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West Elk Mine <br />• Chazacteristic shrub species in the understory of the Douglas fir community aze servicebeny 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 1976 <br />study azea. These areas occur primarily above the town of Somerset, along drainages leading <br />into Sylvester Gulch, on the flanks of the West Flatiron, and above the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River on the eastern portion of the Box Canyon lease tract. Douglas fir stands also <br />occur along the drainage of the East Fork of Minnesota Creek and below Beaver Reservoir in the <br />southern portion of the study area. These stands may also contain scattered individuals of <br />Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). Most stands occurring in the study azea range from <br />2,250-2,400 m (7,500-8,000 ft.) in elevation. The Douglas fir community intergrades with the <br />oakbrush community along transitions between cool north-facing slopes and warm east- and <br />south-facing 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 nanowleaf 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 servicebeny 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, lazge plants with large crown azeas. 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 cordifolia), 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, Gambel oak, and secondarily mountain mahogany <br />(Cercocarpus montanus), cliff fendlerbush (Fendlera rnpicola) 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 1976 study azea, occurring along the <br />north side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, on south-facing slopes in Sylvester Gulch, and <br />1.04-740 Revised November 2004 PR/0 <br />