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Section 785.19(c) Continued. <br />u <br />composed almost entirely of Nebraska sedge (Cafes nebraskensis) <br />which is common in wet environments and ditches at 3,000 to 10,000 <br />ft. elevation. According to the OSM Technical Guideline, sedges <br />have no agricultural utility, and the presence of this species does <br />not indicate the existence of an alluvial valley floor. <br />The second category is the drainage bottom, found on the relatively <br />flat ground within the drainage depression immediately adjacent to <br />the actual streambed. It has a dense herbaceous cover made up of <br />sedges, wire grass (Juncos balticos), chinquefoil (POtentilla <br />anserina), bluegrass (Pda spp.) and hairgrass (Descfiampsia cespitdsa). <br />These species are common to moist sites; however, the presence of <br />sedges again disqualifies any indication of sub-irrigation. <br />J <br />Along the upper edges of the stream banks a variety of low growing <br />sedges and grasses occur. These areas are generally associated <br />with stream banks and pond embankments where soil moisture is <br />present. Grasses tend to dominate the site. Trees are conspicu- <br />ously absent from any of the intermittent drainages, especially on <br />the streambanks where trees would most likely be present if sub- <br />irrigation were occurring. <br />Floodplain vegetative features have developed at several locations <br />along all three draws. The vegetation on the floodplains are <br />generally dry but contain some of the plant species found in the <br />drainage bottoms. In addition to those species, silver sagebrush <br />(Aitemesia Cana) 1s usually present as well as western wheat grass <br />(Agibpyfoci smithii). These species do not require sub-irrigation <br />for plant growth. <br />In summary, the species of vegetation identified in four categories <br />in the intermittent draws in the mine plan area do not indicate the <br />existence of sub-irrigation or flood innundation. <br />785-15 <br />