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e <br />ESPEY, HUSTON &ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />r1 <br />LJ <br />computed in grams per square meter. <br />Productivity was also expressed in AUM's. It was assumed that grazing <br />(cattle) would consume 50 percent of the total graminoid and forb production, and <br />that one AUM was equivalent to 900 pounds of air-dry forage. <br />At the time of clipping, elevation and aspect were determined for each <br />productivity site. A compass was used to measure aspect as degrees east of north, <br />while elevation was determined from USGS maps. <br />The location of each productivity exclosure appeazs on the plant <br />community map, Exhibit. K-1. <br />2.3 SAMPLING DESIGN -REFERENCE AREA <br />• 2.3.1 Reference Area Locations <br />The similazity in species composition, cover and productivity of the plant <br />community types of the region permitted the establishment of one set of reference <br />azea plant communities for all of Northern Coal Company's Meeker Area Mines neaz <br />Meeker, Colorado. This reference azea program was coordinated with the OSM and <br />the CMLRB in a joint meeting on June 18, 1979• <br />Physical habitat characteristics (soil physical properties, elevation, slope <br />and aspect) and plant community properties (species composition and dominance as <br />observed in cover and plant biomass) were utilized in the location of reference <br />azeas. Each reference azea is approximately 2 acres. <br />2.3.2 Cover, Density and Productivity Sample Site Locations and Data <br />The locations of productivity exclosures, cover transects and shrub <br /> <br />K-S <br />