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EXHIBIT J-1 <br /> Community Phase 2.3: Perennial Grassland/Shrubland with scattered PJ <br /> The overall aspect of this community phase is grassland with scattered pinyon and Utah juniper.The herbaceous <br /> understory has a mix of grasses and forbs.This community phase is a result of a crown fire or sufficiently large and <br /> hot ground fire that will kill many of the trees, combined with sufficient seed-banks and moisture for reestablishment <br /> of grasses and forbs. It is common that after a crown fire many patches of trees will remain unburned, because of <br /> fire's unpredictability and broken topography.This leaves a seed bank for the burned areas.This community phase <br /> is very short lived in comparison to the other community phases in this state. Sparse invasive introduced plants <br /> species would be present in this phase. <br /> Community Phase Pathway 2.3A <br /> This pathway occurs when the climate favors the establishment and growth of trees. More energy is taken-up and <br /> stored in the trees as the length between fires and droughts increase. In addition,when shrubs establish on the site <br /> they can provide safe-sites for tree establishment furthering the presence of trees. <br /> Transition T2A <br /> When this transition to state 3 occurs the site has lost much of its expected resistance and resilience.At this point <br /> natural and/or management actions have decreased the understory to a point where erosion increases. Reduced <br /> influence from fire, insects,and drought could cause the tree canopy to close, effectively reducing the herbaceous <br /> understory thus facilitating the transition. Improper grazing and or increase surface disturbance combined with <br /> periods of drought can facilitate this transition because soil stability is lost and susceptibility to soil loss increases. <br /> Transition T26 <br /> This transition is from tree canopy reduction and re-establishment of grasses and forbs. If the community is <br /> approaching state 3(pinyon juniper invasive state), due to a loss of understory and increase invasive plants this <br /> pathway of seeding could be preferable to doing nothing.This pathway may facilitate the recovery of the soils.The <br /> infrequent naturally occurring fires could also cause this transition. Reseeding after a fire may be the only way to <br /> successfully restore the ecological dynamics to a site. Either way this pathway involves large energy and monetary <br /> inputs by man. <br /> State 3: Pinyon-Juniper Invasive State <br /> This state occurs when there is an absence of natural disturbance(i.e. Insects and drought and/or fire)over long <br /> time frames.Also, management actions could have allowed trees to become very mature and have effectively <br /> closed out the understory. Invasive plants have increased in abundance.This state has the lowest resiliency and <br /> resistance of any state in this model.There may be no practicable way back to the Current Potential State(State 2), <br /> due to the large amounts of energy and monetary inputs that are needed. Seeding,with either natural disturbance <br /> and/or vegetation management to transition it to State 3 (Seeded State)may be the best long term option for this <br /> site. <br /> Community Phase 3.1: PJ Woodland with Invasive Plants <br /> A lack of understory with a canopy of older Pinyon and Juniper, where plant interspaces very large and connected. <br /> This community phase occurs when natural or management actions allow for the increase in Pinyon and Utah <br /> juniper and a decrease in the grass and forb understory. Invasive introduced plants species would be present in this <br /> phase and are increasing. <br /> Community Phase Pathway 3.1A <br /> This pathway occurs when events such as frequent fire or drought remove the trees and shrubs, and facilitate the <br /> continued establishment of cheatgrass or other invasive annuals. Cheatgrass will typically invade/increase in <br /> tree/shrub interspaces when PJ communities are degraded. Once the cheatgrass establishes the amount and <br /> continuity of fine fuels increases.This can reduce the fire return interval and shorten the time between fires.When <br /> fire eliminates the tree/shrub/native grass component, it completes the conversion to annual dominant community <br /> phase. Cheatgrass and other invasive annuals can persist for long periods of time. Once a fire or a drought removes <br /> the trees/shrubs, it is difficult to reestablish because, not only has the fire return interval been shortened to a time <br /> that will not allow seedling establish,the soil and other abiotic factors have been altered. <br /> Community Phase 3.2: Invasive Annuals <br /> This state is characterized by annual grasses like cheatgrass, annual wheatgrass dominating the understory. Also, <br /> invasive forbs like storkbill, halogeton and others may be present.This community phase has active erosion under <br />