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During 1980 and 1988, total herbaceous production for the sagebrush community was <br />determined to be 436.1 and 825 pounds per acre respectively. According to these production <br />figures, the carrying capacity in animal unit months (AUMs) ,assuming 1,000 pounds of air <br />dry forage per AUM at 50% utilization. would be from 0.22 to .41 AUMs per acre. Based on <br />the determination by the Bureau of Land Management of an average production of 0.14 <br />AUlvts per acre for the sagebrush type in this area, it is evident that the condition of the <br />sagebrush community with the permit area is good. Grazing has been eliminated from the <br />initial lease area since 1977 and will also be eliminated in the future. Grazing on the permit <br />area addition should be discontinued in 1991 with the construction of wire livestock fencing. <br />The sagebrush community is found throughout the permit area on all elevations, slopes and <br />soils. On portions of the permit area where soil moisture retention and soil depth become <br />limiting to the other vegetation communities, the sagebrush community develops. Snowberry <br />will occur in greater numbers within the community where moisture retention is favorable. <br />For further details on Soil/Moisture relationships in determining vegetation communities <br />refer to Figure 1, Environmental GradienUPlant Tolerance Graph. <br />Mountain Shrub Community <br />The mountain shrub community is characterized by varying densities of serviceberry <br />(Amelanchier alnifolia), GambelI's oak (Quercus gambelii), and chokecherry (Prunus <br />virginiana). During 1980 and 1988, overall woody plant density for the mountain shrub <br />. community was determined to be approximately 6,970 and 6,370 plants per acre respectively. <br />The woody plant density for additional species is contained on Table 5, Woody Plant <br />Density. <br />The density measurements for snowberry, involve many of the same problems in the <br />mountain shrub community as encountered in the sagebrush community. Large clumps of <br />snowberry were encountered making measurements of individual plants very difficult. <br /> <br />2.04.10-12 <br />