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05.17.2018 Memo Pg.02 <br /> <br /> <br />mapping units in this area, but rangeland production was estimated to be 800-900 lbs/acre for <br />a “normal” precipitation year. [It is not stated, but the Division believes that this value includes <br />biomass attributed to woody species as well.] <br />The operator had collected baseline cover and production data for these areas pre -disturbance <br />in 1980, 1981, and 1982, as found in the permit. Vegetative cover for the pre-mining <br />Sagebrush vegetation type was 37.5% (including shrubs and noxious species). Baseline <br />perennial non-noxious herbaceous productivity was 189 lbs/acre. Another portion of the <br />permit, Section 3, page 3-3, states that the Sagebrush vegetation type has an estimated <br />productivity of 0.75 tons/acre/year. There was no reference as to where this value was <br />derived, but based upon the NRCS WebSoilSurvey site, this value appears quite high and <br />should be closer to 0.4 to 0.45 tons/acre/year productivity. <br />The operator is proposing to apply productivity and cover values measures in the extended <br />Sagebrush Reference Area, to the reclaimed dryland pasture area. The Division believes the <br />vegetative cover parameter may be appropriate to compare between these different vegetative <br />types. However, the operator has not provided documentation on the comparability of <br />herbaceous productivity between these two vegetation types. <br />5. C.B. Minerals Company needs to provide an average value for dryland pasture <br />production for the general area or some way of demonstrating that the proposed <br />extended sagebrush reference area production is appropriate for a dryland production <br />value. This information may be found through the County farm bureau or the <br />Agricultural Extension Service for the area. <br /> <br />