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West Elk Mine in scattered areas along the drainages of the East and Dry Forks of Minnesota Creek. Small inclusions of this type aze found on the mazgins of the West Flatiron. The xeric mountain shrub sampling occurred on soil mapping unit number 200. The shrub stratum, consisting of seven species, provided 28 percent cover. Two shrub species, Gambel oak and skunkbush, were tall, ranging in height from 1.5 to 4 m (5-12 ft.). The remaining species were shorter, ranging from 0.5 to 0.75 m (1.5-2 ft.). Rubber rabbitbrush (Chlysothamnus nauseosus) was the most important species sampled, providing 14 percent cover. One tree species, Rocky Mountain juniper, was sampled on the 190-meter transect. It provided eight percent cover. Eleven species (four graminoid, seven fortis) were sampled in the herbaceous stratum, together providing 24 percent cover. Height of the different species was variable, ranging from 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in.). Cheatgrass was the most important graminoid species, providing six percent cover and occurring in 80 percent of the sampled areas. Louisiana sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana) was the most important species, primarily because of its high average density. The xeric mountain shrub community was among the few communities sampled where the graminoid component contributed the majority of cover. Few of the species found in this community transect were found on the opposite slopes in the oakbrush community, indicating the major influence was contributed by slope exposure in determining species composition. Absence of litter chazacterized this site. Sagebrush The sagebrush vegetation community within the study azea is distinguished by the dominance of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). It ranges in height to 1 m (3 ft.). Other common shrubs in the study azea include fourwing saltbush and Douglas rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus). Shrubs are scattered and provide less cover than within the oakbrush community. The sagebrush community occurs primarily on gently sloping uplands and at the base of steep sandstone and shale outcrops. Big sagebrush-dominated areas occur on uplands on both sides of the East Fork of the Minnesota Creek and in isolated patches on south-facing slopes along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The sagebrush community is well represented on the West Flatiron where it surrounds a wet meadow community and on the East Flatiron where it is associated with the oakbrush community. The sagebrush type intergrades with the oakbrush and aspen on wetter sites and with the juniper type on steep slopes having shallow soils. The sagebrush community location sampled in the study azea was not typical because it appeazed to have been cleazed for pasture at some time in the past. Big sagebrush subsequently was reestablished and the herbaceous stratum composition was altered to a mixture of native and introduced species. The sagebrush site was selected because a small mammal sampling grid had been established there. The sagebrush site sampled is located on soil mapping unit number 31. The shrub stratum of the transect consisted of four species, provided 41 percent cover, and attained an average height of 1 . m (3 ft.). Big sagebrush was the most important species, providing 24 percent cover. 2.04-141 Revised November 1004 PRl0