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~_ ~-Sy~d <br />On-site Vegetation <br />Vegetation found on the gravel pit area in undisturbed areas represented <br />"gravel breaks" and "loamy plains" range sites. The gravel breaks site <br />occured on the steep side slopes of the gravelly Cj soil. East and north- <br />facing slopes had essentially the same plant cormmunities while the zest <br />and south slopes changed to different plant communities and lower forage <br />productions. All slopes had a midgrass aspect with grass heights vary- <br />ing from two to twenty inches. <br />Side-oats grama and rough tridens grass were the dominant grasses on east <br />and north exposures. Little bluestem most commonly occurred on the foot- <br />slopes and along the bottom of washes. On south and west-facing slopes <br />Indian rice grass was the dominant grass in association with rough tridens <br />grass. Lesser amounts of sand dropseed, cheatgrass, blue grama, and <br />alkali sacaton were found. Cholla and prickly pear cactus were present <br />in small numbers. <br />Shrubs and trees were sparse on all slopes and occurred primarily on <br />north and east-facing slopes. One-seeded juniper was the most common <br />tree species and averaged from fifteen to twenty feet high. Some <br />cottonwood trees were found at the head of the washes between slopes <br />where moisture conditions were more favorable. Rabbitbrush was also <br />found most often in the bottom of the xashes. Height varied from five <br />to eight feet. Fourwing saltbush was the most common shrub as it occurr- <br />ed on all slopes, but most frequently on the southern and southwest ex- <br />posures. Bigelow sagebrush was found on the top one-third of east and <br />some north slopes and was not more than six inches tall. Yucca was <br />common throughout the site. <br />Total annual production of air dry herbage on a gravel breaks site may <br />vary from 400 to 1600 pounds opr acre. Estimated production on the <br />actual site was 800 to 1000 pounds and the site was in good condition as <br />indicated by plant species present. <br />The loamy plains site xas found an the deep Kim soil although there was <br />little of the area that was undisturbed. The site xas level to gently <br />sloping and had a short and midgrass aspect. Blue grama was dominant <br />and, along with western wheatgrass, produced ninety percent of the annual <br />herbage. Grass heights were from txo to fifteen inches. Indian rice- <br />grass occurred in minor amounts. Miscellaneous £orbs made up the re- <br />mainder of the annual production. <br />Total annual air dry herbage production on a loatgy plains site may be <br />200 to 1500 pounds per acre. Although there xere fex representative <br />areas that were undisturbed, production was estimated to be 350 to <br />700 pounds per acre. Range condition was fair to good. <br />Revegetation of the (Cj) soil will be limited mainly by low soil moist- <br />ure-holding capacity, steep slopes, and low precipitation. The site <br />should be reclaimed with at least eighteen inches of soil suitable for <br />~ho~d~e m~c~ied a~hasra°~eso~o2~~ator2~0~pouneds peracre wit~ieclean <br />J~S-3 <br />