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Native shrubs were the predominant lifeform observed in the Steep Mountain Brush Reference Area, <br />contributing 16.5 percent all -hit vegetation cover — Saskatoon serviceberry contributed 7.1 percent and big <br />sagebrush contributed 3.4 percent. Native perennial cools season grasses also made a strong contribution <br />to all -hit cover, with 9.9 percent. Of this, Montana wheatgrass contributed 3.1 percent. A total of 60 native <br />plant species were encountered in quantitative sampling along with 10 non - native species among which <br />were the noxious weeds hound's tongue and Canada thistle. <br />Total average vegetation cover for first hits was 29.2 percent. Allowable all -hit herbaceous vegetation cover <br />was 15.1 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock averaged 5.5, 24.7, 29.1 and 11.6 <br />percent, respectively (first hit). Average species density was 22.2 species per 100 sq. m. <br />PRODUCTION <br />(Table B -12) <br />Total herbaceous production in 2012 was 503.2 pounds per acre, exactly what it was in 2011. Of this, 444.3 <br />pounds were native perennial cool season grasses, 46.4 were native perennial forbs and 12.5 pounds were <br />introduced perennial cools season grasses. Introduced annual grasses were present in nearly <br />unquantifiable amounts. <br />2012 Western Wheatgrass/ Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area <br />(Photographs 174 through 176) <br />COVER <br />(Table B -13) <br />Native perennial cool season grasses were the predominant lifeform observed in the Western Wheatgrass/ <br />Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area, contributing 17.6 percent all -hit vegetation cover. Of this, western <br />wheatgrass contributed 12.3 percent. Native perennial forbs made a strong contribution to all -hit cover, 3.4 <br />percent, most of this as weedy milkvetch (1.1 percent all hit cover). A total of 41 native plant species were <br />encountered along with 8 non - natives among which were the noxious weeds hound's tongue and bull thistle <br />(0.06 percent cover). <br />Total average vegetation cover for first hits was 26.1 percent. Allowable all -hit herbaceous vegetation cover <br />was 22.3 percent. Cover by standing dead, litter, bare soil and rock averaged 3.6, 32.3, 38.0 and 0.0 <br />percent, respectively (first hit). Average species density was 13.1 species per 100 sq. m. <br />22 <br />