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ERO Resources <br />C <br />A vegetation study was conducted on the Deserado Mine permit area during <br />the summers of 1980 and 1981. <br />The specific purpose of this study was to obtain information on vegetation <br />types that would be potentially affected by the proposed mine development <br />and to establish reference areas for these affected types. Information <br />collected from both the affected sampling sites and the reference areas is <br />intended for use in monitoring the success of revegetation operations <br />conducted on sites disturbed by mine development. The methods employed in <br />the present study are quantitative and reproducible, and, in this way, <br />suitable for monitoring evaluations. <br />Seven vegetation community types were sampled and mapped for the permit <br />area. The vegetation map shows included units within the seven major <br />types. <br />• The majority of the vegetation types occurring on the permit area are in a <br />state of dscTine. The condition of the vegetation is the result of <br />overuse by sheep and subsequent erosion and invading annual plant <br />populations. These factors are of continuing importance in the area. <br />Land use controls on vegetation are shared to varying degrees by <br />predominant environmental factors including soil texture, soil depth and <br />topography. <br />Sheep utilization of the permit area is somewhat random. The randomness <br />of this use has contributed a second level to the existing vegetation <br />mosaic. The first level is the natural patchiness of the vegetation <br />produced by environmental factors, particularly soils. The second level <br />is the variation of damage and decline introduced by sheep overuse of the <br />site. <br />u <br />i <br /> <br />