Laserfiche WebLink
Much of [he vegetation consists of fairly diverse and even, but sparse, cover of short grasses. These include Needle- <br />and-Thread Sti a comata ,and bluebunch whea[grass A ro con spicatum). Cheatgrass (Bromus tecotun) and <br />Squirrel tail Sitanion h strix is noticeable in some heavily grazed areas. This type of vegetation provides little cover <br />to birds and mammals at least under present grazing intensities. <br />Ualand Saeebrush Stand. <br />Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is denser here than in the other sage communities examined. The upland <br />sagebrush communities are located on bluffs above the Big Bottom River Valley. No significant drainage passes <br />through this area, therefore water is limited. Furthermore, since no topographic features are present to shield these <br />areas from the effects of wind and sunlight, a fairly acid condition prevails. Agriculture and excessive grazing further <br />stress this community with a resultant restriction of the abundance and diversity of the vegetative cover. <br />Saeebmsh Stand in the Williams Fork Mountains. This sampling area is located on the north-facing slope of the <br />Williams Fork Mountains. The relatively moist higher elevations are covered by a thick mountain shrub community <br />of Gambel oak uercus ag mbelii), Choke cherry (Prunus vireiniana) and Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) with an <br />understory of Big sagebrush. Big sagebrush, serviceberry, and snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.) dominate the <br />intermediate elevations. Natural communities of Big sagebrush and snowberry occur on the lower reaches blending <br />into the cultivated winter wheat and sunflower fields below. The entire area is grazed extensively by sheep and some <br />evidence of a sagebrush eradication program exists. Grass species encountered most frequently in this area are <br />Western wheatgrass, June grass, six-weeks Fescue, and wheatgrass. Forbaceous species such as Violet Viola spp.), <br />Cinquefoil (Potentialla spp.), Gumweed (Grindelia s uarrosa ,Paint brush (Castilleia spp.), and Lupine Lu inus spp.) <br />bloom in this understory at different times during the summer. <br />The study site on the Williams Fork Mountains is dominated by Big sagebrush with scattered patches of serviceberry <br />dispersed among the sage plants. Ground cover varies seasonally ranging from sparse clumps of grass in late fall to a <br />lush vegetative cover in the spring. <br />Serviceberry, Choke cherry, and Big sagebrush comprise important winter browse for big game animals. Mule deer <br />feed on the fruits of the snowberry quite heavily. Big sagebrush forms the staple for sage grouse populations in the <br />area. Serviceberry and Chokecherry, both browsed by big game, are considered more abundant in these regions than <br />at lower elevations. <br />Permit Renewal No. 4 2.04-37 Revised 3/5/03 <br />