2025-08-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981019

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RULE 2 PERMITS South Taylor – Rule 2, Page 38 Revision Date: 7/21/25 Revision No.: MR-267 Total shrub density within the mountain shrub vegetation type was 53.9 individual shrubs per 50 square meters. Western snowberry was the most abundant shrub with 31.9 individuals per 50 square meters followed by Gambel oakbrush with 11.4 and serviceberry with 4.6 individuals per 50 square meters. The mean number of species encountered along the 50 meter point cover transect was 9.5 and 14.9, respectively, for the study area and reference area samples (Table 3.5 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Average herbaceous production in the mountain shrub type was 1,351 lbs. / acre oven-dry forage. Converting oven to air-dry forage by a factor of 1.11, yields 1,500 lbs. / acre available herbaceous air-dry forage. Assuming a 50 per cent utilization factor and 900 lbs. / acre cattle animal unit, the cattle carrying capacity was 0.83 AUM's per acre. For sheep the carrying capacity was 5.00 AUM's per acre. Sagebrush-Grassland - The sagebrush-grassland vegetation type occurred on the lower elevations of the study area on ridges and southeast and southwest facing slopes. The majority of the type occurred north of West Fork. The sagebrush-grassland type within the study area was quite variable and several phases of the type were noted. The most abundant phase was the sagebrush-snowberry phase (Figure 3.5 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). This phase occurred on the deeper soils and had an understory composed primarily of Kentucky bluegrass, subalpine needlegrass, Letterman needle-grass, nodding brome and slender wheatgrass. In section 15, the mountain shrub vegetation type has been converted to a sagebrush- snowberry phase by mechanically removing all the large shrubs. In these areas, snowberry was more common than sagebrush. The sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass phase occurred on shallow soils usually on steep terrain (Figure 3.6 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). This type primarily occurs near Highway 13 along Good Spring Creek. Study sites 18, 19, 21 and 25 are representative of this phase of the sagebrush grassland type. Bluebunch wheatgrass was the dominant grass species within this phase. A grassland phase of the sagebrush-grassland occurred on thin scabby sites located on ridgetops primarily in sections 30 and 29 north of West Fork (Figure 3.7 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Here the phase occurred on southwest facing slopes. These sites have served as bedding areas for sheep and cattle and are subject to intense grazing. Sites 1, 23, 14 and 2 are representative of this phase. Grasses are the dominant group within this phase, with needle-and-thread, western wheatgrass, and prairie junegrass being common. Shrub density within the type is exceedingly low. Douglas rabbitbrush was the dominant shrub. The sagebrush- grassland (Artemisia nova) phase occurs on one ridge within the study area, in sections 30 and 19 (Figure 3.8). This phase has a distinct dominant shrub layer of black sagebrush. Otherwise grasses were similar to that of the grassland phase of the sagebrush grassland type. No plots were randomly located within this phase. In several areas near sections 15 and 16, range improvements have been made which have altered the vegetation. The large shrubs have been removed to allow the understory species to be more productive. The practice has removed most of the serviceberry and in the process, most of the sagebrush. Snowberry dominates these sites with numerous grasses and forbs (Figure 3.9 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Absence of grazing for the past four years in section 11 was another factor contributing to the variability within the sagebrush-grassland type. This area is controlled by the Colowyo mine and is within their fenced perimeter boundary. Samples sites 4, 5, 12, and 16 were within this area. All samples from the various phases were pooled for the sagebrush-grassland analysis. The sagebrush-grassland reference area was located in section 30 on a south-facing slope at an elevation of 8,040 feet. Total vegetation cover within the sagebrush-grassland type from study area samples was 59.3 percent (Table 3.7 of Exhibit 10, Item 5). Bare ground exposure was 12.5 percent while rock and litter combined had 28.2 percent cover. Shrub species comprised 21.8 percent cover and big sagebrush, the dominant shrub, had 13.2 percent cover. Western snowberry had 6.1 percent cover. Perennial grasses had 20.7 percent cover of which Kentucky bluegrass had 5.5 percent cover. Western wheatgrass had 4.2 percent cover and bluebunch wheatgrass had 4 percent cover. Perennial forbs had 12.8 percent cover of which silvery lupine, arrowleaf balsamroot, eriogonum, and thistle were the most abundant. Total vegetation cover within reference area samples was higher than that of study area samples with 74.3 percent (Table