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Grasses currently dominate the site. Perennial grasses include Desert wheatgrass, <br />Intermediate wheatgrass, Western wheatgrass, Slender wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, and <br />Green needle-grass. Cheatgrass still has a firm hold on the site but the perennial grasses may <br />be increasing in density. Due to timely rains, Cheatgrass was heavily infested with seedhead <br />smut. This will hopefully limit its prevalence in 2000. The dense stands of Barley in 1998 <br />did not reappeaz in 1999. <br />Few shrubs and fortis were noted in the area. Fortis were limited to Cudweed sagewort and <br />Small Burnet. The density of Small Burnet appears to have decreased since 1998. Shrubs <br />observed included Shadscale, Rubber rabbitbrush, and Big sagebrush. Their presence <br />appeared sparse but can be misleading at this early stage of stand establishment. <br />Consideration should be given to spaying portions of the area with Roundup and/or Oust in <br />the eazly spring to control infestations of Cheatgrass to aid in initial stand establishment. The <br />objective would be to knock out the Cheatgrass with minimal impact to the perennial species. <br />These treated azeas would then be seeded with a forb/shrub mix. <br />Soil Stockpiles <br />RP-5 Stockpiles <br />The tops of these piles were disturbed during the combination of RP-2/3 and RP-4 in 1998. <br />Interim seeding took place that Fall. Observations during the early summer indicated that the <br />species and growth form diversity of the subsoil stockpile was much greater than on the <br />topsoil stockpile. Later in the summer Russian thistle and Kocia became established. These <br />weeds appeared to have out competed many of the seedlings. It may be possible that the <br />seedlings went into a dormancy stage due to the dry weather and competition. This situation <br />will have to be watched in 2000 and spraying/reseeding may be necessary. <br />Railroad loop topsoil stockpiles. <br />These stockpiles aze dominated by Cheatgrass. They may serve as good sites for <br />experimental treatment. <br />