2015-08-11_PERMIT FILE - C1992080 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1992080
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 8/11/2015
• Doc Name: Vegetation Report 2014 Abridged Permit
• Section_Exhibit Name: Appendix 5-14
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

3.0 RESULTS
3.1 QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION
Specific vegetation information for the proposed reference area is contained in Tables 1, 2,
and 3.
3.1.1 Total Vegetation Cover
Total mean vegetation cover of the proposed reference area was 24.50 percent. Graminoids
provided 10.10 percent mean cover (37.05% relative cover), forbs accounted for 2.48 percent
mean cover (10.54% relative cover), succulent species contributed 0.56 percent total
vegetation cover and 2.11 percent relative cover, and ten woody species contributed 8.48
percent mean and 50.30 percent relative cover. The most frequently encountered species
were Agropyron smithii (western wheatgrass) and Quercus gambelli (Gambel's oak), present
in 70 percent of the 20 transects sampled for vegetation cover. Bromus inermis (smooth
brome) was found in 65 percent of all transects. All other species were encountered in fewer
than fifty percent of the vegetation cover transects.
Overall within the proposed reference area, there was a mix of plant species and life forms
contributing more than three percent relative vegetation cover; two trees, two shrubs, three
perennial cool season native grass species, one introduced graminoid, and one native
perennial forb. Quercus gambelli was dominant, providing 5.04 percent mean vegetation
cover and 29.52 percent relative cover. Eight other plant species contributed significantly to
cover; Bromus inermis accounted for 4.10 percent total vegetation cover (14.16% relative
cover), Agropyron smithii contributed 3.10 percent total vegetation cover and 11.75 percent
relative cover, Peraphyllum ramosissimum (squawapple), a native Colorado Plateau shrub
provided 0.72 percent total vegetation cover and 5.42 percent relative cover, another native
shrub, Cercocarpus montanus (mountain mahogany) accounted for 0.80 percent total
vegetation cover (4.82% relative cover), Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian ricegrass) provided
1.20 percent total cover (4.52% relative cover), Agropyron trachycaulum (slender
wheatgrass) accounted for 1.10 percent total vegetation cover (4.22% relative cover), and the
natives Juniperus osteosperma (Utah juniper) and Sphaeralcea coccinea (globemallow) each
contributed 0.56 and 0.88 percent total vegetation cover, respectively, with 3.61 percent
relative cover.
Vegetative litter (prior years growth, dead wood, and other biologic organic material)
comprised 31.50 percent ground cover overall within the proposed reference area. Bare soil
comprised 43.00 percent of the ground cover. Rock accounted for 1.00 percent of the ground
cover sampled. Cryptogams were not encountered during this year's sampling.
3.1.2 Total Herbaceous Production
Mean total herbaceous production within the proposed reference area in 2014 was 66.9 g/m2
(596 lb/ac).
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Oakridge Energy, Inc. Carbon Junction Mine Page 5
2014 Proposed Dryland Reference Area Report