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i~ Big sagebrush was the dominant shrub with 24.6 individuals per 50 square meters. Western snowberry and Douglas rabbitbrush had 12.4 and 10.2 individuals per 50 square meters, respectively. Other important shrubs included rubber rabbitbrush and fourwing saltbush in the sagebrush bluebunch wheatgrass phase, and Woods rose, Gambel oakbrush and western snowberry in other phases. Species diversity - The mean number of species encountered along the 50 meter point cover transect was 9.6 and 11.3, respectively, for study and reference area samples (Table 3.7 ). Livestock Carrying Capacity - Average herbaceous production in the sagebrush grassland type was 1100 lbs/acre oven dry forage. Converting oven to air dry forage by a factor of 1.11, yields 1222 lbs/acre available herbaceous air dry forage. Assuming a 50 per cent utilization factor and 900 lbs/acre cattle animal unit,the cattle carrying capacity was 0.68 AUM's per acre. For sheep the carrying capacity was 4.07 AU M's per acre. 3.3.4 Meadow The meadow vegetation type occurred along the creeks and most major drainages throughout the study area. Major areas occur along Good Spring, Wi 1 son, West Fork of Good Spring and East Fork of Wi 1 son creeks. The meadow type was exceedingly variable dependent upon moisture and soils. In areas where water was at the surface sedges and rushes dominated. Nebraska sedge, common cattail and bulrush were common (figure 3.11). Willows dominated several areas although they never formed continuous thickets. Grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, Great Basin wi7drye, western wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, dominated most areas (figure 3.12). Numerous forb species also occured within this type. The meadow type is very productive and is easily grazed because of its 20 Exhibit 10, Item 5 25 Revision Date: 03/06/07 Revision No.: PR-02