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Vegetation in the area grows largel}• in response to mat:ro climatic influences of the region. The north-facing slopes, having moderate to deep soils, a • relatively mesic moisture regime, and favorable levels of insolation throughout the }•ear, are characterized by well-developed mountain shrub communities. On the colluvial toeslopes, communities dominated by sagebrush and some grasses occur. Or. the south-facing slopes behind the ridgeline of [he Williams Fork mountains, vegetative communities are• not as well-developed in terms of cover, density, and production due to the less favorable soils, moisture regime, and increased insolation. The trend i.n these areas is toward communities dominated by juniper, pinyon, mountain mahogany, and xerophytes. Sdithin the permit area, natural vegetative communities have been modified to varying extents by man and domestic animals. PSuch of t:he toeslope has been cleared of native vegetation and is currently utilized for dryland agriculture. P1ost of the north-facing slopes in the area have been utilized for the grazing of sheep and cattle. Due to the above„ the permit area is characterized by mosaic distributions of communities. In transversing the permit area from east to west, the mountain shrub community begins to thin (in terms of density and cover) until it is replaced on the far west by a community of big sagebrush and grasses. As one descends from the ridge of the Williams Fork mountains (proceed::ng northward), several changes in community composition are noted. At elevations above 7,200 feet, the mountain shrub community is characterized by Gambe:i's oak, which is dominant over serviceberry and chokecherry. Snowberrg is the most conspicuous understor}• component, with an occasional big sagebrush., rubber rabbitbrush, or bitterbrush. S•Iith a decrease in elevation comes a corresponding decrease in oak dominance. Sagebrush, serviceberry, and chokecherry are interspersed, while oak dominates only on west-facing slopes. Entering the lowest • elevations, the serviceberry/chokecherry component diminishes, leaving a communi[}• dominated by sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and grasses. Land Use Lands within [he proposed permit area have exhibited three major historic land uses: rangeland (grazing of sheep and cattle), cropland (cultivation of dryland crops, predominantly wheat), and wildlife habir_at. Rangeland and wildlife habitat comprise approximately 24 percent and 60 percent respectively of the proposed permit area and are located on slopes :ind toeslopes on the north face of the Williams Fork mountains. Cropland located predominantly on the flatter areas north of the toeslopes and in areas surrounding the north-draining gulches of the area, comprises approximately 16 percent of the proposed permit area. -3- •