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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
R008XY130OR Sandy Loam 10-12 PZ
R008XY140OR Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
R008XY150OR Very Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
R008XY200OR South 10-14 PZ
Similar sites
R008XY200OR South 10-14 PZ
Moderately deep soil
R008XY140OR Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
Higher precipitation, flatter slopes
R008XY150OR Very Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
Very shallow soil
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 300 – 3000 ft Slope 12 – 70 % Water table depth 60 in Aspect SE, S, W Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches which occurs mostly as snow in the winter during the months of November through April. Spring and fall rains are common. The temperature regime is mesic with extremes ranging from 110 degrees F. and -10 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 160 to 250 days and the optimum period for plant growth is early March to mid-May.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 250 days Freeze-free period (average) 300 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 shallow, extremely cobbly to gravelly loams. They are formed in alluvium. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 1 to 2.6 inches for the profile. The erosion hazard is high for water and slight for wind. Lickskillet is the typical soil series for this site.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Loess – basalt
Surface texture (1) Extremely stony loam
(2) Very stony
(3) Very gravelly
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 10 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 12 – 17 % Surface fragment cover >3" 14 – 22 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1 – 2.6 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)6.1 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)18 – 24 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)15 – 21 % Ecological dynamics
If heavy grazing causes site deterioration, bluebunch wheatgrass decreases and annuals invade. Broom snakeweed and gray rabbitbrush increase. Noxious weeds such as diffuse knapweed, dalmation toadflax, and yellow star thistle will readily invade. A lack of periodic fire will encourage an increase in shrubs and western juniper.
Variation in plant composition and production are related to soil depth. As depth increases, the amount of bluebunch wheatgrass increases. With a decrease in soil depth, the production and amount of bluebunch wheatgrass decrease. Sandberg bluegrass and forbs increase in composition with decreasing soil depth.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 255 510 765 Forb 30 60 90 Shrub/Vine 15 30 45 Total 300 600 900 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR2531 , B8 Shallow Site, Good Condition. B8 Shallow Site, Good Condition RPC Growth Curve.
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 10 0 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 Moderately deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses 420–480 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSPS Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 420–480 – 4 Shallow rooted perennial bunch grasses 30–90 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 30–90 – 5 Other perennial grasses 18–30 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 0–18 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 0–18 – Forb7 Perennial forbs 30–60 desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 6–18 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 6–18 – common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 6–12 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 6–12 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 6–12 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 6–12 – 9 Other perennial forbs 0–12 onion ALLIU Allium 0–5 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – Shrub/Vine10 Evergreen Shrubs 12–48 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 6–12 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 6–12 – 12 Other Shrubs 0–12 scabland sagebrush ARRI2 Artemisia rigida 0–6 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–6 – Tree16 Evergreen trees 0–6 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 0–6 – Interpretations
Animal community
The scarcity of water on upper slopes limits wildlife use on this site. Along intermittent and perennial stream bottoms it provides food and cover for quail, chukar and other birds. Deer use this site for winter and spring forage.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have moderate infiltration rates and high runoff potential. The hydrologic soil group is D.
Wood products
None
Other products
This site is suited for fall, winter and spring grazing in a grazing system that minimizes soil disturbance under saturated conditions.
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:
Some rills present due to slope. More rills will be present on steeper slopes. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Few to some. -
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):
15% - 25% -
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 sized litter with 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 very fine granular to moderate fine subangular blocky structure, 3 to 9 inches thick with a dry color value of 4 to 5. Low organic matter (1-2%). -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Moderate to low ground cover (20-40%) limits rainfall impact and overland flow, steeper slopes can have more serious problems with run off and infiltration. -
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-grassesSub-dominant:
Shallow rooted perennial bunch-grassesOther:
Perennial forbs > ShrubsAdditional:
Scattered Western Juniper may be present. -
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: 900, Normal: 600, Unfavorable: 300 lbs/acre/year for the 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 and Medusahead 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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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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