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io~ <br />Late in June surveys for listed species of plants were conducted throughout the project <br />area. At this time neazly all species aze in flower making it easier to locate and identify <br />listed species. Habitat for most listed species is lacking throughout the project azea. Any <br />habitat with conditions that could potentially support any of listed species was intensively <br />(-, checked. <br />~! Opportunistic observations of species not observed during specific surveys, while going <br />in and out of the project area and while traveling in the project area were recorded by <br />C species, habitat type and condition. <br /> VEGETATION <br />' In February 2000, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Iron Point <br />Exploration License, the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract and the Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract <br /> was released. Vegetation types described in that document are applicable to those that <br /> exist in the 2005 Oxbow Block Cleazance Project Area. In fact, a good portion of the area <br /> discussed in the referenced EIS is identical to that being considered in this document. <br /> Therefore, the discussion on Upland Plant Communities from the 2000 EIS is included, <br /> with a few minor changes that reflect more specific conditions and additional areas <br /> included in the 2005 Project Study Area. <br /> Upland Plant Communities <br /> Eight upland vegetation types were mapped at the reconnaissance level within the project <br />fr <br />i <br />d <br />i <br />S <br />1 <br />M <br />Th <br />d <br />i <br /> ese types range <br />om tree- <br />om <br />nate <br />commun <br />area, <br />ee Figure <br />, Vegetation <br />t <br />es <br />ap. <br /> to those dominated by grass and forb species. A "Bare" designation was also included. <br /> Baze azeas are primarily found in the upper reaches of the Elk Creek drainage where there <br /> aze lazge slump azeas. <br />' The Oak Vegetation Community is essentially ubiquitous across the project area <br /> occurring on ridge slopes, along ephemeral drainages, and over level to moderately <br /> rolling mountain meadows. Neaz pure stands of Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) <br /> dominate drier ridge slopes. Where the community occurs in lazger meadows and along <br /> drainages, it is more of a mixed shrub community composed of a wide variety of shrub <br /> <br />~ species. This is a reflection of more mesic site conditions and wetter soil moisture <br />hi <br />b <br />h <br />i <br />i <br />b <br />k <br />O <br />h <br />h <br />b <br />h <br /> er s <br />ru <br />c <br />e co- or <br />e dom <br />s Gam <br />el oa <br />. <br />t <br />s w <br />can <br />regimes. T <br />nant shrub species <br /> sub-dominant depending upon growing conditions include snowberry (Symphoricarpos <br />r-i oreophilus or S rotundifolius) and servicebeny (Amelanchier al»ifolia). Herbaceous <br />„;f species such as lupine (Lupinus argenteus), white-flowered peavine (Lathyrus <br /> leucanthus), and various upland sedge (Carex) species aze common in the understory <br /> (Johnston, 1997). Chokecherry (Prum~s virginiana) is also a common community <br /> component while small, sub-dominant aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands may become <br /> established in wetter areas where this community borders the aspen community. <br /> <br />~.. ~ 5 <br />