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VEGETATION SUMMARY <br />YOA ST AREA <br />The native vegetation present in the Yoast Area is characteristic of the lower elevation <br />mountains within the region. Aspect, sails, and topography play an important part in the <br />distribution of the predominant mixed brush, sagebrush grassland, and aspen communities <br />scattered throughout the area. The more prominent types are the mixed brush and sagebrush <br />grassland, while the aspen type is usually restricted to northerly aspects or mesic sites. <br />The sagebrush grassland type occurs on east, south and west facing aspects at mid- to low <br />elevations in the area. This type also occupies the deeper soils within the area. The <br />type appears as a low stature shrubby cononuni ty with sagebrush the obvious dominant. <br />Common vegetation includes big sagebrush (Artemisia tridents ta), mountain snowberry <br />(Symphoricarpos oreophilus), Douglas rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), mule's <br />ear (W ey this amplexicaul is), arrowleaf ba lsamroot (Balsamorhi za sagitta ta), Kentucky <br />bluegrass (Poa pra tensi s), slender wheatgrass (Agropy ron tra chycaulum), and western <br />wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii). In drainages, big sagebrush may be replaced with silver <br />• sagebrush (Artemisia cans) and in areas with very clayey soils, low sagebrush (Artemisia <br />arbuscula) will dominate. <br />The mixed brush type occurs on a variety of aspects, topography and soils, but is favored <br />on steeper slopes, more northerly aspects, and shallower soils. In many cases, the <br />density of the shrubby species in this type results in the formation of thickets. The <br />type is dominated by tall shrubs including service be rry (Amelanchier al nifolia), <br />chokecherry (Prunus virgi niana), Gambel oak (Oue rc us gambelii), but interspersed stands of <br />snowberry and big sagebrush may also occur. Dominant forbs include western yarrow <br />(Achi llea lanulosa), one-flower heli anthella (Helianthella uniflora), tailcup lupine <br />(Lu inus caudatus) and nettleleaf giant-hypsop (Agastache ur ti cifolia). Common grasses <br />include Kentucky bluegrass, slender wheatgrass, and various brome grasses (Bromopsis sue). <br />The aspen type is restricted to northerly-facing aspects, moister drainage bottoms, and <br />other areas exhibiting mesic conditions such as springs or seeps. Soils tend to be deep, <br />dark, and high in organic matter when associated with the type. The dominant species in <br />the type are large woody species, with aspen (Populus tremul oides) being most common <br />followed by serviceberry, mountain snowberry, chokecherry and Rocky Mountain maple (Ater <br />1g abrum). Common forbs include mountain bluebells (Mertensia ciliata); cutleaf coneflower <br />