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• 3.1.1 Ground Cover <br />Review of Tables V1 and V3 and Chart V1 indicates that the average vegetation cover of the pasture <br />community was 73.45%. Litter and rock occupied an average of 22.95°k and 0.2% of the ground cover, <br />respectively. Bare ground exposure averaged only 3.4%. The three dominant plant species were <br />orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerate), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and alfalfa (Medicago saliva) with <br />28.5%, 10.7%, and 9.8% of the ground cover, respectively. Perennial plants (excluding noxious weeds) <br />contributed 82% of the total plant cover (composition) while native species and noxious weeds <br />contributed 5.4% and 7.4% of the composition, respectively. Perusal of Tables Vi and V7 indicate that a <br />total of seven spedes contributed greater than 3% relative cover (3°k is the typical lower limit when <br />evaluating plant diversity success during bond release in Colorado). One of Uwse spedes was a native <br />perennial grass, two were introduced perennial grasses, three were inVoduced perennial (orbs, and the <br />remaining taxon was bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) a noxious weed spedes. <br />3.1.2 Production <br />Review of Tables V1 and VB indicated the average production of the pasture community in 2000 was <br />• 2,232 pounds per acre, oven~ry weight. Seventy-tour percent (1,648 pounds per acre) of the total <br />production is attributable to perennial grasses, while 23°k (506 pounds per acre) is due to perennial forts <br />and 3°k (76 pounds per acre) is attributable to annuals and weeds. <br />3.1.3 Other Variables and Observations <br />As indicated on Table V2, a total of 32 plant species were found within this community type, 5 of <br />which are classified as noxious and 7 are dass~ed as invasive weeds. No sensitive spedes were <br />observed within the pasture type. Plates 1 through 4 provide photographic documentation of this <br />community at the time of sampling. <br />Because of variable grazing management practices by different landowners, sampling of this <br />community extended beyond the vegetation study boundaries in two locations (see Map V-2). This <br />exception to the study boundary restriction was implemented as certain pastures in or adjacent to the <br />study area had been severely grazed exhibiting forage utilization rates often in excess of 80%. By <br />extending the sampling universe in these two pastures to their outer fenced boundaries, a far more <br />• accurate (ungrazed) baseline representation was obtained. Furthermore, assuming an extended <br />~®nm 1,`®~ Asa¢x-~nvYac, [NC. Page 14 Exhibit 5 -Bowie Baseline Vegetation Survey <br />