Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R009XY053OR
Very Shallow South
10-15 PZ
Last updated: 5/06/2025
Accessed: 07/12/2026
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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
R009XY003OR Fan 10-15 PZ
Fan 10-15" PZ
R009XY050OR Loamy Bench 10-15 PZ
Loamy Bench 10-15" PZ
R009XY051OR Loamy South 10-15 PZ
Loamy South 10-15" PZ
R009XY053OR Very Shallow South 10-15 PZ
Loamy Shallow South 10-15" PZ
R009XY054OR Loamy North 10-15 PZ
Loamy North 10-15" PZ
Similar sites
R009XY053OR Very Shallow South 10-15 PZ
Loamy Shallow South 10-15" PZ (higher production)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on south facing aspects along the lower slopes of canyons. Slopes range from 2 to 90% with slopes of 30 to 60% being the most typical. Elevation varies from 800 to 2800 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Canyon
Elevation 800 – 2800 ft Slope 2 – 90 % Aspect S Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to15 inches. The precipitation occurs as rain and snow during the months of November through March. Localized, occasionally severe, convection storms occur during the summer. The mean annual air temperature is approximatley 50 degrees F. Extreme temperatures range from 100 degrees F. to -20 degrees F. Soil temperature regimes ar mesic. The frost-free period ranges from 90 to 140 days. The period of optmum plant growth is form early April through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 20 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of the site are formed in colluvium over old, highly weathered lower Miocene basalt bedrock. They are very shallow, less than 10 inches thick, extremely gravelly loams. Soil permeabilty is moderate. The available water holding capactiy (AWC) is 1 to 2 inches. The erosion potential is very high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Extremely gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Ecological dynamics
Range in Characteristics:
Variability in plant composition and production is dependent on soil depth and surface texture. Buckwheat increases at shallower depths and on coarser textured surfaces. Bluebunch wheatgrass increases on deeper soils and on finer textured surfaces. Production increases with soil depth.
Response to Disturbance:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, bluebunch wheatgrass decreases. Buckwheat, sand dropseed, and red threeawn, along with a variety of forbs increase. Cheatgrass and Japanese brome invade. With further deterioration all species decrease, areas of bare ground become extensive, soil erosion rapidly accelerates and potential site productivity is drastically reduced.State and transition model
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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 strict and slenderbush buckwheat. Bluebunch wheatgrass is prominenet. Sand dropseed is present along with Oregon bladder pod and a variety of other forbs. The potential vegetative composition is approximatley 60 percent forbs and 40 percent grass.
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)Forb 106 127 148 Grass/Grasslike 50 77 104 Shrub/Vine 2 5 8 Total 158 209 260 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 40–80 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 40–80 – 2 Perennial Deep-rooted Sub-dominant 6–16 sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 6–16 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 6–16 – 5 PPGG 4–8 purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 2–4 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 2–4 – Forb7 Perennial All Dominant 100–120 Blue Mountain buckwheat ERST4 Eriogonum strictum 100–120 – 8 Perennial All Sub-dominant 4–12 plains pricklypear OPPO Opuntia polyacantha 2–6 – Oregon twinpod PHOR2 Physaria oregona 2–6 – 9 PPFF 2–16 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 0–1 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–1 – Douglas' dustymaiden CHDO Chaenactis douglasii 0–1 – Elko cryptantha CRIN9 Cryptantha interrupta 0–1 – shaggy fleabane ERPU2 Erigeron pumilus 0–1 – hairy false goldenaster HEVI4 Heterotheca villosa 0–1 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–1 – tufted evening primrose OECA10 Oenothera caespitosa 0–1 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 0–1 – Oregon yampah PEOR6 Perideridia oregana 0–1 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–1 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 0–1 – Shrub/Vine15 SSSS 2–8 yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 1–3 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 1–3 – spiny greasebush GLSP Glossopetalon spinescens 1–3 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site is not suited to livestock grazing on steep slopes because of soil instabilty. On moderate slopes it is suited to very limited spring and fall use by livestock under a planned grazing system. The key species is bluebunch wheatgrass. Bluebunch wheatgrass can be damaged if heavily grazed during periods of flowering and seed formation when root reserves and soil moisture is low. Use in the spring should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to prevent trampling damage and soil mass movement.
Wildlife:
When the ecological condition is high this site provides limited food for deer, other mammals and upland birds.
Native Wildlife Associated With The Potentila Climax Community:
Mule deer, white-tail deer, rodents and a variety of upland birds make limited use of this site.Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have very low water holding capacities providing little late season water for plant growth. The hydrologic cover condition is poor even when the ecological condition is high.
Other information
When in poor condition this site has virtually no potential for range seeding because it is droughty and stony. Technology for seeding is currently not available.
Supporting information
Contributors
AV. Bahn
Justin GredvigApproval
Kirt Walstad, 5/06/2025
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):
5-15% -
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 = 2-5 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Very shallow, well drained, with an extremely gravelly loam surface - bedrock at less than 10"; low to moderate OM (1-3%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Sparse ground cover (20-40%) and very steep slopes (2-90%) only slightly 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:
Buckwheat > Bluebunch wheatgrass > Sand dropseed > other forbs > other grasses > shrubsSub-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):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 400, Normal: 200, Unfavorable: 100 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:
Buckwheat, sand dropseed and three-awn will increase with deterioration of plant community. Annual bromes and annual fescues 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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