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4- 71 <br />• Total percent cover is nearly identical in the reference area (63.3 percent cover) and the <br />affected area (62.7 percent cover). Cover is dominated by shadscale and cheatgrass in both <br />reference and affected areas. See Tables 4.5-6 and 4.5-17. <br />Production is also highly comparable and averages 70.1 g/mZ in the reference area or 625 <br />pounds per acre compared to 656 pounds per acre in the affected area. The dominant biomass <br />producers in both communities are identical. See Tables 4.5.7 and 4.5.18. <br />Shrub density is very similar in reference and affected areas with respect to occurrence, <br />total numbers per unit area, and relative abundance. Total shrub density of the four species is <br />the reference area averages 2,684 shrubs per acre compared to 2,987 shrubs per acre in the <br />affected area. See Tables 4.5.8 and 4.5.19. <br />Species richness is slightly lower in the shadscale reference area (ndex = 8.50) as fewer <br />forts were encountered. Equitability of cover was also slightly lower in the reference area (ndex <br />= 0.62). See Table 4.5.5. <br />4.5.12.3 JUNIPER WOODLAND REFERENCE AREA <br />• The Juniper Woodland reference is located in Section 27, T 7 S, R 102 N, approximately <br />two miles south of the permit area within the permit boundary of the Munger Canyon Mine. The <br />reference is on a steep, northwest-facing slope which has a Torriorthent rock outcrop complex. <br />The reference area is square in shape and incorporates approximately seven acres. <br />Cover is highly comparable in the reference and affected areas. See Tables 4.5-9 and <br />4.5-20. Total vegetation cover in the Juniper Woodland reference area is 48.7 percent <br />compared to 45.3 percent in the affected areas. The major difference between the two areas is <br />the relatively higher cover of Salina wildrye in the reference area (25.3 percent cover) compared <br />to the affected area (6.3 percent). However, this species is the dominant plant in the <br />herbaceous stratum of each area. <br />Production in the reference area averages 52.0 g/m2 or 463 pounds per acre compared to <br />345 pounds per acre in the affected area. The increased production of the reference area is <br />due to the greater cover of Salina wildrye which produces 96 percent of the total production. <br />See Tables 4.5-10 and 4.5.21. <br />M~ <br />Volume 1 <br />4.29-96 <br />