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Occumng across the project area over a variety of elevations and aspects is the Aspen <br />Vegetation Type. This type inhabits less steep slopes overall than the other tree- <br />dominated vegetation types on site, though its presence on somewhat steeper slopes <br />under the proper soil conditions is not uncommon. It intergrades with most of the other <br />vegetation types on site, excepting the Pinyon/Juniper, and characteristically has a more <br />open, highly productive understory. The dominant tree species is aspen. Common <br />understory species include Woods rose (Rosa woodsii), mountain brome (Bromus <br />marginatus), elk sedge (Carex geyeri), white- flowered peavine, Fendler meadow-rue <br />(Thalictrum fendleri), and American vetch (Vicia americans) (Johnston, 1997). Wetter <br />expressions of this type, in depressions or adjacent to seeps and springs, often form <br />transition wetland vegetation communities. <br />The Pinyon/Juniper Vegetation Community occurs on steep west- and southwest-facing <br />slopes at elevations typically below 7,000 feet. Dominant species include Utah juniper <br />(Juniperus osteosperma) and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) in the tree <br />stratum. Pinyon pine (Pines edulus) is also present. Dominant understory species include <br />Gambel oak, mountain snowbeny, Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), and annual <br />grasses (Western Resource Development Corporation, 1982). Rock outcrops are a major <br />component of this unit. The soils aze typically shallow and droughty compared to the <br />soils supporting the other tree dominated vegetation communities. <br />Steep to very steep canyon walls along Hubbazd and Beaz Creeks and their tributaries <br />support the Spruce/Fir Vegetation Community. In addition, drainage bottoms of Hubbard, <br />Beaz, Elk and Sanborn Creeks and Coal Gulch support stringers and patches of <br />Spruce/fir, which is frequently intermixed with the Douglas-fir and Cottonwood <br />Vegetation Communities. Elevations nominally range from 6,800 to 8,000+ feet. This <br />community tends to be comparatively dense and supported by soils reflecting more mesic <br />conditions. Dominant tree species include Englemann spruce (Picea engelmannii), <br />Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) at higher <br />elevations. Dominant understory species include beazberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and <br />a variety of other shrubs and herbaceous species common to the Oak Vegetation <br />Community, but at lower densities. As with other vegetation communities dominating <br />drainages, a comparatively narrow riparian zone including a small channel and associated <br />wetland fringe is typically present. Rubble land is also common within this vegetation <br />community. <br />The Douglas-fir Vegetation Community is found, primarily on steep slopes, along the <br />Hubbazd, Bear, Elk, Sanborn and Coal Gulch drainages at elevations azound 7,000 feet or <br />less where the narrow canyon drainages and rapid runoff potentials preclude the <br />establishment of the Cottonwood Vegetation Community discussed below. This <br />community may also be found growing on north-facing ridge slopes bordering the <br />aforementioned drainages. The dominant tree species is Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga <br />menzesii). Common understory species include serviceberry, snowberry, Oregon-grape <br />(Mahonia repens), and heart-leaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia). This community can <br />occasionally form broad transition zones, or ecotones, with the Spruce/Fir and Aspen <br />