2014-11-21_PERMIT FILE - C1996084 (23)

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• Rule 2: Pe'mifS Oak/Pinyon Pine Disturbed Area Dominant perennial grasses within the oak/pinyon pine community included narrow-leaved sedge (CarPx stenophylla), big bluestem, and blue grams at 2.2, 2.4, and 2.1 percent, respectively. Common perennial forbs included western yarrow and cudweed sagewort. Two annual forbs, annual buckwheat and sleepy catchfly, were observed during the field surveys, but no annual grasses were observed during the point-intercept data collection. Gambel oak accounted for 12.2 percent of the vegetative cover within the oak/pinyon community. Litter was high in each of the transects, comprising 42.4 percent of the cover in any one transect. Rock and bare ground were minimal. This disturbance area's cover was found to be within a 90 percent confidence interval of the reference area's cover and, thus, the null hypothesis was accepted. Shrub density for this study area was calculated to be 7,895.81 woody stems per hectare. This area was not found to be within a 90 percent confidence level for shrub density of the reference area. Production in this study area totaled 126.21 pounds per acre. This measurement was found to be within a 90 percent confidence interval for production as compared to the reference area and, thus, the null hypothesis was accepted. • Oak/Pinyon Pine Reference Area Dominant perennial grasses included big bluestem and blue grams at 1.4 and 3.2 percent cover, respectively. The dominant perennial forb was cudweed sagewort. Two annual forbs, annual buckwheat and black medic, were observed during the cover transect data collection. Gambel oak accounted for 11.3 percent of the vegetative cover within the oak/pinyon community. Litter was lower in this area, comprising 39.7 percent of the cover in any one transect. Rock and bare ground were minimal. Shrub density for this reference area was calculated to be 11,438.67 woody stems per hectare. Production in this reference area totaled 127.34 pounds per acre. Along the eastern slope, Gambel oak and mountain mahogany mix to form a narrow, discontinuous band between the lower edge of the ponderosa pine forest and upper margin of the grasslands and pinyon/juniper woodlands (Mutel and Emerick, 1984). These species extend downward and mix with pinyon pine predominantly. Juniper is less common on the site. Gambel oak requires warmer climate, deeper soils, and more moisture than does mountain mahogany. The permit area characteristics favor Gambel oak and it dominates this community type. Pinyon pine are scattered in and around oak monocultures enough to be a critical component of this community type. • PERMIT.C]6\Dccmher Z0, 1996 2.04-47