Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R010XA083OR
Juniper Shrubby North
9-12 PZ
Last updated: 4/10/2025
Accessed: 08/06/2026
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
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.
Click to explore map
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
R010XA025OR Juniper Shallow North 10-12 PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Juniperus occidentalis
Shrub (1) Purshia tridentata
(2) Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyanaHerbaceous (1) Festuca idahoensis
(2) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicataPhysiographic features
This site occurs on gentle to moderately steep north aspects 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 from 9 to 12 inches which occurs mainly between the months of November and June, mostly in the form of rain and snow. The soil temperature regime is mesic. The average annual air temperature is 48 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 November through June.
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 moderately deep to deep, well drained and coarse textured. They are generally formed in vocanic ash and colluvium. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 3 to 6 inches for the profile. The potential for water erosion is low and for wind erosion is low to high.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 40 – 60 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 6 in Ecological dynamics
Juniper and big sagebrush decline following burning while rabbitbrush increases.
Increasers and invaders include cheatgrass and prickly gilia.
Increases in sand or pumice content of the soil will increase cover of Idaho fescue and bitterbrush.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
ReferenceCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe potential native plant community is dominated by western juniper, antelope bitterbrush, mountain big sagebrush, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, big bluegrass and needlegrass. 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 585 780 910 Shrub/Vine 180 240 280 Forb 90 120 140 Tree 45 60 70 Total 900 1200 1400 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 360–420 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 360–420 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 96–264 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 60–180 – Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 24–60 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 12–24 – 4 Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 84–240 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 60–180 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 24–60 – Forb9 Other perennial forbs 24–120 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 0–5 – agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 0–5 – woollypod milkvetch ASPU9 Astragalus purshii 0–5 – Carey's balsamroot BACA3 Balsamorhiza careyana 0–5 – parsnipflower buckwheat ERHE2 Eriogonum heracleoides 0–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–5 – salsify TRPO Tragopogon porrifolius 0–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 120–240 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 120–240 – 12 Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs 60–144 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 24–60 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 12–36 – slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 12–24 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 12–24 – 14 Sub-dominant deciduous (or 1/2 shrubs) shrubs 12–24 wax currant RICE Ribes cereum 12–24 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 60–120 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 60–120 – Interpretations
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have high infiltration rates and low runoff potential.
Wood products
Firewood and posts.
Other products
Late season grazing will result in much greater use of bitterbrush then will spring or early summer grazing of the site.
Other information
Adapted species for range seedings include crested wheatgrass, sheep fescue, intermediate wheatgrass, big bluegrass, 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, 4/10/2025
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 Franssen Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 08/03/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None, Slight sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Rarely some on steeper slopes -
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, Slight to 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):
Moderately deep and deep, well drained, loam, sandy loam, and fine 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 (70-85%) and moderate to steep slopes (15-50%) 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:
Idaho fescue > Antelope bitterbrush > Bluebunch wheatgrass = Sandberg bluegrass > other dominant grasses > Western Juniper > forbs > Mountain big sagebrush > other dominant shrubsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
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: 1400, Normal: 1200, Unfavorable: 900 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
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
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.
Accessibility statement
