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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
R010XA002OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Hills 8-10 PZ
R010XA007OR Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ
R010XA083OR Juniper Shrubby North 9-12 PZ
Similar sites
R010XA018OR Juniper Shrubby Loam 10-12 PZ
R010XA019OR Shrubby Loam 8-12 PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata
Herbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata
(2) Poa sandbergiiPhysiographic features
This site occurs on plateaus, ridgetops and gently sloping areas.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plateau
(2) Ridge
Elevation 1000 – 3000 ft Slope 0 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 8 to 10 inches which occurs mainly between the months of October and June, mostly in the form of rain. The soil temperature regime is mesic. The average annual air temperature is 49 degrees F. with extreme temperatures ranging from -26 to 104 degrees F. The frost free period is 90 to 140 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-March through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 10 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are shallow to moderately deep and well drained. They have loam or sandy loam surface textures and subsoils that range from sandy loam to clay. They are generally formed in colluvium and/or semi-consolidated sediments with additions of ash. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 3 to 6 inches for the profile. The potential for wind erosion is high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 20 – 40 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 6 in Ecological dynamics
Burning results in a decline or loss of big sagebrush, western juniper and bitterbrush, and is followed by increases in rabbitbrush and horsebrush.
Increasers and invaders include broom snakeweed, cheatgrass, annual fescue, filaree, bottlebrush squirreltail, mustard, and groundsmoke.
Idaho fescue and/or bitterbrush are greater in abundance than stated above when the soil is higher in sand content.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 a sparse stand of western juniper and basin big sagebrush. Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass are prominent grasses on this site. Minor amounts of bitterbrush, Idaho fescue and Indian ricegrass may occur.
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 621 720 819 Shrub/Vine 63 117 171 Forb 9 36 63 Tree 18 32 45 Total 711 905 1098 Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4001 , B10A Mesic, Low Elev., N/A, Sandy, Good Condition. B10A Mesic, Low Elev., N/A, Sandy, Good Condition RPC Growth Curve.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 20 55 15 5 0 0 0 0 0 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 495–585 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 495–585 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 36–99 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 9–45 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 9–18 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 9–18 – Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 9–18 – 3 Dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 90–135 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 90–135 – Forb9 Other perennial forbs 9–63 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 0–5 – agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 0–5 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–5 – Palouse milkvetch ASAR7 Astragalus arrectus 0–5 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 0–5 – mariposa lily CALOC Calochortus 0–5 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 0–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–5 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–5 – snow buckwheat ERNI2 Eriogonum niveum 0–5 – fernleaf biscuitroot LODI Lomatium dissectum 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – spreading phlox PHDI3 Phlox diffusa 0–5 – yellow salsify TRDU Tragopogon dubius 0–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 45–135 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 45–135 – 12 Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs 9–18 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 9–18 – 15 Other shrubs 9–18 slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 0–5 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 0–5 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 0–5 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 0–5 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 18–45 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 18–45 – Interpretations
Animal community
Mule deer use this site as winter range.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have infiltration rates and low runoff potential.
Wood products
Juniper firewood
Other products
Overgrazing reduces bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue, and encourages increases in sagebrush, rabbitbrush, Sandberg bluegrass, yarrow, milkvetch, fleabane, and hawksbeard.
Other information
Adapted species for range seedings include crested wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, pubescent wheatgrass, tall wheatgrass, and Paiute orchardgrass.
Supporting information
Other references
This site also associated with B10B site Droughty North 9-12 PZ #010XB084OR
Contributors
Cici Brooks
E Ersch
Gene Hickman
K.KennedyApproval
Kirt Walstad, 5/13/2025
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 and Bruce Frannsen Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist for NRCS - Oregon 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, slight sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None -
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 to some, Severe 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 to shallow, well drained loams and sandy loams; low OM (1-3%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (55-65%) and level to gently rolling slopes (2-15%) 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 bluegrass > Basin big sagebrush > forbs > Idaho fescue = Western Juniper > other grasses = Antelope bitterbrush = other 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):
In most areas -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 1100, Normal: 900, 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:
Perennial brush species will increase with deterioration of plant community. Western Juniper readily increases on the site. Cheatgrass 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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