2020-01-21_PERMIT FILE - M2019046 (5)

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12/9/2019 ESD Printable Report litter slow nutrient recycling.Aboveground litter also limits sunlight from reaching plant crowns.Many plants,especially bunchgrasses die off. Thick litter and absence of grazing or fire reduce seed germination and establishment. In advanced stages,plant mortality can increase and erosion may eventually occur if bare ground increases.This plant community is at risk of losing many key species and if ungrazed and/or without fire can go to a vegetative state resembling the Increased Bare Ground State.This plant community will change rapidly with the return of natural disturbances(grazing and/or fire).This plant community is uncommon in the natural range of variability. Total annual production can vary from 150 to 700 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre during an average year. Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number. C06902 Growth curve name: Warm season/cool season co-dominant,excess litter;MLRA-69;upland fine textured soils. Growth curve description: Percent Production by Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 0 0 3 7 22 33 18 12 5 0 0 0 G—W Curve P f G _ O u n C l I 0 a n 3 J tan tc M. Am M.Y Jnr. Section II: Ecological Site Interpretations Animal Community WILDLIFE INTERPRETATIONS: The combination of clayey soils and grasses,forbs and shrubs found on the ecological site provide habitat for numerous wildlife species. Historic large grazers that influenced these communities were bison and pronghorn.Bison are currently found only as domestic livestock. Pronghorn,mule and white-tailed deer use this ecological site.Domestic grazers share these habitats with wildlife.The grassland communities of eastern Colorado are home to many bird species.Changes in the composition of the plant community when moving from the Reference Community to other communities on this ecological site may result in species shifts in bird species.The occasional wetland or spring found on this site provides essential seasonal water needed for reproductive habitat by some reptiles and amphibians.Because of a lack of permanent water,fish are not common. GRAZING INTERPRETATIONS: The following table lists suggested initial stocking rates for an animal unit(1000 pound beef cow)under continuous grazing(year long grazing or growing season long grazing)based on normal growing conditions. However,continuous grazing is not recommended.These estimates should only be used as preliminary guidelines in the initial stages of the conservation planning process.Often,the existing plant composition does not entirely match any particular plant community described in this ecological site description.Therefore,field inventories are always recommended to document plant composition,total production,and palatable forage production.Carrying capacity estimates that reflect on-site conditions should be calculated using field inventories. If the following production estimates are used,they should be adjusted based on animal kind/class and on the specific palatability of the forage plants in the various plant community descriptions.Under a properly stocked,properly applied,prescribed grazing management system that provides adequate recovery periods following each grazing event,improved harvest efficiencies will eventually result in increased carrying capacity.See USDA-NRCS Colorado Prescribed Grazing Standard and Specification Guide(528). The stocking rate calculations are based on the total annual forage production in a normal year multiplied by 25%harvest efficiency divided by 912.5 pounds of ingested air-dry vegetation for an animal unit per month. Plant Community Production(lbs./acre)and Stocking Rate(AUM/acre) Reference Plant Community:(600)(0.16) At-Risk Plant Community:(300)(0.08) Blue Grama Plant Community:(150)(0.04) Low Plant Density,Excessive Litter Community:(*)(*) Increased Bare Ground Community:(*)(*) https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/FSDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R069XY046CO&rptLevel=all8rapproved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 9/16