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<br />SUMMARY (Continued)
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<br />The types of vegetation in the area depend largely on location,
<br />prec1p1tation, soil condition, and land use, but generally 8re typical
<br />of a desert climate. Four common cover types occur within the unit
<br />area: (1) desert shrub, (2) riparian shrub-tree, (3) wetlands, and (4)
<br />irrigated lands. These cover types provide habit8t for resident wild-
<br />life species in the form of food, escape cover, nesting or denning
<br />areas, and perching sites.
<br />
<br />The desert shrub cover type consists of juniper, big sagebrush,
<br />greasewood, rabbitbrush, shadscale, 8nd 8hrub grass communities existing
<br />in areas not affected by additional moisture from the Duchesne River or
<br />its tributaries or from irrigation of cropland.
<br />
<br />The riparian shrub-tree cover type is extensive along the banks of
<br />the Duchesne River 8nd along bank8 of canals where soil moi8ture condi-
<br />t ions promote the growth of cottonwood, alder, buffaloberry, Russian
<br />olive, and shrubs such as skunkbrush, rose, willow, t8marisk, and
<br />currant. Ground cover is almost 100 percent in this cover type because
<br />available moisture permits many gra8se8 and forbs to grow beneath the
<br />shrub8 and trees. The riparian shrub-tree cover type is probably the
<br />most important single cover type to wildlife within the project area.
<br />It is also important for streambank erosion protection, livestock graz-
<br />ing, and st8bilization of runoff.
<br />
<br />Wetland areas within the project area are generally products of
<br />irrigation return flows, direct riverflows, or canal seepage into low-
<br />lying areas. Many of the marshes along the Duchesne River include open
<br />water, with perimeters of sedges, rU8hes, bulrushes, c8ttails, and
<br />grasses.
<br />
<br />An average of 97,447 acres of land in the project area are irri-
<br />gated to produce alfalfa, grass hay, pasture, small grain, and corn
<br />crops. About 90 percent of the irrigated cropland is alfalfa and meadow
<br />hay. Small grains and silage corn compose the remaining irrigated vege-
<br />tative cover on these farmlands.
<br />
<br />wildlife in the project area consists of species adapted to the
<br />desert environment <If the Uinta Basin. Upland game, nongame, and big
<br />game species are generally more prev8lent in the riparian cover than in
<br />the desert shrub. Pheasant, C8l ifornia quail, cot tont8il r8bbit, and
<br />mourning dove occur in the riparian cover. Waterfowl use the wetlands
<br />and canals in the area. Big game species include mule deer and prong-
<br />horn antelope. Moose and elk inhabit areas adjacent to the project 8rea
<br />and may, on rare occa8ions, migrate into the project 8rea. Beaver and
<br />muskra.t occur only in the wetland and riparian cover because of their
<br />semiaquatic nature. Small mammals, nongame birds, 8nd reptiles use all
<br />of the cover types but are generally more abundant in the riparian
<br />habitat.
<br />
<br />The primary game fish in the rivers and reserV01rs of the unit area
<br />are brook, cut throat, brown, and rainbow t rout. Nongame fish inc lude
<br />sculpin, minnows, several species of suckers, mountain whitefish, Utah
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