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• Another factor in differences of grass height appears to be that 2005 sites were generally <br />grazed more vigorously later in the grazing season than had been the case in 2004. With <br />this combination of spring weather conditions and grazing, sites were unable to respond <br />with growth as well as they had in the spring of 2005. The present grazing system, where <br />annual use of pastures on the Dry Fork Grazing Allotment is rotated, should allow <br />reclaimed sites to continue improving until they reach their productive capability. <br />Grazing management practices which prevent cattle from over-utilizing these sites will <br />also play a lazge part in helping to meet this objective. <br />Sites which were effectively electric fenced showed improved vegetative recovery over <br />those which were not, especially on azeas with less desirable site conditions such as some <br />of the sites on the Long Draw Road. MDW 16-03 was reseeded and fenced in 2005 and <br />showed remarkable recovery in one growing season. <br />The most notable reclamation was observed in the Lone Pine area on the steep section of <br />power-line right-of--way, where Gambel oak has filled in to the extent that the disturbance <br />is almost unrecognizable during the growing season. This is probably due to the method <br />of clearing during construction, where a dozer was used to crush and cut brush above <br />ground-level, leaving roots of the vegetation in tact. <br />Drill sites reclaimed in 1996 and a few yeazs later, along the Deep Creek and Deep Creek <br />Mesa roads and the Dry Fork road showed good to excellent vegetation, although there <br />• were signs of moderate to heavy cattle use during the 2005 grazing season. Native shrub <br />and forb invasion is noticeable on these locations. Specific sites in this category aze: 96- <br />2-1 (old O), 96-2-2 (old BB), 96-36-1 (old CC), 96-35-2, SOM-3 and the Upper Alluvial <br />site. <br />All sites with a "Fair" rating will need monitoring. Those down Long Draw with <br />sandstone subsoil and steep side-slopes are particulazly sensitive. They specifically <br />include sites: 15-02, 15-03, 15-03.5, 16-02, 16-03, 16-04, 17-02, 17-03 and Long Draw <br />Road Pt 2. <br />Site 15-O1, which is lower down on the slope below the Long Draw Road has revegetated <br />exceptionally well, which probably means that this site is faz enough down slope to have <br />better soil than those above, which aze located on a sandstone shelf. <br />The location on West Flat Iron where 14-01, 14-02, and 15-04 were drilled is another <br />place to watch. While revegetation is occurring, it is spazser than on most other sites <br />observed. These sites were reclaimed in 2002. <br />The old drill site north of Site 14-OS has almost fully revegetated and even though it was <br />heavily grazed in 2006 still maintains a 70-90% groundcover. There is evidence of pocket <br />gopher activity over about 50% of the surface azea. <br />Sites reclaimed in 2006 are not shown on Table 1 since there was not enough time for <br />vegetation to establish, although some of these sites reclaimed eazlier in the summer <br />showed signs of some grass production. Results next yeaz, after these areas have had a <br />full growing season should be more encouraging. <br />91 <br />