2012-01-06_PERMIT FILE - C1982057A (2)

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Aspen• Aspen habitat occupied 368 acres in the extension area. This habitat typically occurred in drainages and on north- and east-facing slopes. However, some aspen stands • within the study area, including a large one in the south half of Section 26, occupied west- facing slopes. Quaking aspen was the dominant tree in this habitat. In some areas, aspen habitat had a dense herbaceous and shrub understory, that rendered walking difficult. Principal shrubs found in this habitat included serviceberry, chokecherry, Gambel oak, and snowberry. Western Wheatgrass/Alkalai Sagebrush. The Western wheatgrass/alkalai sagebrush habitat type was mapped on 216 acres of the extension area. It was associated principally with heavy, deep soils. As implied by the name, Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smi[hiil and alkalai sagebrush /Seriphidium arbuscu/uml were the dominant species in this habitat. Occasional mountain big sagebrush (Seriphidium vaseyanuml and snowberry were found, but seldom at notable density. In some places, (orbs such as Mule's Ear (Wyethia amp/exicau/is/ dominated, often to the exclusion of other species. Sagebrush/Snowberry. Sagebrush/snowberry habitat was found on 324 acres within the extension area. Mountain big sagebrush and mountain snowberry were the visually dominant species in this habitat, although a number of perennial grasses and forbs were also present. Sagebrush/snowberry tended to occur in relatively small patches interspersed within mountain brush or Western wheatgrass/alkalai sagebrush. Bottomland. Bottomland was a minor habitat, occupying approximately 31 acres in the extension area. This habitat included drainage bottoms (corresponding to the Mesic Drainage vegetation type described in Tab 10) plus an isolated group of upland ponds in the SW %. SE '/., Section 27 and the NW %. NE '/., Section 34. That small string of ponds occurred in an undrained saddle area with heavy soils in Western wheatgrass/alkalai sagebrush vegetation, and was not mapped separately from that type. Several beaver (Castor canadensisl ponds were noted along Hubberson Gulch, and a few small stockponds were found along two unnamed smaller draws. Most ponds on the area still held water in October 1997, but precipitation was heavier than normal during [hat year. In many years, upland ponds and those along smaller drainages would likely be dry, or mostly so, by late summer. Vegetation found in bottomland areas consisted of flood-tolerant or water-obligate grasses, grass-likes, and forbs. Thesa included bluegrasses (Poo spp.l, sedges iCarex. spp.l, and cattails /Typha /a ti/o/ial. Woody species in bottomland included snowberry, willow /Sa/ix spp.l, and aspen. Rock Outcrop. Rock outcrops are not a vegetation type, but they do constitute a wildlife habitat. Occasional scattered sandstone outcrops occurred in the extension area in very steep areas with sparse vegetation. Because rock outcrops were scattered throughout other habitats, no accurate acreage could be determined for this habitat. 36 Revised 9/98