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(Poo pratensis), Baltic rush (Juncos bal[icus), cliff sedge (Carex scopulorum), western yarrow (Achille <br />• millifolium), Canada thistle (cirsium arvense), and silver sedge (Carex prae~racilis) accounting for 40.00%, <br />R.23%, 6.4 3%, 3.83%, 3.20%, 2.64% of the ground cover, and 70.36 g/m2, 47.59 g/m2, 15.00 g/m'--, 3.74 ;/m2, <br />9.~0 g/m2, and 12.36 g/m2 of the production, respectively. <br />Total shrub stratum variables averaged 18.04% ground cover, 59.44 g/m2 (530 Ibs/acre) production, and a density <br />of 9,305.9 shrub stems per acre. Herbaceous stratum variables averaged 61.72% ground cover by grasses and <br />14.94% ground cover by fortis, 150.36 g/m2 (1,341 Ibs/acre) production by grasses and 37.89 g/m2 (338 Ibs/acre) <br />production by fortis. The sagebrush/meadow vegetation type's overall variables are 94.70% vegetative cover, <br />247.68 g/m2 (2,210 Ibs/acre) production, and 9,305.9 shrubs per acre for woody plan[ densiq~. The diversity index <br />as calculated by Shannon et al. (1973) for the entire community gives a value of 0.9533. <br />Sagebrush/meadow vegetation type variables as presented above were determined from statistically adequatc <br />sampling. Sample parameters for each variable, and the minimum sample size required for an adequate sample are <br />presented in Table 27, Summary of Statistical Information. <br />Table 31, Sagebrush/Meadow Reference Area Vegetation Type, presents the data obtained fiom adequate <br />sampling for the variables of ground cover, current annual productivity, and density from the Sagebrush/Meadow <br />reference area. This area is found on Map 18, Premining Vegetation. This area is owned by an affiliate and the <br />applicant will have access [o maintain it as a reference area. Performance of statistical t-tests for these three <br />variables behveen the pre-disturbance area and the reference area show it to be the same as the pre-disturbance <br />vegetation h•pe. the hvo-[ailed [-test atthe a = 0.05 level gave t values of 1.600 for cover, 0.460 for production, <br />and 0.393 for woody plant density. <br />• Based on the data obtained in this study, the carrying capacity of the sagebrush/meadow vegetation q~pe within <br />the proposed permit area is 1.2 acres/AUM. This was calculated from usable herbaceous species at 50% utilization <br />and shrubs at 5% utilization and at 1,000 Ibs of forage per AUM. <br />Reclaimed Pasture <br />The area indicated on Map 18, Premining Vegetation, as Reclaimed Pasture is [he result of [he revegetation efforts <br />of CYCC following surface mining. Approximately 1,428 acres of the pasture vegetation type within the proposed <br />permit area have been disturbed by mining and reclaimed. 390 acres have been released front bond. Various <br />portions of this reclaimed pasture area in the vicinity of the 40 acre sampling area (see Map 18, Premining <br />Vegetation) were seeded in 1976 and 1980 with three mixtures. The seed mixtures were as follows: <br />1976 Mixture (#6) <br />Amur Intennedia[e Wheatgrass <br />Lincoln Smooth Brome <br />Barton Western Wheatgrass <br />Nordan Crested Wheatgrass <br />Oats <br />Alfalfa <br />Application Rate (Ibs/acre) <br />6.0 <br />4.0 <br />3.0 <br />2.0 <br />25.0 <br />0.5 <br />1976 Mixture (# I ) <br />Amur Intermediate Wheatgrass <br />Lincoln Smooth Brome <br />• Barton Western Wheatgrass <br />Nordan Crested Wheatgrass <br />Durarliard Fescue <br />Kentucky Bluegrass <br />6.0 <br />5.0 <br />3.0 <br />2.0 <br />I.0 <br />I.0 <br />MR 97-I ti4 2.04-56 Revised 10/02/97 <br />