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Vegetation Summary <br />Yoast Area <br />The native vegetation present in the Yoast Area is characteristic of the <br />lower elevation mountains within the region. Aspect, soils, and <br />topography play an important part in the distribution of the predominant <br />mixed brush, sagebrush grassland, and aspen communities scattered <br />throughout the area. The more prominent types are the mixed brush and <br />sagebrush grassland, while the aspen type is usually restricted to <br />northerly aspects or mesic sites. <br />The sagebrush grassland type occurs on east, south and west facing <br />aspects at mid to low elevations in the area. This type also occupies <br />the deeper soils within the area. The type appears as a low stature <br />shrubby community with sagebrush the obvious dominant. Common <br />vegetation includes big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), mountain <br />snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus Douglas rabbitbrush <br />(Chr s~ viscidiflorus) mule's ear (W ey thia am lexp icaulis), <br />arrow eaf balsmaroot Balsamorhiza sagittata), Kentucky b uegb rass Poa <br />pratensis), slender wheatgrass Agropyron trachycaulum), and western <br />wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii). In drainages big sagebrush may be <br />replaced with silver sagebrush (Artemisia Cana) and in areas with very <br />clayey soils, low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula) will dominate. <br />The mixed brush type occurs on a variety of aspects, topography, and <br />• soils but is favored on steeper slopes, mare northerly aspects, and <br />shallower soils. In many cases the density of the shrubby species in <br />this type results in the formation of thickets. The type is dominated <br />by tall shrubs including serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), <br />chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Gambel oak Quercus gam a ii ut <br />interspersed stands of snowberry and big sagebrush may also occur. <br />Dominant forbs include western yarrow (Achilles lanulosa), one-flower <br />helianthella (Helianthella uniflora), tai cup upine Lupines caudatus) <br />and nettleleaf giant-hypsop Agastache urticifolia). Common grasses <br />include Kentucky bluegrass, slender wheatgrass, and various brome <br />grasses (Bromopsis species). <br />The aspen type is restricted to northly facing aspects, moister drainage <br />bottoms, and other areas exhibiting mesic conditions such as springs or <br />seeps. Soils tend to be deep, dark, and high in organic matter when <br />associated with the type. The dominant species in the type are large <br />woody species, with aspen (Po ulus tremuloides) being most common <br />followed by serviceberry, mountain snow e- r~hokecherry and Rocky <br />Mountain maple (Ater lag brum). Common forbs include mountain bluebells <br />(Mertensia ciliata cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), <br />w itFi e~-f owered peavine (Lath ru~s leucanthus), me~rican vetc icia <br />americans) and butterweed groundse enecio Serra). Dominant grasses <br />include Kentucky bluegrass, Agassiz bluegrass Poa a assizensis), fowl <br />bluegrass (Poa palustris), blue wildrye (Elymus lag ucus and several <br />brome grasses. <br />All three vegetation types are used extensively by cattle and sheep, big <br />game species such as elk and mule deer, and a variety of small game and <br />bird species. Raptors, including golden eagles and red-tailed hawks, <br />may also frequent these types. <br />