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<br />-z- <br />Total production for the Aspen type was 1,551 pounds per acre (461, <br />641, and 499 for grasses, forbs and shrubs respectively and the <br />estimated carrying capacity for normal years was 0.75 AUM's per acre. <br />Based on expected production for unfavorable and favorable years the <br />estimated ranges for forage production and carrying capacity were <br />1,200 ~0 1,800 pounds per acre and 0.60 to 0.90 AUM's per acre <br />respectively. <br />(2) Big Sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata) <br />This cover type was the largest and comprised 698 acres (38%) of the <br />area to be mined. I[ was located throughout the mining area at all <br />elevations but was most prevalent on the lower elevations (7,000 to <br />7,600 feet) on all aspects of gentle to moderately sloping topography <br />(3-25 Y. slope). <br />The Winevada-Splitro soil complex, which is associated with this type <br />is moderately deep (4" topsoil and 24" of subsoil) and mostely fine <br />sandy clay loam in texture. The soils were well drained, had a low <br />to moderately available water capacity, and moderate erosion hazard <br />on gentle slopes. Effective root penetration was to 40 inches. <br />Big sagebrush was the predominant overstory species with an average <br />density of 1.62 plants per M2 (6,559 plants per acre). The shrub <br />cover, which consisted primarily of big sagebrush and some snowberry, <br />accounted for 43% of the composition and 19% of [he cover. In the <br />upper elevations of this type, Gambels oak (Ouercus gambelii) and <br />chokecherry also were important. Bluegrass was the most important <br />grass. Other grasses were western wheatgrass (Agropyron Smithii) and <br />needle grass (Sri a Comata var. intermedia). The important forbs. <br />were mulesear dock (Wyethia amplexicaulis), sunflower, (Hellanthus <br />nuttallii), American vetch and aster (Aster sp. ). Two shrubs, 4 <br />grasses, and 7 forbs (13 total) comprise the big sagebrush type. The <br />index of diversity value was 0.754, The average litter cover was 41% <br />and the canopy cover for grasses, forbs, and shrubs was 7, 17, _and 19 <br />percent respectively, for a total cover of 84 percent. <br />Total production for the big sagebrush type was 1,200 pounds per acre <br />(142, 519, and 539 for grasses, forbs, and shrubs respectively) and <br />the estimated carrying capacity for normal years was 0.45 AUM's per <br />acre. Based on expected production for unfavorable and favorable <br />years the estimated ranges for forage production and carrying <br />capacity were 600 to 1,200 pounds per acre and 0.3 [0 0.6 AUPt's per <br />acre respectively. <br />(3) Low Sagebrush (Artemesia arbuscula) <br />