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acceptable when the herbaceous production in the rangeland reclaimed areas is not less than <br />90 percent of the herbaceous production of the appropriate reference areas with 90 percent <br />statistical confidence. <br />Species Diversity. Species diversity will not be evaluated in the dryland pasture type or the <br />improved pasture (subirrigated/irrigated) type since these communities do not reflect any <br />native plant community, the composition of the mixes are oriented toward utility, and the <br />intended uses for these two types are more agricultural in nature. <br />In rangeland reclaimed areas species diversity will be evaluated as follows. In upland <br />rangeland reclaimed areas five established grasses will each have 50 percent or greater <br />frequency, with three of these grasses contributing greater than one percent relative cover <br />each. A minimum of two forbs will be established and each will also have 50 percent or <br />greater frequency of occurrence. At least one shrub will be established with a frequency of <br />ten percent or greater. In lowlands rangeland areas, diversity will reflect graminoid <br />dominated native communities. For this type six established grasses will be will each have <br />50 percent or greater frequency with four of the grasses contributing greater than one percent <br />relative cover each. A minimum of one forb with greater than 50 percent frequency will be <br />present in the lowland rangeland type. <br />Species diversity in the reclaimed areas along the Tie - Across Haul Road corridor will be <br />concentrated on the herbaceous component. The shrub component will rapidly reestablish <br />naturally from the surrounding undisturbed vegetation. The average density in the low <br />sagebrush type is 17,820 stems per acre. Add to this a maximum disturbance width of 100 to <br />200 feet and it becomes apparent that rapid shrub regeneration by invasion is highly likely. <br />In the low sagebrush type, baseline studies identified three grasses with relative cover greater <br />than three percent. No forbs with relative cover values of three percent or more were found. <br />Thus, a minimum of three grasses will be established and each will contribute relative cover <br />values of three percent or greater. Each species will not exceed 40 percent relative cover and <br />the total of the three species will not exceed 75 percent relative cover. In addition, two forbs <br />and one shrub will be established, but no relative cover values are specified. It is felt that a <br />herbaceous dominated reclaimed community within the shrub stands along the "Tie- Across <br />Haul Road corridor would diversify habitat while increasing grazing potential. <br />In the meadow vegetation type, four grasses contributed relative cover greater than three <br />percent in baseline studies. No forbs contributed relative cover values of three percent or <br />more, and shrubs were not a notable component of the type. A minimum of four grasses <br />each will contribute relative cover values of three percent or greater in the reclaimed plant <br />communities. In addition, one forb will be established. Each species will not exceed 75 <br />percent relative cover. Species diversity will not be evaluated on acres returned to cropland <br />for obvious reasons. <br />Woody Plant Density. Woody plant density is not proposed for any of the reclaimed plant <br />communities for the following reasons. The dryland pasture and improved pasture types are <br />to be managed for livestock grazing. Forage production of species with a high level of utility <br />PR -01 13 Revised 71 011 <br />