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Based on data obtained in this study, the carrying capacity of the Reclaimed Pasture Vegetation Type within the <br />proposed permit azea is 2.18 AUMs/acre. <br />Cropland <br />The croplands within the proposed permit area exist on neazly all the tillable uplands. Historically, the sagebrush <br />vegetation type dominated the land azea now supporting croplands. The use of cropland is divided into two <br />management practices. One is for the harvest of cereal grains, mainly wheat, and the other is Lay production. <br />Cereal grain crop rotation practices alternate between winter wheat and summer fallow. <br />Cropland vegetation type occupies 15.1 percent of the proposed permit area. As identified on Table 24, <br />Vegetation-Soil Correlation, and Table 33, Characteristics of Soils Underlying the Cropland and Pasture Vegetation <br />Types, several soils are found below the croplands of the proposed permit area. These soils are usually deep, <br />always well-drained, and most often developed from shale parent material. Soil permeability ranges from very <br />slow (predominant) to moderately-rapid, while the available water capacity exhibits a broad range from very-low to <br />high. Land capability subclasses of these soils aze either VIe or VIIe (see land use discussion under Rule 2.04.3 for <br />further information regazding land capability subclasses). <br />Pursuant to Rule 4.15-9, only the pazameter of productivity needs to be addressed for azeas reclaimed as cropland. <br />Cropland productivity for the Twentymile Pazk area is discussed in response to Rule 2.04-3(2). TCC will use the <br />average hay production yield of Routt County to evaluate revegetation success. The average production for alfalfa <br />and other Lays is 1.6 tons/acre (Table 1, Routt County Recent Historical Cropland Statistics). <br />Because croplands aze not used primarily for grazing, livestock utilization is kept to a minimum by the landowners. <br />Grain stubble and aftem~ath is infrequently grazed in the spring or fall by cattle and sheep. <br />Mountain Shrub <br />The mountain shrub vegetation type dominates the more harshly exposed steep slopes within the proposed pemut <br />area and, as such, is only found as a few isolated stands. The mountain shrub vegetation type currently occupies <br />5.3 percent of the proposed permit azea, or 695 acres. No surface facilities or other disturbance due to mining will <br />occur within this community, therefore, no reference azea is necessary. <br />As identified on Table 24, Vegetation-Soil Correlation, and Table 34, Characteristics of Soils Underlying the <br />Mountain Shrub Vegetation Type, several soils aze found below the mountain shrub community. These soils aze <br />predominately welldrained, range from shallow to deep, and aze most often developed from sandstone parent <br />material. The permeability of these soils is variable ranging from very-slow to moderately-rapid, but is typically <br />moderate to moderately-slow. The available water capacity ranges from very-low to high, with no cleaz trends <br />discernible. The land capability subclass of these soils is most often VIe (see land use discussion under Rule 2.04.3 <br />for further information regazding land capability subclasses). <br />As identified on Table 35, Mountain Shrub Vegetation Type, the shnb stratum is dominated by mountain big <br />sagebrush with 13.7 percent ground cover and 80.88 g/mZ production, mountain snowberry (~Symphoricaroos <br />prep hilus with 11.3 percent ground cover and 14.82 g/mZ production, Gambel's oak with 3.4 percent ground cover <br />and 32.00 g/m2 production, antelope bitterbrush hie tridentate with 3.1 percent ground cover and 5.03 g/mZ <br />production, and Utah serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis with 3.0 percent ground cover and 12.13 g/mZ <br />production. The understory consists mainly of letterman needlegrass (Stine lettermaniil, Kentucky bluegrass, Idaho <br />fescue, thickspike wheatgrass (Agroovron dasystachyuml, and oneflower helianthella (HelianthelLr uniflora <br />accounting for 7.6, 6.6, 3.3, 3.1, and 2.5 percent of the ground cover and 1.55 g/m2, 31.87 g/m2, 6.38 g/mZ, 4.16 <br />g/mZ, and 3.18 g/mZ production, respectively. <br /> <br />TROS-51 2.04-58 12/07/05 <br />