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Vegetation surrounding the quarry site is primarily a Pinon- <br />Juniper forest. Density varies considerably from what would more properly <br />be called a Savannah to a forest with a crown density of about 858 over <br />wide areas and nearly 1008 in small, local areas. <br />To the west of the quarry area is a moderately dense Pinon <br />Juniper forest that occupies the crest of the ridge. This area has, <br />for all practical purposes, a flat aspect. North of the quarry the <br />forest opens more, has much less Pinon and has a considerable amount <br />of shrub cover including Mountain Mahogany and Gambel's Oak. East of <br />the quarry the forest is similar to that which exists west of the quarry. <br />South of the quarry the vegetation is similar to that foun3 north of the <br />quarry although a lot more Oakbrush is found here. <br />Species composition of these forests and shrublands is important. <br />~ Near and on the ridgetops Juniper (Juniperus scop ulorum) a:~d Gambel's <br />~ <br /> Oak (Ouercus Qambelli) dominate, but Pinon Pine (Pinus edilis), Ponderosa <br />Pine (Pinus ponderosa) are also important. White Fir (Abi~=_s concolor) <br />also occurs but is not common. Understory species include Mountain <br />Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), Ninebark (Physocarpus mon~~gynus), <br />Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Yucca (Yucca glaucai, Prickly Pear <br />Cactus (Opuntia sp.) and a number of other grasses of which, by far, the <br />most common is Needle-and-Thread Grass (Stipa comata). <br />Away from the ridgetops, Juniper and Ponderosa bcacome much less <br />common and the vegetation is dominated by Gambel's Oak and Pinon Pine. <br />In places on the quarry slope Skunkbrush Sumac (Rhus trilot>ata) and Choke <br />Cherry (Prunus virginiana) along with Prairie Sage (Artemi:sia ludoviciana) <br />are found. <br />• <br />S-J-2* <br />