Laserfiche WebLink
• 2.2.3 EPO34 <br />EP034 is comprised of 6.9 acres of moderate to steep sbping revegetatlon that has a predominately <br />easterly aspect This unit was seeded in 1999 and therefore, has undergone four growing seasons prior <br />to sampling in 2003. A total of 41 plant taxa were observed in the unft (see Table 19). <br />Ground cover (Figure 3) in EP034 consisted of 59.1% live vegetation, 0.7oi6 rock, 0.1% standing <br />dead, 14.2% litter, and bare soil exposure of 25.9%. Perennial cover across the unit averaged 32.7% <br />with annual and biennial cover averaging 26.4%. Dominant taxa were cheatgrass, slender wheatgrass <br />(Agropyron trachycaulum), Japanese brume, streambank wheatgrass (Agropyron riparium), and Siberian <br />wheatgrass with 16.6%, 9.1%, 5.7%, 5.1, and 5.0% average cover, respectively. Woody plant density <br />was detertnirred from 15 heft transacts. Density (Table 2) totaled 30 young and mature stems per acre <br />with fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canesoens) the dominant woody plant. With regard to diversity, EP034 <br />exhibited 5 perennial grasses and 0 perennial forts with between 3% and 50% relative cover. <br />Unit EP034 currently does not pass the bond release diversity standard of 3 perennial grasses and 1 <br />perennial fort with between 3% and 50% relative cover (the fort component is missing). This unit <br />• should readily pass production bond release comparisons to the reference areas and with additional <br />development over time should also pass ground cover comparisons. This unft does not presently meet <br />the woody plant standard of 90% of 1000 stems per acre and will probably not meet this In the <br />foreseeable future. See Appendix AA -Section 7.4 for a discussion on options and recommendations with <br />regard to woody plant density. Noxious weeds appear to be under control in this unit, however, both <br />musk and Canada thistle were observed. Therefore, the need for herbicide treatments should again be <br />evaluated early in the 2004 growing season. Annual bromes are prevalent throughout the unft and <br />comprise approximately 38% of the composition of this unft. Because of the widespread abundance of <br />cheatgrass and Japanese brome, use of the herbkade Oust or Plateau is recommended to bring these <br />taxa under control and release the perennials. <br />At present, EP034 is a reasonable example of a developing native grassland community that would <br />contribute to the local system as foraging habitat for wildlife (espedally elk), as well as provide a variety <br />of management opportunities for livestock grazing. However, some management action is recommend to <br />continue control of noxious weeds as well as to diminish the annual brome population. <br />• <br />wnnawn EnsRY Co. / Cdowyo Mh~a Page 17 pevegetsuon MoMtoring -2003 <br />