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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
R010XA026OR Juniper Pumice North 10-12 PZ
Similar sites
R010XA027OR Juniper Pumice Flat 8-10 PZ
R010XA002OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Hills 8-10 PZ
R010XA009OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Juniperus occidentalis
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
Herbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata
Physiographic features
This site occurs on hills, plateaus, and gentle slopes of volcanic uplands.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Plateau
Elevation 4000 – 4600 ft Slope 0 – 20 % 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 October and June, mostly in the form of rain and snow. The soil temperature regime is frigid. The average annual air temperature is 46 degrees F. with extreme temperatures ranging from -25 to 100 degrees F. The frost free period is 50 to 90 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from April through early July.
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 shallow or moderately deep, well drained and medium textured. They are generally formed in volcanic ash and residuum. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 3 to 5 inches for the profile.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 20 – 40 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 5 in Ecological dynamics
Burning decreases juniper, big sagebrush and Idaho fescue while increasing rabbitbrush. Overgrazing causes a decline of Idaho fescue and encourages increases in bottlebrush squirreltail, western needlegrass, thickspike wheatgrass, big sagebrush, and rabbitbrush.
Increasers and invaders include cheatgrass, mustard, tarweed, willowweed, and annual buckwheat.
Warmer locations than typical may have needle and thread and greater amount of Indian ricegrass.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 dominated by western juniper, mountain big sagebrush, and Idaho fescue. Thurber needlegrass, thickspike wheatgrass, western needlegrass, and Ross sedge are common in the stand. Vegetative composition is approximately 75% grasses, 5% forbs, and 20% 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 464 552 640 Shrub/Vine 64 116 168 Tree 80 100 120 Forb 8 28 48 Total 616 796 976 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4071 , B10A Shallow Pumice RPC. Shallow Pumice 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 50 20 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 400–480 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 400–480 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 56–120 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 16–40 – Ross' sedge CARO5 Carex rossii 8–16 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 8–16 – tufted wheatgrass ELMA7 Elymus macrourus 8–16 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 8–16 – western needlegrass ACOC3 Achnatherum occidentale 8–16 – 4 Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 8–40 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 8–40 – Forb9 Other perennial forbs 8–48 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 0–5 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–5 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–5 – common starlily LEMO4 Leucocrinum montanum 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–5 – spreading phlox PHDI3 Phlox diffusa 0–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 40–120 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 40–120 – 12 Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs 24–48 rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 8–16 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 8–16 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 80–120 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 80–120 – Interpretations
Animal community
Big game species use this site in the fall, winter and spring.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have moderately high infiltration and moderate runoff potential.
Wood products
Firewood, fence posts and other specialty products.
Other products
Primary forage species are Idaho fescue and Thurber needlegrass.
Other information
For range seedings, recommened species include crested wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, and sheep fescue.
Supporting information
Contributors
Cici Brooks
E Ersch
K.Kennedy
S.F. GreenfieldRangeland 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):
5-10% -
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 to slightly resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 2-4 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Shallow or moderately deep, well drained, sandy loams; Low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (65-80%) and moderate slopes (to 20%) effectively 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:
Idaho fescue > Mountain big sagebrush = Western Juniper > Thurbers needlegrass > Prairie junegrass + other forbs > other dominant grasses > Granite prickly phlox > other dominant 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):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Pavorable: 1000, Normal: 800, Unfavorable: 600 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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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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