2016-01-14_REVISION - M1983194 (2)

Home Browse Search

Daub & Associates, Inc. Page 3-62 2015 NS Mine Plan Modification 1/5/2016 Section 3 General Site Conditions Table 3-16 – Biomass Production (lbs/ac) from Native Rangeland, August 2014 Perennial Grass Perennial Forbs Annual Grass Weedy Forbs Shrubs Total 2006 170.8 31.7 5.9 3.4 92.1 303.9 2007 298.1 59.4 10 6.8 154 528.3 2008 335.7 116.5 12.3 4.9 182.1 651.4 2009 325.2 106 15.5 6.5 153.7 606.9 2010 373.8 107.7 7.7 4.8 163.8 657.6 2011 547.6 180.9 3.6 4.4 308.8 1045.3 2012 303.9 70.1 0.9 1.1 193.9 569.9 2013 408.7 82 9.3 3 182.2 685.2 2014 448.2 89.6 18.8 3.7 202.2 762.5 Average 2006 - 2013 345.5 94.3 8.2 4.4 178.8 631.1 % Change 2013 to 2014 9.7% 9.3% 102.2% 23.3% 11.0% 11.3% 2014 % Variance with 2006/2013 Average 29.7% -5.0% 130.7% -15.2% 13.1% 20.8% Table 3-16. Biomass production from native rangeland in the Project Area from 2006-2014. Above ground biomass production for native grasses, forbs and shrubs increased in 2014 (Table 3-16). The 11.3 percent increase in total production in 2014 from 2013 is a sign of recovery from severe drought conditions in 2012. In August 2014 native grass biomass production was higher than the previous eight year average. Perennial forbs biomass production in 2014 was approximately 5.0 percent lower than the average from 2006 to 2013. Table 3-17 – Plant Species Composition (%) for Native Rangeland, August 2014 Perennial Grass Perennial Forbs Annual Grass Weedy Forbs Shrubs 2006 56.9 10.5 1.9 1.1 29.6 2007 56.4 10.9 1.9 1.7 29.1 2008 51.4 17.8 2.1 0.8 28.0 2009 53.6 17.5 2.6 1.1 25.3 2010 56.8 16.4 1.2 0.7 24.9 2011 52.4 17.3 0.3 0.4 29.5 2012 53.3 12.3 0.2 0.2 34.0 2013 59.6 12 1.4 0.4 26.6 2014 58.8 11.8 2.5 0.5 26.5 Average 2006 - 2013 55.4 14.1 1.5 0.7 28.3 % Change 2013 to 2014 -1.5% -1.8% 81.7% 10.8% -0.3% 2014 Variance with 2006 - 2013 Average 6.1% -16.5% 61.1% -32.8% -6.2% Table 3-17. Plant species composition for native rangeland in the Project Area from 2006-2014