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