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• Herbaceous Production (Table 13) <br />Total herbaceous production averaged 526 pounds per acre <br />Sagebrush Extended Re/erence Area <br />(Photographs 21 through 24) <br />Cover (Table 14) <br />Native shrubs were dominant in this area and provided 45.2 percent of total vegetation cover. <br />Mountain snowberry contributed nearly half and big sagebrush averaged more than two-fifths of <br />this total. Douglas rabbitbrush, Saskatoon serviceberry, rubber rabbitbrush, and chokecherry <br />comprised the balance. Native perennial cool season grasses accounted for 41.1 percent of total <br />vegetation cover. Agassiz bluegrass comprised three-fifths of this total. Slender wheatgrass was <br />also a significant contributor. The balance was comprised by eight other species. Native <br />perennial forbs contributed 12.7 percent of total vegetation cover. Western yarrow and arrowleaf <br />balsamroot each accounted for approximately one-fifth of this total. Fringed thistle (Cirsium <br />centaureae), tailcup lupine (LUpinus caudatus), and American vetch were also important <br />contributors. Seven other species made relatively minor contributions. Introduced annual and <br />biennial forbs accounted for 1.0 percent of total vegetation cover. Hound's tongue and twolobe <br />speedwell each contributed to this total. Native annuallbiennial forbs, introduced annual grasses, <br />introduced perennial forbs, and moss were all present in this reference area, but did not <br />contribute measurably to total vegetation cover. <br />Total vegetation cover was 51.0 percent. Standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock cover values <br />were 3.4, 37.2, 8.2, and 0.2 percent respectively. Species density averaged 23.1 species per 100 <br />sq. m. <br />• Herbaceous Production (Table 15) <br />Total herbaceous production was 630 pounds per acre. <br />Discussion <br />Climatic Conditions <br />The year 2000 growing season was preceded by a very dry fall and a slightly moister <br />than average winter. The growing season began with a moister than average March, <br />April, and May and then proceeded to a very dry June and July (Figures 6a and 6b). <br />When the full 12 months preceding the July sampling is considered (Figures 7a and 7b), <br />the effects of the five very dry months leaves 2000 to be regarded as the second-driest <br />of the fourteen year record. However, considering a shorter period, for example, six <br />months (Figures 8a and 8b) the effects of the very months before that period are lost <br />and year 2000 ranks as the third driest in the fourteen year record and still somewhat <br />below average. Considering an even shorter preceding period (four months, Figures 9a <br />and 9b), year 2000 at the Seneca II-W Mine is still the third driest in the 14-year record <br />(and substantially below the average). Compared to the nearby Seneca II Mine, the <br />four- and six-month cumulative precipitation totals are lower yet. With regard to overall <br />• <br />