Sagebrush Permanent Range Cage Established May 21, 2009 Transect Readings (1) October 12, 2009 (2) September 2, 2010 (3) October 21, 2011

Pine Creek/Sulphurbeds Allotment

Sagebrush Permanent Range Cage Established May 21, 2009 Transect readings (1) October 12, 2009 (2) September 2, 2010 (3) October 21, 2011

Pine Creek/Sulphurbeds Established May 21, 2009 Sagebrush Permanent Range Cage Fishlake NF/Beaver RD Allotment: Pine Creek/Sulphurbeds Pasture: Pine Creek Pasture Range Cage Location: (NAD CONUS 27) Range cage transects: 12N 0361784E A: S to N, 6th wire from the East 4258906N B: N to S, wire not recorded. NAD83 – 361719E 4259110N Aspect: Outside Transect Elevation: 7,150’ 48.5 feet from NW corner of the range cage, running west.

2 Transect readings: October 12, 2009 surveyors: Hoskisson/O’Brien/Otting September 2, 2010 surveyors: Hoskisson/ O’Brien October 21, 2011 surveyors: Hoskisson/ Wheeler

This 16’ X 16’ permanent range cage is located adjacent to FR 1098, a route to a spring on Mud Spring Ridge. The site is north of Wildcat Creek and south of Brush Hollow and south fork Pine Creek in the southwest portion of Pine Creek Pasture.

The Forest Service and Grand Canyon Trust constructed the range cage on May 21, 2009. Grand Canyon Trust photographed the range cage from all corners. No detailed record of all species within the exclosure has been established.

On October 12, 2009, Grand Canyon Trust read two point-intercept transects running N-S across the range cage, recording the height and species or genus of each plant and ground cover every 6” for a total of 60 points.

The outside comparison to this permanent sagebrush range cage is a transect starting 48.5’ from the NW corner of the range cage and running 100’ west. The height and species or genus of each plant and ground cover intercepted along the transect were read on the transect every 2’were recorded for a total of 50 points.

Fig. 1 (10/12/09) Pine Creek/Sulphurbeds sagebrush permanent range cage (background), and 0’ of transect

Fig. 2 (05/21/09) SE corner of the sagebrush range cage

Fig. 3 (05/21/09) Ground cover in the range cage looking north from the middle of the south side of the cage. 4

Transect Readings (4) October 12, 2009 (5) September 2, 2010 (6) October 21, 2011

(2009) Of particular interest with a sagebrush range cage is the understory grasses and forbs, over time.

Grass cover within the range cage was recorded as 17%; 25% outside. The average height of grasses within the range cage was 12”; 6” outside. Sagebrush cover is higher along the transect (35% outside; 19% inside), and bare ground less (10% outside; 17% inside). This site was seeded at some time in the past: exotic crested wheatgrass is present inside and outside; exotic intermediate wheatgrass was encountered on the outside transect. The exotic peppergrass, Alyssum parviflorum, is the most common forb encountered.

Similar percent of grass/forb cover was recorded inside and outside the range cage (i.e., 33% inside; 31% outside, despite the higher sagebrush cover outside.

(2010) Cattle were on this pasture from June 16 to August 15 in 2010. Inside the range cage, there was 56% total vegetation cover (including 7% standing dead sagebrush); 7% bare ground, and 27% litter. Native perennial grasses were at 7% cover and an average height of 18” tall (Fig. 10); the introduced pasture grass, crested wheatgrass was 3% cover, 21” tall. Total forb cover was 26% perennial forbs at 18% and annual at 8% (Fig. 11):. The sagebrush was at 13% cover and 37” tall, There were 8 second hits on the vegetation from the pointer, meaning there was chiefly one layer of vegetation in this area.

Outside the range cage also had 56% total vegetation cover, but bare soil was about four times greater at 28% (Figs. 8 and 9; see also Fig. 12) . The introduced crested wheatgrass accounted for 16% of the cover and was an average of 10” in height.Litter was 14% cover, and sagebrush was 26% cover at an average height of 31 Native perennial grasses were 2% cover. Total forb cover was less than half that inside the range cage: 12% with perennial forbs 8% cover; stoneseed (Lithospermum incisum) was the most common and the annual forb alyssum (Alyssum minus) was 4% cover. As in the range cage there were 8 second hits on vegetation.

(2011) 2011 was the first year Pine Creek Pasture was grazed at a 30% utilization limit. Cattle grazed this pasture from July 16 – September 15 in 2011. Although the vegetation cover both inside and outside the range cage was about 78%, bare soil inside the exclosure was 10% (17% in 2009), whereas bare soil outside was double that at 22% (10% in 2009; 28% in 2010). While litter inside the exclosure was about 11% (including standing dead), outside the exclosure, litter was only captured beneath plants on the transect.

Native cool season perennial grasses accounted for 17% of the vegetation cover both inside and outside the exclosure, and introduced grasses were about the same inside and outside the exclosure (19 and 18% respectively). However, native grass species intercepted inside the exclosure have increased from two in 2009 to six in 2011; while outside the exclosure, native grass species have decreased along the transect from four in 2009 to one in 2011. Cheatgrass accounted for 10% cover outside the range cage (5% in 2009), but only 1% inside the range cage (and 1% in 2009).

5 Understory/Ground Cover

Sagebrush Range Cage October 12, 2009 Plants: Cover (%) # Species Height (in.) Two most common species (average) Sagebrush 19 1 26 Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana Other Shrub 5 1 13 Tetradymia sp. Poa pratensis 0 0 Other Grass 17 5 12 Each at 3 occurrences: Agropyron cristatum, Pseudoregneria spicata , Poa secunda Grass-like 0 0 Plant Forb 16 3 2.5 Allysum desertorum, Collinsia parviflora Totals 26 10 Non-plant Bare Rock Litter Lichen, moss, biological crust Cover %: 17 3 78 0

Plants intercepted on transects inside exclosure, in order of frequency

Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana 11 Allysum desertorum 4 Agropyron cristatum 3 Poa secunda 3 Pseudoregneria spicata 3 Tetradymia sp. 3 Cirsium sp. 2 Collinsia parviflora 2 Bromus tectorum 1 Lupinus sp. 1

6 Outside Transect October 12, 2009

Plants: Cover (%) # Height (in.) (average) Two most common Species species Sagebrush 35 1 29 Artemesia tridentata ssp. tridentata Other Shrub 2 1 3 Chrysothamnus sp. Poa pratensis 0 0 Other Grass 25 6 6 2 occurrences each of Thinopyrum intermedium, Agropyron cristatum, and Poa secunda Grass-like 0 0 Plant Forb 6 3 1 Allysum desertorum, annual forb Totals 57 11 Non-plant Bare Rock Litter Lichen, moss, Cover %: biological crust 10 0 80 0

Plants intercepted on transect outside exclosure, in order of frequency

Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana 18 Bromus tectorum 5 Allysum desertorum 2 Poa secunda 2 Pseudoregneria spicata 3 Thinopyrum intermedium 2 Annual forb 1 Balsamorrhiza sagittata 1 Chrysothamnus sp. 1 Elymus elymoides 1 Perennial bunchgrass sp. 1

7 Sagebrush Range Cage - Inside September 2, 2010

Plants: Cover (%) # Species Height (in.) Two most common species (average) Sagebrush 13 1 37 Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana Crested wheatgrass 3 1 21 Agropyron cristatum Other Grass 7 4 18 Pseudoregneria spicata , Poa secunda, Achnatherum lettermanii, Elymus elymoides Annual grass 2 1 Bromus tectorum Annual Forb 8 3 2.5 Alyssum minus, Cirsium neomexicanum Perennial Forb 18 3 Lithospermum incisum, Lupinus sericeus, Balsamorhiza sagittata Standing Dead 6 Total Cover 56 13 Ground cover Bare Rock/Gravel Litter Lichen, moss, biological crust Ground cover (no overhead 7 10 27 plants) Total ground cover (includes 9 16 75 beneath plants)

Plants intercepted on transects inside exclosure (2010), in order of frequency

Mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana 13% Stoneseed Lithospermum incisum 5% Silky lupine Lupinus sericeus 5% Arrow leaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata 3% Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum 3% Alyssum Alyssum minus 3% Knotweed Polygonum douglasii 3% New Mexico thistle Cirsium neomexicana 3% Bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata 2% Bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata 2% Bottlebrush squirreltail Elymus elymoides 2% Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda 2% Letterman’s needlegrass Achnatherum lettermanii 2%

8 Outside Transect September 2, 2010

Plants: Cover (%) # Species Height (in.) Two most common species (average) Sagebrush 26 1 31 Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana Crested wheatgrass 16 1 10 Agropyron cristatum Other Grass 2 1 Elymus elymoides

Annual grass 2 1 Bromus tectorum Annual Forb 4 1 2.5 Alyssum minus Perennial Forb 8 3 Lithospermum incisum, Lupinus sericeus, Phlox longifolia Total Cover 56 8 Ground cover Bare Rock/Gravel Litter Lichen, moss, biological crust Ground cover (no overhead 28 2 14 plants) Total ground cover (includes 41 2 57 beneath plants)

Plants intercepted on transects outside exclosure (2010), in order of frequency

Mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana 26% Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum 16% Alyssum Alyssum minus 4% Stoneseed Lithospermum incisum 4% Silky lupine Lupinus sericeus 2% Long leaved phlox Phlox longifolia 2% Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 2% Bottlebrush squirreltail Elymus elymoides 2%

9 Inside Transect October 2011

Plants: Cover (%) # Species Height (in.) Two most common species (average) Sagebrush 32 1 31 Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana Crested wheatgrass 12 1 18 Agropyron cristatum Other Grass 15 6 15 Pseudoregneria spicata , Poa secunda, Elymus hispidus, Koeleria macrantha, Elymus elymoides,Achnatherum lettermanii Annual grass 1 1 6 Bromus tectorum Annual Forb 10 1 3 Alyssum minus Perennial Forb 6 2 7 Lupinus sericeus, Cerastium sp, Standing Dead 3 Total Cover 78 12 Ground cover Bare Rock/Gravel Litter Lichen, moss, biological crust Ground cover (no overhead 10 0 11 (includes plants) standing dead) Total ground cover (includes 23 3 74 beneath plants)

Plants intercepted on transects inside exclosure (2011), in order of frequency

Mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana 32% Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum 12% Alyssum Alyssum minus 10% Bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata 7% Silky lupine Lupinus sericeus 5% Intermediate wheatgrass Elymus hispidus 4% Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda 3% Bottlebrush squirreltail Elymus elymoides 1% Letterman’s needlegrass Achnatherum lettermanii 1% Chickweed Cerastium sp 1% Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 1%

10 Outside Exclosure October 2011

Plants: Cover (%) # Species Height (in.) Two most common species (average) Sagebrush 18 1 30 Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana Crested wheatgrass 12 1 10 Agropyron cristatum Other Grass 16 3 15 Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Elymus hispidus Annual grass 10 1 6 Bromus tectorum Annual Forb 18 1 2 Alyssum minus Perennial Forb 2 1 Lupinus sericeus Total Cover 78 8 Ground cover Bare Rock/Gravel Litter Lichen, moss, biological crust Ground cover (no overhead 22 0 0 plants) Total ground cover (includes 36 2 62 beneath plants)

Plants intercepted on transects outside exclosure (2011), in order of frequency

Mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana 18% Alyssum Alyssum minus 18% Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum 12% Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda 10% Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 10% Bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata 4% Horsebrush Tetradymia canescens 4% Silky lupine Lupinus sericeus 2% Intermediate wheatgrass Elymus hispidus 2%

Fig. 4 (10/12/09) Ground cover in the range cage looking north from the middle of the south side of the cage (Compare with Fig. 3, May 21)

Fig. 5. (10/12/09) Transect A inside sagebrush range cage. 12

Fig. 6 (10/12/09)

Outside transect 0’ looking west to 100’

Fig. 7 (10/12/09) Stubble height along outside transect.

Fig. 8 (9/02/2010) Inside/outside east side of range cage

Fig. 9 (9/02/2010) Outside transect, at 0’ running west toward 100’.

Fig. 10 (9/02/2010) Bluebunch wheatgrass inside range cage.

Fig. 11 (9/02/2010) Spineless horsebrush (Tetradymia canescens) and silky lupine inside range cage. 15

Fig. 12 (9/02/2010) Heavily-grazed ground near utilization cage, in the Vicinity of the range cage

Fig 13 (10/21/2011) Inside permanent range cage looking south

Figure 14 (10/21/2011) Inside permanent range cage.

Figure 15 (10/21/2011) Ground cover outside range cage – note abundance of cheatgrass

Figure 16 (10/21/2011) Transect area outside range cage

Appendix A- 2010 and 2011 cover data in table format Inside Transect 2010 Sagebrush Pine Creek Inside Cover Avg height Total Vegetation Cover 50.0 Litter 26.7 Gravel 10.0 Bare Soil 6.7 Total Ground Cover 93.3

Standing Dead 6.7

Scientific name common name Cover Rel cover Cool season perennial grasses Agropyron spicatum Bluebunch Wheatgrass 1.7 3.3 18" Elymus elymoides Bottlebrush Squirreltail 1.7 3.3 Poa sandbergii Sandberg Bluegrass 1.7 3.3 Stipa lettermanii Letterman's stipa 1.7 3.3 Subtotal 6.8 13.3 Introduced perennial grasses Agropyron cristatum Crested Wheatgrass 3.3 6.7 21.2" Agropyron intermedium Intermediate Wheatgrass P P Subtotal 3.3 6.7 Annual grasses Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass 1.7 3.3 Subtotal 1.7 3.3 Perennial forbs Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow leaf balsam root 2.8 3.3 Calochortus nuttallii Mariposa Lily P P Comandra umbellata Bastard Toadflax 1.7 3.3 Lithospermum incisum Narrow leaf Gromw ell 5.0 10.0 Lupinus sericeus Silky lupine 5.0 10.0 Phlox longifolia Long leaved phlox P P Polygonum douglasii Knotw eed 3.3 6.7 Subtotal 17.8 33.3 Annual and biennial forbs Allysum minus Alyssum 3.3 6.7 Cirsium neomexicanum New Mexico thistle 3.3 6.7 Collomia linearis Collomia P P Gayophytum ramosissimum Groundsmoke 1.7 3.3 Tragopogon dubius Salsify P P Subtotal 8.3 16.7 Shrubs Artemisia tridentata Big Sagebrush 13.3 26.7 36.8" Tetradymia canescens Horsebrush P P Subtotal 13.3 26.7 P=Present, but not intercepted by pointer 8 second hits

Outside Transect 2010 Sagebrush Pine Creek Outside Scientific Name Common Name Cover Rel Cover Avg height Total Vegetation Cover 56.0 Litter 14.0 Gravel 2.0 Bare Soil 28.0 Total Ground Cover 72.0 Cool season perennial grasses Elymus elymoides Bottlebrush Squirreltail 2.0 3.6 Poa sandbergii Sandberg Bluegrass P P Stipa lettermanii Letterman's stipa P P Subtotal 2.0 3.6 Introduced perennial grasses Agropyron cristatum Crested Wheatgrass 16.0 28.6 10.4" Subtotal 16.0 28.6 Annual grasses Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass 2.0 3.6 Subtotal 2.0 3.6 Perennial forbs Astragalus mollisimus Milkvetch P P Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow leaf balsam root P P Calochortus nuttallii Mariposa Lily P P Eriogonum racemosum Red root buckwheat P P Linum lewisii Common Blue Flax P P Lithospermum incisum Narrowleaf Gromwell 4.0 7.1 Lupinus sericeus Silky lupine 2.0 3.6 Phlox longifolia Long leaved phlox 2.0 3.6 Polygonum douglasii Knotweed P P Subtotal 8.0 14.3 Annual and biennial forbs Allysum minus Alyssum 4.0 7.1 2.2" Collomia linearis Collomia P P Subtotal 4.0 7.1 Shrubs Artemisia tridentata Big Sagebrush 26.0 42.9 30.6" Quercus gambelli Gambel's oak P P Tetradymia canescens Horsebrush P P Subtotal 26.0 42.9 P=present, but not intercepted by the pointer 8 second hits

20 Big Sagebrush Shrubland Inside Exclosure Pine Creek October 2011 Scientific Name Common Name Cover Relative Cover Avg ht Total Vegetation Cover 78.3 Standing Dead 3.3 Litter 8.3 Bare Soil 10.0 Total Ground Cover 90.0

Cool season perennial grasses Agropyron spicatum Bluebunch Wheatgrass 6.7 8.5 18 Elymus elymoides Bottlebrush Squirreltail 1.2 2.1 8 Koeleria macrantha Prairie Junegrass P P Poa sandbergii Sandberg Bluegrass 3.3 4.3 8 Stipa lettermanii Letterman's stipa 1.2 2.1 9 12.4 17.0 Introduced perennial grasses Agropyron cristatum Crested Wheatgrass 11.7 14.9 18 Agropyron intermedium Intermediate Wheatgrass 3.3 4.3 15.0 19.2 Annual grasses Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass 1.2 2.1 6 1.2 2.1 Perennial forbs Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow leaf balsam root P P Calochortus nuttallii Mariposa Lily P P Cerastium sp Chickw eed 1.2 2.1 Comandra umbellata Bastard Toadflax P P Crepis runcinata Meadow haw ksbeard P P Lithospermum incisum Narrow leaf Gromw ell P P Lupinus sericeus Silky lupine 5.0 6.4 8 Phlox longifolia Long leaved phlox P P 6 Unknow n Perennial Forb P P 6.2 8.5 Annual and biennial forbs Allysum minus Alyssum 10.0 12.8 3 10.0 12.8 Shrubs Artemisia tridentata Big Sagebrush 31.6 40.4 31 Symphoricarpos oreophilus Snow berry P P Tetradymia canescens Horsebrush P P 31.6 40.4 P=present 17 second hits

Big Sagebrush Shrubland Outside Exclosure Pine Creek October 2011 Scientific Name Common Name Cover Relative Cover avg ht Total Vegetation Cover 78.4 Bare Soil 21.6 Total Ground Cover 78.4

Cool season perennial grasses Agropyron spicatum Bluebunch w heatgrass 3.9 5.0 22 Poa secunda Sandberg bluegrass 9.8 12.5 10 13.7 17.5 Introduced perennial grasses Agropyron cristatum Crested w heatgrass 11.7 15.0 10 Agropyron intermedium Intermediate w heatgrass 1.9 2.5 13.6 17.5 Annual grasses Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass 9.8 12.5 6 9.8 12.5 Perennial forbs Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrow leaf balsam root P P Calochortus nuttallii Mariposa Lily P P Cerastium sp Chickw eed P P Crepis runcinata Meadow haw ksbeard P P Eriogonum racemosum Red root buckw heat P P Lithospermum incisum Narrow leaf gromw ell P P Lupinus sericeus Silky lupine 1.9 2.5 Phlox longifolia Long leaved phlox P P 1.9 2.5

Annual and biennial forbs

Allysum minus Alyssum 17.6 22.5 2 17.6 22.5 Shrubs Artemisia tridentata Big sagebrush 17.6 22.5 30 Tetradymia canescens Horsebrush 3.9 5.0 15 21.5 27.5

P= present 15 second hits