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production, however the various operators' management objectives dictate a use of these lands <br />for irrigated pasture. At the other extreme, are the areas of shallow soils. These lands normally <br />occur as the remnant sagebrush type or as disturbed areas associated with farmsteads or <br />facilities. In these cases, the operator has chosen to apply irrigation water on seeded pasture <br />species even though the site potential is low. In some cases, the sites are so shallow, that tillage <br />and seeding are not feasible and continued application of irrigation water has allowed for <br />volunteering of species normally found in the irrigated pasture type. These shallow, sites have a <br />lower production potential than the deeper sites, but it is much higher than if left in the dry <br />remnant sagebrush state. Within the irrigated pasture type are small localized areas that receive <br />only limited amounts of supplemental irrigation water because of the natural topography or <br />landform. These areas are too small to stratify out from the type. Land leveling or shaping to <br />overcome these problems has not been done to any great extent within the study area. Ground <br />water seeps and boggy areas from irrigation runoff and irrigation recharged ground water <br />systems contribute to areas of higher production or occur as the swale/drainage vegetation type. <br />The overall composition and species diversity of the site is indicative of the generally poor <br />condition of the irrigated pasture type. Both Kentucky bluegrass and buckhorn plantain dominate <br />the composition of the stand and have frequencies of occurrence of greater than 85 percent (see <br />Table 2.04.10-15). The considerable presence of quackgrass, field bindweed, and dandelion is <br />also indicative of the deteriorated pasture condition. Most of the operators contacted indicated <br />that a standard pasture mix originally was used to establish most of the pastures. Smooth brome <br />(Bromoosis inermis ssp. inermis), orchardgrass, timothy, white Dutch clover, and red clover <br />occurred in the pasture type and are normally included in standard irrigated pasture mixes. <br />Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) is a common invader shrub of irrigated pastures in the Nucla area, <br />with Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) and elm (Juglans nigra) occurring at lesser levels <br />where pastures have been abandoned. <br />Irrigated Hayland Type <br />The irrigated hayland type occurs on property owned by Morgan, Johnson and Benson. Only <br />Johnson and Morgan are currently mowing and baling hay from their fields. Benson property <br />(REVISED 8/15/00) 2.04.10 - 53 <br />