Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R010XC040OR
SR Very Shallow
16-20 PZ
Last updated: 4/10/2025
Accessed: 05/21/2026
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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
R010XC059OR SR Mahogany Rockland 12+ PZ
SR Mahogany Rockland 12+ PZ
Similar sites
R010XC039OR SR Very Shallow 12-16 PZ
SR Very Shallow 12-16 PZ (lower elevation, precipitation and production)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia rigida
Herbaceous (1) Poa secunda
(2) Festuca idahoensisPhysiographic features
This site occurs on tablelands and mountain plateaus adjacent to forestland. Slopes typically range from 2 to 12%. Elevations range from 4,500 to 7,000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plateau
Elevation 4500 – 7000 ft Slope 2 – 12 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches plus, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of November through March. Localized, occasionally severe, convectional storms occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is frigid with a mean annual air temperature of about 43 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 90 to -30 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from less than 30 to 70 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from late May through July.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 70 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 20 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are typically very shallow and well-drained. Typically the surface layer is a very stony clay loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is a very stony clay loam to a very cobbly clay 4 to 8 inches thick. Depth to bedrock is less than 10 inches. Permeability is slow. The available water holding capacity is 1 to 2 inches for the profile. The potential for erosion is moderate to severe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very stony clay loam
(2) Very cobbly
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained Permeability class Slow to very slow Soil depth 6 – 10 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)1 – 2 in Ecological dynamics
The potential native plant community is dominated by stiff sagebrush, Sandberg bluegrass, Idaho fescue and one-spike oatgrass. Lomatium, balsamroot, bighead clover and a variety of other forbs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 60 percent grasses, 20 percent forbs, and 20 percent shrubs. Approximate ground cover is 50 to 70 percent (basal and crown).
Range in Characteristics:
Plant composition and production is dependent on soil depth and bedrock fracture. Sandberg bluegrass and one-spike oatgrass increase over unfractured bedrock and soils that are 4 to 6 inches deep. One-spike oatgrass increases in relation to Sandberg bluegrass on moist sites. Idaho fescue and stiff sagebrush will increase on deeper soils closer to 10 inches deep and over fractured bedrock. Production will similarly increase with soil depth and precipitation.
Response to Disturbance:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue and one-spike oatgrass will decrease. Sandberg bluegrass and stiff sagebrush will increase. Ventenata if present will invade along with medusahead and cheatgrass. Under deteriorated conditions, excessive erosion in the bare soil interspaces markedly reduces the site potential 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 stiff sagebrush, Sandberg bluegrass, Idaho fescue and one-spike oatgrass. Lomatium, balsamroot, bighead clover and a variety of other forbs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 60 percent grasses, 20 percent forbs, and 20 percent shrubs. Approximate ground cover is 50 to 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 200 300 400 Forb 120 180 240 Shrub/Vine 68 102 136 Tree 12 18 24 Total 400 600 800 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant, perennial shallow-rooted grasses 120–240 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 90–150 – onespike danthonia DAUN Danthonia unispicata 30–90 – 2 Sub-dominant, perennial deep-rooted bunchgrasses 60–120 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 60–120 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 30–90 – 4 Other perennial grasses 30–90 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 30–90 – Forb7 Dominant, perennial forbs 42–108 desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 18–48 – largehead clover TRMA3 Trifolium macrocephalum 12–30 – hairy balsamroot BAHOH Balsamorhiza hookeri var. hirsuta 12–30 – 8 Sub-dominant, perennial forbs 12–36 fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 6–18 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 6–18 – 9 Other perennial forbs 21–56 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 4–8 – stonecrop SEDUM Sedum 3–8 – narrowleaf blue-eyed grass SIAN3 Sisyrinchium angustifolium 2–5 – agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 2–5 – onion ALLIU Allium 2–5 – pussytoes ANTEN Antennaria 2–5 – larkspur DELPH Delphinium 2–5 – woodland-star LITHO2 Lithophragma 2–5 – bluebells MERTE Mertensia 0–5 – sagebrush buttercup RAGL Ranunculus glaberrimus 2–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant deciduous shrub 120–180 scabland sagebrush ARRI2 Artemisia rigida 120–180 – 12 Perennial, evergreen, sub-dominant 12–30 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 12–30 – Tree16 Perennial, evergreen, dominant 12–24 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 6–12 – ponderosa pine PIPO Pinus ponderosa 6–12 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site provides limited summer forage to livestock. The very shallow soils have low water holding capacity for extended plant growth. This site is easily damaged by early grazing and trampling when soils are saturated.
Grazing management should be keyed for one-spike oatgrass and Idaho fescue. Deferred grazing or rest is recommended at least once every three years.
Native Wildlife Associated with the Potential Climax Community:
This site offers food and limited cover for mule deer, elk, small mammals, birds and their associated predators. It is an important spring use area for elk, deer and upland birds. Forbs furnish excellent high quality protein for brood rearing and young wildlife.
Nearby forested areas provide escape, hiding, and thermal cover.Hydrological functions
The soils of this site are in an upland topographic position. They have high runoff potential and low available water storage potential even when the hydrologic cover is good. Under frozen ground conditions runoff potential is significantly increased. With a reduction in ground cover and an increase in bare ground sediment delivery is considerably increased and site productivity is reduced.
Wood products
The scattered ponderosa pine and old juniper provide little economic benefit but are of importance to wildlife for cover.
Other information
This site is not suited to range seeding or brush control. The major limitation is the very shallow soils. Special designs are needed for fence construction.
Juniper invasion is a risk on this site. Control measures include prescribed burning and/or cutting followed by rest to improve vigor, density and seed production of existing perennial grasses.
When incised channels are present, rehabilitation will markedly improve production, reduce downstream sedimentation, and restore good hydrologic characteristics. On altered sites, the reintroduction of basin wildrye and other perennial grasses may be needed to fully restore the site potential.
Supporting information
Contributors
A. Bahn, G. Kuehl, H. Barrett
M. Parks (OSU)
T.Bloomer, B.Gillaspy, E.Petersen, A.BahnApproval
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 in Oregon Date 08/07/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None, moderate to severe sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
none -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None to very few (some frost heaving) -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
5-20% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None, slight 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):
Moderate to significant resistance to erosion: aggregate stability = 4-6 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Very shallow well drained very stony clay loam (6 inches thick): Low OM (0-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Low to moderate ground cover (30-50%) and gentle slopes (3-12%) 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:
Stiff sagebrush > Sandberg bluegrass > other grasses > 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:
Western Juniper readily invades 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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