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1 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />~l <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />~ III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ~ <br />C~ <br />EXHIBIT J > <br />Vegetation Information <br />The present vegetation in the area of the existing gravel mining operation consists <br />primarily of a moderate to heavy cover of pinyon pine, Utah juniper, big sagebrush and <br />western wheatgrass. The potential plant community is mainly western wheatgrass, <br />muttongrass, Indian ricegrass, and big sagebrush. The average annual production of air- <br />dry vegetation is about 800 to 1,500 pounds per acre. <br />If the condition of the range deteriorates, big sagebrush, pinyon, juniper, snakeweed and <br />cheatgrass increase. Removal of pinyon and juniper increases the production of understory <br />forage. Range seeding should be done in conjunction with removal of the understory. <br />When the range is in poor condition, these plants are dominant. Heavy grazing use can aid <br />the establishment of pinyon and juniper seedlings through reduced competition, exposure <br />of mineral soil, and reduction of fuel to carry fires. This, combined with increasing control <br />of fires, has caused areas of this unit to be taken over by pinyon and juniper since the <br />coming of livestock. <br /> <br />