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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />Mountain Shrub - As indicated on Map 4B, the mountain shrub community within the Study Area <br />occupies 378.11 acres (63%) and occurs throughout the area. The community is comprised of two <br />primary subtypes: 1) xeric (dry) and 2) mesic (moist). The xeric subtype is typically found on the south, <br />east, and southeast exposures and exhibits more dominance in the overstory by serviceberry. The mesic <br />subtype is typically found on the north, west, and northwest exposures and exhibits more dominance in <br />the overstory by Gambel's oak (Quercus gambellii) and choke cherry (Prunus virginiana). <br />A total of 64 species were observed within the mountain shrub community with a distribution of 16 <br />grasses, 37 forbs, and 11 shrubs. Average ground cover of vegetation (2005) within the study area was <br />64.1% with 1.2% rock, 28.6% litter, and 6.1% baze ground exposure. Dominant species included: <br />Mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus), bluegrass, thickspike wheatgrass, goosegrass (Galium <br />aparine), Nelson needlegrass (Stipa nelsonii), and mountain big sagebrush. The number of perennial <br />herbaceous species exhibiting between 3% and 50% relative cover (composition) was determined to be 3 <br />grasses and 0 forbs. The 2005 evaluation of the existing mountain shrub reference area showed that total <br />plant cover was 51.3%. Production within this reference area in 2005 was found to be 801 pounds/ acre. <br />As indicated on Table 2.04.10-10, in 1980 the herbaceous plant cover of the mountain shrub community <br />was documented to be 41.9%, in 1988 was 56.67%, and in 1985 total plant cover was 79.3%. <br />(Herbaceous plant cover for 1985 data cannot be segregated from total plant cover as the raw data are not <br />presented in a manner that allows separation of ls` hit vs. 2"d hit data.) Production in 1980 was 570 <br />pounds per acre. In 1988 and 1985, production was 933 and 1,352 pounds per acre, respectively. Woody <br />plant density for mountain shrub in 1980 and 1985 was determined to be 5,790 and 4,363 plants per acre, <br />respectively. <br />• Based on the supplemental ground cover values above, it would appear that the mountain shrub <br />community from the Lower Wilson Study Area (64.1% total plant cover) is comparable to the sampling <br />of this community from 1980 and 1988 and the survey of the South Taylor area in 1985. <br />Sagebrush - As indicated on Map 4B, the sagebrush community within the Study Area occupies 116.56 <br />acres (19.4%) and occurs throughout the area as "pockets" or "islands" within the mountain shrub type. <br />Proposed activities will disturb an estimated 7.87 acres of this community that comprises 6.56% of the <br />total disturbance. The community is comprised of two primary subtypes: I) xeric .(dry) and 2) mesic <br />(moist). The xeric subtype is typically found on the more skeletal soils of south, east, and southeast <br />exposures and along the perimeters of wind-swept ridgelines. The mesic subtype is typically found on the <br />deeper soils of north, west, and northwest exposures and on more level areas. <br />A total of 61 species were observed within the sagebrush community with a distribution of 16 grasses, 35 <br />forbs, and 10 shrubs. Average ground cover of vegetation (2005) within the study area was 63.1% with <br />3.5% rock, 17.8% litter, and 15.6% bare ground exposure. Dominant species included: Mountain big <br />sagebrush, Basin big sagebrush, bluegrass, Mountain snowberry, tailcup lupine, western wheatgrass, and <br />thickspike wheatgrass. The number of perennial herbaceous species exhibiting between 3% and 50% <br />relative cover (composition) was determined to be 3 grasses and 1 forb. The 2005 evaluation of the <br />existing sagebrush reference area showed that total plant cover was 51.8%. Production within this <br />reference area in 2005 was found to be 620 pounds per acre. <br />As indicated on Table 2.04.10-10, in 1980 the herbaceous plant cover of the sagebrush community was <br />documented to be 30.9% and in 1988 was 39.71%. In 1985 the total plant cover of the sagebrush type <br />was determined to be 59.3%. (Herbaceous plant cover for 1985 data cannot be segregated from total <br />plant cover as the raw data are not presented m a manner that allows separation of 1~` hit vs. 2nd hit data.) <br />Production in 1980 was 436 pounds per acre, whereas in 1988 production was 825 pounds per acre. In <br />South Taylor/I.ower Wilson -Rule 2, Page 76 Revision Date: 3/30/07 <br />Revision No.: PR-02 <br />