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Total average vegetation cover for first hits was 33.5 percent. Allowable all -hit herbaceous <br />vegetation cover was 14.9 percent (B -1). Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock <br />averaged 3.0, 25.6, 27.9 and 10.0 percent, respectively (first hit). Average species density was <br />24.1 species per 100 sq. m. <br />Production <br />(Table A -12) <br />Total herbaceous production in 2012 was 323.0 pounds per acre. Of this, 248.0 pounds were <br />native perennial cool season grasses, 76.7 were native perennial forbs and introduced annual <br />grasses were only present in traceable amounts. No other lifeforms were present. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Climatic Conditions <br />Since sampling in July 2012, 10 of twelve months had been below average in precipitation, with <br />December 2012 and April 2013 being greater than twice average (Figure B -6b). Altogether the <br />precipitation total for the 12 months preceding sampling was well below average (Figure B -7a). <br />2013 was well above the average temperature — in fact it was the highest year in the 27 -year <br />record (started in 1987) (Figure B -7b). In the context of the six or four - months preceding sampling <br />(Figures B -8b and B -9b respectively) the cumulative precipitation was less dramatically below <br />average, though still slightly so. However, warm temperatures exacerbate any moisture shortages <br />from the standpoint of actively growing vegetation. <br />Cover <br />Calculation of 90 percent of the cover performance standard appropriate for 2013 sampling is <br />demonstrated below. <br />Aspen Reference Area Allowable All -Hit Herbaceous Cover' = 53.7% <br />Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable All -Hit Herbaceous Cover' = 28.9% <br />Sagebrush Reference Area Allowable All -Hit Herbaceous Cover' = 30.8% <br />Steep Mountain Brush Reference Area Allowable All -Hit Herbaceous Cover' =14.9% <br />90 percent of the Cover Standard = <br />0.90 [0.244(53.7 %) + 0.489(28.9 %) + 0.24(30.8 %) + 0.027(14.9 %)] = 31.5% <br />' Herbaceous cover adjusted by subtracting noxious weeds and annual /biennial plant cover in <br />excess of 10% of the remainder. <br />