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-5- Gravelly Foothill 11214 <br />- The animal forage preference changes as the growing season <br />progresses. Continuous year-long grazing or grazing from April to <br />October by cattle cause little bluestem, needleandthread, prairie <br />sandreed, and sideoats grams to be replaced by blue grams, red <br />threeawn, and sand dropseed. A system of deferred grazing, which <br />varies the season of grazing during successive years, is needed to <br />maintain a healthy well-balanced plant community. Rest during <br />different seasons of the year benefits different plants. Summer <br />rest (June-August) benefits warm-season plants such as little <br />bluestem, sideoats grams, and prairie sandreed. Spring rest <br />(April-June) benefits cool-season plants such as needleandthread, <br />western wheatgrass, muttongrass,.and prairie junegrass. Deferment <br />' during late winter and spring reduces competition between grazing' <br />animals for palatable shrubs and forbs. <br />2. Wood Products <br />Not applicable to this site. <br />3. Habitat for Wildlife <br />This range site provides habitats which support a resident animal <br />community that is characterized by antelope, deer, cottontail, <br />jackrabbit, coyote, and various raptors. There is seasonal use by <br />upland game birds. <br />• .... <br />4. Hydrological Interpretations <br />Soils in this site are grouped into "B" hydrologic group, as <br />outlined.in the "Soils of Colorado Loss Factors and Erodibility <br />Hydrologic Groupings 1979" handbook. Field investigations are <br />needed to determine hydrological cover conditions and hydrologic <br />curve numbers. The hydrologic curve number for Group B soil is <br />about 61 for all the soils except Chaseville and Columbine series <br />which are Group A with a hydrologic curve number of 39 when <br />hydrologic conditions are good, as shown in "Peak Flows in Colorado" <br />handbook. <br />Refer to SCS National Engineering Handbook, Section 4, to determine <br />runoff quantities from the curves. <br />5. Recreation and Natural <br />This site has medium value regarding recreational uses and natural <br />beauty. Antelope hunting provides fair to good recreation on the <br />site. The numerous forbs that bloom from spring through mid-summer <br />=` give this site an aesthetically pleasing appearance. <br />• <br />