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3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 2015 Vegetation Evaluation Results <br />3.1.1 Dryland Pasture - Phase III Bond Release Block <br />A total of 14 plant species were encountered within the Dryland Pasture Phase III Bond Release <br />Block evaluated in 2015 (Table 2). Ground cover in the Dryland Pasture Phase III Bond Release Block <br />(Chart 1 and Table 2) consisted of 35.37% live vegetation, 3.80% rock, 12.90% litter, and bare ground <br />exposure of 47.93%. Desirable perennial cover across the unit averaged 26.73%, with annual and <br />biennial cover averaging 2.53% absolute cover. Noxious weed cover was 7.87%. The dominant taxon <br />was Russian wildrye (Eiymus junceus) with 22.10% average cover. Current annual herbaceous <br />production across the Phase III area averaged 1,070.8 pounds per acre based on oven -dry samples <br />(Table 3). Desirable perennial vegetation contributed 1,024.5 pounds per acre in 2015 (Table 3 and <br />Chart 2). <br />3.1.2 Old Peabody Sage - Reference Area <br />A total of 26 plant species were encountered within the Old Peabody Sage Reference Area evaluated <br />in 2015 (Table 2). Ground cover in the Old Peabody Sage Reference Area (Chart 1 and Table 2) <br />consisted of 30.00% live vegetation, 23.90% rock, 16.37% litter, and bare ground exposure of 29.73%. <br />Desirable perennial cover across the unit averaged 27.30%, with annual and biennial cover averaging <br />1.20% absolute cover. Noxious weed cover was 1.57%. Dominant taxa were blue grama (Bouteioua <br />gracilis) and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) with 8.07% and 4.53% average cover, respectively. <br />Current annual herbaceous production across the Reference Area averaged 245.8 pounds per acre based <br />on oven -dry samples (Table 3). Desirable perennial vegetation contributed 236.8 pounds per acre in <br />2015 (Table 3 and Chart 2). <br />3.2 2016 Vegetation Evaluation Results <br />3.2.1 Dryland Pasture - Phase III Bond Release Block <br />A total of 12 plant species were encountered within the Dryland Pasture Phase III Bond Release <br />Block evaluated in 2016 (Table 2). Ground cover in the Dryland Pasture Phase III Bond Release Block <br />(Chart 1 and Table 2) consisted of 38.70% live vegetation, 2.47% rock, 23.40% litter, and bare ground <br />exposure of 35.43%. Desirable perennial cover across the unit averaged 34.47%, with annual and <br />biennial cover averaging 1.23% absolute cover. Noxious weed cover was 3.60%. The dominant taxon <br />was Russian wildrye with 30.33% average cover. Current annual herbaceous production across the <br />Phase III area averaged 850.9 pounds per acre based on oven -dry samples (Table 3). Desirable <br />perennial vegetation contributed 844.0 pounds per acre in 2016 (Table 3 and Chart 2). <br />Page 12 <br />