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ERO Resources <br />as is the fair abundance of snakeweed (Ranthacsoalym sarothrae). Both <br />• species are, in addition, indicators of overgrazing. <br />• <br />• <br />Costello also cites pedastalling of sagebrush as a sign of decline. Other <br />species indicative of overgrazing mentioned by this report are long -leaf <br />phlox (Phlox longifolia), cushion phlox Whlox hoodii), globemallow, <br />(Snhaeralcea roccinea) and pusseytoes (Antennaria parvifolia). <br />It is significant that the majority of the characteristics discussed above <br />typify the Dessrado Mine site. Increased numbers of young junipers and <br />evidence of their invasion into savannahs are directly relatable to the <br />land use history of the area: grazing by sheep. Erosion and pedastalling <br />of sagebrush is notable in marry areas. The decline of western wheatgrass <br />and the increase of Colorado wildrye iFlymus ambiguous) also relate to <br />known effects of overgrazing. Postclimax density of big sagebrush in some <br />sites on the permit area is another well -understood effect of overuse by <br />grazing animals. Finally, the increased predominance of weedy species and <br />open ground surfaces point to abuse by unmanaged grazing. <br />Shrub species are of predominant importance in the majority of vegetation <br />types that occur on the permit area (Table 2). Rig sagebrush is the most <br />important of these shrubs. The role of greasswood (`°tar&ZgJJHt1JJ <br />yermiculatus), shadscale (Atriolex confertifolia) and big rabbitbrush <br />lChrvsothamnus nauseosus) are also of significance. <br />The juniper woodlands that occupy large extents of the permit area are <br />secondary in their dominance of total land area. The principal tree in <br />these woodlands is Utah juniper (Juni erus osteoup2rma). Other tree <br />species include Rocky Mountain juniper (J,,, zc=ulorum) and pinyon pine <br />(pinus edulis); these species are rare to infrequent. <br />Important autecological features of the major shrub and tree species <br />occurring in the permit area are discussed below. The following <br />references were used in developing this information; Daubenmire 1942, <br />Costello 1944, Tueller and Clark 1975 and West et al. 1975. <br />II.F-16 <br />