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EXHIBIT J (Cont'd) <br />true bottomland forest on the site, individuals of this com- <br />munity can be found. Once it may have occupied a fair por- <br />tion of the site long ago, but more likely the species of the <br />nearly riverbottom areas were never all that abundant. At <br />least there is very little evidence that such was the case. <br />Nearby "bottomland" areas similar in elevation to this site <br />do not show a true bottomland vegetation. It is more likely <br />the area was once dominated by sagebrush rather than by trees. <br />With a few exceptions, most of the tree-like species, as <br />well as the trees, are confined to the edges of the depres- <br />sion where the T~~ha - Phragmites - Distichlis wetland is found. <br />The exceptions are single trees of Cottonwood and there are <br />only two of these. The species include Cottonwood, Willow, Box <br />Elder, a variety of Russian Olive, and Plum. The Cottonwood, <br />Willow and Box Elder are native, but the Russian Olive and Plum <br />were planted or arrived by escaping from cultivation. These <br />trees never form a grouping that could be called a forest form <br />and are more like hedgrows. The Russian Olive in particular <br />is abundant along fence lines indicating the seeds probably <br />arrived in bird droppings. Because it does not form a classic <br />vegetation community, no cover value can be applied sensibly. <br />It is not characteristic of any particular soil type but <br />occurs where water is available or where fence lines have existed <br />for some time. <br />A few Russian Olive trees were planted in a very open, <br />scattered pattern in the northwestern part of the site. They <br />-40- <br />