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• Species composition is repcrted in Table 6F. These values <br />represent relative cover estimates taken during 1980. Data is <br />reported for the permit area and 2.0 acre reference area. Letterman <br />needlegrass was the dominant grass comprising 16.0 of the cover <br />of the reference area and 11.0 of the permit area. western wheat- <br />grass represented 8.58 of the reference area and 8.0~ of the permit <br />area, while prairie junegrass represented 4.08 of the reference <br />area and 2.08 of the permit area. <br />Hoods phlox was the dominant forb for the reference area while <br />miscellaneous perennial forbs had the highest relative cover for <br />the permit area. <br />Douglas rabbitbrush a half shrub and big sagebrush were the <br />dominant shrubby species in both areas. Douglas rabbitbrush had <br />128 cover in the reference area and 8.0~ cover in the permit area. <br />Big sagebrush had 9.0~ in the reference area and 17.0 cover in <br />• the permit area. <br />Production. A summary of big sagebrush production for two <br />growing seasons is presented on Table 3F. A summary of statistical <br />analysis for production is presented on Tables ZOF and 11F. The <br />1979 growing season included estimates on herbaceous plant production <br />and shrub production. The 1980 growing season included estimates <br />on herbaceous plant production only. <br />The big sagebrush permit area in 1979 had a total production <br />of 492.7 lbs/acre. Shrubs comprised much of the total production <br />averaging over 320 lbs/acre. Shrub production represents more than <br />two-thirds of the annual production. Grass production was 129.8 <br />lbs/acre in 1979 for the permit area. The reference area had a <br />total production of 501.1 lbs/acre. Shrubs accounted for over one- <br />half the total annual production. Grass production was 216.4 lbs/ <br />acre. Annual forb production was much higher in the permit area <br />(26.5 lbs/acre) compared to 4.8 lbs/acre in the reference area. <br />• <br />-6- <br />