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EXCLOSURE2- <br />General Description for 2007: This exclosure is located about a mile, as the stream flows, <br />north of Exclosure 1. It is located in a large embayment off the main channel and most of it is <br />somewhat drier than Exclosure 1. There is a very lazge and highly productive wetland just to the west <br />of the exclosure and the eastern edge of that wetland encroaches into the western side of the <br />exclosure. <br />The soil here is decidedly more sandy than Exclosure 1, but over most of the site Juncus <br />balticus is at least moderately abundant. It is appazent there is a fairly good groundwater support, but <br />in some of the more elevated mounds the distance to groundwater diminishes just enough that there <br />is little growth in the pure sand. Cattle impact here has been severe in the past as the cattle were <br />frequently found grazing in the wetland to the west where there is good forage and available water. <br />Most of the larger woody plants were heavily browsed by the cattle, but there is also a fair abundance <br />of smaller cottonwoods and willows that show only minor to moderate browsing impact. <br />In 2007, herbaceous growth increased dramatically over the entire area, mainly as a result of <br />the wet growth season. But woody growth also made considerable progress with a great deal of <br />recovery from previous grazing impacts. Leaf density on the trees and shrubs increased dramatically <br />and with the additional food producing tissues growth of new shoots as well as existing shoots <br />increased some. However, growth was not as prominent as might be expected as the plants were <br />undoubtedly putting a lot of energy into producing more leaves. The increased leaf surface will <br />increase food storage and it is likely that improved "health" and vigor will be more evident in 2008. <br />Woody species density here is obviously far less than in Exclosure 1, but the plants that are <br />there are widely distributed over the site, except for the very dry, sandy locations where very little <br />growth of anything is found. However, the 2006 bare areas became more vegetated in 2007. Unlike <br />Exclosure 1, this area probably has a very stable topographic and edaphic condition and is not likely <br />to change a great deal with more water coming down the stream because of the low water crossing. <br />In addition, being out of the main channel, but connected to it, scouring flows into this exclosure are <br />unlikely. However, with strong flows there could be deep, gentle flooding of the lower elevation <br />portions of the exclosure. No such flows occurred in 2007. <br />Results: Table 2 presents the results of sampling for 2007. As stated before, the <br />presentation format is the same as that used for Exclosure I and the other exclosures. <br />From the table it is evident that the northern half of the exclosure, which is slightly lower in <br />elevation and closer to the water table, shows the greatest amount of woody vegetation. The south <br />side appears to be very mazgina] habitat with only 2 cottonwoods noted in 231 feet of transect. That <br />said, the tallest trees are the two on the southern half of the exclosure, but maximum tree height on <br />the northern half is certainly not lacking. Willows appeaz to be largely restricted to the northern half <br />of the exclosure, although, in fact, there are some willows in the southwestern portion of the <br />2007 Annual Report Coal Creek Wetland Mitigation Permit DA 198811488 Page 11 <br />