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series, or soils, are found within or adjacent to pit sites. Due to accuracy of mapping, some are <br />included which, if present, are only so at very small amounts and likely located up-slope of the <br />area of temporary and permanent disturbance. Only series known to be on the site will be <br />described in detail for each pit. <br />Soils are derived, for the most part from shale, sandstone or both and formed mostly in alluvium. <br />One, Sagers, is derived from marine shale. Not surprisingly, vegetation expected and observed <br />in this soil is, by definition, tolerant of high alkaline conditions. <br />Textures are similar due to similar parent material. Texture is in the medium category and <br />ranges from sandy clay loam through clay loam and into silty loam (CNHP 1998). <br />Vegetation. Pits 1- 4 are heavily grazed by cattle. Pit 5 was converted to irrigated orchard now <br />dormant and subject to erosion and noxious weed invasion. Pit 1 has seen use as a winter- <br />feeding ground for livestock. Natural (native) vegetation historically dominant has been cleared <br />with the apparent goal of increasing the grass component of subsequent vegetation communities. <br />Types of alterations include blading of natural vegetation and topsoil to bare ground, heavy <br />grazing by cattle, and conversion to agricultural crop production (senescent orchard). <br />Common vegetation expected and observed (bold type) in February 2009 in Gunnison <br />River Gravel Pits and vicinity (MRCS 2009). <br />Common Name Scientific Name Growth Habit <br />Alkalai sacaton S orobolus c tandus G <br />Annual wheat grass Eremo rum triticeum G <br />Basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata tridentata S <br />Basin wild rye G <br />Biscuitroot Lomatium macrocar um F <br />Black sagebrush Artemisia nova S <br />Bottlebrush s uirreltail Sitanion h strix G <br />Cottonwood Po ulus SPP. T <br />Desert parsley Lomatium r i F <br />Evening-primrose Oenothera caes itosa F <br />Four-win saltbush Atriplex canescens S <br />Galleta rass Pleura his (Hilaria) 'amesii G <br />Gardner's saltbush Atri lex con erti olia S <br />Greasewood Sarcobatus vermiculatus S <br />Green rabbitbrush Ch sothamnus vecidi orus S <br />Hedgehog cactus Echinocereus endleri F <br />Indian rice grass Achnatherum (O zo sis) h menoides G <br />Inland salt rass Distichlis s icata G <br />Kochia Bassia sco aria F <br />Mormon tea E Nedra viridis S <br />Needleandthread Hes erosti a comata comata G <br />Onion AIlium s pp. F <br />Pinon Pine Pinus edulus T <br />Prickly-pear cactus O untia s pp. F <br />Redto A rostis i antea G <br />Rubber rabbitbrush Ch sothamnus nauseosus S <br />CIuiu1ison Rl?-cr (ira;cl flit 2 Soil and ti'c'etation