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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
Associated sites
R007XY011OR Sands 8-10 PZ
Sands 8-10" PZ
R007XY013OR Sandy Loam 8-10 PZ
Sandy Loam 8-10" PZ
R007XY014OR Loamy 8-10 PZ
Loamy 8-10" PZ
Similar sites
R007XY011OR Sands 8-10 PZ
Sands 8-10" PZ (higher in coarse material)
R007XY013OR Sandy Loam 8-10 PZ
Sandy Loam 8-10" PZ (higher in fine material)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on level to gently sloping terraces. The relief is level to slightly rolling. Slopes commonly range from 0-5% and occasionally up to 12%.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Terrace
(2) Alluvial fan
Flooding frequency None Elevation 300 – 1000 ft Slope 0 – 5 % Water table depth 60 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 8 to 10 inches, which occurs mostly as rain during the months of November through April. The mean annual air temperature is about 53 degrees F and extremes range from 115 degrees F to -10 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 180 to 215 days and the optimum period for plant growth is from mid-March to mid-June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 220 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 10 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are moderately deep to very deep. They are excessively drained mixed sands. Surface textures are loamy fine sands ranging from 4 to 8 inches thick over loamy fine sand, to coarse sand subsoils. Alluvium, lacustrine sediments, or basalt form the substratum. The available water capacity ranges fro 2 to 9 inches for the profile depending on the texture of the underlying material. Permeability is rapid. Wind erosion hazard is severe. The soils are neutral in reaction.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Loamy fine sand
(2) Sand
Family particle size (1) Sandy
Permeability class Rapid Available water capacity
(0-40in)2 – 9 in Ecological dynamics
The soils of this site are prone to erosion by wind. The loss of plant cover from frequent burning, severe grazing, off-road vehicle use, or other severe disturbance will result in severe wind erosion. If heavy grazing use causes site deterioration, needle and thread will decrease. Scurfpea and prickly pear cactus will increase. Sandberg bluegrass and the cryptogramic crusts are readily removed leaving bare interspaces. Cheatgrass, filaree, and other annuals will invade. Diffuse knapweed, yellow-star thistle, and other noxious weeds are agressive invaders.
There is little variation in the characteristics of this site. The consistent loamy fine sand texture favors the establishment and dominance of needleandthread.State and transition model
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More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceCommunity 1.1
Needle and Thread and Sandberg BluegrassThere is little variation in the characteristics of this site. The consistent loamy fine sand texture favors the establishment and dominance of needle and thread.
Figure 2. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 460 560 660 Forb 6 18 30 Shrub/Vine 12 21 30 Total 478 599 720 Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR2261 , B7 SANDS, GOOD CONDITION. RPC growth curve B7 SANDS, GOOD CONDITION.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 15 20 25 15 5 5 0 5 10 0 0 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 420–540 needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 420–540 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 12–30 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 12–30 – 4 Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 12–60 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 12–60 – 5 Other perennial grasses 12–30 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–12 – tufted wheatgrass ELMA7 Elymus macrourus 0–12 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 0–12 – Forb9 Other perennial forbs 6–30 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 0–6 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–6 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–6 – Carey's balsamroot BACA3 Balsamorhiza careyana 0–6 – hairy false goldenaster HEVI4 Heterotheca villosa 0–6 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–6 – pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 0–6 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 0–6 – scurfpea PSORA2 Psoralidium 0–6 – Shrub/Vine15 Other shrubs 12–30 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 0–12 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 0–12 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 0–12 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–12 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 0–12 – Interpretations
Animal community
Native Wildlife Associated With the Climax Community:
This site provides cover for long-billed curlew; winter forage for mule deer and pronghorn antelope; and food and cover for rodents, songbirds and their associated predators.
Livestock Grazing:
This site is suited to winter grazing use by cattle in a grazing system that provides for deferment of needleandthread during the growing season.
Wildlife:
This site is commonly used in spring by long-billed curlew for nesting.Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have rapid infiltration rates and low runoff potential. The hydrologic soil groups are A and B.
Other information
Caution must be exercised in seeding because the soils are droughty and subject to severe wind erosion.
Supporting information
Contributors
Alan Bahn
E Ersch (OSU)
J P ReppApproval
Kirt Walstad, 2/06/2025
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Jeff Repp Contact for lead author Oregon NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 07/25/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None, slight sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Few -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
5-15% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Few -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Few - should not be prevalent or extensive; severe wind erosion hazard -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine - limited movement -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Slightly resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 2-3 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Moderately deep to very deep loamy fine sand surface textures; low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Moderate ground cover (30-40%) and low (0-5%) slopes should reduce rainfall impact and overland flow; slightly increased flow possible on steeper slopes (up to 12%) -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Needle and thread > sandberg bluegrass >= indian ricegrass >= other shrubs >= other grasses >= other forbsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Normal decadence and mortality expected -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
In areas with adequate plant cover -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 900, Normal: 600, Unfavorable: 400 lbs/acre/year at high RSI (HCPC) -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Rabbitbrush, sage brush and broom snakeweed may increase and reduce cover of herbaceous plants. Cheatgrass and annual forbs invade sites that have lost shallow rooted perennial grass functional groups -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing annually
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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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