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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
R008XY130OR Sandy Loam 10-12 PZ
R008XY150OR Very Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
R008XY200OR South 10-14 PZ
R008XY220OR North 10-14 PZ
Similar sites
R008XY120OR Loamy 12-14 PZ
higher precipitation
R008XY130OR Sandy Loam 10-12 PZ
Coarser texture
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on level to gently rolling uplands.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
Elevation 244 – 762 m Slope 2 – 12 % Water table depth 13 – 30 cm Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 12 inches which occurs mostly as snow during the months of November through May. Spring and fall rains are common. The temperature regime is mesic with extreme temperatures ranging from 110 degrees F. to -20 degrees F. The frost free period is 140 to 200 days and the optimum period for plant growth is from early April through mid-June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 170 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 280 mm Figure 2. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 3 Annual average temperature pattern
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are moderately deep to very deep, well drained silt loams formed in loess over basalt bedrock or indurated pan. The permeablity is moderate and the available water holding capacity (AWC) is 5 to 12 inches for the profile. The water erosion hazard is moderate, wind erosion hazard is slight.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 152 cm Available water capacity
(0-101.6cm)12.7 – 30.48 cm Ecological dynamics
If heavy grazing causes site deterioration, bluebunch wheatgrass will decrease in the stand and Sandberg bluegrass, sixweeks fescue, yarrow, and gray rabbitbrush will increase. Cheatgrass, China lettuce, salsify and Russian thistle can invade this site. The lack of occasional fire will encourage an increase of shrubs.
Variability in plant composition on this site is influenced by aspect. Slight northerly pitches will encourage the presence of Idaho fescue. Southerly pitches will favor bluebunch wheatgrass. If there is an increase in coarse material, needleandthread wil increase. This site is susceptible to invasion by western juniper.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
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
HCPC: PSSP6-POSE/ ARTRTCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe potential native plant community is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass with lesser amounts of Sandberg bluegrass. Vegetative composition is about 95% grasses, 3% forbs, and 2% shrubs.
Figure 4. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(kg/hectare)Representative value
(kg/hectare)High
(kg/hectare)Grass/Grasslike 504 913 1216 Forb 34 56 73 Shrub/Vine 22 39 56 Total 560 1008 1345 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR2501 , B8 Loamy, Droughty North, Good Condition. RPC Growth Curve B8 Loamy, Droughty North, & South,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 10 20 25 20 10 5 0 5 5 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 706–908 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 706–908 – 2 Sub-dominant, deep rooted perennial grasses 30–71 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 20–50 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 10–20 – 4 Sub-dominant, shallow rooted perennial grasses 30–71 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 30–71 – 5 Other perennial grasses 0–20 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–10 – 6 Annual grasses 10–20 sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 10–20 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 30–61 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 10–20 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 10–20 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 10–20 – 9 Other perennial forbs 0–20 pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–10 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–10 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 0–10 – naked mariposa lily CANU2 Calochortus nudus 0–10 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–10 – flax LINUM Linum 0–10 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–10 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant shrubs 20–40 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 10–20 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 10–20 – 15 Other shrubs 0–20 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–10 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 0–10 – Interpretations
Animal community
When associated with cropland, this site is used by upland game birds including Hungarian partridge and ring-necked pheasant. This site offers forage for deer and pronghorn antelope.
Mule deer
Pronghorn antelopeHydrological functions
The soils of this site have moderate infilitration rates and low runoff potential. The hydrologic soil groups are B and C.
Other products
This site is suitable for grazing during all seasons under a planned grazing system. It is perhaps best suited to use during the fall, winter, and early spring.
Supporting information
Contributors
E Ersch
K.Kennedy
Barrett/BahnApproval
Kirt Walstad, 5/02/2025
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 07/26/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None, moderate sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None -
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):
12-25% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None, slight 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):
Moderately resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 4-5 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Moderately deep to very deep well drained silt loams; low OM (2-3%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (45-65%) and level to gently rolling slopes (2-12%) limit rainfall impact and ovrland flow -
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:
Bluebunch wheatgrass > Sandberg bluegrass > Needle and thread > Idaho fescue > other grasses = forbs = shrubsSub-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 most areas -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 1200, Normal: 900, Unfavorable: 500 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:
Perennial brush species will increase with deterioration of plant community. Western Juniper readily invades the site. Cheatgrass and Medusahead invades sites that have lost deep rooted perennial grass functional groups -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing annually
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