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UPLAI~ID SA~RUSH AREAS <br />The upland sagebrush vegetation type within the affected area occupies <br />358.46 acres or 16.8% of the total undisturbed lands in the study area. <br />It occurs mainly on well-drained soils found on the southwestern section <br />of the study area. Scattered patches of sagebrush stands also occur <br />within the mixed brush type/aspen subtype throughout the southern edge <br />of the study area at the lower elevations (~~7ap 1, Appendix A). The type <br />is characterized by relatively horogeneous stands of Basin big sagebrush. <br />Snowberry and Douglas rabbitb~-ush (Chrysothanmus viscidiflorus) species <br />may be locally cor.~ron in some areas of this type. <br />~.~enty-five species were encountered in cover quadrats and the type <br />showed a diversity index of 2.56. Total vegetation basal cover was <br />22.3%. The forb stratum accounted for 47.5% of the total vegetation <br />weer (10.6% basal Dover) while the grass and shrub strata account <br />for 34.5 and 17.9% of the total vegetation cover, respectively. Bare <br />ground and litter-rock evidenced 27.1 and 35.3% total cover, respectively. <br />Basin big sagebrush accounted for 77.5% of the total shrub rover while <br />Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass), Stioa lettermanii (Letterman <br />needlegrass), Pacific aster and Balsam~rhiza sagittata (arrowleaf <br />balsamrwt) exhibited the highest basal cover of the herbaceous under- <br />story. Plants encountered frost often were Basin big sagebrush (66.7% <br />frequency), Letterman needlegrass (45.8%), arrowleaf balsamrwt (29.2%) <br />and tti ethia amplexicaulis (mulesear wyethia) (29.2%). <br />Total production on the upland sagebrush site caas 1103.3 lbs/acre. <br />The shrub stratum accounted for 56.6% of the total production while <br />the forb and grass strata wntributed 31.7% and 11.7%, respectively. <br />Basin big sagebrush was the species exhibiting the highest production, <br />569.3 lbs/acre or 51% of the total vegetation production. Mulesear <br />wyethia (113.4 lbs/acre), Helianthella uniflora (oneflocaer helianthella, <br />121.9 lbs/acre) and arrowleaf balsamrwt (70.5 lbs/acre) were the most <br />productive herbaceous species. Average rnisture content t•ras 49.Oo <br />for grasses and 34.2% for (orbs. <br />~• <br />-60- <br />