <br />6 <br />0 - 8 <br />SE hillock <br />35 <br />30-50 <br />Plant species diversity was moderate during the 2013 inspection and lower in some places than <br />previous years (Table 2). Dominant plant species had shifted from grasses in 2012 to shrubs <br />and blazing star (Mentzelia laevicaulis; Photo 6) during 2013. The dominants shrubs were four- <br />wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and broom <br />snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae). These plants are generally less or non - palatable to grazing <br />and browsing animals. <br />Table 2. Vegetative Diversity Values, Mesita Hill, June 2013 <br />Area <br />Diversity (# of species) <br />NE hills <br />7 <br />Main Pit <br />4 <br />North hills <br />6 <br />Central, flat <br />4 <br />NW hills <br />5 <br />West side (with spread topsoil) <br />4 <br />SW hills <br />5 <br />S hills <br />7 <br />SE hillock <br />4 <br />3 <br />