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

• Permit No: C1981018A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 8/10/2020
• Section_Exhibit Name: SECTION II.E & II.F Climatology Report & Vegetaton Studies
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

ERO Resources
overgrazing also favored the wildrye, which is tolerant of shallow soils.
• Colorado wildrye prevails where soils are shallow also as a result of the
bunchgrass habit. The dense clumps of this wildrye trap moving soil
particles and form small soil islands at their bases and between clumps.
In this way an adequate substrate with a fair nutrient regime is assured
for the spread of the perennial clumps.
Colorado wildrye has increased at the expense of western wheatgrass and
other rhizomatous grasses. This has occurred because the habitat favoring
the rhizomatous species has been eliminated by overgrazing and erosion.
Remnants occur, however. These relict areas occur on sites where soils
are shallow and fine in texture and in sagebrush sites where sheep use is
low as a result of the lack of access by road. Even the remnant sites
have been affected by sheep grazing. On the shallow soils where fine
textures prohibit the increase of cheatgrass where the perennial pressures
from sheep grazing are too high for this species, annual Forb communities
or patches of Gordon saltbush occur. Both species are tolerant of the
heavy clay soils and high erosion rates. Evidence of erosion on these
is
sites can be seen from the pedastaling that has occurred around the few
sagebrush that occur there and from the numerous local run-off channels.
Colorado wildrye does not occur on these areas as a result of the
moderately deep soils and the fine textures. Sagebrush has been largely
eliminated due to trampling. This factor is in abundant evidence. The
heavy soil textures also do not favor the sage.
•
A general circumstance that relates directly to the intensity of sheep use
within the sagebrush-wheatgrass type corresponds to exposure and proximity
to roads. Those areas within the type that occur on or near south- or
southwest -facing slopes display greater degrees of evidence of sheep use
(McDaniel and Tiedeman 1981). These sites are also invariably near roads
used to access sheep during winter to feed hay. This effect impinges on
all of the categories and inclusions that make up the type, although
exposed knolls are affected to the greatest extent.
II.F-38