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Threatened or Endangered Species - A review of the literature suggests <br />• that two plant species known to occur in Delta County are either considered <br />threatened, endangered or under review for a determination of status (Federal <br />Register 1980). These are the hookless cactus (Sclerocactus lg aucus) and the <br />clay loving buckwheat (Erioaonum pelinophilum). The hookless cactus is known <br />to occur in the western part of Delta County on dry alkaline hills with many <br />rocks. It is listed as threatened species occurring at about 5000 ft. (U. S. <br />Fish and Wildlife, 1978). The clay-loving buckwheat occurs west of Hotchkiss <br />on gumbo clay hills. Its status is currently under review. Neither species <br />was. observed within the study area nor were any suitable habitats for their <br />occurrence observed. <br />Data Analysis <br />• Cover Data - Total vegetative canopy cover within the pinon-juniper <br />reference area was 47%. Of this, approximately 63% were shrubs, 3% were <br />forbs, 5% were grasses, and 30% were trees. Cheatgrass was the major grass <br />species while major shrubs included Utah serviceberry, antelope bitterbrush <br />and gambel oak. Utah juniper contributed most to total canopy cover with <br />approximately 2Lo (Table 3). <br />Within the pinon-juniper affected area, total vegetative cover was approx- <br />imately 35%. Grasses contributed approximately 17% to the total cover of <br />which cheatgrass was the dominant grass species contributing approximately <br />15%. Forb species contributed approximately 9% while shrubs contributed 40% <br />and trees 330 (Table 4). <br />Vegetative cover within the mixed shrub reference area was approximately <br />75%. Shrub species comprised approximately 7L°o cover. Grasses, forbs and <br />• <br />-11- <br />