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<br />(1) Riparian Timber. Currently, approximately 63 acres (5 percent) of the
<br />project site is riparian timber, The wooded areas are concentrated in the northern and southern
<br />limits of the site with a few wooded strips along the field edges. Field reconnaissance indicated
<br />that in general these wooded areas are comprised of mature stands of cottonwood, black willow,
<br />green ash, American elm, and some sycamore. Roughleaf dogwood is common in the
<br />understory of the forested areas. The wooded strips are generally an immature composition of
<br />the canopy species with the addition of sandbar willow, red mulberry, and box elder. A list of
<br />common and scientific names is included in Appendix A.
<br />
<br />(2) Cropland. Approximately 800 acres (64 percent) of the project site is
<br />comprised of cropland and is located throughout the project area, Row crops of corn and
<br />soybeans are the predominant agricultural products. The Haynie soils are best suited for
<br />hardwoods, grain seed crops, grasses, legumes, and other herbaceous species, The Albaton and
<br />Onawa soils are fairly suitable for grain seed crops, grasses, and legumes.
<br />
<br />(3) Wetlands. Approximately 146 acres of wetlands are scattered throughout the
<br />project site (Exhibit 3), comprising approximately 12 percent of the total acreage. They include
<br />emergent, and scrub/shrub wetlands as well as open water and stream channels. The open water
<br />areas recede in the drier months, leaving behind exposed mudflats. The stream channels are
<br />primarily intermittent and some function as drainage/irrigation ditches for agricultural use.
<br />Vegetation associated with the wetlands includes buttonbush, lady's thumb, smartweed, and some
<br />cattail.
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<br />(4) Grassland. Herbaceous vegetation is rapidly re-establishing itself over much
<br />of the project area, Common species include pigweed, shepherd's purse, field pennycress, field
<br />mustard, milkweed, clotbur, hemp, horsetail, and wormwood.
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<br />(5) Scrub/Shrub. Scrub/shrub areas consist primarily of sandbar willow,
<br />cottonwood, red mulberry, and black willow. Various mustard species are also included within
<br />in this category. This cover type occurs primarily as an extention of/adjacent to the riparian
<br />timber and borders the wetlands and roadsides,
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<br />(6) Wildlife. Field investigation indicated that wildlife is abundant within the
<br />project site, Deer and raccoon tracks were observed throughout the site. Rabbits, squirrels,
<br />muskrat, and many small mammals may also be found. Turtles, frogs, and fish inhabitat the
<br />inundated areas of the project site. Numerous bird species were observed and include common
<br />yellowthroat, American goldfinch, mourning doves, American crow, western meadowlark,
<br />Baltimore oriole, killdeer, orchard oriole, yellow warbler, eastern kingbird, indigo bunting,
<br />common grackle, spotted sandpiper, white breasted nuthatch, blue jay, northern cardinal,
<br />redwing blackbird, ring-necked pheasant, European starling, brown-headed cowbird, eastern
<br />wood pewee, American robin, red-eyed vireo, northern flicker, white-crowned sparrow, and
<br />redheaded woodpecker.
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