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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
R008XY200OR South 10-14 PZ
R008XY210OR Shallow South 10-14 PZ
R008XY220OR North 10-14 PZ
Similar sites
R008XY110OR Loamy 10-12 PZ
Lower precipitation
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on the tops of ridges and plateaus underlain by basalt bedrock.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Ridge
(2) Plateau
Elevation 1000 – 3000 ft Slope 2 – 12 % Water table depth 4 – 15 in Aspect N, S Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 12 to 14 inches which occurs mostly as snow during the months of October through May. Spring and fall rains are common. The temperature regime is mesic with extreme temperatures ranging from 100 degrees F. to -20 degrees F. The frost-free period is 100 to 180 days, and the optimum period for plant growth is from mid-April through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 180 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, well drained silt loams formed in loess over basalt bedrock. The permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 4 to 15 inches for the profile. The erosion hazard is moderate for water and slight for wind.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 60 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 15 in Ecological dynamics
If heavy grazing causes site deterioration, Idaho fescue will decline in vigor and be lost from the stand. Continued abuse will weaken and eventually remove the bluebunch wheatgrass. Gray rabbitbrush will increase, cheagrass, China lettuce, salsify, and other weeds will invade the site.
As slopes dip to the south, the amount of bluebunch wheatgreass will increase. North-trending slopes will favor and increase in Idaho fescue.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagramMore 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
Reference StateDominant plant species
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Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), grass
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bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), grass
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Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), grass
Community 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe potential native community is dominated by Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass with lesser amounts of Sandberg bluegrass. Vegetative composition is about 95% grasses, 3% forbs, and 2% shrubs.
Dominant plant species
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Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), grass
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bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), grass
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Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), grass
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 620 975 1240 Forb 60 95 120 Shrub/Vine 20 30 40 Total 700 1100 1400 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 660–1100 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 440–660 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 220–440 – 4 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 22–88 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 11–44 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 11–44 – 5 Other perennial grasses 0–22 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–11 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–11 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 55–110 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 11–22 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 11–22 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 11–22 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 11–22 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 11–22 – 9 Other perennial forbs 0–22 agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 0–11 – brodiaea BRODI Brodiaea 0–11 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–11 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 0–11 – deathcamas ZIGAD Zigadenus 0–11 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant shrubs 22–44 rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 11–22 – 7 Other shrubs 0–22 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–11 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 0–11 – Interpretations
Animal community
Mule deer, Pronghorn antelope, Elk
This site offers forage for deer.Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have moderate infiltration rates and low runoff potential. The hydrologic soil groups are B and C.
Wood products
None
Other products
This site is suited for livestock use during spring, summer, and fall. Snow may prevent witner use in some years. A planned grazing system is needed.
Supporting information
Contributors
Barrett, Bahn
E Ersch (OSU)
K.KennedyApproval
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 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):
10-15% -
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):
Significant 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 (50-70%) limits rainfall impact and overland 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:
Idaho fescue > Bluebunch wheatgrass > Sandberg bluegrass and Prairie junegrass > 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):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable; 1400, Normal: 1100, Unfavorable: 700 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 invade 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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