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3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 2014 Vegetation Evaluation Results <br />3.1.1 Irrigated Pasture - Phase III Bond Release Block <br />A total of 17 plant species were encountered within the Irrigated Pasture Phase III Bond Release <br />Block evaluated in 2014 (Table 2). Ground cover in the Irrigated Pasture Phase III Bond Release Block <br />(Chart 1 and Table 2) consisted of 91.93% live vegetation, 5.13% rock, 2.53% litter, and bare ground <br />exposure of 0.40%. Desirable perennial cover across the unit averaged 88.60%, with annual and <br />biennial cover averaging 0.40% absolute cover. Noxious weed cover was 2.93%. Dominant taxa were <br />meadow brome (Bromus biebersteinii) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) with 42.27% and 19.20% average <br />cover, respectively. Current annual herbaceous production across the Phase III area averaged 3,619.8 <br />pounds per acre based on air-dry samples (Table 3). Desirable perennial vegetation contributed 3,619.8 <br />pounds per acre in 2014 (Table 3 and Chart 2). Undesirable forage was not clipped in 2014. <br />3.1.2 Irrigated Pasture - Reference Area <br />A total of 22 plant species were encountered within the Irrigated Pasture Reference Area evaluated <br />in 2014 (Table 2). Ground cover in the Irrigated Pasture Reference Area (Chart 1 and Table 2) consisted <br />of 75.07% live vegetation, 0.00% rock, 22.73% litter, and bare ground exposure of 2.20%. Desirable <br />perennial cover across the unit averaged 71.00%, with annual and biennial cover averaging 0.67% <br />absolute cover. Noxious weed cover was 3.40%. Dominant taxa were tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) <br />and Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) with 31.67% and 12.67% average cover, respectively. Current <br />annual herbaceous production across the Reference Area averaged 2,661.2 pounds per acre based on <br />air-dry samples (Table 3). Desirable perennial vegetation contributed 2,661.2 pounds per acre in 2014 <br />(Table 3 and Chart 2). Undesirable forage was not clipped in 2014. <br />3.2 2015 Vegetation Evaluation Results <br />3.2.1 Irrigated Pasture - Phase III Bond Release Block <br />A total of 16 plant species were encountered within the Irrigated Pasture Phase III Bond Release <br />Block evaluated in 2015 (Table 2). Ground cover in the Irrigated Pasture Phase III Bond Release Block <br />(Chart 1 and Table 2) consisted of 90.47% live vegetation, 0.03% rock, 7.10% litter, and bare ground <br />exposure of 2.40%. Desirable perennial cover across the unit averaged 89.47%, with annual and <br />biennial cover averaging 0.17% absolute cover. Noxious weed cover was 0.67%. Dominant taxa were <br />meadow brome and orchardgrass (Darty/is glomerata) with 42.37% and 19.40% average cover, <br />respectively. Current annual herbaceous production across the Phase III area averaged 2,057.4 pounds <br />per acre based on oven -dry samples (Table 3). Desirable perennial vegetation contributed 2,030:4 <br />pounds per acre in 2015 (Table 3 and Chart 2). <br />Page 11 <br />