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3.0 RESULTS <br />3.1 Phase II Summary <br />A total of 37 plant species were observed within the Phase II Bond Release area evaluated in <br />2014, including all or part of 8 revegetated units (Map 2). Species consisted of 17 grass taxa, 19 forbs, <br />no sub -shrubs and 1 shrubs. Table Al in Appendix A indicates all taxa observed during fieldwork. <br />Ground cover in the Phase II Bond Release area (Tables 1 & 2 and Charts 1 & 2) consisted of 51.9% live <br />vegetation, 0.6% rock, 30.9% litter, and bare soil exposure of 16.6%. Perennial cover across the unit <br />averaged 44.5% (85.6% relative cover), with annual and biennial cover averaging 7.2% absolute cover <br />(13.9% relative cover). Noxious weeds cover was 0.1% absolute cover (0.2% relative cover). Dominant <br />taxa were basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus), western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), thickspike <br />wheatgrass (Agropyron dasystachyum), streambank wheatgrass (Agropyron riparium), and smooth <br />brome (Bromus inen»is) with 13.7%, 9.4%, 6.75%, 3.1%, and 3.1% average cover, respectively. <br />3.2 Reference Areas <br />3.2.1 Mountain Shrub Reference Area <br />The Mountain Shrub Reference Area is comprised of approximately 18 acres of gently to moderately <br />sloping vegetation that has a predominately northwesterly aspect (mesic) and easterly aspect (xeric). <br />The xeric exposure tends to exhibit more elevated herbaceous parameters given a modest reduction in <br />the overstory. This reference area is located on a ridge west of the West Pit Area (Map 3). <br />A total of 37 plant taxa were observed in this reference area (Appendix A, Table Al). Ground cover <br />in the Mountain Shrub Reference Area (Tables 1 & 2 and Charts 1 & 2) consisted of 55.5% live <br />vegetation, 0.3% rock, 38.9% litter, and bare soil exposure of 5.3%. Perennial cover across the unit <br />averaged 51.6% (93.1% relative cover) with annual and biennial cover averaging 3.9% (6.9% relative <br />cover) and zero noxious weed cover. Dominant taxa were mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpus <br />oreophi/us), mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Gambel oak (Quercus gambellii), Letterman <br />needlegrass (Stipa lettermanii), and bluegrass (Poa agasizensis) with 11.6%, 10.3%, 5.6%, 3.8%, and <br />3.3% average cover, respectively. <br />3.2.2 Sagebrush Reference Area <br />The Sagebrush Reference Area is comprised of approximately 4.7 acres of gently to moderately <br />sloping vegetation that has a predominately northerly aspect. This reference area is located on a gently <br />sloping ridge north of the Administration / Facilities Area (Map 4). <br />9 <br />