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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
R009XY029OR South 14-17 PZ
South 14-17" PZ
R009XY031OR Shallow South 14+ PZ
Shallow south 14"+ PZ
R009XY040OR North 14-17 PZ
North 14-17" PZ
R009XY045OR North 17-24 PZ
North 17-24 PZ
R009XY046OR Shrubby Moist North 15+ PZ
Shrubby Moist North 15"+ PZ
R009XY060OR Shrubby North 15+ PZ
Shrubby North 15"+ PZ
Similar sites
R009XY040OR North 14-17 PZ
North 14-17" PZ (higher production)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on the slopes of canyon and mountain plateaus. It si typically on slopes having north and northwest aspects. Slopes ranges from 15 to 90% with slopes of 30 to 60% being most typical. Elevation varies from 2000 to 5000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain
(2) Plateau
Elevation 2000 – 5000 ft Slope 15 – 90 % Aspect N, NW Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 1 to 30 inches with 17 to 24 inches being most typical. Teh precipitation occurs as snow during the months of November through March followed by spring rainfall. Localized, occasionally severe covectional storms occur during the summer. The mean annual air temperature is approximatley 43 degrees F. Extreme temperatures range from 90 degrees F. to -30 degress F. Soil temperature regimes are frigid to near frigid. The frost-free period ranges from 30 to 100 days. The period of optimum plant growth is from mid April through 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 formed in loess and colluvium over basalt bedrock. They are shallow. Typically the surfce layer is a very stony clay loam over a cobbly clay loam subsoil. Soil permeabillty is slow. The avialable water holding caacity (AWC) is 2 to 4 inches. Erosion potential is high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Stony clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow Ecological dynamics
Range in Characteristics:
Variability in plant composition and yeild is dependant on aspect and soil depth. Production increases as soil depth approaches 20 inches. Idaho fescue decreases amd bluebunch wheatgrass increases as aspect changes to northeast and northwest. Scattered shrubs, snowberry and rose increase on steep due north slopes. Soil depth, production and composition changes occur in short distances as this site is normally in complex with sites having deeper soils.
Response to Disturbance:
If the condidition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue decreases and bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass increase. Bluegrasses such as bulbous bluegrass, annuals and unpalatable forbs invade. With further deterioration, bluebunch wheatgrass decreases, annuals strongly invade and production decreases. Under deteriorated conditions areas of bareground appear, soil erosion accelerates and potential site productivity decreases.
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 community is dominanted by Idaho fescue. Bluebunch wheatgrass is common along with Sandberg bluegrass, prairie junegrass and a variety of forbs. Shrubs, common snowberry and rose, are minor and scattered. The potential vegetative composition is approximately 90 percent grass, 5 percent forbs and 5 percent 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 750 890 1030 Forb 30 60 90 Shrub/Vine 20 35 50 Total 800 985 1170 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 700–900 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 500–600 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 200–300 – 4 Perennial Shallow-rooted Sub-dominant 50–130 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 30–80 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 20–50 – Forb7 Perennial All Dominant 20–40 lupine LUPIN Lupinus 10–20 – cinquefoil POTEN Potentilla 10–20 – 9 PPFF 10–50 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 1–4 – onion ALLIU Allium 1–4 – twin arnica ARSO2 Arnica sororia 1–4 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 1–4 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 1–4 – kittentail BESSE Besseya 1–4 – mariposa lily CALOC Calochortus 1–4 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 1–4 – old man's whiskers GETR Geum triflorum 1–4 – hawkweed HIERA Hieracium 1–4 – western stoneseed LIRU4 Lithospermum ruderale 1–4 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 1–4 – Shrub/Vine15 SSSS 20–50 scabland sagebrush ARRI2 Artemisia rigida 5–13 – rose ROSA5 Rosa 5–13 – spirea SPIRA Spiraea 5–13 – common snowberry SYAL Symphoricarpos albus 5–13 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site si suited to late spring, summer and fall use by cattle, sheep and horses under a planned grazing system. The key species is Idaho fescue. Idaho fescue can be damaged if heavily grazed during periods of flowering and seed formation when root reserves and soil moisutre is low. Use in the spring should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to prevent tramping damage, soil compaction and soil mass movement.
Wildlife:
When the ecological condition is high this site provides food for deer, elk, other mammals and upland birds. Adjacent to sites with excellent cover, it is an important summer and fall use area for deer and elk.
Native Wildlife Associated With The Potential Climax Community:
Mule deer, elk, rodents, and a variety of upland birds use this site.Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have lower water holding capacities providing little late season water for plant growth. The hydrologic cover condiditon is fair when the ecological condiditon is high.
Other information
When in poo condition this site has a low potential for range seeding because of stoniness, soil depth and slope.
Supporting information
Contributors
AV. Bahn
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 and Bruce Franssen Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist for NRCS in Oregon Date 04/24/2003 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 -
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):
0-5% -
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):
Significantly resistant to erosion: aggregate stability = 4-6 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Moderate medium to strong fine granular structure, dry color value of 4, 4 - 8 inches thick; low to moderate OM (2-5%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (80-90%) and very steep slopes (15-90%) 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:
Deep-rooted, cool-season, bunchgrasses (FEID > PSSP6 > others)Sub-dominant:
Perennial forbs > shrubsOther:
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: 1500, Normal: 1000, Unfavorable: 700 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:
Bluegrasses, annual bromes, and medusahead invade sites that have lost 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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