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Rangeland Productivity and Plant Composition--Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest Area, <br /> Colorado,Parts of Boulder,Clear Creek,Gilpin,Grand, Park and Larimer Counties <br /> Range management requires knowledge of the kinds of soil and of the potential <br /> natural plant community. It also requires an evaluation of the present range <br /> similarity index and rangeland trend. Range similarity index is determined by <br /> comparing the present plant community with the potential natural plant <br /> community on a particular rangeland ecological site. The more closely the <br /> existing community resembles the potential community, the higher the range <br /> similarity index. Rangeland trend is defined as the direction of change in an <br /> existing plant community relative to the potential natural plant community. Further <br /> information about the range similarity index and rangeland trend is available in <br /> the "National Range and Pasture Handbook,"which is available in local offices of <br /> NRCS or on the Internet. <br /> The objective in range management is to control grazing so that the plants <br /> growing on a site are about the same in kind and amount as the potential natural <br /> plant community for that site. Such management generally results in the optimum <br /> production of vegetation, control of undesirable brush species, conservation of <br /> water, and control of erosion. Sometimes, however, an area with a range <br /> similarity index somewhat below the potential meets grazing needs, provides <br /> wildlife habitat, and protects soil and water resources. <br /> Reference: <br /> United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation <br /> Service, National range and pasture handbook. <br /> USDA Natural Resources Web Soil Survey 12/1/2017 <br /> �— Conservation Service National Cooperative Soil Survey <br /> 35 <br />