2009-04-01_REPORT - C1994082 (6)

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STEEP MOUNTAIN BRUSH EXTENDED REFERENCE AREA • (Photographs39-42) Cover (Table 19) Native shrubs were most abundant in the Steep Mountain Brush Reference Area, contributing 30.1 percent all-hit cover. Within this group, big sagebrush and Gambel's oak were most common, having 11.1 and 6.9 percent all-hit cover, respectively. Native perennial cool season grasses were the second most abundant group contributing 10.4 percent all-hit cover. Of this, bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata) and Agassiz bluegrass were most common, contributing 4.7 and 1.7 percent all-hit cover, respectively. Native perennial forbs were the third most abundant group (6.4 percent all-hit cover) comprised by numerous species with low percent cover values. Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) contributed the highest percent cover value of the native perennial forbs with 4.3 percent all-hit cover. Total average vegetation cover, for first hits, was 47.3 percent. Total average vegetation cover, for all hits, was 51.1 percent. Standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock each had 3.0, 15.9, 22.5, and 11.3 percent cover, respectively (first hits). Average species density was 28.9 species per 100 sq.m. • Production (Table 20) Total average production was 1067.1 Ibs per acre. Native perennial forbs contributed the most with an average production of 642.4 Ibs per acre. Native perennial cool season grasses contributed 364.0 Ibs per acre and introduced annual grasses contributed 39.3 Ibs per acre. Two other lifeforms were present each contributing less than 20 lbs per acre. DISCUSSION Climatic Conditions Precipitation in December of 2007 totaled a record 3.92 inches of moisture. This was followed by above-average precipitation from January through May 2008, which created much above average snowpack levels for the region. Paradoxically, although the early growing season soil moisture was ample, the June and July precipitation (Figure 6b) was far below average, leaving the precipitation total for the 12 months preceding sampling just slightly above average (Figure 7b). 2008 was also a well below average year as regards temperature - in fact it was the coolest year • in the 22-year record (started in 1986) (Figure 10). These cooler temperatures likely extended snowpack duration and soil moisture somewhat further into the dry summer months providing 15