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Background Woody Plant Density <br />(Table A -3) <br />Total average density of woody plants was 1651 stems per acre, composed entirely of native <br />shrubs. Big sagebrush was the dominant species contributing 1122 stems per acre. Mountain <br />snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius), and silver sage (Artemisia cana), contributed 199.9 <br />and 114.5 stems per acre respectively. Seven other native shrubs were present, each less than <br />100 stems per acre. <br />Shrub Concentration Areas Woody Plant Density <br />(Table A -4) <br />2006 Shrub concentration Areas were sampled in 2013. Total average density of woody plants <br />was 1954.65 stems per acre. Native shrubs contributed the most with 1946.56 stems per acre. <br />Of the group Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) was the most abundant, with 768.91 <br />stems per acre. The second most abundant species were, Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate), <br />mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius), prickly rose (Rosa sayi), and fragrant currant <br />(gibes odoratum) with 287.33, 242.81, 186.16, and 121.41 stems per acre. Eight more native <br />shrubs were present, each with less than 100 stems per acre. Native trees was comprised <br />entirely of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), contributing 8.09 stems per acre. <br />Reference Areas (data collected in 2012 during Phase 111 Bond Release Monitoring at Yoast <br />Mine) <br />ASPEN REFERENCE AREA (2012) <br />(Photographs 19 -23) <br />Cover <br />(Table A -5) <br />Native perennial forbs were the predominant lifeform observed in the Aspen Reference Area, <br />contributing 37.0 percent all -hit vegetation cover. Native trees and shrubs also contributed heavily <br />with 33.3 and 32.2 percent all -hit vegetation cover respectively - mountain snowberry contributed <br />16.3 percent, Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) contributed 7.6 percent and aspen <br />(Populus tremuloides) contributed 33.3 percent all -hit vegetation cover. Native and introduced <br />perennial cool season grasses also made moderate contributions to cover with 9.5 percent and <br />5.6 percent all -hit vegetation cover, respectively. <br />Also observed in the area were the noxious weeds hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale, 3.4% <br />cover) and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense, 1.5% cover) and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare, 0.1 %). <br />