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Rangeland and Forest Vegetation Classification, Productivity, and Plant Composition - -Mesa <br />County Area, Colorado <br />Range management requires knowledge of the kinds of soil and of the potential <br />natural plant community. It also requires an evaluation of the present range <br />similarity index and rangeland trend. Range similarity index is determined by <br />comparing the present plant community with the potential natural plant community <br />on a particular rangeland ecological site. The more closely the existing community <br />resembles the potential community, the higher the range similarity index. <br />Rangeland trend is defined as the direction of change in an existing plant <br />community relative to the potential natural plant community. Further information <br />about the range similarity index and rangeland trend is available in the "National <br />Range and Pasture Handbook," which is available in local offices of NRCS or on <br />the Internet. <br />The objective in range management is to control grazing so that the plants growing <br />on a site are about the same in kind and amount as the potential natural plant <br />community for that site. Such management generally results in the optimum <br />production of vegetation, control of undesirable brush species, conservation of <br />water, and control of erosion. Sometimes, however, an area with a range similarity <br />index somewhat below the potential meets grazing needs, provides wildlife habitat, <br />and protects soil and water resources. <br />Reference: <br />United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, <br />National range and pasture handbook. <br />USDA Natural Resources Web Soil Survey 2/27/2014 <br />Conservation Service National Cooperative Soil Survey Page 2 of 3 <br />