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<br /> <br />36 <br />VEGETATION INFORM4TIION <br />SFC 12 & IJ, TJSIY, R17W, HMPbI <br />STONE GRAVEL PIT <br />DAREN STONE -PROPRIETOR <br />ElHIBIT J <br />Vegetation at the site due to the described sparse water availability is relatively sparse itself. <br />Big sage is the predominant shrub. Western wheatgrass and bottlebrush squirreltail are the <br />main occurrence of the grasses. Major infestation of Russian thistle occur at the southwest <br />edge of the site, adjacent to pre-occurring un-reclaimed gravel pit operations on the <br />neighboring property. Sparse isolated occurrences of Utah juniper are to be found scattered <br />at random across the site. Also occurring in minor amounts aze Douglas rabbitbrush, <br />needle-and-thread, and Indian ricegrass. <br />The Natural Resources Conservation Service Rangesite Description for "Loamy Foothills" <br />describes the "Native (potential) Vegetation" as follows. <br />.Na>five /potential) Yepeta~on <br />Studies on Mesa Verde (National Park) show that pinyon and jiniper, with an understory <br />of mostly mittongrass may dominate the site in the [ongA'me absence of fire, but lightning <br />frres following warm, dry early summer weather are a natural feature ojthe region. This <br />could have maintained much of the site in a grassland cover, as reported by marry early <br />settlers, except for occasional trees and isolated patches. Such vegetation is thz basis for <br />the potential here described Without fire, simulated clearing methods may be necessary <br />to maintain it. <br />Grasses mixed with big sagebrush or black sage five the site its typical appearance. <br />Grasses make up about 60% of the yield Western sheatgrass and muttongrass are the <br />most plentiful. Other common grasses are Jucegrass, needle-and-threadlndian <br />ricegrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Galleta shows up on pans of the site, and <br />bluebunch wheatfrass grows at northern limits. Rock goldenrod lupine, paintbrush, <br />6uckwheats, phlox , and a number of other jorbs grow in small amounts. Small amounts <br />of low woody and semi-woody plants, such as Douglas rabbitbrush, dwarf rabbitbrvsh, <br />and toadjl¢r penstemon are common Occasional tall shrubs may be conspicuous. <br />Among the most common are antelope bitterbrush, Utah serviceberry, and true mountain <br />mahogany. Also occurring at some locations are dati! yucca, squawapple, cliffrose, and - <br />- where moisture is favorable - Fendler bush and Gambel oak <br />Tree species most likely to grow on the site are pirryon pine and Utah juniper. <br />Rpproximate ground cover is 30'x. <br />