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3.2.2 Sagebrush Reference Area <br />The Sagebrush Reference Area (established in 1981) is comprised of approximately 4.7 acres of <br />gently to moderately sloping vegetation that has a predominately northerly aspect (see Plate 4). This <br />reference area is located on a moderately sloping bench north of the Administration / Facilities Area (see <br />Map 1). A total of 25 plant taxa were observed in this reference area (see Table A -1). Ground cover in <br />the Sagebrush Reference Area (Table 1 and Chart 1) consisted of 32.6% live vegetation, 1.9% rock, <br />45.8% litter, and bare soil exposure of 19.7 %. Perennial cover across the unit averaged 30.1% (93.5% <br />relative cover) with annual and biennial cover averaging 2.5% (6.5% relative cover). Dominant taxa <br />were Wyoming big sagebrush, prairie junegrass (Koeieria macrantha), western wheatgrass, and <br />bluegrass with 7.9 %, 4.1 %, 3.4 %, and 2.9% average cover, respectively. With regard to diversity, the <br />Sagebrush Reference Area exhibited 5 perennial grasses and 1 perennial forb with between 3% and 50% <br />relative cover. <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. Page 10 Colowyo Coal Co. Phase 11 Evaluation <br />