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<br />3.2 Mountain Shrub Community <br />The Mountain Shrub community type comprises 18.2 acres (56.6%) of the vegetation study <br />area as indicated on Map E5-1. As observable on Table E5-5, a total of 32 plant species were <br />documented from this community type in the baseline study area compared to 41 taxa in the <br />reference area. No threatened or sensitive species were observed within this area. Similarly, <br />noxious weeds were also not observed in this community. Plates E5-7 through 10 provide <br />photographic documentation of this community within the study area as well as the reference <br />area, at the time of sampling. The Mountain Shrub community exists on the more mesic and <br />deeper soils of the study area. These soils tend to be less rocky and on steeper slopes than the <br />Juniper Woodland community. <br />3.2.1 Mountain Shrub Baseline Study Area <br />Review of Table E5-6 and Chart E5-1 indicates that the average vegetation cover of the <br />Mountain Shrub community was 59.3%. Bare ground exposure and rock provided an average of <br />4.7% and 1.6% of the ground cover, respectively, while litter covered a notable 34.4%. <br />' Dominant plant species were Gambel oak, mountain snowberry, and cheatgrass with 23.35%, <br />• 12.7%, and 10.15% of the ground cover, respectively. Perennial plants (excluding noxious <br />weeds) contributed 81.2% of the composition (48.15% average cover) while annual species <br />contributed 18.8% of the composition. Perusal of Table E5-5 indicates that a total of 3 perennial <br />species contributed at least 3% relative cover or composition (3% is a common lower limit for <br />plant diversity bond release evaluations). One of these species was a forb, and the remaining <br />two were shrubs. <br />Review of Table E5-9 and Chart E5-3 indicates that the average herbaceous production of <br />this area in 2006 was 174.7 pounds per acre, oven-dry weight. Fifty-four percent (94.1 pounds <br />per acre) of the total herbaceous production is attributable to perennials, with grasses <br />contributing 3.9 lbs./acre, fortis 58 lbs./acre, and sub-shrubs providing 32.2 lbs./acre. Forty-six <br />percent (80.6 pounds per acre) of the total production is attributable to annuals (mostly grasses). <br />3.2.2 Mountain Shrub Reference Area <br />The Mountain Shrub reference area is located at a much higher elevation than the <br />vegetation study area, and as such exhibits elevated ground cover and production parameters <br />over those found in the study area, especially with regard to perennial taxa. This reference area <br />was selected during the original baseline survey efforts, but baseline sampling by Cedar Creek <br />• since this original effort has revealed disparity in the parameters. In this regard, Cedar Creek has <br />(~~~~ cC~~~c A~ffi®~nA~s, INC. 11 Exhibit 5 -Vegetation Resources <br />