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3.1.4 Other Permit Area Vegetation Types
<br /> In addition to the three major vegetation community types described
<br /> above there were additional distinct units present in the permit area. These
<br /> community types are qualitatively described below.
<br /> One of the most widespread of the permit area vegetation types was Spruce
<br /> -ir Forest . These dense stands of Engelmann Spruce and Subaloine Fir generally
<br /> occurred on more mesic sites than Spruce/Fir Parkland, such as on north-
<br /> facing slopes and along drainages. At lower elevat ;ons, for example along
<br /> the Coal CreeK drainage as low as 3,000-9,000 ft , Spruce/Fir forest elements
<br /> were modified by the inclusion of Blue Spruce ?ticea vli^�,,etzj, a tree typically
<br /> associated with moist , even riparian sites.
<br /> Most riparian communities at lower elevations within the study
<br /> area were dominated by mixed stands of Narrowleaf Cottonwood Po,ouliz
<br /> arzcu ti,4vaa, Quaking Aspen, and Blue Spruce. A to I I understory of Whiplash
<br /> W i l l ow Sa,L x cauda.ta, Th i n I eaf A l der ZruLj . erzui-4.v LLa, Mountain Maple 4ce,z
<br /> 9 a&,zum, water Birch 2e.tu,Ca vcc,.den;taZi.4, Red-osier Dogwood Swi4da jer,,.cLa,
<br /> and Chokecherry was present , with variable composition, at most locales,
<br /> especially on forest edges adjacent to streambeds. A lower shrub understory
<br /> was common in places; typical species included Mountain Snowberry, Woods Rose
<br /> ,2v4a wvvd,.Li_, and the currants RZ45ea lacuitize and R. morztii. enum.
<br /> Xeric sites within the study area supported three distinct
<br /> community types. At the lowest elevations near the extreme eastern edge of
<br /> the permit boundary, these sites frequently were dominated by a mixed montane
<br /> woodland of Ponderosa Pine PinLL4 onde oja and Douglas-fir, with scattered
<br /> Rocky Mountain juniper ;c11,i.,oe✓zuj -icv,ou,Lv2um. Understory shrubs included
<br /> Common juniper commcugi4, Western Snowberry S!jmpAo z-e.ca.zooa occidenta' &J,.
<br /> Serviceberry, Chokecherry, ;Hoods Rose, and in open areas, Big Sagebrush
<br /> '41z.temcA.4-'a 4-zicZerztata and Antelope B i tterbrush P u24h,La tiz.iderz-ta-ta. Common
<br /> graminoids included Elk Sedge, Thurber Fescue `e4tLzc-- and Indian
<br /> R i cegrass CAV,,.op4i j hv,7zerzv.i(dea. Overa I I , the nerbacecus layer was relatively
<br /> sparse, compared to the more mesic community Types.
<br /> At low to moderate elevations, south-facing slopes witn relatively
<br /> thin soil supported a shrubland of Sambel Oak , Serviceberry, Chokecherry,
<br /> Snowberry, and scattered Quaking Aspen. The long-term maintenance of these
<br /> communities probably is controlled by the steepness and aspect of the slope
<br /> and the thinness of the substrate. Stands on less severe sites probably
<br /> will eventually give way to aspen and/or conifers. The aspen Shrubland
<br /> type described in Section 3.1.2 above represents a successional stage
<br /> between Oak Shrubtand and Ascen Woodland.
<br /> At around 9,000 ft and on more -noderate slopes, exposed sites
<br /> occasionally are ma-'<ed by a bunchgrass meadow with Scattered indivicuals
<br /> of Limber P;ne Pinc�� ,:LQxi u�� . The typifying plant species was Thurber
<br /> rescue , a ! rhouah =!k Sedge and 5lue 'Ni 1drye were common as wet !
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