Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R010XA025OR
Juniper Shallow North
10-12 PZ
Last updated: 5/13/2025
Accessed: 06/02/2026
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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
R010XA007OR Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ
R010XA009OR Juniper Shrubby Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ
R010XA023OR Juniper Shrubby Lava Blisters 10-12 PZ
R010XA026OR Juniper Pumice North 10-12 PZ
Similar sites
R010XA026OR Juniper Pumice North 10-12 PZ
R010XA083OR Juniper Shrubby North 9-12 PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Juniperus occidentalis
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
Herbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata
(2) Festuca idahoensisPhysiographic features
This site occurs on the north slopes of buttes, ridges and canyons.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Butte
(2) Ridge
(3) Canyon
Elevation 2800 – 4500 ft Slope 15 – 50 % Aspect N Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges for 9 to 12 inches and occurs mainly between the month of November and June, mostly in the form of rain and snow. The soil temperature regime is mesic. The average annual air temperature is 44 degrees F. with extreme temperatures ranging from -10 to 104 degrees F. The frost free period is 60 to 100 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from April through July.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 100 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 10 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are shallow, skeletal, well drained and medium textured. They are generally formed in volcanic ash and the underlying colluvium or residuum. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 1 to 3 inches for the profile. The potential for wind erosoin is high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 20 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)1 – 3 in Ecological dynamics
Juniper and big sagebrush decrease following burning while rabbitbrush increases. Overgrzing causes a decline in Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass.
Increasers and invaders include cheatgrass, mustard, and grey rabbitbrush.
As stoniness increases, the abundance of juniper and bluebunch wheatgrass increases, while Idaho fescue decreases.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 very slow growing western juniper, mountain big sagebrush, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Sandberg bluegrass. Vegetative composition is approximately 65% grasses, 10% forbs, and 25% shrubs/trees.
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 496 604 712 Shrub/Vine 104 136 168 Tree 40 60 80 Forb 32 48 64 Total 672 848 1024 Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4041 , B10A Mesic, Low Elev., North Good Condition. B10A Mesic, Low Elev., North 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 0 5 30 50 13 2 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 440–600 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 240–320 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 200–280 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 8–16 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 8–16 – 4 Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 48–96 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 40–80 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 8–16 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 24–48 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 8–16 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 8–16 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 8–16 – 9 Other perennial forbs 8–16 tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 80–120 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 80–120 – 12 Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs 16–32 slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 8–16 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 8–16 – 14 Sub-dominant deciduous (or 1/2 shrubs) shrubs 8–16 desert gooseberry RIVE Ribes velutinum 8–16 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 40–80 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 40–80 – Interpretations
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have high infiltration rates and low runoff potential.
Wood products
Not practical for wood product removal. Tree growth form is not suitable for firewood or posts.
Other products
Stoniness and steep slopes make this site of low value for grazing because of poor accessibility.
Other information
Range seedings are impractical except when broadcast after burning. Species recommended include crested wheatgrass, sheep fescue, and secar bluebunch wheatgrass.
Supporting information
Other references
B10B Site also similar to this site:
Droughty North 9-12 PZ #010XB084ORContributors
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 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 to some in interspaces -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None to some in interspaces -
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 significantly resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 4-6 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Shallow, skeletal, well drained loams; moderate OM (1-3%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (60-75%) and moderate to steep slopes (5-50%) 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 >= Idaho fescue > Mountain big sagebrush > Sandberg bluegrass = Western Juniper > forbs > other dominant shrubs > other dominant grassesSub-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: 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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