|
RULE 2 PERMITS
<br /> #7.n";iiA: /:yf P�'SdQ*'•'AkM:#;.*f c,..'{ {q.;T>�r.".r'Y •'• u.'*;:..1K,,.:.-�:.*.s, /.. ;. ..,.r. v'.".,. .., „£K,x R1^'. 't rd94.''-sa�+'tv!''.'F4.}^'.r:alQ,+hR^'e:r�.x'2%:� .. w,. :Y
<br /> subtypes: 1) xeric (dry) and 2) mesic(moist). The xeric subtype is typically found on the south, east, and
<br /> southeast exposures and exhibits more dominance in the overstory by serviceberry. The mesic subtype is
<br /> typically found on the north, west, and northwest exposures and exhibits more dominance in the overstory
<br /> by Gambel's oak(Quercus gambellii)and choke cherry(Prunus virginiana).
<br /> A total of 64 species were observed within the mountain shrub community with a distribution of 16
<br /> grasses, 37 forbs, and 11 shrubs. Average ground cover of vegetation (2005) within the study area was
<br /> 64.1% with 1.2% rock, 28.6% litter, and 6.1% bare ground exposure. Dominant species included:
<br /> Mountain snowberry(Symphoricarpos oreophilus), bluegrass, thickspike wheatgrass, goosegrass(Galium
<br /> aparine), Nelson needlegrass (Stipa nelsonii), and mountain big sagebrush. The number of perennial
<br /> herbaceous species exhibiting between 3% and 50% relative cover(composition)was determined to be 3
<br /> grasses and 0 forbs. The 2005 evaluation of the existing mountain shrub reference area showed that total
<br /> plant cover was 51.3%. Production within this reference area in 2005 was found to be 801 pounds/acre.
<br /> As indicated on Table 2.04.10-10, in 1980 the herbaceous plant cover of the mountain shrub community
<br /> was documented to be 41.9%, in 1988 was 56.67%, and in 1985 total plant cover was 79.3%.
<br /> (Herbaceous plant cover for 1985 data cannot be segregated from total plant cover as the raw data are not
<br /> presented in a manner that allows separation of 1st hit vs. 2nd hit data.) Production in 1980 was 570
<br /> pounds per acre. In 1988 and 1985, production was 933 and 1,352 pounds per acre,respectively. Woody
<br /> plant density for mountain shrub in 1980 and 1985 was determined to be 5,790 and 4,363 plants per acre,
<br /> respectively.
<br /> Based on the supplemental ground cover values above, it would appear that the mountain shrub
<br /> community from the Lower Wilson Study Area (64.1% total plant cover) is comparable to the sampling
<br /> of this community from 1980 and 1988 and the survey of the South Taylor area in 1985.
<br /> Sagebrush - As indicated on Map 4, the sagebrush community within the Study Area occupies 116.56
<br /> acres (19.4%) and occurs throughout the area as "pockets" or "islands" within the mountain shrub type.
<br /> Activities will disturb an estimated 7.87 acres of this community that comprises 6.56% of the total
<br /> disturbance. The community is comprised of two primary subtypes: 1) xeric (dry) and 2) mesic (moist).
<br /> The xeric subtype is typically found on the more skeletal soils of south, east, and southeast exposures and
<br /> along the perimeters of wind-swept ridgelines. The mesic subtype is typically found on the deeper soils
<br /> of north, west,and northwest exposures and on more level areas.
<br /> A total of 61 species were observed within the sagebrush community with a distribution of 16 grasses, 35
<br /> forbs, and 10 shrubs. Average ground cover of vegetation (2005) within the study area was 63.1% with
<br /> 3.5% rock, 17.8% litter, and 15.6% bare ground exposure. Dominant species included: Mountain big
<br /> sagebrush, Basin big sagebrush, bluegrass, Mountain snowberry, tailcup lupine, western wheatgrass, and
<br /> thickspike wheatgrass. The number of perennial herbaceous species exhibiting between 3% and 50%
<br /> relative cover (composition) was determined to be 3 grasses and 1 forb. The 2005 evaluation of the
<br /> existing sagebrush reference area showed that total plant cover was 51.8%. Production within this
<br /> reference area in 2005 was found to be 620 pounds per acre.
<br /> As indicated on Table 2.04.10-10, in 1980 the herbaceous plant cover of the sagebrush community was
<br /> documented to be 30.9% and in 1988 was 39.71%. In 1985 the total plant cover of the sagebrush type
<br /> was determined to be 59.3%. (Herbaceous plant cover for 1985 data cannot be segregated from total
<br /> plant cover as the raw data are not presented in a manner that allows separation of Pt hit vs. 2'hit data.)
<br /> Production in 1980 was 436 pounds per acre, whereas in 1988 production was 825 pounds per acre. In
<br /> 1985 production was 1,101 pounds per acre. Woody plant density for sagebrush in 1980 and 1985 was
<br /> determined to be 6,970 and 4,427 plants per acre,respectively.
<br /> South Taylor/Lower Wilson—Rule 2,Page 54 Revision Date: 12/20/19
<br /> Revision No.: TR-135
<br />
|