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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />also occurred within this type. The meadow type is very productive and is easily grazed because of its <br />relatively flat terrain and easy access to water. Consequently areas have been severely overgrazed and <br />numerous weedy species occur within the type. Canada thistle is common in all drainages and forms <br />continuous patches in places. Quackgrass is also common. Coneflower dominates several areas in the <br />upper portions of West Fork (Figure 3.13). The meadow vegetation type was not sampled because the <br />amount of disturbance projected for this type was less than 5 percent of the total and, as per agreement <br />with Division, did not require sampling. <br />Douglas Fir — A small area of Douglas Fir forest was located in section 29 on a steep northwest -facing <br />slope (Figure 3.14 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Trees within the stand were all ages as determined by <br />observation of dbh (diameter at breast height) sizes. The canopy was continuous with dense trees. <br />Ground cover was sparse. Percentages of litter and bare ground cover were high. <br />Juniper — Small acreages of juniper dominated areas occurred on steep southwest -facing hillsides in <br />section 22 overlooking Highway 13 (Figure 3.15 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Except for the presence of Rocky <br />Mountain juniper, the area would have been mapped as sagebrush -grassland. Juniper trees occurred as <br />scattered individuals on the hillside. Understory species were similar to that of the sagebrush -grassland. <br />Riparian Woodland — A very small acreage of boxelder maple -dominated riparian woodland occurred in <br />section 5 (Figure 3.16 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). This area along Wilson creek exhibited 95-100 percent <br />domination by boxelder maple trees of various diameter classes. Trees were 40 to 80 feet tall. <br />Understory species were similar to that of the meadow vegetation type. Numerous weedy species were <br />observed in the understory including Canada thistle, rubber rabbitbrush, Great Basin wildrye, burdock and <br />Kentucky bluegrass. <br />Agricultural — Small areas of hay meadows occur within the main portion of the study area and along the <br />railroad corridor adjacent to Good Spring Creek (Figure 3.19 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Timothy, orchard <br />grass and wheatgrasses comprised the majority of the grasses in the hay meadows. Cultivated areas <br />occurred along the railroad corridors. Barley, wheat and oats are the most frequently cultivated species. <br />Sample Adequacy and EquivalencX — In general, an adequate sample was achieved for all parameters in <br />all native vegetation types sampled (Table 3.9 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). An adequate sample for cover was <br />generally achieved with 15 study sites. An adequate sample for production, however, depended upon the <br />vegetation type. The mountain shrub and aspen vegetation types had lower variability than other types <br />and therefore fewer samples needed to be obtained. The sagebrush -grassland vegetation type, because of <br />the many phases within the type, was quite variable and as such more samples needed to be taken to <br />adequately sample the community. <br />All reference areas were considered equivalent in terms of vegetation cover, production and species <br />diversity (Table 3.10 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Reference areas selected generally had a higher total <br />vegetation cover and a higher production in all reference areas (except the aspen reference area) and also <br />had higher species diversity than the corresponding study area samples. As such, the reference areas <br />selected were considered adequate to represent the study area samples. <br />Lower Wilson Study Area <br />Introduction - The objective of this section is to describe general vegetation community types (floral <br />assemblages) and their distribution within the Lower Wilson Study Area to facilitate extrapolation to, and <br />an update of, the remainder of the permit revision area (6,050 acres). To support this objective, <br />vegetation data are provided in sufficient detail to formulate a revegetation plan and facilitate <br />development of performance standards for the disturbed area associated with the Lower Wilson Mine <br />South Taylor/Lower Wilson — Rule 2. Page 47 Revision Date: 4/7/17 <br />Revision No.: RN -07 <br />