2012-04-02_REPORT - C1994082 (7)

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SAGEBRUSH EXTENDED REFERENCE AREA (Photographs 16 -19) Cover (Table A -8) Native shrubs were the predominant lifeform observed in the Sagebrush Reference Area, contributing 42.8 percent all -hit vegetation cover. Of this, big sagebrush contributed 24.5 percent and mountain snowberry contributed 13.6 percent. Native perennial forbs and native perennial cool season grasses made strong contributions to all -hit cover, with 18.4 and 8.9 percent, respectively. Also observed in the area was the noxious weed hound's tongue. Total average vegetation cover for first hits was 66.4 percent. Allowable all -hit herbaceous vegetation cover was 30.1 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock averaged 2.4, 20.5, 10.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively (first hit). Average species density was 32.5 species per 100 sq. m. Production (Table A -9) Total herbaceous production in 2011 was 963.6 pounds per acre. Of this, 540.7 pounds were native perennial forbs and 376.5 were native perennial cool season grasses. Four other lifeforms were present at less than 20 pounds per acre. STEEP MOUNTAIN BRUSH EXTENDED REFERENCE AREA (Photographs 20 -23) Cover (Table A -10) Native perennial cool season grasses were the predominant lifeform observed in the Steep Mountain Brush Reference Area, contributing 16.6 percent all -hit vegetation cover. Of this, Montana wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus fm. albicans) contributed 12.3 percent. Native shrubs also made a strong contribution to all -hit cover, with 15.6 percent — big sagebrush contributed 4.7 percent and birchleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) contributed 4.2 percent. Also observed in the area were the noxious weeds hound's tongue and dalmation toadflax (Linaria genistifolia ssp. dalmatica). Total average vegetation cover for first hits was 38.7 percent. Allowable all -hit herbaceous vegetation cover was 32.2 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock averaged 9