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<br /> <br />3.0 RESULTS <br />Tables 1 through 4 and Charts 1 through 9 provide a summary of the sampling efforts described <br />above. Tabular compilations of raw data and summaries presented in Appendix A on Tables 5 through 11. <br />Photographs of the evaluated areas are also presented in Appendix A. <br />3.1 2016 Phase III Bond Release Block <br />A total of 39 plant species were observed within the Phase III Bond Release Block evaluated during <br />2016 (Table 6). Ground cover within the unit (Table 2 and Chart 1) consisted of 52.9% live vegetation, <br />8.0% rock, 22.7% litter, and bare ground exposure of 16.4%. Desirable perennial cover across the unit <br />averaged 35.0% and annual and biennial cover averaged 7.2% cover. Noxious weed cover averaged <br />10.8% and consisted primarily of cheatgrass (Anisantha tectorum). The dominant taxa were basin big <br />sagebrush (Seriphidium tridentatum subsp. tridentata), cheatgrass, northern sweetvetch (Hedysarum <br />boreale), and sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) with 13.0%, 9.2%, 6.0, and 4.3% average cover, <br />respectively. Total herbaceous production averaged 784.4 pounds per acre across the Phase III Bond <br />Release Block (Table 3 and Chart 3). Desirable perennial production averaged 374.9 pounds per acre. The <br />woody plant density of the unit was measured at an average of 1,733 stems per acre (Table 4 and Chart <br />4). <br />3.2 Sagebrush Reference Area <br />A total of 29 plant species were observed within the Sagebrush Reference Area evaluated during 2016 <br />(Table 6). Ground cover within the unit (Table 2 and Chart 1) consisted of 59.0% live vegetation, 5.8% <br />rock, 31.4% litter, and bare ground exposure of 3.8%. Desirable perennial cover across the unit averaged <br />19.8% and annual and biennial cover averaged 1.6% cover. Noxious weed cover averaged 37.6% and <br />consisted primarily of cheatgrass. The dominant taxa were cheatgrass, basin big sagebrush, and whitetop <br />(Cardaria draba) with 32.9%, 14.6%, and 4.5% average cover, respectively. Herbaceous production was <br />measured and averaged 538.9 pounds per acre across the Sagebrush Reference Area (Table 3 and Chart <br />3). Desirable perennial production averaged 73.8 pounds per acre. Woody plant density of was not <br />measured within the Sagebrush Reference Area. <br /> <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc.11 Munger Canyon Mine - 2016 <br />Phase III Bond Release Report