2016-01-14_REVISION - M1983194 (2)

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Daub & Associates, Inc. Page 3-61 2015 NS Mine Plan Modification 1/5/2016 Section 3 General Site Conditions Table 3-15 – Ground Cover Values (%) for Native Rangeland, August 2014 Perennial Grass Perennial Forbs Annual Grass Weedy Forbs Shrubs Moss/ Lichens Vegetative Litter Bare Ground Rock 2006 27.7 6.1 0.9 0.8 14.9 5.8 14.3 29.1 0.4 2007 26.9 5.6 1.2 0.6 18.7 9.1 12.6 24.5 0.8 2008 27.7 6.7 1.4 0.8 19.8 9.4 13.2 21.2 0 2009 26.1 6.6 1 0.25 19.7 9.6 14 23 0 2010 27.4 6.9 0.5 0.25 20.7 10.2 9.2 24.9 0 2011 26.5 7.4 0.3 0.3 20.4 7.2 11.7 26 0.2 2012 23.1 6.1 0.1 0.1 21.7 5.7 13.5 29.4 0.3 2013 25.4 6.3 0.5 0.2 20.8 9.2 11.2 26.2 0.2 2014 27.2 6.7 0.7 0.4 21.1 7.2 12 24.7 0.2 Average 2006 - 2013 26.4 6.5 0.7 0.4 19.6 8.3 12.5 25.5 0.2 % Change 2013 to 2014 7.1% 6.3% 40.0% 100.0% 1.4% -21.7% 7.1% -5.7% 0.0% 2014 Variance w/ 2006/2013 Average 3.2% 3.7% -5.1% -3.0% 7.7% -13.0% -3.7% -3.3% 15.8% Table 3-15. Ground cover for native rangeland (control) in the Project Area from 2006-2014. The ground cover values for perennial species have held relatively consistent over the last few years with a temporary production decline in 2012 due to extreme drought conditions. Ground cover of native grasses in 2014 increased about 3.2 percent from the average from 2006 to 2013. A 3.7 percent increase in cover of native forbs and a 7.7 percent increase in cover of shrubs was observed in August 2014, from the previous eight year average.