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Wes! Elk Mine <br />Characteristic shrub species in the understory of the Douglas fir community are servicebetry and <br />snowberry, ranging in height from 1-5 m (3-15 ft.). <br />The Douglas fir community is generally located in areas of steep, north-facing slopes in the study <br />area. These areas occur primarily above the town of Somerset, along drainages leading into <br />Sylvester Gulch, on the flanks of the West Flatiron, and above the North Fork of fire Gunnison <br />River on the eastern portion of the Box Canyon lease tract. Douglas fir stands also occur along <br />the drainage of the East Fork of Minnesota Creek and below Beaver Reservoir in the southern <br />portion of the study area. These stands may also contain scattered individuals of Colorado blue <br />spruce (Picea pungens). Most stands occurring in the study area range from 2,250-2,400 m <br />(7,500-8,000 ftJ in elevation. The Douglas fir community intergrades with the oakbtvsh <br />community along transitions between cool north-facing slopes and warm east- and south-facing <br />slopes. <br />The representative location of the Douglas fir community sampled is located on soil mapping unit <br />number 6. The tree stratum within this type consisted almost entirely of Douglas fir and provided a <br />total of 71 percent cover. A single individual of narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) was <br />the only other tree species within the sample area. <br />The shrub stratum within the Douglas fir community consisted of 10 species and provided. 62 <br />percent cover. Shrub species were much shorter than those observed in the Aspen community, and <br />did not form two distinct layers. Average height for nearly all shrub species was 0.5 m (1.6 ft.). <br />The dominant species was serviceberry providing 23 percent cover. . <br />Eleven herbaceous species (one graminoid and 10 forbs) were sampled along the- 50-meter. <br />intercept line, providing 45 percent average cover. The majority of the cover was provided by <br />scattered, large plants with large crown areas. Height of the herbaceous stratum ranged between <br />10 and 30 cm (4-12 in.). Elk sedge was the only graminoid species sampled, providing one <br />percent average cover, and occurring in 20 percent of the sampled area. The most important forb <br />species was arnica' (Arnica cordifodia), which provided 36 percent average cover, and occurred in <br />80 percent of the quadrants sampled. <br />Litter accumulation, consisting primarily of Douglas fir needles, was extensive throughout this <br />stand, reducing the potential for erosion on the steep slopes. <br />Xeric Mountain Shrub <br />The xeric mountain shrub community is distinguished by scattered individuals of several shrub <br />species. These include serviceberry, Gambe] oak, and secondarily mountain mahogany <br />(Cercocarpus montanus), cliff fend]erbush (Fendlera rupicola) and bitterbrush (Purshia <br />tridentata). Skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata) may form a locally important component of this <br />community. <br />The xeric mountain shrub community occurs primarily on steep, south- and west-facing slopes and <br />frequently on sandstone and shale outcrops in an elevation range of 1,800-2,400 m (6,000-8,000 ft.) <br />It is found primarily on slopes above stream drainages in the study area, occurring along the north <br />side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, on south-facing slopes in Sylvester Gulch, and in <br />2.04-139 ~ Rewi~rdAp,i72004 PRIG <br />