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VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />Exhibit J -AMENDMENT <br />Vegetation Information <br />The vegetation of the amendment area is a grassland dominated by blue grama. Mixed with the grama <br />is western wheatgrass, at least two species of needle and thread grass and small scattered areas of little and big <br />bluestem. Grass cover is moderate and estimated at between 40% and 70%, depending upon soil texture, <br />aspect, and slope. Much of the remaining Bound is covered with grass litter so that exposed ground often is <br />less than 20%. The condition of the grassland is good, but the effects of grazing are readily evident in the <br />balance of the species compared to what would be expected with no grazing. Evidence of overgrazing is quite <br />low and the general condition of the vegetation is good but not quite up to what would be considered an <br />excellent condition. It is possible that current indications of possible overgrazing are due more to the effects of <br />the recent severe drought. It is difficult to distinguish these influences as both can cause a similar shift in the <br />vegetation composition. However, the current condition of the vegetation would seem to indicate that the <br />primary cause is more due to drought than overgrazing. <br />Mixed with the dominance of grasses are various forbs including fringed sage, golden aster, and a <br />small amount of annual weeds. This also indicates the influence of prolonged grazing. However, the density of <br />these species is not sufficient to be considered indicative of overgrazing. In some places prickly pear and <br />yucca are also present, but the density is low which is indicative of the generally good condition of the <br />vegetation. <br />Trees are absent from the area, except for a few small outlier trees on the western edge o£the <br />operation adjacent to the riparian forest along Running Creek. Few woody plants are found elsewhere on the <br />site with the most common being wood or wild rose. <br />Knapweed (probably Diffuse Knapweed -aka White Knapweed) can also be found on the site, but <br />appeazs to primarily be restricted to alder highly disturbed sites. None was found on reclaimed land, but it may <br />be there as well. This is potentially a significant noxious weed species that could adversely affect the future <br />use of the land. <br />Reclaimed aeeas are dominated by alfalfa as that is the primary species used in the revegetation <br />progam. Some invasion by native and introduced grasses into the alfalfa is evident, but most of the <br />revegetation is still too young to make any judgements as to how the alfalfa planting and grass invasion will <br />interact in the future. As a rule, alfalfa tends to enhance the invasion of Bass species that tend to prefer a <br />higher nitrogen level in the soil. This would favor invasion of species such as western wheatgrass rather than <br />blue grama as grama often does poorly in high nitrogen soils. Thus, the inclusion of intermediate wheatgrass <br />in the topsoil stabilization mix would be consistent with the nitrogen levels expected in the alfalfa dominated <br />pasture planting. Planting blue grama or other warm season species with low nitrogen requirements would be <br />counter indicated when the primary planting is alfalfa. <br />Miller Gravel Pit Amendment (2007) Exhibit J Page 1 of 1 <br />