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• As stated earlier, the sagebrush type represents a remnant native community that has been <br />severely altered because of intensive agricultural land use and associated support activities. <br />Though these sites normally have apinyon-juniper tree overstory previously discussed), these <br />have most likely been removed for fencing materials, firewood, land clearing, and from the <br />impacts of high concentrations of grazing animals. Most of the type occurs as inclusions in <br />irrigated pastures or adjacent to the highly productive swale type. The pastures are usually <br />heavily stocked at least during part of the year, resulting in a high level of animal pressure from <br />grazing and trampling. The sites are also periodically used as equipment parking, storage, or <br />boneyard areas and winter livestock feeding areas. The shallow soils, rock outcrops, and low <br />natural precipitation, further reduce the potential productivity of the site, while increasing the <br />potential for further deterioration and decreasing the opportunity for any recovery. The majority <br />of species encountered during cover sampling (see Table 2.04.10-11) were increaser or invader <br />species. Consistent with the composition of severely deteriorated native plant communities in <br />the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, cheatgrass, Basin big sagebrush and broom <br />snakeweed accounted for nearly 70 percent of the vegetative cover, mile the latter two shrubs <br />accounted for 88 percent of the woody plant densities. Because of less severe animal impacts, <br />the far eastern portion of the study area containing the sagebrush type appeared to be in slightly <br />better condition. The occurrence of grass, forb and tree species adapted to more mesic <br />conditions (see Table 2.04.10-11) is a result of occasional supplemental moisture received as <br />tailwater from adjacent irrigated areas. This is not a dependable supply of water and appears to <br />be more a function of timing and the level of irrigation water management applied to these <br />adjacent lands. The presence of a heavy sagebrush overstory and the senescent condition of <br />the mesic species at the time of sampling indicates only a sparse supplemental water availability. <br />The type is not an important component when considering the local land use and management <br />objectives. Conversion to a higher or better use would be done if not for the militating site <br />conditions and associated costs. <br />Irrigated Crosland. Within the study area, irrigated cropland (Figures 4-7 and 4-8, Peabody <br />Appendix 10-4) generally occurs on flat to gently sloping landforms that have moderately deep to <br />deep soils (see Section 2.04.9, Soils Resource Information). The most extensive area of <br />irrigated cropland occurs in the western portion of the study area, with the balance occurring in <br />• (REVISED 8/15/00) 2.04.10 - 44 <br />