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bISCUSSION <br />• <br />This is a disausica of the palatability and the availability of the grasses m Fish Credo Alluvial Valley <br />Floor (AVF) versus the palatability in the upland ecotype. This vegetation study was catdudod during the <br />summer of 1997 between the dates of June 2 and Jug 23 prior to grazing. Traasects were rardanly pkxtod on <br />the map prioU w fold work All samples were then analyzed w a statistical conSdence level of 90°/a Cover was <br />determiced by the use of a ten point frame used over a SOm transerx. Ten !tits every 5 rrtGers for a total of 100 <br />hits per traasect <br />The desirable cover peroentage of the upland was 94.18%. Of this figure 53.15% was peramial grasses <br />and 1.60% was grass-like. Of the peramial grasses 48.07% were of a higher palatability for the cattle which <br />grace on the study area. Those spades irclude hitertnediate whntgass (Agropycoa intennedium ),Skader <br />wlreatgrass (Agropyran trachycaulum), Smooth brortie (Bromus inermis), OrcJ~ard grass (Dactylic gkxnerafa <br />),Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), Meadow fescue (Festuca praieosis), Junegrass (KoeJaria sisters), <br />Oniaggrass (Malice bulbosa), Mat mutely (Muhlenbergia ridrardsonis), Timothy (Phleum praraue), Mutton <br />bluegrass (Poe fendleriana), ICemudry bluegrass (Poe prata~sis), Needle-and~hread grass (Stipa carrrata), <br />Letterman rteedlegrass (Stipa lettennanii), std Green noedlegrass (Stipa viridula). <br />'lire peroartage of less palatable grasses and grass-like species was 6.68%. Those spades include <br />Western wheatgrass (Agropyrorr smitltii), Big bluegrass (Poe ample). Bdtlebrush squirteltail (Sitanion hystrix), <br />Sedges (Carex), and Rushes (Juncos). Included within the total percentage is 0.11% of unknown perennial grass. <br />The desirable cover peresuage of the croekside was 83.35%. Of this 5gure 67.94% was peramial <br />grasses and 2.73%wasgrass-hke. Of the perennial grasses 66.21 % were of a higher palatability for the cattle. <br />• Those spades include Colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tennis). slender wheargrass (Agropyrort trachycaulum), <br />Smooth brome (Brormrs inertnis), Blue wildrye (Flyntus glauau), Idaho fescue (Fesaca idahoensis), Meadow <br />fesv~e (Festuca pratensis), Jute,grass (ICoeleria crislata), Mat mutely (Muhlenbergia ridrardscois), Mutton <br />bluegrass (Pea fendleriana), Tirtgthy (Phloem pretense), Kentucky bluegrass (Poe pratduis), Letterman <br />needlegrass (Stipa lettermatrii), and Green needlegrass (Stipa viridula). <br />The pereartage of less palatable grasses and grassaike was 4.50%. Those species include Western <br />wheatgrass (Agropyrort smitten), Pubescatt wlteatgrass (Agropyron tricaphorutn), Meadow barity (Hordeum <br />b~), Sedges {Carex), and Rushes {Juncos). Lncluded within the total is 0.04% of unlmo~~n <br />PAW ~• <br />Production data was collated sirmrltaneausly with the cover data. Five random plots of 1/4 m2 were <br />pL-ced along each transact, and vegetation was clipped according to life fomr, over dried and weighed to the trnth <br />of a gram. The production from the valley floor is approximately hvice that of the upland area. The major <br />contributors to this difference is S'orn Bromus inerttnis, Poe pratensis and perermial grasses. <br />• <br />