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(Poa ~assizensis), Letterman neediegrass (St1D8 lettermanii), sheep • <br />fescue (Festuca brachvohvlla ssp, coloradensis), and bluebunch wheat- <br />grass (Pseudoroeaneria soicata ssp. soicata). Some of the more abun- <br />dant forbs identified by ESCO (1993) include: weedy milkvetch (Astra- <br />as lus miser), mule's ear (NVethia amolexicaulls), microseris (Micros- <br />eras nutans), and pacific aster (Virculaster ascendens). Shrubs that <br />also occur in grass-forb meadows include; alkali sagebrush, mountain <br />big sagebrush, and mountain snowberry. <br />Improved Pasture <br />There are a few sma]1 tracts of improved pasture, totalling <br />approximately 55 acres, in the extreme north and south parts of the <br />proposed mine area, and along the north end of the hau] road corridor. <br />This habitat is found on uplands, and in lowland areas which tend to <br />be subirrigated. Both native and introduced grasses and forbs domi- <br />Hate in this habitat. ESCO (1993) identified eight native perennial <br />grass species and six introduced perennial grasses in improved pas- <br />ture. The dominant native grass is Agassiz bluegrass; smooth brome <br />(Brom~sis inermis) is .the dominant introduced grass. The dominant <br />native perennial forb is western yarrow (AChillea lanuiosa). Canada <br />thistle (Cirsium arvense) and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are the <br />dominant introduced perennial forbs. Alfalfa (Medicaco sativa) is <br />also common in improved pasture. <br />eottomland <br />Bottomland habitat is a minor habitat in the area and covers <br />approximately 50 acres. Bottomland habitat is restricted to narrow <br />' bands along drainages and around stockponds. The largest contiguous <br />12 <br />