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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
Occurs on moderately deep to very deep non-aspect sites. Precipitation is 10-12 inches annually.
R008XY120OR Loamy 12-14 PZ
Occurs on moderately deep to very deep non-aspect sites. Precipitation is 12-14 inches annually.
R008XY140OR Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
Occurs on shallow (10 to 20 inches deep) non-aspect sites.
R008XY150OR Very Shallow Loam 10-14 PZ
Occurs on very shallow (5 to 10 inches deep) sites.
R008XY200OR South 10-14 PZ
Occurs on moderately deep to very deep south-aspect sites.
R008XY210OR Shallow South 10-14 PZ
Occurs on shallow (10 to 20 inches deep) south-aspect sites.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Festuca idahoensis
(2) Pseudoroegneria spicataPhysiographic features
This site occurs on the side slopes of dissected basalt uplands.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Valley side
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 600 – 3000 ft Slope 12 – 70 % Aspect N, NE, E Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 14 inches which occurs as rain with snow during the months of Movember through May. Spring and fall rains are common. The temperature regime is mesic with extremes ranging from 100 degrees F. to -20 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 120 to 140 days and the optimum period for plant growth is mid-April through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) 180 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 bedrock. Subsoils are occasionally silty clay loams. Permeability is moderate and the available water capacity is 4 to 10 inches for the profile. The erosion hazard is moderate to severe 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 Moderate Soil depth 40 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 7 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 3 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)4.1 – 9.8 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 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 15 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 25 % Ecological dynamics
If heavy grazing causes site deterioration, Idaho fescue will lose vigor and decrease. With further deterioration annuals will invade and there will be an increase in gray rabbit brush and bigh sagebrush. Heavy trailing will reduce plant density. A lack of periodic fire may encourage an increase in shrubs and western juniper.
This site is best represented on slopes facing due north on steep pitches. Slopes with aspects trending to the west or southeast support increasing amounts of bluebunch wheatgrass.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, FEID-PSSP6Community 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe potentital native plant community is dominated by Idaho fescue with lesser amounts of bluebunch wheatgrass and big sagebrush. Western juniper can occur. Vegetative composition is about 90% grasses, 5% 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 630 1260 1620 Shrub/Vine 35 70 90 Forb 35 70 90 Total 700 1400 1800 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR2511 , B8 North and Loamy, Good Condition. B8 North and Loamy RPC, 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 0 5 20 30 20 10 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 grasses 840–1120 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 840–1120 – 2 Moderately deep rooted perennial grasses 140–420 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 140–420 – 4 Shallow rooted perennial grasses 14–42 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 14–42 – 5 Other perennial grasses 14–28 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 14–28 – 6 Native annual grasses 14–28 sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 14–28 – Forb7 Perennial forbs 56–112 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 14–28 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 14–28 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 14–28 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 14–28 – 9 Other perennial forbs 14–28 agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 0–14 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 0–14 – Shrub/Vine11 Evergreen shrubs 14–28 rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 14–28 – 15 Other shrubs 14–28 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 0–14 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 0–14 – Tree16 Evergreen trees 0–14 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 0–14 – Interpretations
Animal community
Deer will use this site for spring and summer feed. Where associated with cropland upland game birds such as Hungarian partridge are common.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have moderate infiltration rates and high runoff potential. The hydrologic soils groups are B and C.
Wood products
None.
Other products
This site is suitable for livestock grazing during summer and fall. Cattle will avoid upper steep slopes if moderate terrain is accessible.
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 and Bruce Franssen Contact for lead author Oregon NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 04/01/2007 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Some to none. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some to none in interspaces. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Some to few - terracettes common from soil movement; held in check by deep rooted perennials; exacerbated from trailing by livestock and wildlife. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
5-10%. -
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 = 4-6. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak fine granular (may be platy or subangular blocky) structure, dry color value 4 - 5, depth 8 - 17 inches, moderate OM (2-4%). -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (60-80%) limits rainfall impact and overland flow, steeper slopes (to 70%) have high potential for 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 bunchgrasses.Sub-dominant:
Shallow-rooted perennial bunchgrasses.Other:
Forbs and Shrubs.Additional:
Occassional, scattered Western Juniper (JUOC) 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: 1800, Normal: 1400, Unfavorable: 700 lbs/acre/year. -
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 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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