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~{ <br />a` , <br />~' <br />4~ <br />~' .i <br /> <br />),TED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />1'1 Conservation Service, Colorado <br />Technical Guide <br />Section II E <br />RANGE SITE N0. 238 <br />Field Office <br />nuyust 1975 <br />RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION <br />for <br />BRUSHY LOAM <br />Land Resource Area: Southern Rocky Mountains (48) <br />A.• PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />Pliyslographic Features <br />This site occupies on gently rolling to steep upland slopes. <br />Degree of slope ranges from 3 to 65$. Direction of slope <br />ranges from north and east to south and west as the elevation <br />Increases. Elevation ranges from 6000 feet to 9000 feet above <br />sea level. <br />~~•' 2. Climatic Features <br />• Annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 20 inclics. At least half <br />of the annual precipitation is in the form of snow. Optimum <br />growing season for native plants is mid-May to mid-July, Winters <br />are typically cold, Range forage plants are favored by spring <br />moisture from accumulated snow. June and July are usually the <br />dry months during the growing period, <br />3. Native (potential) Vegetation <br />The aspect of [his site is a shrub dominated community. Service- <br />• - berry and oakbrush are the major brush species. Snowberry, choke- <br />', cherry, and rose are the other principal shrub species. About <br />• 50 to 60 percent of the annual production is made up of grasses. <br />Nodding brume, mountain brume, slender wheat, western wheat, and <br />Letterman and Columbia needlegrasses are the major grass species <br />on this site. Elk sedge, generally, is the most frequently <br />occurring plant. Major forb species include aspen peavine, flea- <br />, bane, western yarrow, American vetch, and lupine. Additional plants <br />present on this site Include oniongr;~ss, big sagebrush, geranium, <br />and low larkspur. <br />This site is generally treeless, except for possibly a few scattered <br />aspen, which have little or no market value. Optimum ground cover <br />(s 60$. <br />