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slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) were most common, having 7.7 and 3.3 percent all -hit <br />cover, respectively. Introduced perennial cool season grasses (6.5 percent all -hit cover) were the <br />third most common lifeform with intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) comprising <br />the majority with 2.5 percent all -hit cover. Also observed in the area were the noxious weeds <br />hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), Canada thistle (Breea arvense), scotch thistle <br />(Onopordum acanthium), and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare). <br />Total average vegetation cover for all -hits was 55.7 percent. Allowable all -hit herbaceous cover <br />was 36.8 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock averaged 0.1, 18.2, 26.5 and <br />0.5 percent, respectively (first hits). Average species density was 24.7 species per 100 sq. m. <br />Production <br />(Table A -2) <br />Total herbaceous production in 2011 was 1,921.8 pounds per acre, of which 1604.2 pounds per <br />acre was allowable herbaceous production. Of this, 558.5 pounds were introduced perennial cool <br />season grasses, 544.2 were native perennial cool season grasses, and 462.2 were introduced <br />annual and biennial forbs. Four other lifeforms were present, each less than 200 pounds per <br />acre. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />(Table A -3) <br />Total average density of woody plants was 3812.2 stems per acre, composed almost entirely of <br />native shrubs. Big sagebrush was the dominant species contributing 3782.6 stems per acre. Two <br />other native shrubs were present including mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius), <br />and Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). <br />Reference Areas (data from nearby Seneca 11W Mine) <br />ASPEN REFERENCE AREA <br />(Photographs 8 -11) <br />Cover <br />(Table A -4) <br />Native perennial forbs were the predominant lifeform observed in the Aspen Reference Area, <br />contributing 76.3 percent all -hit vegetation cover. Native shrubs and trees also contributed heavily <br />with 34.3 and 20.1 percent all -hit vegetation cover respectively - Saskatoon serviceberry <br />contributed 9.7 percent, mountain snowberry contributed 20.7 percent and aspen (Populus <br />7 <br />