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r~ <br />~J <br />• <br />• <br />Woodland reference areas. In addition to the sampling efforts, current conditions at the time of <br />sampling were documented by several photos (see Plates E5-1 through 10 in Appendix B) to <br />provide a visual demonstration of site-conditions. <br />1.2 Background <br />The Bowie Gob Pile study area (~32 acres) is located between 5,950 and 6,250 feet above <br />sea level at the toe of a steep, south-facing slope. This area is comprised of two fairly distinct <br />community types, Mountain Shrub and Juniper Woodland (See Map E5-1). As previously <br />indicated a small tract of Corps of Engineers jurisdictional wetland was also found in the study <br />area along a drainage bottom that can be found on the eastern side of the study area. The <br />Juniper Woodland community type is located on the lower elevation slopes of the study area and <br />is dominated by a mature Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) overstory with an occasional <br />Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), and mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolia) in the <br />understory. Very few perennial grasses and forbs are found beneath this juniper canopy. The <br />community is presently dominated by the annual grass, cheatgrass (eromus tectorum), with <br />juniper, various shrubs, and occasional perennial grasses and forbs found within the matrix. The <br />Mountain Shrub type is located along the two drainages that bisect the study area and on the <br />upland slopes. The community is compromised of a dense mix of Gambel oak, mountain <br />snowberry and serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis) with an occasional Utah juniper. Perennial <br />grasses and forbs are found in the clearings and along the drainage bottoms. <br />The noxious weeds, jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica), field bindweed (Convolvulus <br />arvensis), and Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) are scattered through the study area, an <br />indication that the area has been subjected to heavy grazing by domestic livestock in the past. <br />However, there were no recent signs of heavy livestock grazing in the study area, especially <br />given the lack of adequate forage. <br />~S.IBIIDALB ~4.]~IIil~ ~ffi~®CIIA7I'IIrffi, INC. <br />2 Exhibit 5 -Vegetation Resources <br />