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• TD12 • <br />Tucker. At Tucker, the plains vegetation should dominate the Kutch-Louviers <br />soil and the foothills vegetation the Bresser-Truckton. Little difference <br />could be found, however. Past land abuses thinned the vegetation and accele- <br />rated erosion, especially of the Kutch soil. Contour Terracing to control <br />runoff, and other measures, have permitted a substantial recovery. There <br />are still thin places where soil movement continues, Figure TD7, but they are <br />balanced by places where the vegetation is good, Figure TDB. Overall, the <br />range cover rates fair. <br />Despite past land abuses, the composition of the vegetation at Tucker <br />is surprisingly good. It contains remarkably few weeds, of the seven most <br />abundant species, six are grasses and sedges, Table TD1. Yucca is the only <br />non-forage plant rated abundant, Figure TD8. The list of species identified <br />includes two good browse plants, winter fat and four-wing saltbush; and 17 <br />species of grasses and sedges among the total of 56, Table TD2. <br />The mining at Tucker has either excavated or buried about 20 acres of <br />predominantly Kutch-Louviers soil. Under average weather conditions, with <br />the range in its present fair condition, that represents an annual loss of <br />about 10 cow months of grazing. The remaining hundred acres in the lease <br />represent about 80 cow months. <br />The examination for unique, rare or endangered plant species cannot be <br />considered complete (see page J16). There is nothing unique about the environ- <br />ment at Tucker, however. Plant species found here should he widespread, even <br />if not abundant. <br />The piles of overburden at Tucker have never revegetated well, even after <br />12 years, Figure TDg. The material on the surface of the piles must represent <br />a poor seedbed. <br />Dawson. Plains vegetation dominates the Nunn soil at Dawson, Foothills vege- <br />tation dominates the ridges. The lower slopes and values betaaeen the ridges <br />have mixed vegetations. <br />