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east facing sampled area <br />The density of big sagebrush is approximately 6,000 individuals per acre. Other shrubs found within this community <br />include Douglas and Rubber rabbi[ brush. The perennial forbs present within this sampled area include Common <br />Yarrow, Globemallow, Daisy, Buckwheat, Milkvetch, Lupine, Phlox, and False Dandelion. Perennial grasses include <br />Westem wheatgrass, June grass, Bluegrass, Squirrel tail, and Needle grass. <br />Reclaimed Vegetation Type on North Facine Slope. The third type of vegetation community sampled is the reclaimed <br />type. The reclaimed type is located east of Highway 13. The reclaimed area is characterized primarily by flat terrain, <br />sloping slightly to the north-northwest. A steep, rather broad drainage cuts east to west through the sampled area. A <br />10 to 45 percent slope characterizes this drainage. The reclaimed area varies in elevation from 6,275 feet to 6,350 <br />feet. <br />Portions of the area exhibited an exposed rocky surface due to the lack of topsoil and consequently this area displayed <br />lower vegetation cover and production. <br />The reclaimed area is bounded on all sides by cultivated fields of annual grains. Some invasion of annual wheat and <br />barley has occurred in the area. Similarly, more desirable perennial grasses (brdian rice grass, Westem wheatgrass, <br />Needle-and-thread, and Slender wheatgrass), as well as a few shrubs (Big sagebrush, Rubber rabbit brush, Tamarisk, <br />and narrow leaf cotton wood tree sealings) have invaded [he area. <br />Only a few drill rows are still evident in the reclaimed area, except on the southwest (Xeric) aspect of the drainage <br />dissecting the area. Consequently, this side of the drainage is comprised of a higher proportion of wheaty species <br />including, annual grasses, tansy mustard species, russian thistle, and tumble mustard. In comparison, the North- <br />eastern aspect of the drainage is much more productive and cicer milkvetch is very common in this area. <br />Sagebrush community on south facing slope. The last vegetation community to be sampled was the sagebrush <br />community found on asouth-facing slope. The sampled area within the vegetation community varies in elevation <br />form 6,200 feet to 6,350 feet. The slopes throughout the sampled site were approximately 11H:1V, although short <br />sections of steeper topography were observed. The soil found in the sampled site was rock river loam. Due to the <br />relatively mild topography the soil is moderately deep. <br />The density of big sagebrush was approximately 7,000 individuals per acre. Other shrubs found on the site included <br />Douglas and Rubber rabbi[ brush. Perennial forbs present at the site included Rockress, Milkvetch, Daisy, Phlox, and <br />Globemallow. Perennial grasses included Westem wheatgrass, Junegrass, Indian rice grass, Bluegrass, Squirrel tail, <br />and Needle grass. <br />Vegetation Sampline <br />As stated earlier in this section the EC mining complex has been in existence for a number of years. This made it <br />impossible to sample all areas prior to disturbance. Therefore, the undisturbed areas to be sampled must be chosen on <br />the basis of their being representative of the currently disturbed area. However, these areas had to be chosen by <br />qualitative methods, with the following variables influencing the selection process: <br />• Vegetation community <br />• Slope <br />• Aspect <br />• Soils <br />• Elevation <br />In order to accomplish the [ask of selecting representative sample areas [he following investigations were made; <br />Permit Revision 04-34 2.04-29 Revised 7/2/04 <br />