Laserfiche WebLink
~ Total vegetation cover is estimated to range from 80 to 90 per- <br />cent. Soil cover is low )estimated 0-5 percent), and litter cover moderate <br />)estimated 10-15 percent). <br />No data are available for production of meadow communities. <br />3.2.6 Haylands Iheyedl <br />1 <br />Havlands ere composed of introduced species, smooth brome. <br />orchard grass, end alfalfa. Numerous weed species such as dandelion, <br />salsify raagvPoSort d~cbi~, end Canada thistle have invaded and become <br />establishetl. <br />Total vegetation cover is estimated at 95 to 100 percent. <br />Grasses represent 50 to 60 percent of the cover end forbs 40 to 50 percent. <br />These irrigated haylands are mowed and bailed twice per year. <br />Production on the best soils ranges from 6,000 To 9,000 pounds per acre <br />per year depending on the length end quality of the growing season (Gilfrey <br />19801. The hayfield along Colorado Highway B2 has less alfalfa cover <br />end is less productive. Production of these fields ranges from 5,000 to <br />6,000 pounds per acre per year (Gilfrey 19801. Tne hayfield shown in the <br />photograph Figure 3.2.6-1 is on the project site. <br />3.2.7 Haylands Ipesturedl <br />Some of the haylands on the project site ere used for grazing <br />livestock and are no longer mowed and baled. See Figure 3.2.7-1. These <br />fields are composed of the same grasses and forbs es occur in the previously <br />described hayfields in Section 3.2.6. <br />Total vegetation cover and production, however, are both lower <br />due to disturbances produced by herbivores. Total vegetation cover is esti- <br />matetl at 70 to f30 percent, while production may range up to 5,000 pounds <br />per year per acre in a good year IRay 19801. <br />3.2.8 Disturbed end Developed Areas <br /> <br />Numerous areas throughout the project site have been developed <br />end others extensively disturbed. Developments include residences and ranch <br />buildings. Other areas have disturbances associated with the confinement <br />of livestock. Disturbed areas hove little and sometimes no vegetation. <br />Burning bush end Russian thistle SalnoLa ibeuca are common in disturbe0 <br />habitats that have not been recently agitated. See Figure 3.2.8-1. <br />-16- <br />