2020-08-10_PERMIT FILE - C1981018A (2)

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FRO Resources weather. It is probable that the woodlands have not been used as grazing • areas, due to the low herbaceous cover values measured in woodlands under more natural conditions. However, the herbaceous layer has undoubtedly been decreased by sheep use through animal traffic and associated compaction. Animal traffic, coupled with the natural effects of juniper phenols on the herb layer (Arnold 1964, Jameson 1966), maintain the sparse herb layer. In addition, the damage to the herbaceous material has accelerated erosion by wind and water. Subsequently, the moisture holding capacity and organic content of the surface soil has been reduced. There is apparently no well-developed management strategy in operation on the permit area relevant to maintaining vegetation structure in an integrated fashion with sheep utilization. There is no evidence from range evaluations that sheep numbers have been reduced in accordance with the degradation of the range. Moreover, there is no evidence that programs have been invoked to improve the existing range by stilling erosion or introducing seed into depauperate areas. The lack of positive range management or improvement programs may relate to winter use of the • permit area and the economics of sheep ranching. On such a harsh site it is apparently easier to provide winter food than to improve the range with plant materials whose greatest forage value -- present during spring and summer -- is not used to greatest benefit by domestic grazing animals. • The major impacts to the juniper woodlands potentially caused by mine development will be generated by staging facilities, roadways and by subsidence. The first of these impacts presents the most extensive and long-lasting damage to the woodlands. Areas of the woodlands removed by facilities will not necessarily return to the original type even over long periods of time following successful revegetation of the surface. The soil characteristics of the woodlands will not be replaced by the reclamation efforts currently planned. Soil features are critical to the establishment and maintenance of the juniper woodlands. Without this II.F-27