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The third component of the swale/drainage vegetation type, the cattail component, was not <br />• sampled since it is only a small community. This component is nearly 100 percent cattail. <br />Standing water occurs in the component essentially all year long. The cattail component is <br />further described in Peabody Addendum 11-1 and is the same as was found in 1999. <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. Undoubtedly, the ephemeral drainages could not support this vegetation <br />without the supplemental water. The contribution of supplemental water from irrigation <br />tailwater is greatest during the mid-April to October irrigation season, while ground water <br />recharged from irrigation may contribute to seeps and bogs over a greater period. <br />Each component of the swale/drainage type exhibits very high levels of productivity and cover, <br />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 - 1 Tyae. The sagebrush-1 vegetation type represents remnants of native <br />rangeland that has not been converted to the more characteristic intensive agricultural land <br />uses in the area. This type occurs on mesa tops and shoulder slopes. The potential natural <br />vegetation probably included pinon and juniper along with sagebrush and understory rangeland <br />plants. Most of the pinon juniper has been removed and the remaining sagebrush has been <br />treated by mowing or herbicide spraying on gentler slopes. Additionally, cattle, particularly <br />during winter months, have heavily impacted this type, removing much of the desirable <br />understory range plants. These areas have not been converted to more intensive land uses <br />because of topographic restrictions affecting irrigation water application and the occurrence of <br />rock outcrops or shallow soils. The type usually occurs where slopes are too steep to irrigate <br />or where it was not feasible to bring water to the land via a ditch. This sagebrush type was <br />delineated based on the dominance of sagebrush within these areas. The sage brush ranged <br />in height from 1 ft. to 2.5 ft. with a average sagebrush height of 1.5 ft. Sagebrush vigor and <br />• (REVISED 9/99) 2.04.10 - 70 <br />