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RULE 2 PERMITS <br /> A" NSi . e9,.5-44' P.6Tv "`,...g'. $staig40,>.c',"*.v4tro4z4, ,N.Xe:w;,::d°:.q.^+." "m.:.aY',.;4w::FFSMl'i 4$i <br /> The lower grassland reference area is a small area(1.23 acres)along the western study area boundary and <br /> immediately adjacent to an improved pasture belonging to an adjoining landowner. This was the only <br /> "sizeable"area of grassland in the vicinity of the study area that could be used for this purpose. However, <br /> this area was not without difficulties. Because of proximity to the improved pasture, many of the <br /> improved pasture grass species (especially intermediate wheatgrass) have heavily invaded thereby <br /> artificially increasing the cover and production values of the reference area. These elevated values would <br /> preclude statistical validation of this single area as a representative revegetation performance target. The <br /> second reference location exhibits limited cover and production values, and as such precludes statistical <br /> validation as a representative revegetation performance target (because of the depressed values). <br /> However, the average values from these two areas combined do provide a statistically valid revegetation <br /> performance target. <br /> With regard to the lower (fenceline) reference area, average ground cover of vegetation was 81.8% with <br /> 0% rock, 15.4% litter, and only 2.8% bare ground exposure. Dominant species included: intermediate <br /> wheatgrass(Agropyron intermedium),tailcup lupine, and bluegrass. The number of perennial herbaceous <br /> species exhibiting between 3% and 50% relative cover(composition) was determined to be 2 grasses and <br /> 1 forb. Current annual herbaceous production within the lower grassland reference area was determined <br /> to be 3,038 pounds per acre with 70% due to perennial grasses and 30% due to perennial forbs. Only a <br /> fraction of a percent was due to annual species. Woody plant density based on the total count of plants <br /> within the reference area was 644 plants per acre with dominance by mountain big sagebrush and rubber <br /> rabbitbrush. <br /> With regard to the upper(ridgeline) reference area, average ground cover of vegetation was 38.13% with <br /> 36.27% rock, 8.73% litter, and 16.87% bare ground exposure. Dominant species included: thrifty <br /> goldenweed(Stenotus armerioides), Montana wheatgrass(Agropyron albicans), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa <br /> secunda), black sagebrush (Artemisia nova), prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), needle and thread <br /> (Stipa comata), and beardless bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum inerme). The number of <br /> perennial herbaceous species exhibiting between 3% and 50% relative cover (composition) was <br /> determined to be 5 grasses and 1 forb. Current annual herbaceous production within the upper grassland <br /> reference area was determined to be 405 pounds per acre with 34% due to perennial grasses and 64%due <br /> to perennial forbs. The remaining 2%was due to annual species. Woody plant density based on the total <br /> count of plants within the 1.01 acre reference area was 257 plants per acre with dominance by black <br /> sagebrush and serviceberry(Amelanchier alnifolia). <br /> As previously indicated, neither of these reference areas could be statistically validated individually as <br /> they differed too significantly from the remaining grassland type within the study area. The lower area <br /> exhibited greater cover and production than the primary study area type, whereas the upper area exhibited <br /> reduced cover and production values in comparison to the study area type. Field judgment dictated that <br /> the best course of action was to sample both areas to statistical adequacy, recombine the two data sets to <br /> provide a single set of testing parameters, and proceed with the t-test of the means using the pooled data. <br /> This strategy proved successful as the combined data set passed both cover and production validation <br /> testing (Table 2.04.10-21). For ground cover the calculated t statistic was 1.6582 that compared <br /> favorably (less than) the Tabular t statistic of 2.0167. Similarly for production the calculated t statistic <br /> was 0.1387 that compared favorably (less than) the Tabular t statistic of 1.9908. Although statistical <br /> testing for woody plant density is not necessary (because performance standards have been set), this <br /> variable compared favorably as well. The grassland community exhibited a value of 509 plants per acre <br /> whereas the pooled data from the two reference sites averaged 451 plants per acre or about 90% of the <br /> study area grassland value. <br /> Mountain Shrub -As indicated on Map 4, the mountain shrub community within the Study Area occupies <br /> 378.11 acres (63%) and occurs throughout the area. The community is comprised of two primary <br /> South Taylor/Lower Wilson—Rule 2,Page 53 Revision Date: 12/20/19 <br /> Revision No.: TR-135 <br />