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ERO Resources <br />of big sagebrush is well -illustrated by the vegetation map. It is also <br />• notable that the dense sagebrush inclusions display less significant <br />importance for the dominant than do other sagebrush types. This is the <br />result of lower sagebrush densities in the inclusions, although cover <br />values are higher. The lesser densities are apparently the result of <br />erosion. Decadent sagebrush are common to the big sagebrush inclusions. <br />There are also indications that these decadent individuals are not being <br />actively replaced by young plants. <br />The dense sagebrush inclusions are topo-edaphically controlled. <br />Dynamically stable stands of this type would be termed climaxes in <br />relation to the predominant environmental factors. Sheep utilization has, <br />however, altered these sites to a degree that has created postclimax <br />conditions in the shrub layer and disclimax conditions in the herb layer. <br />The overuse of the site that produced these conditions, as well as the <br />erosion that characterizes these stands is apparently historic. Current <br />• use of the permit area is restricted to fall and winter sheep use. <br />Grazing is also probably limited in these stands due to the depauperate <br />nature of the herb layer. Big game animals may use this vegetation type <br />for browse. <br />• <br />Reclamation of the dense sagebrush inclusions following re -distribution of <br />topsoil materials should not present any significant problems. <br />Revegetation of the big sagebrush inclusions, as is the case with many of <br />the depleted vegetation types on the permit area, will provide an <br />opportunity to restore range conditions more like the dynamically stable <br />situations that preceded grazing and drought dating from the 1880's. <br />II.F-33 <br />