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11 <br />ERO Resources <br />The western wheatgrass type are relict areas and act somewhat like refugia <br />for the western wheatgrass population on the permit area. These sites <br />vary in their stability, as the result of local and random effects of <br />sheep use. Characteristically, those western wheatgrass sites near <br />roadways in areas habituated by sheep during winter display a regressional <br />trend. This trend is marked by the invasion of annual forbs or by Gordon <br />saltbush. The latter species is more common on clayey sites where the <br />shale parent materials are on or near the surface. In areas where sheep <br />do not use this vegetation type the western wheatgrass maintains <br />relatively good cover and dominance over the sites. The wheatgrass is <br />able to perpetuate itself, in the absence of erosion, as a result of <br />clayey soil characteristics which favor its competition with other <br />perennial grasses and with annuals. Cheatgrass does not compete well on <br />clayey soils. <br />(4) Potential ImoaCts and Reclamation Cnnortunities <br />Mitigation and Erihancement; <br />• <br />• <br />The western wheatgrass type will be affected by the construction of <br />roadways and by waste disposal areas. Impacts to this vegetation type <br />will effectively eliminate important areas of western wheatgrass. The <br />areas occupied by this type are relatively small in local extent. <br />Replacement of this type through revegetation efforts will be difficult <br />due to the specialized soil characteristics responsible for maintaining <br />the wheatgrass. Western wheatgrass populations, however, can be <br />reestablished on other soils on the permit area if grazing is controlled <br />following revegetation. The planning of roadways should consider <br />alternatives that will not involve impacts on the western wheatgrass <br />type. Minimal involvement of this type in any construction operation is <br />strongly recommended. <br />II.F-42 <br />