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These values are based on total available forage and do not acknowledge species composition, distribution of water resources, terrain, and wildlife usage. They assume that each animal unit requires 810 ounds of forage per month. The SCS has estimated annual production values for the Clayplan, Dry Mountain Loam, and Mountain Loam range sites (SCS, 1981). The Clayplan range site corresponds to the Alkali- Sagebrush Reference area. Reclamation at the Kerr Mine largely replaces this range site. The Dry Mountain Loam range site corresponds to the Morset series soils in the Sagebrush-grass reference area and the Mountain Loam range site corresponds to the Gelkie series soils in the Sagebrush-grass reference area. The pre-disturbance acreages that correspond to each of these types were described in the section, Statistical Methods: Reclamation Area Success Standards. No pre-disturbance acreages are related to the Sagebrush-gravel Reference Area orits correspondent range site. SCS estimated annual production values for these range sites are summarized in the following table: Stockin Rate (AUM)/Acr e Reclaimed Area Herbaceous Production Air-dry Ib./acre i09o Utilization 409c Utilization SOk Utilization Cla n Ran a Site 300-800 0.11-0.30 0.15-0.40 0.19-0.49 D Mt. Loam Ran a Site 600-1000 0.22-0.37 0.30-0.49 0.25-0.56 Mt. Loam Ran a Site 1200-1600 0.44-0.67 0.59-0.89 0.74-1.11 It can be seen that annual production in the Pre-1986 Reclamation Area falls well within the range of expected production for the Claypan range site. Annual production in both the 1995 Reclamation and 1996 Reclamation Areas exceeded this range. Carrying capacity for the Dry Mountain Loam and Mountain Loam range sites is expected to be somewhat higher; but relatively little of the Kerr Mine reclamation corresponds with these sites. Indeed, annual production and stocking rates for the Sagebrush-Grass Reference Areas fall well within the ranges predicted for the Dry Mountain Loam range site but are less than those predicted for the Mountain Loam range site. Species composition in the plant community is an important secondary consideration when calculating correct stocking rates that strongly affects an area's value to stock and wildlife. Unless otherwise specified, forage values for species discussed in this paragraph are derived from Stubbendieck et al. (1992). In the Pre-1986 Reclamation Area, western wheatgrass and sheep fescue provided nearly one-half of all annual production. Russian wildrye, desert wheatgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass were also valuable forage species in this area. All of these species are useful to both stock and wildlife. Western wheatgrass is a species with good forage value for livestock and fair value for pronghorn that cures well for winter forage. Sheep fescue is grazed well in the early spring (Alderson and Sharp, 1995). Russian wildrye is a nutritious grass that provides valuable late summer and fall grazing. Desert wheatgrass has good forage value for livestock, fair value for wildlife, and greens up early in the season. Intermediate wheatgrass has good to excellent value for stock and fair value for wildlife. It cures well but does not tolerate heavy grazing. Western yarrow, blue flax and foxtail barley were important components of total annual production in both the 1995 and 1996 Reclamation Areas. Western yarrow has poor to fair value for cattle and is usually grazed only when green. Blue flax has good forage value in the spring. This value declines rapidly as the seasons progress (Plummer, 1968). Foxtail barley may be grazed before the inflorescence opens but is generally considered to be a poor forage for livestock and wildlife. By contrast, slender wheatgrass, another important component of herbaceous biomass production in the 1995 Reclamation Area is considered to be of good to excellent forage value for both stock and wildlife. Several species of shrubs and subshrubs were present throughout the reclamation units but were minor components of total annual production, these include fringed sage, big sagebrush, Douglas rabbitbrush, and rubber rabbitbrush. Fringed sage was common in both 1995 and 1996 Reclamation Areas. It provides poor to fair forage value for cattle but can provide an important source of winter feed for elk and 15