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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.
Associated sites
R010XC020OR SR Loamy 9-12 PZ
SR Loamy 9-12" PZ
R010XC021OR SR Clayey 9-12 PZ
SR Clayey 9-12" PZ
R010XC025OR SR Sandy 9-12 PZ
SR Sandy 9-12 PZ
R010XC043OR SR South 9-12 PZ
SR South 9-12" PZ
R010XC064OR SR North 9-12 PZ
SR North 9-12 PZ
Similar sites
R010XC064OR SR North 9-12 PZ
SR North 9-12 PZ (cooler site, predominant on due north aspeccts, different composition- Idaho fescue dominant)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis
(2) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentataHerbaceous (1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. inermis
(2) Festuca idahoensisPhysiographic features
This site occurs on north facing aspects of mid elevation terraces in the Malheur, Owyhee and adjacent Snake River drainage. Slopes can vary from northeast to northwest and typically range from 15 to 70%. Elevations range from 2,200 to 3.500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Terrace
Elevation 2200 – 3500 ft Slope 15 – 70 % Aspect N, NE, NW Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 12 inches, most of which occurs in the
form of rain and snow during the months of December through March. Localized convection storms occasionally occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is mesic with a mean air temperature of 51 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 100 to -20 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 110 to 150 days. The optimum growth period for plant growth is April through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 150 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are typically moderately deep to very deep and well drained. Typically the surface layer is a silt loam to a very fine sandy loam 5 to 20 inches thick. The subsoil is a silty loam to clay loam 15 to over 30 inches thick. Depth to lacustrine or tuffaceous sediments ranges from 20 to over 60 inches. Permeability is moderate to moderately slow. The available water holding capacity (AWC) is about 4 to 6 inches for the profile. The erosion potential is moderate to severe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
(2) Very fine sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate to moderately slow Soil depth 20 – 60 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 6 in Ecological dynamics
The potential native plant community is dominated by Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass. Wyoming big sagebrush and lesser amounts of basin big sagebrush are common. Sandberg bluegrass and a variety of forbs and other shrubs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 85 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs and 10 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 80 to 90 percent (basal and crown).
Rsnge in Characteristics:
Idaho fescue increases on due north slopes. Beardless wheatgrass increases on a silty surface and on easterly and westerly exposures. Thurber’s needlegrass increases on a very fine sandy loam surface and on droughtier sites. Basin big sagebrush increases as precipitation approaches 12 inches. Spiny hopsage increases on droughty slump areas. Production increases on deeper foot slope soils and at the upper end of the precipitation zone.
Response to Disturbance:
When the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of over grazing, Idaho fescue species decreases. Beardless and bearded bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, Wyoming and basin big sagebrush increase. With continued deterioration bluebunch wheatgrass decreases and annuals strongly invade. With fire big sagebrush is severely impacted. Under deteriorated conditions rabbitbrush increases slightly and the site is dominated by cheatgrass, other annuals, and biennial forbs. Bare ground increases and excessive erosion particularly in incised channel areas, contributes to downstream sedimentation.
States: ARTRW/PSSPI-POSE-BRTE; CHVI8/ POSE-BRTE/biennial forbs(following fire on degraded range)
State and transition model
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 beardless wheatgrass
and Idaho fescue. Wyoming big sagebrush and lesser amounts of basin big sagebrush are common. Bearded bluebunch wheatgrass, Thurber’s needlegrass, Sandberg bluegrass and a variety of forbs and other shrubs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 85 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs and 10 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 80 to 90 percent (basal and crown).
Figure 3. 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 765 1020 1020 Shrub/Vine 90 120 180 Forb 45 60 90 Total 900 1200 1290 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 grass 600–720 beardless wheatgrass PSSPI Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. inermis 600–720 – 2 Sub-dominant, deep-rooted perennial grasses 360–660 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 240–360 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSPS Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 60–180 – Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 60–120 – 4 Sub-dominant, shallow-rooted perennial grass 12–36 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 12–36 – 5 Other grasses 5–64 needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–24 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 0–24 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 5–16 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 40–64 arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 16–24 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 16–24 – common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 8–16 – 9 Other forbs 32–92 hawksbeard CREPI Crepis 6–12 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 6–12 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 6–12 – stoneseed LITHO3 Lithospermum 4–10 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 3–8 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 3–8 – bastard toadflax COMAN Comandra 0–8 – Indian paintbrush CASTI2 Castilleja 0–6 – brodiaea BRODI Brodiaea 1–4 – agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 1–4 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 1–4 – woodland-star LITHO2 Lithophragma 1–4 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant, evergreen shrubs 48–96 Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 36–60 – basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 12–36 – 14 Other shrubs 8–66 yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 8–24 – spiny hopsage GRSP Grayia spinosa 0–24 – threetip sagebrush ARTR4 Artemisia tripartita 0–18 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing use in the spring, early summer and fall under a planned grazing system. Use should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to prevent trampling damage and soil compaction. Grazing management should be keyed for Idaho fescue the preferred species over bluebunch wheaygrass. Deferred grazing or rest is recommended at least once every three years.
Native Wildlife Associated with the Potential Climax Community:
This site is commonly used by pronghorn antelope, mule deer, rabbits, rodents, upland birds and various predators. It is a preferred site for sage grouse rearing. Antelope and mule deer make excellent use of the site for fall, late winter and spring forage.Hydrological functions
The soils of this site are in an upland topographic position. They have moderately high runoff potential and medium infiltration rates when the hydrologic cover is high. Hydrologic cover is high when the bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue and other deep rooted bunchgrass components are >70 percent of potential. The soils are in hydrologic group C.
Supporting information
Contributors
T.Bloomer, E.Petersen & A. Bahn
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) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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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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