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• (lowing water was located along the southern edge along the toe of the highway grade and most likely <br />drains into an under-highway culvert. Coyote willow (Salix exigua), sedges (Carex spp.) and assorted <br />wetland forts were observed here. The entire sub-unit, induding the wetland, is heavily grazed by horses <br />and cows year-round without arotation /rest schedule. Utilization was estimated to be well in excess of <br />80%. The average ground cover throughout the subtmit was estimated to be 70% live plants, 25% litter, <br />5% bare ground and 0% rock. Annual production was estimated between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds per <br />aae. Canopy cover due to narrow-leaf cottonwood and box-elder trees was limited to the cringes of the <br />subunit due to management by the landowner (see Plates 17 - 19). <br />3.5.2 Sub-Unit B <br />Sub-Unit B (12.65 aces) is also privately owned and located in the western portion of the riparian / <br />wetland complex. Approximately 75% of this area is under a dense riparian gallery forest while the <br />remaining 25% has an open canopy. The riparian gallery forest was almost entirely composed of 20 to 40 <br />foot tall, asexually reproducing narrow-leaf cottonwood trees. Nearly all trees exhibited trunks between 4 <br />and 10 inches diameter at breast height. It was estimated that density of trees in the forested area <br />ranged from 100 to 300 trees per aae and the canopy cover averaged 50% with a range of 10% to 70%. <br />Understory plant cover was generally sparser along the south side and thicker to the north. Live plant <br />cover in the understory was estimated to average 30%; while litter, rock and bare ground were estimated <br />at 40°.6, 15%, and 15% of the ground cover, respedively. Dominant plants induded the introduced (orbs <br />yellow sweetdover (Melilotus o~cinalis) and wild carrot (Daucus carofa) with occasional patches of <br />Kentucky bluegrass (Poe pratensis) and sedges (see Plates 20 - 23). <br />Increased plant cover and patches of open water characterize the open canopy (wetland) portion of <br />Sub-Unit B. The open canopy area is located along the northern portion of this sub-unit with fingers <br />extending southeasterly into the forested area. This area is composed of abandoned dver channels and <br />oxbows that have filled over the years wRh silt and sediment. Most of the ground was saturated to the <br />surface and induded several shallow pools.. Patches of coyote willow were found in several locations, <br />although most of the plants appear to be dead as a resuR of livestock grazing. Narrow-leaf cottonwood <br />sprouts had invaded one area but browsing by livestock and wikflNe have slowed thou progress. In these <br />wetland areas live plant cover was estimated to average 75%; while litter, rock and bare ground average <br />20%, 0°~, and 5% of the ground cover, respectively, The dominant plant spades were the introduced <br />taxa Kentucky bluegrass and orchardgrass. Meadow fescue, redtop (Agrostis alba), and sedges were <br />also abundant within these wetland meadows. <br />S'R®om ~~ pecca,~o~s, trvc. Page 22 Exhibit 5 -Bowie Baseline Vegetation Survey <br />