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Requirements for Coal Mining. Succulents were also not included in the density calculations. <br />Mean density for the type was 0.42 stems /50m2 or 34 stems /acre (Table 2.04.10 -32). <br />Sagebrush dominated with an average density of 0.24 stems /50m2 or (19 stems /acre). <br />Mormon tea was the next dominant shrub with .18 stems /50m2 or (15 stems per acre). <br />The dryland pasture vegetation type as identified occurs on soils similar to soil map unit 98C in <br />the study area. Sagebrush, Mormon tea, blue grama, and cheatgrass have invaded the site <br />since it was planted to a mono - culture of crested wheatgrass. This invasion over the last 25 <br />years has been low however as evidenced by shrub woody stem density of 34 stems /acre and <br />shrub production of only 22 pounds /acre. This data is consistent with field observations which <br />show that the invaders are small and scattered. Production of 447 pound /acre is also <br />consistent for this type within this precipitation /elevation zone over shallow soil. <br />The original dryland pasture reference area, established in 1999 west of the airport, was <br />originally a pinon juniper/ sagebrush range site consisting of scattered pinon and juniper. <br />Under story consisted primarily of sagebrush, four -wing saltbush, blue grama and galleta. <br />Unfortunately, in early 2000, WFC discovered that heavy cattle grazing had been allowed to <br />occur on the original dryland reference area west of the airport and that there was no <br />guarantee that heavy grazing could be prevented from occurring again in the foreseeable <br />future. Consequently, WFC proposed a new reference area (in combination with the <br />rangeland reference area) within the fenced perimeter of the nearby Montrose County owned <br />and operated Hopkins Field airport, where grazing was prohibited. CDMG approved this <br />combined rangeland /dryland pasture reference area at the airport in 2000 after conducting a <br />field inspection of the area and reviewing vegetation data submitted in bond release <br />application SL -07. This combined rangeland /dryland reference area at the airport was <br />approved in Permit Renewal RN -04. This reference area is known as the 2000 Reference Area <br />and is shown on the map in Attachment 2.04.10 -1. <br />In 2004, early scoping work by Hahn Environmental Consultants indicated the combined <br />rangeland /dryland pasture reference area at the airport contained too many shrub species for <br />making a valid comparison with the reclaimed dryland pasture areas on NH1 and NH2. <br />Consequently, in 2005 WFC proposed to separate the dryland pasture reference area from the <br />Revised September 2010 (PR 06) 2.04.10 -92 <br />