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older age cottonwood will be removed. Approximate diameter of the larger tree is 30" dbh, in <br />the 80-120 year old age group. <br />Dry ground vegetation in the photograph of Pit 1 is kochia and annual wheatgrass. Characteristic <br />vegetation and the percent rangeland composition presented in Table 2 are for rangelands under- <br />going seasonal usage whereas this pit site is under-going use as a winter-feed lot. No native <br />rangeland vegetation communities will be affected. <br />Pit 2 <br />Located near the southernmost part of the GRGP project area, Pit 2 has deep soil over-burden in <br />some places, nearly 8', and several species of shrubs. Both soils are deep and well drained and <br />form in alluvium derived from shale. Table 3 describes undisturbed rangeland sites with later <br />seral stage shrubs such as skunkbush sumac and saltbushes. <br />Table 3. Gunnison River Gravel Pits #2 Soils, ecological sites, and rangeland <br />information RCS 2009 . <br />Map Unit <br />symbol and <br />name Ecological <br />Site Total annual dry-weight production <br />lbs/yr Characteristic <br />Vegetation Rangeland <br />Composition <br />% total <br /> Favorabl <br />e Normal Unfavorable <br />42-Sili-Winne tt, thick solum- B adlands com lex, 3 to 25 percent slope , extreme( boulde <br />Silli Stony Desert 800 700 500 Galleta 25 <br /> Indian rice grass 15 <br /> Shadscale saltbush 15 <br /> Bottlebrush s uirreltail 5 <br /> Fourwin saltbush 5 <br /> W interfat 5 <br /> Needleandthread 5 <br />Winnett, thick <br />solum Loamy salt <br />desert 800 700 500 Galleta 20 <br /> Shadscale saltbush 15 <br /> Indian rice grass 10 <br /> Gardner's saltbush 10 <br /> Needleandthread 5 <br /> Bottlebrush s uirreltail 5 <br /> Fourwin sal bush 5 <br />Badland -- -- -- -- <br />No grasses, forbs or trees were observed in the pit area. Observed shrubs included greasewood <br />on the perimeter and three species of rabbitbrush, including rubber rabbitbrush within pit limits. <br />Rabbitbrushes are generally short-lived, early pioneer species into disturbed sites as is true with <br />this site. Shrubs were selectively browsed to as much as 90% utilization. Scattered shadscale <br />saltbush were present but in low density (< 1 %). Annual production is likely lower than normal. <br />Shrubs provided approximately 3%, canopy, height 6"-36" with a median height of 18". and <br />median canopy diameter of 12". Soil was exposed with no litter present. Current annual <br />production had been browsed and could not be measured. <br />Ciurtni5ul1 River G1-M:l Pit 5 Solt and