Laserfiche WebLink
The aspen community is characterized by tall, dense groves of aspen <br />(POpulus tremuloides), as the primary upper level overstory with <br />elements of the mountain shrub community, particularly serviceberry <br />and chokecherry, as a secondary overstory. <br />The deep loamy soils combined with the favorable soil moisture <br />condition continuing on into summer contribute to a rich, diverse <br />and productive und~rstory. Grasses and forbs are very prevalent <br />with the domina~~es being Kentucky bluegrass, mountain brome, <br />yarrow, prairie coneflowers, and American vetch. <br />According to 1988 sampling herbaceous cover was determine) to be <br />73.00%. For additional details refer to Table 2A, 1988 Herbaceous <br />Cover by Species. Production sampling indicated 772 lbs/acre of <br />herbaceous production. According to these production figures, the <br />carrying capacity in AUM's, assuming 1000 pounds of air dry forage <br />per AUM at 50% utilization, would be .39 AUM's per acre. <br />Productivity, as determined by the BLM, is .25 AUM's per acre for <br />the aspen type in this area indicating that the condition of the <br />mountain shrub community within the permit area is good. <br />• <br />As previously stated, the deep, loamy soils and high soil moisture <br />conditions together with the generally northern aspect combine to <br />provide the required conditions for the aspen community. <br />Where soil moisture becomes less plant available earlier into the <br />summer elements of the mountain shrub community begin to dominate. <br />Generally, this occurs due to a change in aspect of the topography <br />or shallower soil depth. <br />For further details on soil/moisture relationships in determining <br />the aspen vegetation community refer to Figure 1, Environmental <br />Gradient/Plant Tolerance Graph. <br />Riparian Community <br /> <br />Within the permit area the riparian community is very limited. The <br />community is confined to areas along Good Spring Creek and Taylor <br />Creek. <br />2.04.10-15 <br />