2017-06-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010089A (2)

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DRYLAND PASTURE This vegetation type is found on those portions of the NHN permit area which have been planted to improved pasture species and which is some instances were historically irrigated 15 to 20 years ago and which are no longer being irrigated. The Dryland Pasture vegetation type is the fourth largest plant community type found within the NHN permit area (Map 2.04.10-). This vegetation type covers an area approximately 44.49 acres in size and accounts for nearly 13.81 percent of the proposed permit area. Plant Cover The results of the sampling of the 15 plant cover transects on this site are presented in Table 2.04.10-12, Total plant cover on this site averaged 39.20 percent, litter averaged 35.87 percent, bare ground averaged 23.40 percent and rock averaged 1.53 percent. However, noxious weeds, annuals and biennial plant cover accounted for 22.13 percent of the total cover and 56.45 percent of the total relative cover on this site. "Total allowable cover" a term often used by the DRMS in permitting, which includes only perennial grasses, perennial forbs and tree and shrub cover, accounts for only 17.07 total cover and 43.55 of the total relative cover on this site. Perennial grasses dominated the vegetation on this site accounting for 15.40 percent of the total cover or 39.39 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Noxious weeds accounted for 14.27 percent of the total cover or 36.39 percent of the total relative cover. Annuals and biennials accounted for 8.27 percent of the total cover or 21.09 percent of the total relative cover and shrubs and trees accounted for 0.40 percent of the total cover or 1.02 percent of the total relative cover on this site. The most commonly encountered plant species growing on this vegetation type was Russian Knapweed, which provided 6.00 percent of the total plant cover and 15.30 percent of the total relative cover of this site. The other dominant plant species were Field Bindweed, Kentucky Bluegrass, Broadleaf Plantain, and Smooth Bromegrass which contributed 5.80 and 14.79, 4.27 and 10.88 percent, 4.07 and 10.37 and 3.20 and 8.16 percent respectively of the total plant cover and total relative cover respectively. The locations of the 15 cover transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 2.04.10-1. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2.04.10-2, document that the number of samples required to describe this site with respect to total plant cover at the 90 percent confidence interval was determined to equal 3.9 transects. Section 2.04.10 Page 19 of 36 June 2016 (TR -14)