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West Elk Mine <br />scattered areas along the drainages of the East and Dry Forks of Minnesota Creek. Small inclusions <br />of this type are found on the margins of the West Flatiron. <br />The xeric mountain shrub sampling occurred on soil mapping unit number 200. The shrub stratum, <br />consisting of seven species, provided 28 percent cover. Two shrub species, Gambel oak and <br />skunkbush, were tall, ranging in height from 1.5 to 4 m (5-12 ft.). The remaining species were <br />sfiorter, ranging from OS to 0,75 m (1.5-2 ft.). Rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) was <br />the most important species sampled, providing 14 percent cover. - <br />One tree species, Rocky Mountain juniper, was sampled on the 190-meter transect. It provided <br />eight percent cover. <br />Eleven species (four graminoid, seven forbs} were sampled in the herbaceous stratum, together <br />providing 24 percent cover. Height of the different species was variable, ranging from 10 to 30 <br />cm (4 to 12 in.). Cheatgrass was the most important graminoid species, providing six percent <br />cover and occurring in 80 percent of the sampled azeas. Louisiana sagebrush (Anemisia <br />ludoviciana) was the most important species, primarily because of its high average density. The <br />xeric mountain shrub community was among the few communities sampled where the graminoid <br />component contributed the majority of cover: Few of the species found in this community <br />transect were found on the opposite slopes in the oakbrush community, indicating the major <br />influence was contributed by slope exposure in determining species composition. Absence of <br />litter characterized this site. <br />Saeebrush <br />The sagebrush vegetation community within the study area is distinguished by the dominance of <br />big sagebrush (Anemisia tridentata). It ranges in height to 1 m (3 ft.)..Other common shrubs in . <br />the study area include fourwing saltbush and Douglas rabbitbrush (Chrysorhamnus viscidiflorus). <br />Shrubs are scattered and provide less cover than within the oakbrush community. <br />The'sagebrush community occurs primarily on gently sloping uplands and at the base of steep <br />sandstone and shale outcrops. Big sagebrush-dominated areas occur on uplatids on both sides of <br />the East Fork of the Minnesota Creek and in isolated patches on south-facing slopes along the <br />North Fork of the Gunnison River. The sagebrush community is well represented on the West <br />Flatiron where it surrounds a wet meadow community and on the East Flatiron where it is <br />associated with the oakbrush community. The sagebrush type intergrades with the oakbrush and <br />aspen on wetter sites and with the juniper type on steep slopes having shallow soils. <br />The sagebrush community location sampled in the study area was not typical because it appeared <br />to have been cleared for pasture at some time in the past. Big sagebrush subsequently was <br />reestablished and.the herbaceous stratum composition was altered to a mixture of native and <br />introduced species. The sagebrush site was selected because a small mammal sampling grid had <br />been established there. <br />The sagebrush site sampled is located on soil mapping unit number 31. The shrub stratum of the <br />transect consisted of four species, provided 41 percent cover, and attained an average height of 1 <br />m (3 ft.). Big sagebrush was the most important species, providing 24 percent cover. <br />2.04-140 ReviseA Apri12o04 PR/0 <br />