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• 7 through 10. Sample data from the Mountain Brush Reference Area are presented in Tables 11 <br />through 12. Sample data from the Sagebrush Reference Area are presented in Tables 13 through <br />14. Sample data from the Yoast Haul Road (Improved Pasture) Reference Area are presented in <br />Tables 15 through 16. Sampling data are summarized in Table 17. Data on species density by <br />lifeform are tabulated for sampled areas in Table 18. Data on relative cover by lifeform are <br />compiled in Table 19. Statistical adequacy of sampling is reviewed in Table 20. Data on the <br />comparability of the Affected and Reference Areas are presented in Table 21. The list of plant <br />species observed during the quantitative sampling is included in Table 22 of Appendix 2. The list <br />of Threatened and Endangered plant species potentially occurring in the Affected Areas is <br />included in Table 23 of Appendix 2. The list of plant species observed as part of the preliminary <br />wetland / riparian characterization are included in Table 24 of Appendix 2. Photographs of <br />representative locations within all areas sampled in 2008 (in addition to past photos of some <br />areas for reference) are included in Appendix 3. Graphs of climate data from 2008 are presented <br />in Figures 1 through 6 of this report. <br />In the cover descriptions below, species listed as "also present" were not "hit' during point - <br />intercept sampling but were present within one meter of either side of the 50 m sample transect <br />line. Unless otherwise stated, all cover values are for absolute vegetation including first hit data <br />• only. Percentages are rounded to one tenth of a percent to simplify discussion of the results. <br />Overview of Vegetation Types <br />Within the overall study area for the Sage Creek Mine, fourteen vegetation types were delineated <br />in addition to miscellaneous land types not distinguished by vegetation (Map 1). These vegetation <br />types reflect the varied topography, aspect, soils and soil parent material, and in some cases <br />variability of agricultural or management history of the study area. The nine distinguished natural <br />vegetation types that have been mapped include Alkali Meadow, Alkali Sagebrush / western <br />wheatgrass, Alkali Sagebrush / Greasewood, Aspen, Mesic Drainage / Riparian, Mixed Conifer, <br />Mountain Brush, Sagebrush, and Steep Mountain Brush. Three vegetation units created / <br />maintained by agricultural activity include Cropland — Small Grains, Cropland — Hay Production, <br />and Improved Pasture / Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Also mapped are areas of <br />previous mining disturbance that have been reclaimed (Mined and Reclaimed Land). In two <br />cases, vegetation types occurred in such tight mosaics that mapping at the scale used was not <br />practical. One case involved Mountain Brush and Sagebrush and the other involved Sagebrush <br />and Western Wheatgrass / Alkali Sagebrush. Map 1 displays alternating diagonal bands of the <br />• respective colors in these zones of tight mosaic. <br />11 <br />