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phreatophytic and hydrophytic graminoids (carices, rushes, and sedges). The least <br />well -drained areas, or areas where standing water persists, are dominated exclusively by thick <br />stands of cattail (Typha latifolia also a perennial graminoid). <br />The graminoid-dominated component characterizes the swale/drainage type because of its <br />greater areal extent (approximately 80 percent of the type) than the other two components and <br />its potential grazing utility. The remaining two components generally occur in the eastern half <br />of the study area and almost exclusively in the proposed permit area. Small isolated <br />occurrences of cattails and willows may occur in the western half of the study area. Where <br />significant areas of cattails and willows occur, they form islands or stringers within the <br />graminoid component. Where all three components occur together, they form a relatively <br />complex mosaic (see Attachment 2.04.10-8, Figure 4-5, formerly Peabody Appendix 10-4). <br />Vegetation cover, frequency and herbaceous production samples were concentrated in the <br />graminoid component of the swale/drainage type primarily because of measurability and the <br />fact that this component comprises the majority of the type. The willow component has a <br />closed canopy and measurement of the production of shrubs is not required by OMLR <br />regulations. However, density data in the willow thickets was collected. No data was collected <br />from the cattail component. Both the willow and cattail components function primarily as <br />wildlife habitat (see Section 2.04.11, Fish and Wildlife Resources Information). The cover and <br />frequency sampling results for the graminoid component are summarized in Table 2.04.10-9. <br />The individual plot data, from which the summary is derived, may be found in Attachment <br />2.04.10-6, formerly Peabody Appendix 10-2 (Table 2-11 ). <br />Total vegetation cover was estimated at 60.6 percent (Table 2.04.10-9). The cover of litter and <br />bare ground was 88.5 and 0.7 percent, respectively. Hydrophytic graminoids comprised most <br />of the vegetal cover (54.4 percent total cover) followed by perennial forbs (2.6 percent total <br />cover), annual forbs (1.9 percent total cover) and shrubs (1.9 percent total cover). The <br />dominant graminoids in terms of both cover and frequency of occurrence included western <br />sedge (Carex occidentalis), threesquare (Scirpus pungens) and common spikerush (Eleocharis <br />macrostachya). Other graminoids, such as redtop (Agrostis alba), Parry rush (Juncus parrYi) <br />and alkali muhly (Muhlenbergia asperifolia) were frequently encountered in the sample, but <br />contributed relatively less to total vegetation cover. A total of 14 species of perennial <br />graminoids were encountered in the sample. Cattail did not occur in any of the randomly <br />February 2015 JR -66) 2.04.10-37 <br />