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• percent. One shrub, coyote willow, was encountered in cover sampling and it had a relative <br />cover of three percent. The swaleldrainage type was less diverse than the irrigated pasture <br />type and ranked as the third most diverse type. <br />The third component of the swaleldrainage vegetation type, the cattail component, was not <br />sampled since it is only a small community. This component is nearly 100 percent cattail, <br />excepting some associated pond weeds shown in the species list (Peabody Appendix 10-1 ). <br />Standing water occurs in the component essentially all year long. The cattail component is <br />further described in Peabody Addendum 11-1. <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 <br />or snowmelt runoff. The type would not persist if the irrigation system was not present, as <br />evidenced by the similar landscape in Third Park to the north where irrigation is not present. <br />Undoubtedly, the ephemeral drainages could not support this vegetation without the <br />supplemental water. The contribution of supplemental water from irrigation tailwater is greatest <br />during the mid-April to October irrigation season, while ground water recharged from irrigation <br />. may contribute to seeps and bogs over a greater period. <br />Each component of the Swale/drainage type exhibits very high 10-32 levels of productivity and <br />cover, although the vegetation supports little utility other than wildlife habitat. The surrounding <br />pasture and hayland vegetation offers considerably better quality forage for livestock. The <br />boggy conditions of the swales and the occurrence of large volumes of coarse and rank <br />standing dead vegetation probably precludes utilization of the type as well. Local landowners <br />expressed somewhat derisive remarks about the type, indicating that it constitutes lands that <br />could be put to greater use if the saturated conditions could be controlled. Reference to <br />Section 2.04.11, Fish and Wildlife Resources Information, can be made for further information <br />on the type. <br />Sagebrush Tvoe. The sagebrush vegetation type represents remnants of native rangeland <br />have not been converted to the more characteristic intensive agricultural land uses in the area. <br />These areas have not been converted because of topographic restrictions affecting irrigation <br />water application and the occurrence of rock outcrops or shallow soils. The type usually <br />• (REVISED 9/99) 2.04.10 - 44 <br />