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Alkaline meadow vegetation community describes in Tab 10. The dominant soil is Spicerton <br />variant (0-5 percent slopes), which typically occurs on alluvial fans and stream bottoms <br />(see Tab 9). The range site classification within which the habitat falls is Claypan. <br />This habitat is structurally simple throughout much of the permit area and is limited in <br />aerial extent. However, moderately-incised cutbanks along some meanders of the stream <br />channel are included in this type and provide enhanced topographic diversity offering good <br />escape and thermal cover. <br />Saline/Alkaline Shrublands. This habitat occurs on alluvial terraces, flats and upland <br />slopes adjacent to Dry Creek, and on slopes adjacent to the rail spur (see Exhibit 11-1). <br />Vegetation communities represented in this habitat include a mixture of rabbitbrush/silver <br />sage, alkali sage/greasewood, alkali sage/western wheatgrass, big sagebrush, and minor <br />grasslands (see Tab 10). The dominant soil is Spicerton variant (0-5 percent slopes), and <br />the range site classification is Claypan (see Tab 9). <br />This habitat is moderately complex, consisting of a low to moderately statured shrub <br />overstory locally dominated by one or more salt tolerant shrub species (e.g., Chrysothamnus <br />nauseosvs, Artemisia cans, A. longiloba, Sarcobatus vermiculatus), or big sage (A. <br />tridentata). The understory consists of a variety of fortis and graminoids including wheat <br />grasses (Agroypyron spp.), bluegrasses (Fos spp.), yarrow (Achilles spp.), and an occasional <br />prickly pear (Opuntia spp.). The topography is gentle, consisting of rolling upland slopes, <br />flats, and terraces above and adjacent to the stream bottom. <br />Disturbed Areas. This habitat includes areas disturbed as a result of construction of the <br />coal handling facility, abandoned cropland west of Dry Creek, and improved pasture in <br />Section 10 (see Exhibit 11-1). Much of the old cropland area was redisturbed by <br />rail/facility construction. Former crop areas were most likely used for wheat production or <br />dryland pasture. Prior to disturbance or redisturbance, low sagebrush, alkali sagebrush, <br />and big sagebrush probably occupied these sites. All dryland areas have been reseeded with <br />introduced cool season grasses, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and sweetclover (Melilotus spp.). <br />Rubber rabbitbrush has invaded some areas although not to the extent of forming dense stands <br />(see Tab 10). The predominant predisturbance soil is the Morapos clay loam (10-15 percent <br />slopes} with a Deep Loam range site classification (see Tab 9). <br /> <br />RN-03 3 Revised 06/08 <br />