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C <br />12 • <br />ponderosa pine-oak at the Allen Mine. The same type of, but not as <br />many, physical structures and roads occupy the pinon-juniper type which <br />is interspersed through a portion of the active mine area. <br />Grassland <br />This type, found primarily in the vicinity of the Maxwell Mine, is <br /> <br />essentially a westward extension of the shortgrass plains, with much <br />of the same flora and fauna. Dominant plants are blue grams (douteloua <br />gracilis), western wheatgrass (Acropyron smithiiJ and fringed sagebrush <br />(artemesia frigidciJ. The reference area described by Uniscale Corp. <br />(1980) is on a level plateau at about 7,200 ft elevation. Many of the <br />buildings and other structures of the mine were erected within this <br />type, and the necessary transportation network was constructed. _ • <br />Most of the species described as occupying the ponderosa pine-oak <br />and pinon-juniper types will occasionally use the grassland type. Quite <br />specific to the grassland is Ord's kangaroo rat and Cassin's sparrow. <br />Riparian <br />This type is described briefly earlier in this report. The Uniscale <br /> <br />Corp. (1980) report includes a description of a willow carr, a specific <br />riparian habitat, but does not deal with riparian habitats generally. <br />Riparian habitats, per unit of area, provide a highly productive, <br />structurally diverse environment for a wide variety of mammals, birds, <br />reptiles and amphibians (see Appendix lists). This vegetation, when <br />intact, reduces bank erosion and provides shade and shelter for fish <br />in the stream and a home for insects used as food by the fish. <br />