GENERAL53698 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Control of Vegetation Distribution by Land Uses Within the permit area, natural vegetative communities have been modified to varying degrees by man and domestic animals. Much of the land along toe-slopes and valley bottoms has been cleared of native vegetation and is currently used for dryland agriculture. Most of the north-facing slopes in the azea have been historically used for the grazing of sheep and/or cattle. The farming and ranching have produced a mosaic of vegetation communities in the permit area. Vegetation Distribution in Permit Area As one goes from east to west in the permit azea, the mountain shrub community gradually thins (in terms of density and cover) and gives way to a community of big sagebrush and grasses on the west end of the mine. Descending northwazd from the ridge of the Williams Fork Mountains, several changes in community composition are evident. At elevations above 7,200 feet, Gambel's oak dominates the mountain shrub community; serviceberry and chokecherry aze less abundant. Snowberry is the most conspicuous understory component, with an occasional big sagebrush, rubber rabbitbrush, or bitterbrush. Gambel's oak becomes less dominant at lower elevations as sagebrush, serviceberry, and chokecherry aze interspersed; oak dominates only on east-facing slopes. At the lowest elevations, serviceberry/chokecherry diminish in abundance, leaving a community dominated by sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and grasses. Wildlife Fauna are diverse in and adjacent to the permit area due to the wide vaziety of habitat types. Antelope aze found year-round in the lower sagebrush and cropland azeas. Mule deer ate found during all seasons of the yeaz in the mountain shrub community, sagebrush/grass community, and pinyon/juniper community (pinyon/juniper occurs south of the permit azea). Elk use the permit azea primazily in the fall, winter, and eazly spring. In the summer months, elk remain at higher elevations in the Williams Fork mountains, east of the permit azea. Blue grouse, Columbian sharptail grouse, and sage grouse aze all residents or occasional residents of the permit azea. Land Uses Land uses in the azea are rangeland, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Cattle and sheep are grazed in the Williams Fork Mountains and on the toe-slopes of the mountains in the spring and fall. Dryland wheat is cultivated in favorable areas on the colluvial toe-slopes of the Williams Fork Mountains. Native hay and some dryland wheat is cultivated on the soils of the Yampa and Williams Fork River valleys. The azea provides habitat and migration routes for antelope, elk and mule deer. Raptors, several species of game birds, and numerous smaller mammals are found in the Williams Fork Mountains, and surrounding areas. Trapper Mine 12 June 30, 2003