EXHIBIT I
<br />3-Aquolls and Aquents, gravelly substratum. This
<br />nearly level map unit is on bottom lands and flood plains
<br />of all the major streams in the survey area. Aquolls,
<br />which have a dark colored surface layer, make up about
<br />60 percent of the unit. Aquents, which have a lighter
<br />colored surface layer, make up about 35 percent. About 5
<br />percent is Aquepts and Bankard sandy loam.
<br />These are deep, poorly drained soils that formed in
<br />recent alluvium. No one pedon is typical. Commonly the
<br />soils have a mottled, mildly alkaline to moderately al-
<br />kaline loamy or clayey surface layer and underlying
<br />material and are underlain by sand or sand and gravel
<br />within 48 inches. In places they have a gleyed layer in the
<br />underlying material.
<br />Most of the acreage is subject to flooding. The water
<br />table is at or near the surface early in spring and recedes
<br />to as deep as 48 inches late in fall in some years.
<br />These soils are used for rangeland and wildlife habitat.
<br />Some small areas have been reclaimed by major drainage
<br />and leveling and are used for irrigated crops.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by alkali
<br />sacaton, switchgrass, and western wheatgrass. Saltgrass,
<br />sedge, rush, and alkali bluegrass are~•.also prominent.
<br />Potential production ranges from 3,000 pounds per acre in
<br />favorable years to 2,000 pounds in unfavorable years. As
<br />range condition deteriorates, the switchgrass, alkali
<br />sacaton, and western wheatgrass decrease and saltgrass,
<br />sedge, and rush increase.
<br />Management of vegetation should be based on taking
<br />half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
<br />ing is difficult and costly because numerous tillage prac-
<br />tices aze required to eliminate the saltgrass sod.
<br />Switchgrass, western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, tall
<br />wheatgrass, and tall fescue are suitable for seeding. They
<br />can be seeded into a clean, fun seedbed. Seedbed
<br />preparation usually requires more than 1 year to
<br />eliminate the saltgrass sod. A grass drill should be used.
<br />Seeding early in spring has proven most successful.
<br />Wetland wildlife, especially waterfowl, utilize this unit.
<br />The wetland plants provide nesting and protective cover,
<br />as well as some food. The nearby irrigated cropland,
<br />where wildlife obtain much of their food and find protec-
<br />tive cover, makes this unit valuable to both wetland and
<br />openland wildlife.
<br />Openland wildlife, especially pheasant, use this unit for
<br />cover and nesting. Deer find excellent cover in some
<br />areas.
<br />These valuable wildlife areas should be protected from
<br />fire and fenced to prevent encroachment and overuse by
<br />livestock. They should not be drained.
<br />These soils have good potential as a source of sand and
<br />gravel. Capability subclass VIw; Salt Meadow range site.
<br />10-Bankard sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent elopes. This
<br />is a deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on flood
<br />plains at elevations of 4,950 to 5,000 feet. It formed in
<br />stratified recent alluvium along streams and rivers. In-
<br />cluded in mapping are numerous sand and gravel bars
<br />and small areas of noncalcareous soils.
<br />Typically the surface layer of this Bankazd soil is
<br />brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The underlying
<br />material to a depth of 60 inches is pale brown calcareous
<br />sand stratified with thin lenses of sandy loam, loam, and
<br />fine gravel.
<br />Permeability is moderately rapid. Available water
<br />capacity is low. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or
<br />more. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is~
<br />low.
<br />This soil is suited to limited cropping. It is sandy and
<br />subject to flooding. Pasture is the best use. Tall wheat-
<br />grass, tall fescue, and annual sweetclover are some of the .
<br />most suitable crops. Light, frequent irrigation by furrows
<br />and flooding is best. Commercial fertilizer improves the
<br />,amount and value of forage produced.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominated by
<br />switchgrass, indiangrass, sand bluestem, sand reedgrass,
<br />~sideoats grams, needleandthread, and blue grams. Much
<br />of this range site includes other soils and vegetation in
<br />such a complex pattern that it is difficult to map them
<br />separately. Potential production ranges from 2,500 pounds
<br />per acre in favorable years to 1,500 pounds in unfavorable
<br />years. As range condition deteriorates, the tall and mid
<br />grasses decrease; blue grams, sand dropseed, and forbs
<br />increase; and forage production drops. Undesirable weeds
<br />and annuals invade the site as range condition becomes
<br />poorer.
<br />Management of vegetation should be based on taking
<br />half and leaving half of the total annual production. Seed-
<br />ing is desirable only in areas large enough to interseed or
<br />to prepare a seedbed. Switchgrass, sand bluestem, sand
<br />reedgrass, sideoats grams, little bluestem, blue grams, pu-
<br />bescent wheatgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass are
<br />suitable for seeding. This soil can be seeded by using an
<br />interseeder or a firm, clean sorghum stubble. A grass drill
<br />is required. Seeding early in spring has proven most suc-
<br />cessful.
<br />This soil is generally not suited to the establishment
<br />and growth of trees and shrubs. Onsite investigation is
<br />needed to determine feasibility and possible tree and _
<br />shrub species.
<br />Wildlife is an important secondary use of this soil. The
<br />cropland areas provide favorable habitat for ring-necked
<br />pheasant and mourning dove. Many nongame species can
<br />be attracted by establishing areas for nesting and escape
<br />cover. For pheasants, undisturbed nesting cover is essen-
<br />tial and should be included in plans for habitat develop-
<br />ment, especially in areas of intensive agriculture. Range-
<br />land wildlife, for example, deer and antelope, can be at-
<br />tracted by managing livestock grazing and reseeding
<br />where needed.
<br />This soil is not suited to urban or recreational develop- .
<br />ment because of the flood hazard. Capability subclass
<br />IVw irrigated, VIw nonirrigated; Sandy Bottom land
<br />range site.
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