Laserfiche WebLink
• that plants comprising the forage in this plant community are not grazed by domestic animals, although <br />wildlife are suspegetl to utilize some of the more palatable spades. <br />3.4.3 Other Variables and Observatlona <br />As indicated on Table V2, a total of 129 plant spades were identified within this immunity type <br />inducting 9 designated noxious weed faze and 19 spades identified as invasive weeds. With the <br />exception of bindweed populations throughout pastures and irrigated hayfields, this community exhibited <br />the greatest 'Snfestation" of noxious weeds in the study area. An example of this phenomenon was <br />documented on Plate 16, whereby a thick patch of knapweed has taken over aright-of-way and the <br />neighboring portions of a residential area. Patches of noxious weeds were commonly encountered in this <br />plant community. No sensitive species were observed within the dereliq type. Plates 13 through 18 <br />provide photographic documentation of this community at the time of sampling. <br />Review of Tables V1 and V14 shows that 4,425 trees over 15 feet in height were counted within the <br />dereliq area. This translates to an average of approximately 93 trees per acre. The three most <br />prominent tree spades were narrow-leaf cottonwood (Populus angustiiolia), box~lder maple (Ater <br />negundo), and Gambol oak (Quartos gambelit). The only lvoodlands" within the proposed study area <br />occur within this community. These woodlands aze generally located along both sides of the railroad <br />grade and are espedally dense on the south side of the tracks at the western and eastern ends of the <br />study area in proximity to The riparian area. These denser areas of woodland indine steeply down the <br />railroad grade till slope to the riparian wetlands below and some slope failures were noted. The <br />understory within these woodlands is composed of a thick layer of shrubs, forts and vines providing <br />elevated structural diversity for woodland wildlife. The north side of the raifroad grade is a mixture of <br />woodland with remnant orchard trees and an open grass / fort community. The narrow section of derelict <br />community along the south side of the canal is composed mostly of early-sera) grasses and forts as well <br />as noxious weeds. A few trees, primarily box~elder maple and assorted old fruit trees, are also found <br />along the canal. The remaining large tract of derelict area north of the existing Terror Creek load-out <br />fadlity is a broken field of smooth brome, Canada bluegrass (Poe compressa) and cheatgrass (Bromus <br />tectarum) with an occasional scattered tree or shrub (typically rabbitbrush). <br />Because of the severely disclimagic nature o1 this area, proposed revegetation success standards <br />should be based on utilization of the extended reference area concept for herbaceous ground cover and a <br />• fixed standazd for woody plant (Vas) density. No standard should be necessary for production. With <br />regard to a proposed standard for woody plant (tree) density, a value of 90 trees per acre would seem <br />~»nm ~mamS Awocao'><u4 tNC. Page 2Ct Exhibit 5 -Bowie Baseline Vegetation Survey <br />