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<br />1 on well-drained slopes that beca:vse of shallow soils 'cave not ~~n ccnvertc4 <br />to agricultural production. Eighteen species were encountered in cover guaarats <br />during 1979 vegetation studies G~:ariah Associates 1979). The type is charac- <br />terized by Basin big sagebrush (Arta~nisia tridentato). Common understory <br />species include: cheatgrass bmme (Sronus tector~), redstem filaree (Errcii-., <br />cicutarivm), Russianthistle (Salsola ::all), and tustaiing hedgerustard <br />(Sisymbri~an altissim~m). <br />Upland sagebrusin sites sampled on the Nucla study area duri.-ig 1979 exhibited <br />a total vegetative basal Dover of 13.48. Basin big sagebrush evidenced the <br />highest percent basal Dover o£ any spades on this type (4.98) (Marian Asso- <br />ciates 1979). <br />Grassland pasture vegetation type. :'he grassland pasture vegetation type within <br />the study area occupies 24.69 acres or 23.38 of the total study area. Grassland <br />is the nest predominant vegetation type on lands not acirrently disturbec: or <br />subjected to agricultural production. I3owever,~this type is an abandoned hay <br />• ~ ~ pasture as evidenced by the many vegetation species indicative of its past <br />agricultural use and present disturbed nature. interviews with local ranchers <br />and Nucla Mine personnel indicate that much o£ the area now in grassland on the <br />Nucla permit was a;andoned in 1975. Prior to abandor-ient, these areas were <br />planted alfalfa fields. Weedy, undesirable species such as field bindweed <br />(COnvolvulus arvensis), and common Russianthistle (Sa~sola kali) aze ca;=mn <br />on this <br />2bta1 vegetative basal cover for the grassland vegetation type in 1979 was <br />estimated at 9.78. Weedy species accounted for over 37B of the total .over <br />(Pariah Associates 1979). <br />ibtal 1979 vegetative production at grassland sites was 815.1 lbs/acre. ..+'h:ch <br />of the total production was attributed to unidentified perennial grasses and <br />annual forbs 4Nariah Associates 1979). <br />Agriccl.tural vegetation type. Agricultural lams cacprise the largest type <br />on the study area accounting for 44.59 acres. These lands were planted <br />(` <br />r~ <br />L J <br />-17- <br />,t U N ~ Z 1980 <br />(Revised August 2006) Attachment 2.04.10-10-24 <br />