Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R010XA019OR
Shrubby Loam
8-12 PZ
Last updated: 5/06/2025
Accessed: 07/13/2026
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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
R010XA001OR Loamy 8-10 PZ
Droughty Loam 8-10 PZ
R010XA002OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Hills 8-10 PZ
Pumice Hills 8-10 PZ
R010XA007OR Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ
South 10-12 PZ
R010XA009OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ
Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ
Similar sites
R010XA001OR Loamy 8-10 PZ
Droughty Loam 8-10 PZ
R010XA018OR Juniper Shrubby Loam 10-12 PZ
Loamy 10-12 PZ
R010XA007OR Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ
South 10-12 PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis
(2) Purshia tridentataHerbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata
(2) Poa sandbergiiPhysiographic features
This site occurs on gentle hills and the tops or slopes of low ridges.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Ridge
(3) Plateau
Elevation 2300 – 3300 ft Slope 0 – 20 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges primarily from 8 to 12 inches and somewhat higher in a few locations. Precipitation 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 -20 to 104 degrees F. The frost free period is 90 to 120 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid March through mid June.
Redmond climate report located at: ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/climate/taps/or/41017.txtTable 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 120 days Freeze-free period (average) 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 moderately deep, well drained and coarse to medium textured. They are generally formed from volcanic ash and the underlying bedrock. Permeability is moderately rapid and the available water holding capacity is 2 to 4 inches for the profile. The potential for wind erosion is high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid Soil depth 40 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 10 – 25 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)2 – 4 in Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)25 – 60 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)10 – 50 % Ecological dynamics
Burning results is a decline or loss of bitterbrush and big sagebrush. Overgrazing causes a decline in bluebunch wheatgrass and an increase in Thurber needlegrass. Excessive grazing in late summer or fall will reduce the vigor of bitterbrush.
Increasers and invaders include, cheatgrass, annual fescue, and squirreltail.
In areas of deeper soil, composition of antelope bitterbrush and perennial grasses may be higher than indicated above.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
ReferenceCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe potential native plant community is dominated by a very open stand of juniper with a shrub layer of big sagebrush and antelope bitterbrush. Herbaceous species are dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass with Sandberg bluegrass and Thurber needlegrass common. Vegetative composition is approximately 80% grass, 5% forbs, and 15% shrubs/trees.
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 280 420 560 Shrub/Vine 85 130 175 Forb 20 30 40 Tree 15 20 25 Total 400 600 800 Figure 5. 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 240–360 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 240–360 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 12–36 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 6–12 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 6–12 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–6 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–6 – 3 Dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 72–90 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 72–90 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 6–12 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 6–12 – 9 Other perennial forbs 6–36 curvepod milkvetch ASCU4 Astragalus curvicarpus 0–5 – basalt milkvetch ASFI Astragalus filipes 0–5 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 0–5 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 0–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–5 – bigseed biscuitroot LOMA3 Lomatium macrocarpum 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – spreading phlox PHDI3 Phlox diffusa 0–5 – deathcamas ZIGAD Zigadenus 0–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 60–120 Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 30–60 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 30–60 – 12 Sub-dominant shrubs 18–54 slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 6–30 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 6–12 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 6–12 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 6–30 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 6–30 – Interpretations
Animal community
Mule deer use this site as winter range. Key species are Antelope Bitterbrush and Wyoming Big Sagebrush.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have high infiltration rates and moderate runoff potential.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking.
Wood products
A minor amount of juniper is cut for firewood from this site.
Other products
Key species for grazing management are bluebunch wheatgrass and bitterbrush.
Other information
Adapted species for range seedings include crested wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, and secar bluebunch wheatgrass.
Supporting information
Other references
B10B site also associated with this site:
Droughty North 9-12 PZ #010XB084ORContributors
Cici Brooks
E Ersch
Gene Hickman
J P Repp
K.KennedyApproval
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 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, 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):
5-15% -
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):
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, sandy loams and very gravelly loams; 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 moderate slopes (to 20%) 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 > Sandberg bluegrass > Antelope bitterbrush = Basin big sagebrush > other forbs > shrubby buckwheat = Western Juniper > other dominant grasses > Common yarrow > other dominant forbsSub-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: 800, Normal: 600, Unfavorable: 400 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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