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ERO Resources <br />responsible for this change. Persistence of the disturbed areas results <br />• chiefly from the ability of cheatgrass to out -compete perennial grasses <br />that would otherwise invade the sites. High levels of seed production and <br />water use by the extensive and shallow fibrous root system of the <br />cheatgrass enable this species to compete favorably with shrub species, as <br />well. Annual forbs occurring in this type reflect the presence of heavier <br />soil textures.and of recent or recurrent surface disturbance. <br />• <br />Sheep grazing on the cheatgrass-annual forb sites is apparently infrequent <br />and of low intensity. Since the cheatgrass occurs predominantly in <br />lowland areas where soils are sandy, winter use of this type is <br />predictably low. High utilization areas for sheep tend to be southerly <br />exposed side slopes and knolls. During winter cheatgrass is not a good <br />source of forage. Resumption of growth of the cheat is typically late <br />April, a period by which the sheep have been removed from the permit area. <br />This vegetation type will be affected primarily by the use of areas <br />occupied by cheatgrass as waste disposal sites. This impact will remove <br />extensive areas of this type. The loss of this area does not, however, <br />constitute a major impact considering the regressional, non-productive <br />nature of this vegetation type. Revegetation of the disturbed areas <br />coupled with control of grazing has potential for establishing a <br />vegetation type that has characteristics more like those of the native, <br />self-perpetuating range lands that once occupied the permit area. <br />II.F-46 <br />