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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
R009XY025OR Very Shallow 14-18 PZ
Very shallow 14-18" PZ
Similar sites
R009XY029OR South 14-17 PZ
South 14-17" PZ (Lower production )
R009XY031OR Shallow South 14+ PZ
Shallow South 14"+ PZ (shallower, lower production)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs within forestland on the backslopes of canyons, tablelands and mountain plateaus. It is typically on slopes with south and south west aspects as one of the last grassland sites before and within the forest. Slopes range from 12 to 90%. Elevation varies from 2000 to 4300 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Plateau
(3) Canyon
Elevation 2000 – 4300 ft Slope 12 – 90 % Aspect S, SW Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 17 to 22 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of November through March followed by ample spring rainfall. Localized, occasionally severe, convectional storms occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is mesic with a mean annual air temperature of 48 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 90 to 120 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-March to late June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 120 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 20 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are moderatley deep over basalt bedrock and are well drained. Areas of rock outcrop and talus are common. Typically the surface layer is a very cobbly silt clay loam or extremely stony silty clay loam. The subsoil includes a clay, cobbly clay, or an extremely cobbly clay. Depth to bedrock is typically kesss than 30 inches. Permeability is slow to very slow. The available water holding capacity (AWC) is about 2 to 7 inches for the profile. The potential for erosion, particularly on moderate and steep slopes, is severe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very cobbly silty clay loam
(2) Extremely stony silty clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow to very slow Ecological dynamics
Range in Characteristics:
Variabilty in plant composition and yeild is dependent on aspect and soil depth rather than on precipitation and elevation ranges that occur within the site. Steep due south slopes will have the most bluebunch wheatgrass. Production is lowest as the soil approaches 20 inches of depth and coarse fragments increase. Conversely , soils with close to 40 inches of depth and few coarse fragments will have the highest production. Idaho fescue will be hihgest in compostionon moderate southeasterly and westerly slopes and void on steep due south slopes. Shrubs occur sporadically, with taller shrubs becoming dominant on inclusions of deep colluvium.
Response to disturbance:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue decreases. Cheatgrass and soft chess rapidly invade along with china lettuce, common mullein, tarweed and a variety of other unpalatable forbs. Severe early spring grazing particularly by deer, elk and sheep wil decrease ground cover. Under deteriorated conditions, excessive erosion in the bare interspaces markedly reduces the potential of the site and contributes to downstream sedimentation.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
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe potential native plant commhunity is dominanted by bluebunch wheatgrass and arrowleaf balsamroot. Idaho fescue, Sandberg's bluegrass, lupine, penstemon, dogbane, rose and a variety of other forbs and shrubs are prominent in the stand. The vegetative composition of the community is approximately 85 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 5 percent shrubs. Inclusoins of shrub dominanted deep coluviaum are often present.
Figure 2. 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 1314 1602 1890 Forb 90 189 288 Shrub/Vine 90 135 180 Total 1494 1926 2358 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 1260–1620 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 1260–1620 – 2 Perennial Deep-rooted Sub-dominant 36–180 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 36–180 – 4 Perennial Shallow-rooted Sub-dominant 18–90 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 18–90 – Forb7 Perennial All Dominant 36–90 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 36–90 – 8 Perennial All Sub-dominant 36–72 buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 18–36 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 18–36 – 9 PPFF 18–126 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 2–11 – agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 2–11 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 2–11 – Indian paintbrush CASTI2 Castilleja 2–11 – hawksbeard CREPI Crepis 2–11 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 2–11 – Scouler's woollyweed HISC2 Hieracium scouleri 2–11 – western stoneseed LIRU4 Lithospermum ruderale 2–11 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 2–11 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 2–11 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 2–11 – Shrub/Vine11 Perennial Evergreen Dominant 18–36 rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 18–36 – 13 Perennial Deciduous Dominant 54–108 dogbane APOCY Apocynum 18–36 – rose ROSA5 Rosa 18–36 – common snowberry SYAL Symphoricarpos albus 18–36 – 15 SSSS 18–36 Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 3–6 – oceanspray HOLOD Holodiscus 3–6 – mock orange PHILA Philadelphus 3–6 – chokecherry PRVI Prunus virginiana 3–6 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 3–6 – elderberry SAMBU Sambucus 3–6 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site is suited to use by cattle and sheep in the late spring and fall. As this site often occurs on both steep and rocky slopes, these limitations need to be carefully considered in developing alternatives. Care should be taken to avoid trampling damage and soil compaction when soils are wet.
Wildlife:
This site is important as a winter and early spring grazing site for deer and elk. It si often free of snow during the winter and one of the first soil areas to warm up. Early green feed is provided. Adjacent to froested areas, these sites provide valuable escape, hiding and thermal cover. As a critical site for deer and elk adverse impacts can easily result without careful management.
Native wildlife Associated With The Potential Climax Community:
Rodents, Songbirds, Red-tailed hawk, Coyote, Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, Ground squirrels, Valley and mountian quail, Ruffed grouse (where this site is adjacent to timber), and hawks.Hydrological functions
The hydrologic cover condidtion is good at higher condition classes. The soils are in hydrologic groups C and D.
Recreational uses
Arrowleaf balsamroot stands out in the spring and early summer with yellow and gold dotting the hillsides. It provides a pleasing visual diversity in the Blue Mountains where the forest fingers down the contrasting north slopes.
Wood products
Scattered ponderosa pine occur on deeper soil inclusions. These provide limited economic benefits in terms of wood products, but are of value for shade and diversity.
Other information
This site has a low potential for range seeding because of coarse fragments and/or steepness of slope.
Supporting information
Contributors
A. Bahn J. Gibbs
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, severe sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None to some -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None to some -
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 = 3-5 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Moderately deep, well drained, with areas of rock outcrop and talus and with a very cobbly silty clay loam, or extremely stony silty clay loam surface. Depth to bedrock is typically less than 30"; low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Moderate ground cover (60-70%) and very steep slopes (12-90%) slightly to 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 > Idaho fescue > Arrowleaf balsamroot > dominant shrubs > Antelope bitterbrush > other forbs > Sandberg bluegrass > other dominant forbs > other shrubsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
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: 2200, Normal: 1800, Unfavorable: 1400 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:
With deterioration of plant community, 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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