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• 4.0 SUIMMARY <br />The proposed permit area is characterized by seven vegetation types. Three <br />of these types, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Riparian Woodland, Big Sagebrush <br />Shrubland, represent climatic climaxes for The region. One type, Rubber <br />Rabbitbrush Shrubland, is a successional sere Of the big Sagebrush type. <br />The three remaining vegetation types have been introduced for grazing end <br />haying purposes. Some haylands are irrigated end harvested twice per year. <br />Other haylands are now irrigated and used only for grazing. <br />The structural diversity end species present in the native vegetation types <br />has been influencetl by the activities of man during the post settlement <br />years. Grazing by livestock appears to have had the greatest effect. <br />Livestock grazing and the management of the area for livestock has resulted <br />in a reduction in the cover end frequency of sensitive species and created <br />disturbances which provide habitat for weeds. <br />The entire sampling program was closely coordinated with CMLR permitting <br />personnel. All sampling was in accordance with existing and proposed regula- <br />tions of the Office of Surface Mining end Colorado Mined Lend Reclamation. <br />Quantitative cover production end density sampling was conducted in the <br />Pinyon-Juniper Woodland and Rubber Rabbitbrush Shrubland communities. A <br />six-acre reference area was establishetl for the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland <br />• vegetation type and quantitative sampling completed. All other vegetation <br />types were qualitatively described. Production tlata for the hayland area <br />was collected from the resident ranchers. <br />Tables 4.0-1, 4.0-2, antl 4.0-3 summarize the quantitative sample data. All <br />sampling for cover, production, end woody plant density met OSM end CMLR <br />statistical requirements. Furthermore, the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland reference <br />area is statistically representative of the effected area by both cover and <br />production standards. <br />There are no federally or state listed Threatened or endangered plant species <br />or selenium indicator species. One noxious weed, Canada thistle, is present <br />on the project site Dut did not occur in The cover transacts. <br />• <br />-45- <br />