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The most productive, nutritious and easily managed irrigated pasture systems contain only one <br />or two grasses and a legume (Heath et al. 1985 and Stewart 1973). Proper stocking, grazing <br />rotations allowing for regrowth periods, grazing periods timed to irrigation frequencies, <br />controlling animal pressure during the off - grazing season, and fertilizer applications based on <br />soil tests are all components of good pasture management. Varying levels of these <br />management inputs are used by the local operators, but observations indicate none are at the <br />required levels. Woody densities within the irrigated pastures are incidental and a result of the <br />generally low level of management applied. Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) is a common invader <br />shrub of irrigated pastures in the Nucla area, with Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) <br />occurring at lesser levels (see Attachment 2.04.10 -8 Figure 4 -2, formerly Peabody Appendix <br />10 -4). <br />5.3 Irrigated Pasture - Havland Type (IPH) The irrigated pasture hayland type occurs on a <br />variety of soils and landforms within the study area. Generally, the lands with less steep <br />slopes and deeper soils are selected, however, steeper slopes and shallow soils may be <br />encountered in any of these hay fields. With the exception of one operator, fields are <br />periodically renovated in order to maximize hay production and quality. Renovation is oriented <br />towards removing undesirable weedy or poor producing species, eliminating sod bound <br />conditions, and reestablishing an alfalfa (Medicaoo satira dominated stand with one or two <br />associated grasses. The single operator who does not periodically renovate, manages his hay <br />field as a grass dominated stand with a clover sub - component. This field is similar in <br />composition to the better levels of irrigated pasture. Representative photographs of the <br />irrigated hayland type may be found in Attachment 2.04.10 -8, formerly Peabody Appendix 10 -4 <br />(Figures 4 -3 and 4 -4 - Figure 4 -3 and the foreground of Figure 4 -4 show grass and clover <br />dominated hayland; Figure 4 -4 (middleground) shows an alfalfa dominated stand.) <br />Harvest period, number of harvests during the growing season, fertilization programs, and <br />management of the stands after harvest were all different for the various operators. Number <br />of harvests varied from one to three per growing season, with the first cut harvest date varying <br />from June 17 to September 16. This variability reflects different management levels and <br />objectives. <br />Revised September 2010 (PR 06) 2.04.10 -34 <br />