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BROWNSTONE 2015 - STATE EXHIBIT - J <br />The prevailing vegetative community ranges from large Cottonwood trees to midrange Chinese Elm <br />trees that together contribute approximately 10% of the total. Sage brush and rabbit brush contribute <br />around 20% with mid to low laying Forbs such as milkweed contributing about 10% of the total. The <br />remaining 60% is made up of native grasses such as Wheatgrasses, Brome, Fescue and Ryegrass. <br />The topsoil on the West side of the amendment is spotty and thin, as it lays on the Brownstone outcrop, <br />consequently the vegetation is scattered low lying grasses. The soil type on the East side of the <br />amendment is a filled in slope consisting of clay and rock rubble. The rabbit brush and sage brush <br />manage to survive sufficiently on this slope as the area was filled in by the construction of an irrigation <br />canal just over 110 years ago. It seems enough time has passed to allow for the formation of vegetative <br />material on the very surface as small pockets of low lying grass are also present. <br />The central strip of the amendment consists of clay based topsoil of about 2" to 3" thick. The vegetation <br />is quite varied here consisting mainly of grasses with the occasional Cottonwood or Chinese Elm. Rabbit <br />brush, sage brush and forbs such as milkweed round out this area as the vegetation has had time <br />enough to balance itself with the surrounding conditions of rain, sun angle and wind. <br />