Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R009XY014OR
Deep Loam
17-22 PZ
Last updated: 5/05/2025
Accessed: 04/21/2026
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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
R009XY016OR Clayey 17-22 PZ
Clayey 17-22" PZ
R009XY021OR Shallow Clayey 17-22 PZ
Shallow Clayey 17-22" PZ
R009XY030OR South 17-22 PZ
South 17-22" PZ
R009XY031OR Shallow South 14+ PZ
Shallow South 14"+ PZ
R009XY045OR North 17-24 PZ
North 17-24" PZ
Similar sites
R009XY013OR Loamy 17-22 PZ
Loamy 17-22" PZ (moderately deep soil, lower production)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs near and within forestland on table lands and mountain plateaus. Slopes range from 0 to 12%. It is typically within the northern portion of the Blue Mountains. Elevation varies from 2000 to 3800 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Alluvial fan
Elevation 610 – 1158 m Slope 0 – 12 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 17 to 22 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the monthes of November through March followed by ample spring rainfall. Localized convectional storms occasionally occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is mesic with the mean annual air temperature of 48 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 110 to 180 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from late April to late July.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 180 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 560 mm ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are deep to very deep over basalt bedrock and are moderately well drained to well drained. Typically the surface layer is silt loam. The subsoil varies from a silt loam to a silty clay loam. Permeability is moderate. The available water holding capacity (AWC) is about 8 to 12 inches for the profile. The potential for erosion is moderate.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Moderate Ecological dynamics
Range in Characterisitcs:
Variablity in precipitation and elevation have little effect on compostion and yeild. There tends to be higher proportion of bluebunch wheatgrass on south and southwesterly slopes. Conversely, Idaho fescue increases on north slopes. Shrubs occuring in dense patches compete strongly with grasses and forbs for space, water, nutrients and sunlight. An occasional ponderosa pine bearing fire scars may be present.
Response to Disturbance:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue decreases and bluebunch wheatgrass increases. Idaho fescue is the preferred species during early summer use. With further deterioration, bluebunch wheatgrass decreases, forbs increase and cheatgrass, tarweed and other annuals rapidly invade. Mulesear wyethia increases, Kentucky bluegrass invades, and where present, diffuse knapweed invades and increases. Under deteriorated conditions, annuals and unpalatable forbs dominate the site. This site is susceptable to fire having variable to high furel loads. Root sprouting shrubs respond well to these conditions and maintain a prominent popsition in the plant community.State and transition model
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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
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe poptential native plant communtiy is dominanted by Idaho fescue. Bluebunch wheatgrass and a variety of forbs are prominent in the stand. Shrubs are also prominent with hawthorn, chokecherry, serviceberry and snowberry occuring in dense random patches. The vegetative composition of the comunity is approximatley 70 percent grasses, 25 percent shrubs, and 5 percent forbs.
Figure 2. 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 1737 2326 2914 Shrub/Vine 224 631 1037 Forb 112 252 392 Total 2073 3209 4343 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Perennial Deep-rooted Dominant 1681–2802 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 1121–1681 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 560–1121 – 4 Perennial Deep-rooted Dominant 56–112 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 28–56 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 28–56 – Forb7 Perennial All Dominant 56–140 cinquefoil POTEN Potentilla 28–84 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 28–56 – 8 Perennial All Subdominant 28–56 lupine LUPIN Lupinus 28–56 – 9 PPFF 28–196 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 3–21 – agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 3–21 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 3–21 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 3–21 – brodiaea BRODI Brodiaea 3–21 – hawksbeard CREPI Crepis 3–21 – Scouler's woollyweed HISC2 Hieracium scouleri 3–21 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 3–21 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 3–21 – Shrub/Vine13 Perennial Deciduous Domianant 112–448 hawthorn CRATA Crataegus 56–224 – chokecherry PRVI Prunus virginiana 56–224 – 14 Perennial Deciduous Subdominant 84–420 Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 28–140 – rose ROSA5 Rosa 28–140 – common snowberry SYAL Symphoricarpos albus 28–140 – 15 SSSS 28–168 mock orange PHILA Philadelphus 7–43 – mallow ninebark PHMA5 Physocarpus malvaceus 7–43 – currant RIBES Ribes 7–43 – elderberry SAMBU Sambucus 7–43 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site is suited to use by cattle and sheep in the summer and fall. It has few limitations. Care should be taken to avoid trampling damage and soil compaction when soils are wet.
Wildlife:
This site can be important as a winter, spring, and fall feeding site for deeer and elk. The sites are occasionally adjacent to forested areas which provide hiding and thermal cover.
Native Wildlife Associated With The Potential Climax Community:
Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, hawks, coyote, rodents, and white-tailed deer.Hydrological functions
The hydrologic cover condition is good at higher condition classes. The soils are in hydrologic groups B and C.
Recreational uses
In the Blue Mountains this site provides a pleasing visual diversity with higher elevation sites.
Wood products
A few scattered ponderosa pine may occur. These provide limited benefits in terms of wood products, shade and diversity.
Other information
This site is used primariy as cropland and has a good potential for range seeding.
Supporting information
Contributors
AV Bahn
Justin GredvigApproval
Kirt Walstad, 5/05/2025
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 07/30/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None to some, moderate sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None 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):
5-10% -
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 = 2-4 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Deep, miderately well drained, with a silt loam surface; 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 (90-100%) and gentle slopes (0-12%) effectively limit 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 > hawthorn = Chokecherry > other forbs > other shrubs > dominant shrubs > dominant forbs > dominant grassesSub-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: 3500, Normal: 2500, Unfavorable: 1800 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. Bluegrasses, cheatgrass, and medusahead invade sited that have lost deep rooted perennial grass functional groups. Site is susceptible to fire with variable fuel loads. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing annually
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