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above vegetation types. In general, range condition was determined to be high -fair to <br />low -good. The following range sites apply to the mine permit area: brushy loam and stony <br />loam (mountain brush and steep mountain brush), mountain loam (sagebrush and mesic <br />drainage), claypan (western wheatgrass/alkali sage), and mountain shale (alkali sagebrush/ <br />greasewood). Aspen is classified as woodland and does not have a representative range <br />site description. <br />The following briefly describes the vegetation types associated with rangeland land use. <br />Table 4-2 lists the acreage, herbaceous production, stocking rate, and capability for each <br />vegetation type. Estimates of forage value are based on Dennis and Antonio (1980). <br />Mountain brush. The mountain brush type, greatest in areal extent of the vegetation types <br />(51 percent of the permit area), occurs on moderately to steeply sloping sandstone bedrock <br />controlled sideslopes. Dominant vegetation includes a dense cover of tall shrubs such as <br />Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), chokecherry (Padus virginiana), and serviceberry <br />(Amelanchier alnifolia) with a lesser understory of diverse grasses and forbs. Total <br />biomass production is high, but the heavy woody canopy results in suppressed herbaceous <br />production. Grasses tend to predominate in the understory and have high forage values for <br />cattle and lesser values for sheep. The forb component and dominant shrubs have a medium <br />to high forage value for sheep. Dense woody stands provide shading but restrict access in <br />this type, particularly to cattle. The mountain brush type is best suited to sheep <br />grazing. In determining the stocking rates listed in Table 4-2, it was estimated that up <br />to 25 percent of the herbaceous forage was unavailable due to access and palatability. <br />Sagebrush. The sagebrush type occupies 19 percent of the permit area. This type occurs <br />on gently rounded soft shale knobs and ridges and in areas with deeper soils. Mountain <br />sagebrush (Seriphidium vaseyanum), Big sagebrush (Seriphidium tridentatum), and snowberry <br />(Symphoricarpos rotundifolius) dominate this type. A diverse herbaceous component that <br />contributes significantly to total biomass is commonly found in the type. Herbaceous <br />production is higher in the sagebrush than in the mountain brush type, likely due to the <br />more open nature of sagebrush stands. The sagebrush type has an overall forage value that <br />is medium to high for sheep due to grass, forb, and woody plant composition. The grass <br />component is generally medium to high in forage value for cattle. The sagebrush type is <br />best suited to sheep grazing and has historically been used as spring and early summer <br />sheep range. It is estimated that the available herbaceous production may be reduced by <br />ten percent due to access and palatability <br />11 <br />