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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
R009XY017OR Cold Loamy 13-17 PZ
Mountain Loamy 13-17" PZ
R009XY018OR Cold Loamy 17-24 PZ
Mountain Loamy 17-24" PZ
R009XY034OR Cold South 13-17 PZ
Mountian South 13-17" PZ
Similar sites
R009XY022OR Cold Shallow 13+ PZ
Mountain Shallow 13"+ PZ (deeper soil, higher production).
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on ridgetops and moderate south and southwest facing slopes of mountain plateaus and tablelands north of the Wallowa Mountains. Slopes range from 0 to 15%. Elevation varies from 3400 to 5000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain
(2) Plateau
Elevation 3400 – 5000 ft Slope 0 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 24 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of November through March. Localized convectional storms occur during the summer and fall. The soil temperature regime is frigid with a mean annual air temperature of 43 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 60 to 100 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-April to mid-June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 100 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 20 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 very shallow over basalt bedrock and are well drained. Areas of rock outcrop may occur. Typically the surface layer is a very cobbly or extremely cobbly silt loam. The subsoil is very gravelly loam. Bedrock occurs at less than 10 inches of soil depth. Permeability is moderate. The available water holding capacity (AWC) ios about .5 to 1 inch for the profile. The potential for erosion particularly on moderate slopes, is severe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very cobbly silt loam
(2) Extremely cobbly silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Ecological dynamics
Range in Characteristics:
Variability in plant compostion and yeild is dependent on aspect, soil depth and bedrock fracture. The highest yeild and most bluebunch wheatgrass occurs over fractured bedrock and/or on soils 6 to 10 inches in depth with southerly slopes. Idaho fescue is predominant on slight north and northeast pitches. Sandberg bluegrass and one-spike oatgrass will occur on soils less thatn 4 iches thick over unfractured bedrock.
Response to Disturbance:
This site is most susceptible to heavy late winter and early spring use before Sandberg bluegrass produces seedstalks. Trampling damage is also most evident at this time due to saturated soil conditions. If the condition of the site as a result of overgrazing, bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue and one-spike oatgrass decrease while Sandberg bluegrass increases. Bulbous bluegrass, soft chess and annual forbs invade. Under deteriorated conditions, excessive erosion in the bare interspaces will markedly reduce the potential of the site and contribute to downstream sedimentation.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
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe potential native plant community is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg's bluegrass. One-spike oatgrass, buckwheat, lomation, phlox and a variety of forbs are prominent in the stand. Idaho fescue and occasoinally stiff sage may be present. the vegetative compostion of the community is approximately 85 percent grasses and 15 percent forbs.
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 180 348 516 Forb 20 50 80 Shrub/Vine 4 6 8 Total 204 404 604 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 120–240 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 120–240 – 2 Perennial Deep-rooted Sub-dominant 8–48 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 4–40 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 4–8 – 4 Perennial Shallow-rooted Sub-dominant 52–228 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 40–160 – onespike danthonia DAUN Danthonia unispicata 8–60 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 4–8 – Forb7 Perennial All Dominant 4–16 buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 4–16 – 8 Perennial All Sub-dominant 12–32 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 4–12 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 4–12 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 4–8 – 9 PPFF 4–32 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 1–3 – onion ALLIU Allium 1–3 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 1–3 – brodiaea BRODI Brodiaea 1–3 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 1–3 – gumweed GRIND Grindelia 1–3 – bitter root LERE7 Lewisia rediviva 1–3 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 1–3 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 1–3 – largehead clover TRMA3 Trifolium macrocephalum 1–3 – Shrub/Vine11 Perennial Evergreen Dominant 4–8 scabland sagebrush ARRI2 Artemisia rigida 4–8 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site is suited to use by sheep and cattle during a limited time period in the spring as winter soil saturation presents a severe limitation. Use should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to avoid early spring trampling damage.
Wildlife:
This site can be important as a sspring feeding site for deer and elk. As the snow line retreats Sandbergs bluegrass initiates early growth and provides early succulent feed. At higher elevations nearby forested areas provide escape, hiding and thermal cover.
Native Wildlife Associated With The Potential Climax Community:
Rodents, Songbirds, Red-tailed hawk, Coyote, Mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk.Hydrological functions
The hydrologic cover condidtion is good at higher condition classes. The soils are in hydrologic group D.
Recreational uses
North of the Wallowa Mountains this site occurs in a complex with other grassland sites as extensive rolling grasslands. It provides a pleasing visual diversity with the distant canyons and meadows.
Other information
This site has low potential for range seeding because of coarse fragments.
Supporting information
Contributors
A. Bahn
Cici Brooks
Justin GredvigRangeland 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 Frannsen Contact for lead author Date 07/11/2007 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, severe sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None to few -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None to few -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-20% -
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 = 3-5 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Granular to sub-angular blocky structure; Dry color value 4-5; 2-4" thickness; low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Sparse ground cover (30-40%) and gentle slopes (2-15%) moderately 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:
Bluebunch wheatgrass > sandberg bluegrassSub-dominant:
onespike danthonia > idaho fescueOther:
forbs > other grasses > 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: 600, Normal: 400, Unfavorable: 200 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:
Sandberg bluegrass will increase with deterioration of plant community. Bulbous bluegrass, annual bromes, and medusahead invade sites that have lost deep rooted perennial grass functional groups. Excessive erosion may occur, deteriorating site potential. -
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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