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<br />effect, habitat diversity and provide corridors for movement. Some
<br />wildlife are associated specifically with cover types present due to
<br />existing irrigation systems and management. An example is the marsh
<br />wren (Telrnatodyles palustris) and cattail/bulrush wetland complexes.
<br />SCS identified several habitat types likely to be impacted by
<br />salinity related practices. Wetland habitat types,include;
<br />cattail/bulrush complex, sedge/rush/saltgrass meadow complex, common
<br />reed, reed canarygrass, willow/cottonwood riparian complex, and open
<br />water systems. Upland habitat types include; annual and perennial', '
<br />herbace.ousvegetation, cropland, pastureland, hayland, orchards and
<br />upland woody complex , such as greasewood, sagebrush and saltbush,
<br />communities. In general, these habitat ,types are ,juxtaposed relative
<br />to available moisture and soil types.
<br />After interagency review, the following 6 species were selected
<br />to represent a guild of species associated with each habitat type
<br />identified; marsh wren, meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), yellow
<br />warbler (Dendroica petechia), screech owl (otus asio) , mallard (Anas
<br />platyrhynchos), and pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). Models were
<br />adapted to reflect local conditions within the, project area.
<br />, The marsh wren, meadow vole, screech owl and yellow warbler
<br />models represent single cover types; cattail/bulrush (type 3 wetland),
<br />sedge/rush/saltgrass meadows (type 1 and 2 wetland complexes and type
<br />9 wetlands), permanent wet grass pastures, mature cottonwood trees,
<br />and willow (type 6 wetland). Mallard and pheasant models represent
<br />multiple cover type users, utilizing wetlands, cropland, pastureland,
<br />hayland, ,aimual and perennial upland herbaceous cover and in the case
<br />of pheasant, woody areas. The mallard also uses lakes and'rivers.
<br />Multiple cover type species 'help assess interspersion of habitat
<br />types. Cover types used for'the above species models include cropland
<br />(AC), annual herbaceous (ANNHERB), pere-nnial herbaceous (PERHERB),
<br />orchards/vineyards (AO) , pastureland/hayland (AP) , lakes/ponds
<br />(LAKESn), palustrine emergent wetland (PEM) , rivers/streams (RIVERn),
<br />native rangeland (SSSB) and woody (WOODY).
<br />
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<br />
<br />METHODS
<br />
<br />Wildlife Habitat Evaluation And Monitorinq
<br />The Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) developed by the U.S. Fish
<br />and Wildlife Service is being used to evaluate habitat quality for the
<br />selected wildlife species. Cover type data collected from individual
<br />salinity contracts and monitoring sites is used to calculate Habitat
<br />suitability Indices (HSr) for the selected wildlife species. HSI
<br />models address basic habitat needs or relationships to calculate or
<br />predict the effects of vegetative habitat changes on selected wildlife
<br />species. The habitat suitability for any wildlife species depends
<br />upon life requisites for that species which may include food, water,
<br />cover, space and seasonal availability of these factors. The HSI is a
<br />numerical index rating which measures the quality of the habitat
<br />suitability for wildlife using an index rating value from 0.0 to 1.0.
<br />The HSI represents the potential capacity of a given habitat to
<br />support a specific wildlife species. For example, if an area has an
<br />HSI value of 1.0, then it has the greatest potential for sustaining
<br />the selected wildlife species, since all of the habitat needs are met.
<br />Conversely, an HSI value of 0.1 signifies that habitat production
<br />
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