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3.6 RANGE CONDITION ANALYSIS <br />• <br />Of the five vegetation types occurring on the study area, two (Aspen end Conifer ),ere woodland <br />types and es such ere not normally regarded as range resources, although Aspen is used to e <br />considerable degree M livestock in the region. The Meadow, Mountain Brush, and Sagebrush <br />vegetation types correspond to the Mountain Meadow, Brushy Loam ,end Deep Loem range sites, <br />resp~iively, as described by the SCS (1975 e,b,c). <br />For the Meadow vegetation type, the quantitative date show that with regard to the Mountain <br />Meadow range site description, only about 36 S8 of the existing vegetation is within the <br />composition end abundance limits of that description, suggesting "fair" range condition. Over <br />half the observed production was Nebraska sedge while only 30 ~ of total produution by that <br />species is allowed in amputation of percent original condition. That portion of remaining <br />biomass in the Meadow samples comprised of beaked sedge could not be counted since there is no <br />mention of that species in the presumed native composition of the range site. The conspicuous <br />absence of beaked sedge in the range site description is most probably related to the level of <br />detail of field data collected end used to describe this range site. However, since there is every <br />• reason io believe that beaked sedge is ai least as native to this site as Nebraska sedge, ii should <br />probably be counted to at least the same limits. The palatability and response to grazing of <br />beaked sedge may only be slightly different then Nebraska sedge (Hermann 1970). Counting <br />beaked sedge would place the Meadow vegetation type in the range of 50 to 75 ~ of original <br />composition end in the "good" range condition category. <br />Examining the biomass composition (herabceous only) of the Mountain Brush type in <br />comparison with the Brushy Loem range site description shows that about 36 ~ of the existing <br />vegetation can be deemed representative of original composition. Thus a "fair" range condition is <br />suggested for this vegetation type. The allowable percent of existing vegetation that may be <br />compared to the original vegetation conditions (as presented in the range site description) is <br />limited by the great abundance of Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass is considered on <br />invader species end thus is not included in the potential composition of the range site. <br />The diverse grass cover in the Sagebrush Vegetation type leads to a finding of about 46 ~ of <br />original composition, es described in the Deep Loam range site description. This suggests e <br />• "fair' and almost "goad" range site condition. Again the current abundant growth of Kentucky <br />-25- <br />