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• 3.1.4 Other Permit Area Vegetation Types
<br /> In addition to the three major vegetation community types described
<br /> above there were additional distinct units present in the permit area. These
<br /> community types are qualitatively described below.
<br /> One of the most widespread of the permit area vegetation types was Spruce
<br /> Pir Forest . These dense stands of Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir generaily
<br /> occurred on more mesic sites than Spruce/Fir Parkland, such as on north—
<br /> facing slopes and along drainages. At lower elevations, for example along
<br /> the Coal Creek drainage as low as 8,000-9,000rt , Spruce/Fir forest elements
<br /> were modified by the inclusion of Blue Spruce Ptcea otuzaen4, a tree typically
<br /> associated with moist , even riparian sites.
<br /> Most riparian communities at lower elevations within the study
<br /> area were dominated by mixed stands of Narrowleaf Cottonwood Pvpu.l
<br /> aaaLzAt,L4oaa, Quaking. Aspen, and Blue Spruce. A tall understory of Whiplash
<br /> Wi I Iow Sa.L .ln
<br /> caudata, ThinIeaf AIder AuA tiertucr°v;ia, Mountain Maple Ace�z
<br /> 9,Lab2um, Water Birch 3etuia vcctderLtaLL , Red-osier Dogwood Sw.i.da 4e i.ci.a,
<br /> and Chokecherry was present , with variable composition, at most locales,
<br /> especially on forest edges adjacent to streambeds. A lower shrub understory
<br /> was common in places; typical species included Mountain Snowberry, Woods Rose
<br /> 2v,ja wooad ,i_, and the currants Ribej I_aczLj.t�ze and R. mvntiaereum.
<br /> Xeric sites within the study area supported three distinct
<br /> • community types. At the lowest elevations near the extreme eastern edge of
<br /> the permit boundary, these sites frequently were dominated by a mixed montane
<br /> woodland of Ponderosa Pine Pimzj pvnde/zvja and Douglas—fir, with scattered
<br /> Rocky Mountain Juniper �Ulti.peruj •dcvpu)_ozum. Understory shrubs included
<br /> Common Juniper ;uni_pe2uj cvmmLuLiA, Western Snowberry S�4mphv,7..tca�zpv4 vcc,i.deatal i j,
<br /> Serviceberry, Chokecherry, Woods Rose, and in open areas, Big Sagebrush
<br /> A2.temuA.ta tz,i,.dertata and Antelope Bitterbrush Pu2AhLa '( 2.i.dertta.ta. Common
<br /> graminoids included Elk Sedge, Thurber Fescue Fe4.tuca thuAbeLL' , and Indian
<br /> R i cegrass OAV3:opj.A hcumerzoidea. Overa I I , the herbaceous layer was relatively
<br /> sparse, compared to the more mesic community types.
<br /> At low to moderate elevations, south—facing slopes with relatively
<br /> thin soil supported a shrubland of Gambei Oak, Serviceberry, Chokecherry,
<br /> Snowberry, and scattered Quaking Aspen. The long—term maintenance of these
<br /> communities probably is controlled by the steepness and aspect of the slope
<br /> and the thinness of the substrate. Stands on less severe sites probably
<br /> will eventually give way to aspen and/or conifers. The Aspen shrubland
<br /> type described in Section 3.1.2 above represents a successional stage
<br /> between Oak Shrubiand and Aspen Woodland.
<br /> At around 9,000 ft and on more moderate slopes, exposed sites
<br /> occasionally are marked by a bunchgrass meadow with scattered individuals
<br /> of Limber Pine pirLU_4 (ex�- �• The typifying plant species was Thurber
<br /> Fescue, although Elk Sedge and Alue 'Nildrye were common as Nell .
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