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Reference area production was 104.4 g/m2, with graminoids <br /> contributing 85.6 g/m2 (83 percent ) of the total . Elk Sedge was over- <br /> whelmingly dominant , with Blue Wildrye and Thurber Fescue also significant. <br /> Detailed reference area data for the Aspen Shrubland community <br /> type are provided in Tables 14, 15, and 16. Figure 2 depicts the location of <br /> the reference area. <br /> 3.3.3 Spruce/Fir Parkland <br /> This reference area was established at 9,200 ft on a steep (40 <br /> percent ) , north-facing slope. A total of thirty-six species provided vege- <br /> tation cover of 69 percent . <br /> As in the affected area, this unit consisted of dense clumps of <br /> conifers scattered among broad open areas. Composition and structure varied <br /> throughout the study area. At this particular site, the tree islands were <br /> strongly dominated by Engelmann Spruce, although Subalpine Fir and Douglas- <br /> fir were present as associates. Spruce provided only 15 percent cover <br /> despite its visual dominance, both due to its patchy distribution and its <br /> tightly conical growth habitat. Mean tree density was 9.1 m; total spruce <br /> density was 4-8/ha. <br /> Prominent shrubs included Thimbleberry (6 percent cover , 73 per- <br /> cent frequency) and Myrtle Blueberry (1.3 percent cover , 27 percent frequency) . <br /> Shrubs and subshrub_ averaged 45 cm tall , 8 percent cover, and 16,582 per <br /> hectare. <br /> Herbaceous species added 44 percent cover. The most important <br /> species numerically were Elk Sedge (14 percent cover, 93 percent frequency) , <br /> Blue Wildrye (8 percent cover, 67 percent frequency) , &zvmvpj. species, Spike <br /> Trisetum, Porter Lovage, Wild Strawberry, and Northern Bedstraw. <br /> Forbs provided mean production of 55.4 g/m2, over half of the <br /> total for the community type (103.7 g/m2) . Ma or contributors included <br /> Porter Lovage (19.4 g/m2) , Elk Sedge (18.3 g/m�) , and Blue Wildrye (15.0 9/m2) . <br /> Data for cover, production, and woody plants are provided in <br /> Tables 17, 18, and 19. See Figure 2 for the location of the Spruce/fir <br /> Parkland reference area. <br /> • <br /> -17- <br />