PERMFILE134458 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Six species of the 43 encountered during cover sampling accounted for greater than three percent relative cover. Of those species, four were woody. In order of decreasing dominance the species were; Acer negundo (27.49%), Picea pungens (18.68%), Popu/us angustifo/ia (12.28%), Poa pratensis (5.96%), Symphoricarpos rotundifolius (3.91 %), and Dactylis glomerata (3.56%). Of the fort species, Solidago occidentalis was the most prevalent with 2.31 percent relative cover. RIPARIAN COIVIl~tUNITY SAMPLING AT THE WEST ELK MINE The riparian community was sampled and described in 1976 as part of the original environmental sampling effort prior to permit application submittal (MCC, 1996). The 1976 sampling evaluation found the riparian community limited in extent and coincident within drainages within the study area. The original study noted the variability of the riparian community. The riparian community was characterized by the presence of Populus angustilolia and Acer negundo. Crataegus species and Saliz species were noted as common along the drainages. Within the quantitatively sampled riparian stand, the 1976 study noted a canopy comprised of Ater negundo and Populus tremuloides. Two shrub layer were identified, a tall layer with Crataegus and Acer negundo saplings, and a lower shrub layer with Amelanchr'er alnitolia and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Poa pratensis was noted as the dominant herbaceous layer component. Twenty-nine species were encountered in the riparian community sampling in the original study. AIotable was the number of introduced species • encountered in the riparian sampling (50% according to the narrative). The 1996 quantitative sampling show very similar results to those of the 1976 sampling. The 1996 sampling did not reveal Populus tremuloides as a significant component of the canopy of the riparian community. However, as noted previously, the riparian community intergrades significantly with the other communities in Sylvester Gulch. The 1976 sampling identified one shrub stratum and a herbaceous dominated low stratum, while the 1996 sampling identified these strata and added a medium shrub stratum and low shrub stratum. Differences exist between the important shrub species in the 1976 and 1996 studies. In 1976, Amelanchier alnilolia is noted as being a significant contributor to the shrub stratum, while in 1996, it was not a notable component. Total species numbers were higher in 1996 (43 versus 29), however, there was only one representative sample analyzed from the riparian community in 1976. Based on these comparisons of 1976 and 1996 characterizations of the riparian community, it is apparent that the community has not significantly changed in cover, dominant species, or composition over the twenty year period. -zo-