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• March 23, 1979 SOILS AND VEGETATIVE INFORMATION The majority of the soils found on the unit operated by West Slope Carbon are steep and well drained. Wet areas may occur where water from springs or the Gunnison River cause water to be present much of the year. Much of the soil is droughthy because slope and the southern aspect. The dryness of the area and the high percentage of exposed bedrock and rock escarpments limit vegetative diversity and production. For specific soil characteristics see the accompanying soil mapping unit description sheets. In the discussion of the vegetation, refer to the accompanying line maps for soils and plant communities. As previously mentioned, the majority of soil on the unit is composed of a rock outcrop, sandstone complex. Pinyon-Juniper woodland occupies most of the steep.side- slopes and south-facing slopes with inclusions of shrubs and oakbrush on east and west slopes found in the draws and streambeds of inter- mittant streams. The shrub communities are found almost exclusively on north slopes to the south of the Gunnison River, as well as, along • the river bottom area. To the north of the river, the shrub oak- brush community is above the Pinyon-Juniper woodland where slope and moisture is more favorable. Aspen woodland occurs only in the northeast tip of the unit and is not significant. Scattered stands of aspen and spruce are present beyond the northern boundry of the unit but do not become dominant until the elevation is above 8500 feet. The Pinyon-Juniper woodland is rather sparse because of the large amount of exposed rock and shallow soils. An estimated canopy cover would be from 15 to 25 percent. Mountain mahogany, big sage- brush, serviceberry and rabbitbrush will be found in the shrub understory. Indian ricegrass, mutton grass, Salina wild rye, and western wheatgrass are the dominant grasses with sedges, junegrass, galleta, cheatgrass and three awn grass found in lesser amounts. Forbes commonly found are yucca, buckwheat, hairy goad aster, globe mallow, stemless goldenweed, and snakeweed. Production will vary from 200 to 600 pounds annual air dry forage per acre. The shrub community is dominated by Gambels oak with serviceberry, snowberry, chokecherry, skunkbush, and mountain mahogany scattered throughout. Competition from the shrubs and 'the dense overstory limits understory vegetation to mostly Kentucky bluegrass and sedges. Oregon grape and miscellaneous forbes grow in thin stands. Indian ricegrass, brome grasses and wheatgrasses are found in clearings and • in more sparsely covered areas. Annual air dry forage production per acre will vary from 1500 to 3000 pounds.