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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
R008XY110OR Loamy 10-12 PZ
R008XY120OR Loamy 12-14 PZ
R008XY150OR Very Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
R008XY210OR Shallow South 10-14 PZ
R008XY220OR North 10-14 PZ
Similar sites
R008XY210OR Shallow South 10-14 PZ
Shallower soil, steeper slopes
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata
(2) Ericameria nauseosaHerbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata
(2) Poa secundaPhysiographic features
This site occurs on the side slopes of dissected uplands.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Valley side
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 600 – 3000 ft Slope 12 – 35 % Water table depth 60 – 90 in Aspect SE, S, W Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches which occurs mostly as rain with snow during November through April. Spring and fall rains are common. The temperature regime is mesic with extremes ranging from 110 degrees F. to -10 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 160 to 220 days and the optimum period for plant growth is early March to mid-May.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 220 days Freeze-free period (average) 250 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">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. Subsoils occasionally are silty clay loams. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 6 to 8.5 inches for the rooting profile. The erosion hazard is moderate for water and slight for wind.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Loess – basalt
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
(2) Very fine sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 5 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)6 – 8.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.6 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 5 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
If heavy grazing causes site deterioration, bluebunch wheatgrass will decline in vigor and give way to cheatgrass, rabbitbrush, and often big sagebrush. A lack of periodic fire will encourage an increase in shrubs.
Variability in this site results from changes in slope steepness. Steep slopes are prone to runoff and soil loss. This results in shallower soils, lower plant density and lower production. Conversely, moderate slopes support more dense and productive stands.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
HCPC, PSSP6-POSECommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe potential native plant community is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass with lesser amounts of Sandberg bluegrass. Thurber needlegrass and a variety of forbs occur in minor amounts. Vegetative composition is about 85% grasses, 10% forbs, and 5% shrubs.
Figure 4. 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 340 765 1020 Forb 40 90 120 Shrub/Vine 20 45 60 Total 400 900 1200 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 Moderately deep rooted perennial bunch-grasses 630–810 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 630–810 – 4 Shallow rooted perennial bunch-grasses 27–63 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 27–63 – 5 Other perennial grasses 27–45 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 0–27 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 0–27 – Forb7 Perennial forbs 45–90 milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 9–27 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 9–27 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 9–18 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 9–18 – common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 9–18 – 9 Other perennial forbs 9–27 pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–9 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–9 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 0–9 – deathcamas ZIGAD Zigadenus 0–9 – Shrub/Vine11 Evergreen shrubs 18–36 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 9–18 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 9–18 – 12 Other Shrubs 0–18 Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 0–9 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 0–9 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–9 – Interpretations
Animal community
This site is used by deer in winter and spring. Hungarian partridge are common on this site when it occurs in association with cropland.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have moderate infiltration rates and high runoff potential. The hydrologic soil group is C.
Wood products
None
Other products
This site is suitable for use in all seasons under a planned grazing system. Care should be taken to ensure proper grazing use during spring when livestock concentrate on this site.
Supporting information
Contributors
Barrett, Bahn
Bob Gillaspy
E Ersch (OSU)
K.KennedyRangeland 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, Bruce Franssen Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 01/15/2005 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None -
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 -
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):
weak fine granular structure to moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure. 4 to 15 inches thick, with dry color values 4 to 6. Low organic matter content (1% to 4$). -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Moderate ground cover (40-60%) limits rainfall impact and overland flow, steeper slopes can have more serious problems with run off. -
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:
Moderately deep-rooted perennial bunch-grasses.Sub-dominant:
Shallow-rooted perennial bunchgrasses.Other:
Forbs > ShrubsAdditional:
-
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: 1200, Normal: 900, Unfavorable: 400 lbs/acre/year for reference plant community. -
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:
Cheatgrass will invade sites that have lost moderately deep rooted perennial bunch-grass functional group. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing annually.
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