2010-04-05_REPORT - C1994082 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Total average vegetation cover, for first hits, was 32.1 percent. Total average vegetation cover, for all hits, was 35.1 percent. Standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock each had 1.5, 15.3, 35.9, • and 15.3 percent cover, respectively (first hits). Average species density was 23.5 species per 100 sq. m. Production (Table 20) Total average production was 712.0 Ibs 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 vegetation with much needed moisture, as the rest-of the summer would be characterized by well below average precipitation (Figure 6b). In the context of the six or four-months preceding sampling (Figures 8b and 9b, respectively) it is clear that the middle part of 2008 encountered below average precipitation which essentially acted to stunt vegetation growth for the rest of the season. At the time of sampling, it was clear that vigorous vegetation growth in both native and reclaimed areas had encountered moisture deficiency with associated minor wilting and predominant dull green luster. Cover Observed allowable herbaceous cover values used in derivation of the 2009 herbaceous cover standard are compiled in the table below: • 11