Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R010XB019OR
JD Gumbo
9-12 PZ
Last updated: 4/10/2025
Accessed: 06/28/2026
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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
R010XB022OR JD Clayey 9-12 PZ
JD Clayey 9-12" PZ
R010XB041OR JD Clayey South 9-12 PZ
JD Clayey South 9-12" PZ
R010XB051OR JD Shallow South 9-12 PZ
JD Shallow South 9-12" PZ
R010XY005OR Loamy Bottom
JD Clayey, mesic, 1500#/acre normal
Similar sites
R010XC018OR SR Adobeland 9-12 PZ
R010XB022OR JD Clayey 9-12 PZ
This site does not occur on vertisols.
R010XY005OR Loamy Bottom
JD Clayey, mesic, 1500#/acre normal
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata
(2) Leymus cinereusPhysiographic features
This site occurs in ancient sediments on low terraces and rolling hills. Slopes range from 2 to 20 percent. Elevations range from 1,300 to 3,400 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Terrace
(2) Hill
Elevation 1300 – 3400 ft Slope 2 – 20 % Water table depth 60 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 12 inches, most of which occurs in the form of rain during the months of November through
April. Localized, occasionally severe, convectional storms occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is mesic with a mean annual air temperature of 54 degrees in F. Temperature extremes range from 105 to +10 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 120 to 160 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from April through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 160 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 10 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are typically deep clays over lacustrine sediments or bedrock. Typically both the surface and subsoil layers are clays with high shrink-swell potential. Soil churning is prevalent. Depth to bedrock or sediments is usually greater than 60 inches. Permeability is very slow. The available water holding capacity is about 6 to 8 inches for the profile. The potential for erosion is moderate to severe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Clay
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Very slow Soil depth 60 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)6 – 8 in Ecological dynamics
Range In Characteristics:
As a fire influenced site, basin wildrye will increase with periodic fire. Idaho fescue will increase in proportion on more northerly aspects. Bluebunch wheatgrass and Thurber needlegrass will increase on more southerly aspects.
Response to Disturbance:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, bluebunch wheatgrass and basin wildrye will decrease. Bluebunch wheatgrass and basin wildrye are the preferred species during the spring. With the increase in bare soil interspaces, annuals may invade. However, a dense annual stand does not form. Under deteriorated conditions, excessive erosion in the bare soil interspaces markedly reduces the site productivity and contributes to downstream sedimentation.
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 bluebunch wheatgrass and basin wildrye. Sandberg bluegrass, basin big sagebrush, Idaho fescue and Thurber needlegrass are common in the stand. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 90 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs, and 5 percent shrubs. Approximate ground cover is 60-70 percent (basal and crown).
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 810 1080 1350 Shrub/Vine 45 60 75 Forb 45 60 75 Total 900 1200 1500 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Perennial, moderately deep rooted bunchgrass 600–840 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 600–840 – 2 Perennial, deep-rooted bunchgrass 240–480 basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 240–480 – 3 Perennial, moderately deep-rooted bunchgrass 24–84 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 12–36 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 12–24 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 0–24 – 4 Perennial, shallow-rooted bunchgrass 12–60 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 12–60 – Forb7 Perennial Forb 36–72 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 12–24 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 12–24 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 12–24 – 9 Other perennial forbs 12–36 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 0–12 – onion ALLIU Allium 0–12 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 0–12 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–12 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 0–12 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–12 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 0–12 – deathcamas ZIGAD Zigadenus 0–12 – Shrub/Vine11 Evergreen Shrub 24–60 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 12–36 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 12–24 – 13 Deciduous Shrub 12–24 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 12–24 – 15 Other shrubs 24–60 little sagebrush ARAR8 Artemisia arbuscula 0–24 – Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 0–24 – rabbitbrush CHRYS9 Chrysothamnus 0–24 – Tree16 Evergreen Tree 0–24 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 0–24 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock grazing:
This site is suited to use by cattle, sheep, and horses in most seasons under a planned grazing system. Use should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to avoid trampling damage and soil compaction.
Native Wildlife Associated With The Potential Climax Community:
Mule deer
Hawks
Rodents
Songbirds
This site offers cover and food for mule deer, rodents, and a variety of birds and their associated predators. It is an important wintering area for mule deer.Hydrological functions
The soils are in hydrologic group D. The soils of this site have high runoff potential.
Wood products
Where juniper is present it may be a source of firewood, fence posts, and specialty wood.
Supporting information
Contributors
A. Bahn, J. Thompson, H. Barrett
Bob Gillaspy
Morgan Parks (OSU)Approval
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 Frannsen Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist for NRCS - Oregon Date 08/06/2012 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, Moderate to Severe sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None to some -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Some to many on shallow rooted perennial grasses and some shrubs -
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, Moderate 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 = 4-5 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Deep, well drained and moderately well drained clays with high shrink-swell potential and revalent soil churning: moderate OM (2-4%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (65-75%) and gentle slopes (0-12%) 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:
Bluebunch wheatgrass > Basin wildrye > other dominant grasses > dominant shrubs > forbs > other shrubs > Western JuniperSub-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: 1800, Normal: 1500, Unfavorable: 1000 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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