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Monitorinq Sites Twenty contracts have been selected for annual monitoring and have had initial HEP analysis completed. Seventeen of the contracts have had annual comparative HEP analysis completed for 1 to 4 years after initial ,conditions. Sixteen of the 17 contracts involved on- ~ farm irrigation system improvements. The 17th contract is an off-farm ~ group contract involving ditch lining, which has been completed. In ~ general, the following practices are being applied to the 6n~farm contracts; replacement of earthen ditches with buried pipe and concrete lined ditches, landleveling, and installing gated pipe. Irrigation water management, and conservation cropping systems are also being applied to the fields. ' Increases over existing condition in cover type acreages have occurred on AC, PERRERB and LAKESn and decreased on ANNHERB, AO, AP, PEM, SSSB, and WOODY. HUV's increased over existing condition for pheasant and mallard-winter models, and decreased for yellow warbler, mallard-breeding, meadow vole, marsh wren and screech owl models. In general, the loss of earthen ditch in non-irrigated areas (usually off-farm conveyance) results in PERHERB vegetation changing to ANNHERB. This often causes an increase in pheasant HUV's and a loss in HUV's for the, meadow vole, although the area involved is,often very small. WOODY/willow areas often exist in places along earthen ditches and may be lost causing a decrease in HUV's for the yellow warbler. The construction of shallow water wetland (LAKESn) is causing an increase in HUV's for the mallard-breeding model. Practices like:ditch piping or lining and land leveling in fields (on- farm) can result in significant short term changes in cover types and associated wildlife HUV's. However, these impacts are short lived and quickly change as cover grows back, Much greater changes in HUV's are caused by crop rotations and cropland, hay land and pastureland management than from salinity related irrigation practices. The yearly change in the amount of AC, AP, AO, ANNHERB and PERRERB associated with field rotations and how they are managed and used is the major factor impacting the pheasant, mallard-winter and meadow vole. The removal or addition of WOODY/willow habitat causes a loss or gain for the yellow warbler. WOODY wildlife plantings are reSUlting in HUV increases overall for the warbler. The loss or gain of WOODY/cottonwood can have the same effect on the screech owl. Again, the establishment of WOODY wildlife plantings is reSUlting in HUV increases for the owl. The loss or gain of PEM/cattails has the same impact on the marsh wren. The construction of wetland (LAKESn) is creating some cattail habitat for the wren. This in addition to managing and improving existing cattail areas is resulting in an overall increase in HUV's for the wren. Impacts to the yellow warbler, screech owl and marsh wren are more identifiable and often caused by single practices that change the cover type they are closely associated with. They are not subject to the yearly fluctuations in HUV's caused by things like crop rotations as is likely for the pheasant, mallard-winter and meadow vole. Because of this, replacir,g losses for the owl, warbler and wren is often simpler than for the pheasant, mallard-winter and vole. While practices like establishing PERHERB, food plots, and creating PEM do have a positive impact on the pheasant, vole and mallard models, adjacent field use and rotations can also result in gains or losses that are hard to predict. 28 ;f~:W: ,....::~;. t:-}:i :.....,.,.