Laserfiche WebLink
~. <br />-6- <br />on t.~ meadow type. Bluegrass was most Important of the grasses. <br />Others were western wheatgrass, and slender wheatgrass. Forbs were <br />more important than those of the meadow cover type. The more <br />important forbs were yarrow, aster and knotweed (Polygonum mon[anum). <br />Eight grasses and 5 forbs (13 total) comprised the silver <br />sagebrush-meadow cover type. The index of diversity value was 0.887. <br />The average litter cover was 227, and the canopy cover for grasses and <br />forbs was 29 and 28 percent respectively, for a total cover value of <br />79 percent. Total production for the silver sagebrush-meadow type <br />was 1,995 pounds per acre (790, 971, 234 for grasses, forbs and <br />shrubs, respectively) and the estimated carrying capacity was 1.0 <br />AUM's per acre. Thse Indicated the silver sagebrush-meadow Cype was <br />about 34e less productive Chan the meadow range site. Based on this <br />difference the expected production and carrying capacity Eor <br />favorable and unfavorable }'ears was 1,300 to 2,600 pounds per acre <br />and 0.65 to 1.3 AUM's per acre. <br />(9) Cropland <br />It is located in five tracts which supported native sagebrush prior <br />to cultivation in the northern section of the proposed permit area. <br />Croplands within the permit area have been historically planted to <br />winter wheat and alfalfa/grass mixtures. The cropping pattern in the <br />region was to cultivate the grain in alternate years. Limited <br />post-harvest livestock grazing occurred during most years on wheat <br />and hay fields. <br />Based on USDA SCS estimates, 23 bushels per acre was the average <br />yield on the site, but in 1978 Energy Fuels obtained only 9 bushels <br />per acre on one of the plots. Dr}•land alfalfa }•ields were reported <br />by SCS to range from 1.5 to 2.0 Eons per acre. None of this cropland <br />type has been designated as prime farmland. <br />(10) Revegetated Area <br />The revegetated areas were generally mined prior to August 1977. <br />They are in various degrees of re vegetation. <br />(11) Mined Areas <br />These areas were generally mined after August 1977 and comprised 28 <br />acres (2Y.) of the area to be disturbed from the proposed mining plan. <br />They are currently in the process of being mined and regraded in <br />preparation for revegeta[ion. <br />