2009-02-26_PERMIT FILE - M2009018 (12)

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#24 Sandy Plains 14LRA 67 and 77 C. If ecological retrogression is cattle-induced, desirable grasses will decrease. However, if retrogression is sheep-induced, = desirable forbs, shrubs and grasses may be reduced. Deteriora- tion of the site will decrease prairie sandreed, needle and thread, sun sedge, little bluestem, prairie junegrass, sand bluestem, switchgrass, yellow Indiangrass, thickspike wheatgrass and sun sedge.' Deterioration of the site will increase bluegrama, ?.'sand dropseed, red threeawn, sand paspalum, fringed sagebrush, Louisiana sagebrush, plains.pricklypear, spreading buckwheat, western ragweed, broom snakeweed and wormwood. Plant species likely to invade this site and become part of the plant community when the range is in a deteriorated condition, are.cheatgrass, foxtail barley, tumbl.egrass, common sunflower, puncture vine, Russian thistle, lambsquarters goosefoot, Kochia and other plants ecologically undesirable to the site: d. Vegetation density is approximately 15 to 20 percent. 4. Annual Production If the range is in excellent condition, the approximate total annual production (air-dry) ranges are: Favorable years 2gg9_kg1Aha_ o n A C Normal years 180 -kabz 7 s- o 0 • t-d / /`) c Unfavorable years .-gg_ ? a _ A e . Of this production, 1.0 to 15 percent will likely be unpalatable to grazing animals. -P-- 5- Soils .. .. .. a.• The soils in this site are moderately deep to deep and well drained, with a light brownish-gray (air-dry) surface layer. The underlying layers are coarse to moderately-fine textured and in places contain some gravel. These soils are on terraces, hills, side slopes, f.loodplains, ridges, alluvial fans and on gently to moderately sloping uplands that frequently parallel river channels. They are formed in material weathered from soft sandstone on uplands, arkosic sandy loam deposits and aeolian or partly wind-reworked alluvial parent materials. Intake rate. is moderate to rapid, and water movement through the soil is rapid. Roots penetrate the soils readily. These soils'have a moderate to high available water capacity, ranging from 10 to 26 centimeters in a 1.5-meter profile, with the exception of the Terry series. The surface and subsurface layers of this series rests on sandstone and has a low available water-holding capacity of 9 to 10 centimeters in a .66-meter profile. Rock fragments are variable throughout most of the Vegetation density = basal area. This is the area of ground surface covered by the stem or stems. Usually., this is measured .1 inch above the soil in contrast to the full spread of perennial foliage. -3-