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The third component of the Swale/drainage vegetation type, the cattail component, was not <br />sampled since it is only a small community. This component is nearly 100 percent cattail. <br />• Standing water occurs in the component essentially all year long. The cattail component is further <br />described in Peabody Addendum 11-1 and is the same as was found in 1999. <br />The extent and distribution of the Swale/drainage type is wholly dependent upon the irrigation <br />associated with the surrounding agricultural areas excepting any contribution from storm flows or <br />snowmelt runoff. Undoubtedly, the ephemeral drainages could not support this vegetation without <br />the supplemental water. The contribution of supplemental water from irrigation tailwater is <br />greatest during the mid-April to October irrigation season, while ground water recharged from <br />irrigation may contribute to seeps and bogs over a greater period. <br />Each component of the swale/drainage type exhibits very high levels of productivity and cover, <br />although the vegetation supports little utility other than wildlife habitat. The surrounding pasture <br />and hayland vegetation offers considerably better quality forage for livestock. The boggy <br />conditions of the swales and the occurrence of large volumes of coarse and rank standing dead <br />vegetation probably precludes utilization of the type as well. Local landowners expressed <br />somewhat derisive remarks about the type, indicating that it constitutes lands that could be put to <br />• greater use if the saturated conditions could be controlled. Reference to Section 2.04.11, Fish <br />and Wildlife Resources Information, can be made for further information on the type. <br />Sagebrush - 1 Tvne. The sagebrush-1 vegetation type represents remnants of native rangeland <br />that has not been converted to the more characteristic intensive agricultural land uses in the area. <br />This type occurs on mesa tops and shoulder slopes. The potential natural vegetation probably <br />included pinon and juniper along with sagebrush and understory rangeland plants. Most of the <br />pinon juniper has been removed and the remaining sagebrush has been treated by mowing or <br />herbicide spraying on gentler slopes. Additionally, cattle, particularly during winter months, have <br />heavily impacted this type, removing much of the desirable understory range plants. These areas <br />have not been converted to more intensive land uses because of topographic restrictions affecting <br />irrigation water application and the occurrence of rock outcrops or shallow soils. The type usually <br />occurs where slopes are too steep to irrigate or where it was not feasible to bring water to the land <br />via a ditch. This sagebrush type was delineated based on the dominance of sagebrush within <br />these areas. The sage brush ranged in height from 1 ft. to 2.5 ft. with a average sagebrush height <br />of 1.5 ft. Sagebrush vigor and form are restricted by shallow depth to bedrock in this type. Slopes <br />ranged 3 to 60 percent. Some areas mapped as such may occasionally receive supplemental <br />• moisture during the growing season from adjacent agricultural activities, however, a sagebrush <br />(REVISED 8/15/00) 2.04.10 - 62 <br />