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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
R010XA009OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ
Similar sites
R010XA007OR Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Juniperus occidentalis
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis
Herbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata
Physiographic features
This site occurs on cinder buttes and ridges on all aspects.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Butte
Elevation 2500 – 3000 ft Slope 0 – 50 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 12 inches which occurs mainly between the months of November and June in the form of rain and snow. The soil temperature regime is mesic. The average annual air temperature is 47 degrees F. with extreme temperatures ranging from -20 to 100 degrees F. The frost free period is 60 to 90 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from April through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 90 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 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 deep and some what excessively drained. Scoriaceous cinders occur at a depth of 10 to 20 inches. They are generally formed in volcanic ash over cinders. Permeability is moderately rapid and the available water holding capacity is 2 to 4 inches for the profile. The potential for water or wind erosion is high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Drainage class Somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Moderately rapid Soil depth 60 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)2 – 4 in Ecological dynamics
Burning reduces juniper and sagebrush cover but usually stimulates bluebunch wheatgrass.
Areas with more gravel and cinders on the surface have less herbaceous coverState 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 an open stand of short, stunted western juniper and Wyoming big sagebrush. Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass dominate the ground layer.
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 235 318 400 Shrub/Vine 80 108 135 Tree 25 38 50 Forb 10 15 20 Total 350 479 605 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4051 , B10A Mesic, Mid Elev., N/A, Stony, Good Condition. HCPC Growth Curve B10A Mesic, Mid Elev., N/A, Stony, Good Condition - Cindery Hills & Lava Blisters.
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 30 55 10 0 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 200–275 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 200–275 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 10–50 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 5–25 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 5–25 – 3 Dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 25–75 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 25–75 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 10–20 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 5–10 – spreading phlox PHDI3 Phlox diffusa 5–10 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 75–125 Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 75–125 – 12 Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs 5–10 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 5–10 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 25–50 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 25–50 – Interpretations
Animal community
Little wildlife use is made of this site.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have high infiltration rates and low runoff potential.
Wood products
Poorly suited for wood products.
Other products
Generally not widely use for grazing due to steep slopes and fragile soils.
Other information
Not suited for mechanical site preparation.
This is a marginal site for seeding due to the droughty nature of the soils. Low survival rates should be expected even with species compatible with the site i.e., crested wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, Canby bluegrass, and Secar bluebunch wheatgrass.Supporting information
Contributors
Cici Brooks
E Ersch
Gene Hickman
K.KennedyRangeland 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 08/03/2012 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 -
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):
5-15% -
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):
Slightly resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 2-4 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Deep (scoriaceous cinders occur at 10-20 inches), excessively drained sandy loam; 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 (45-60%) and steep slopes (to 50%) 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:
Bluebunch wheatgrass > Wyoming big sagebrush > Sandberg bluegrass = Western Juniper > other dominant grasses > forbs > Antelope bitterbrushSub-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):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 600, Normal: 500, Unfavorable: 300 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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