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8. The Division requested a larger scale map to replace Figure 2.05-5. and requested <br />that the plan provide for additional acreage of Sagebrush Steppe within the South <br />Taylor area. These concerns were properly addressed by the submittal of new <br />Map 44, depicting additional Sagebrush Steppe areas within the South Taylor <br />area. Item Resolved. <br />ReveQetation Plan in amended Section 2.05.4 <br />9. The Division noted a formatting error at the top of page 2.05-50. The error was <br />corrected in amended text. Item Resolved. <br />10. The Division had a number of questions regarding species selection, most of <br />which were adequately addressed. However, the Division is not satisfied that the <br />issues raised in paragraph (d) of Item 10, regarding inclusion of cicer milkvetch <br />and fourwing saltbush, have been fully resolved. <br />Based on the reported modest relative cover of cicer milkvetch in recent seedings <br />using the proposed 0.3 pounds PLS application rate, the Division will not request <br />that it be deleted from the sagebrush steppe mix. The Division would request <br />however, that consideration be given to including additional native forb species in <br />the sagebrush steppe seedmix. Species for consideration would include those <br />listed in the contingency mixture, as well as fringed sage, pacific aster, northern <br />sweetvetch, lupine, and arrowleaf balsamroot. Various native forb species that <br />may have performed poorly in the past due to excessive grass competition, may <br />warrant inclusion in the Sagebrush Steppe mix, given the severe reduction of the <br />competitive grass component. <br />Fourwing saltbush is not adapted long term to the mountain shrub/aspen/mountain <br />big sagebrush environments that are dominant within the future areas to be <br />reclaimed at Colowyo. In his 2005 Restoration Manual for Colorado Sagebrush <br />and Associated Shrubland Communities, Stephen Monsen states that fourwing <br />saltbush should not be recommended for planting in areas to which it is not <br />adapted, and notes that "attempts to convert big sagebrush to fourwing saltbush <br />have been initially successful, but rapid die off of the seeded fourwing saltbush <br />plants usually occurred within 10 years following planting". <br />There may be some value provided by the species with respect to providing early <br />structural diversity in the habitat, and protection for sagebrush seedlings, as <br />argued by Colowyo in their response, but these same values could be provided by <br />rubber rabbitbrush, which is also included in the seedmix. It would not be <br />appropriate to include fourwing saltbush in woody plant density success <br />demonstrations after 10 years, only to have it rapidly fade out of the community <br />thereafter. The Division recommends that the seedmixes be amended to <br />remove fourwing saltbush, and the Division will require that if it is retained, <br />the woody plant density standard be amended to specify that fourwing