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EXHIBIT J-1 <br /> Sub-dominant:Non-sprouting shrubs(Wyoming big sagebrush,shadscale)>Perennial bunchgrasses(needle-and- <br /> thread, prairie junegrass)>Rhizomatous grasses(James galleta)> Forbs(tufted milkvetch,cushion wild buckwheat)> <br /> Biological soil crusts. <br /> Other: Functional/structural groups may appropriately contain non-native species if their ecological function is the same <br /> as the native species in the reference state. Biological soil crust is variable in its expression where present on this site <br /> and is measured as a component of ground cover. Forbs can be expected to vary widely in their expression in the plant <br /> community based upon departures from average growing conditions. <br /> Additional: Factors contributing to temporal variability include insects and other pathogens(mistletoe),drought, extreme <br /> precipitation events,etc. Factors contributing to spatial variability include slope,amount of rock fragments,aspect, etc. <br /> Following recent natural disturbances such as fire,drought or insects that may remove the woody vegetation,forbs and <br /> perennial grasses(herbaceous species)may become more dominate in the community.These conditions may reflect a <br /> functional community phase within the reference state. <br /> 13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence(include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or <br /> decadence): During years with average to above-average precipitation,there should be very little recent mortality or <br /> decadence apparent in trees,shrubs,or grasses. During severe(multi-year)drought up to 20%of the pinyons and <br /> junipers may die,either from drought, insect damage or pathogens such as mistletoe.There may be partial mortality on <br /> individual bunchgrasses and shrubs during drought periods,and complete mortality of individual plants during severe <br /> drought periods, particularly on the shallower and coarser soils associated with this site.Because woody stems may <br /> persist for many years, both pinyons and junipers(especially older trees)will normally have dead stems within the plant <br /> canopy. <br /> 14. Average percent litter cover(%)and depth(in): Litter cover(including under plants)nearly all of which should be fine <br /> litter. Depth should be 1 leaf thickness in the interspaces, up to 1/2"under shrub canopies,and up to 1"under tree <br /> canopies.Litter cover may increase to 25%on some years due to increased production of plants. <br /> 15. Expected annual annual-production(this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production,not just forage annual- <br /> production):Annual production in air-dry herbage should be approximately 250-300#/acre on an average year, but <br /> could range from 150 to 400#/acre during periods of prolonged drought or above average precipitation. <br /> 16. Potential invasive(including noxious)species(native and non-native).List species which BOTH characterize <br /> degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if <br /> their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions.Species that <br /> become dominant for only one to several years(e.g.,short-term response to drought or wildfire)are not <br /> invasive plants.Note that unlike other indicators,we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state <br /> for the ecological site: Few invasive species are capable of dominating this site.When invasion does occur,annual <br /> bromes such as cheatgrass,and various non-native annual forbs including alyssum and mustard species are the most <br /> likely to invade. <br /> 17. Perennial plant reproductive capability: All perennial plants should have the ability to reproduce in all years,except in <br /> extreme drought years.There are no restrictions on either seed or vegetative reproduction.Some seedling recruitment <br /> of major species should be present during average and above average growing years. <br />