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4-117 <br />• increased abundance of western wheatgrass here. This perennial, <br />native, sod-forming, cool season grass is also the dominant pro- <br />ducer in the reference area (110.8 g/m2) and accounts for the <br />higher production in the reference area. See Tables 4,8-18 and <br />4.8-3 for cover data and Tables 4.8-19 and 4.8.4 for production <br />data. <br />Shrub densities are somewhat variable between reference (3,483 <br />per acre) compared to affected (6,165 per acre) areas. This is <br />due to the better range conditions of the reference area. See <br />Tables 4.8-5 and 4.8-20. <br />Species richness is lower in the Greasewood Shrubland reference <br />• area (index = 10.20). This is attributable to the very low <br />number of forbs encountered in this area compared to the affected <br />area. Equitability or the evenness of cover distribution among <br />species in the reference area (index = 0.68) is quite similar to <br />equitability in the affected area (index = 0.66). This low <br />equitability index in the reference area occurs because of the <br />relative dominance of two species; greasewood in the shrub stratum <br />and western wheatgrass in the herbaceous stratum. See Table 4.8-6. <br />4.8.12.2 Big Sagebrush Shrubland Reference Area <br />The Big Sagebrush reference area is located along the boundary <br />of the permit area and a small draw. The reference is irregular <br />in shape and is approximately 4 acres in area, The site has the <br />Rivra soil loam, as is true for much of the affected area. <br />