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east of the site. These stands do not seem t~ relate to <br />increased moisture availability, but do occur o the more <br />gravelly soil types. <br />• It appears, from the pattern in which the Aspen xist, that <br />the Aspen are a sera) stage showing historic fir patterns <br />for the area. Because most of the Aspen stands re outside <br />the permit boundary they are not further investig ted. <br />The herbaceous understory layer consists vainly of <br />Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) with mi ed grasses <br />and fortis. Dominant grass species are Ariz na fescue <br />(Festuca arisonica) followed closely by Moun ain muhly <br />(Muhenbergia mon_tana), Indian ricegrass, and m ttongrass. <br />Other grasses not forming a major portion of the graminoid <br />understory community are Idaho fescue (Festuca i ahoensis), <br />Spike fescue (Leucopoa kingii), and Junegrass(koeleria <br />cristata). <br />Grasses like Red threeawn (Aristide longiseta)~, Mountain <br />brome (Bromus marginatus), and what appears to be Bearded <br />wheatgrass (Agropyron subsecundu_m) are notable) in Aspen <br />stands. <br />I <br />Fortis and graminoid-like species common to the a ea and in <br />the understory, are cow parsnip, wild celery and y rrow. <br />Shrubs dominating the understory, though not at a 1 common, <br />• were Mountain sagebrush (Artemisia_Frigida) c rrant and <br />shrubbry Cinque-foil (Dateatilla fructicosa). I open and <br />undisturbed parks Pasture sagebrush (Artemisia f i ida) is <br />the dominant shrub and, in the areas that have bee drastic- <br />a11y disturbed but still have an adequate plant-growth <br />medium, Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseo_sus is the <br />dominant shrub. <br />In areas that have adequate water, i_e. the reviously <br />hydraulicly mined draws, willow (Salix spy) is th dominant <br />shrub (photos 2, 5 and 6). The gramrnoids that occur in <br />these draws are knotweed (Polygonun_spp.), Kent cky blue- <br />grass (Poa pratensis) and what appears to be Blu wild-rye <br />(Elymus glaucus). Less frequent in occurrence ar Mountain <br />brome (Bromus marginatus), Junegrass (Koeleria cri tata) and <br />Bottlebrush squirreltail (Sitanion hystrix). <br />Exhibit C, Plate 3 portrays both the soil delineations and <br />general plant community separations. The soil map ing units <br />were used to differentiate between non-forest, rassland <br />communities (Map unit UF), forested (Map uni FA) and <br />deciduous Aspen groves on glacial moraines (Map nit GO). <br />The field reviews substantiated that the soil oundaries <br />coincided quite favorably with the vegetation community <br />boundaries. i <br /> <br />31 <br />