Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R010XC067OR
SR Shrubby Mountain North
16-20 PZ
Last updated: 5/13/2025
Accessed: 07/01/2026
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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
R010XC034OR SR Shrubby Mountain Loam 16-20 PZ
Shrubby Mountain Loam 16-20" PZ
R010XC049OR SR Shrubby Mountain South 16-20 PZ
Shrubby Mountain South 16-20" PZ
Similar sites
R010XC034OR SR Shrubby Mountain Loam 16-20 PZ
Shrubby Mountain Loam 16-20" PZ (lower effective moisture, lower production, less tall shrubs)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Amelanchier alnifolia
(2) Prunus virginianaHerbaceous (1) Festuca idahoensis
Physiographic features
This site occurs adjacent to forestland on the backslopes of tablelands and mountain plateaus. It is typically on slopes with north and northeast aspects. Slopes range from 12 to 60%. Elevations range from 3200 to 5000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plateau
Elevation 3200 – 5000 ft Slope 12 – 60 % Aspect N, NE Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of November through March. The soil temperature regime is frigid with a mean annual air temperature of 42 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 90 to -30 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 30 to 60 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-April through mid-July.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 60 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 20 in ">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are typically deep and well drained. Typically the surface layer is a loam about 25 inches thick. The subsoil is a gravelly loam about 9 inches thick. Depth to granitic bedrock ranges from 40 to 60 inches. Permeability is moderate for surface soils and moderately rapid in the subsoil. 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) Loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate to moderately rapid Soil depth 40 – 60 in Available water capacity
(0-40in)6 – 8 in Ecological dynamics
Needlegrasses increase on more coarse textured soils and sedges on steeper, due north exposures. Shrubs will increase with soil depth and precipitation. Tall shrubs often occur in groups with shorter shrubs forming a shrub/grassland mosaic. As a fire-influenced community the frequency of fire will have a major impact on the composition of the stand. Root sprouting shrubs are favored with a higher fire frequency.
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue will decrease while sedges, bluebunch wheatgrass and bluegrasses will increase. Idaho fescue is the preferred species during all seasons. With further deterioration, sod bluegrasses and annuals invade. Under deteriorated conditions, shrubs dominate the overstory and bare ground increases. 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
HIstoric Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
HIstoric Climax Plant CommunityThe potential native plant community is dominated by mountain big sagebrush and Idaho fescue. Tall shrubs, serviceberry, chokecherry and bitter cherry are prominent in the stand. Wax current, bitterbrush, buckwheat, needlegrasses and sedges are common. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 50% grasses, 10% forbs and 40% shrubs.
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 1008 1323 1638 Shrub/Vine 378 684 990 Forb 108 198 288 Tree 18 36 54 Total 1512 2241 2970 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 720–900 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 720–900 – 2 Sub-dominant, deep-rooted, perennial grasses 234–594 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 90–270 – needlegrass ACHNA Achnatherum 90–180 – sedge CAREX Carex 54–144 – 4 Sub-dominant, shallow-rooted, perennial grasses 18–54 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 18–54 – 5 All other perennial grasses 36–90 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 12–30 – blue wildrye ELGL Elymus glaucus 12–30 – bluegrass POA Poa 12–30 – Forb7 All dominant, perennial forbs 36–90 buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 36–90 – 8 All sub-dominant, perennial forbs 54–108 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 18–36 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 18–36 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 18–36 – 9 All other perennial forbs 18–90 agoseris AGOSE Agoseris 2–8 – Indian paintbrush CASTI2 Castilleja 2–8 – shootingstar DODEC Dodecatheon 2–8 – alumroot HEUCH Heuchera 2–8 – Scouler's woollyweed HISC2 Hieracium scouleri 2–8 – western stoneseed LIRU4 Lithospermum ruderale 2–8 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 2–8 – bluebells MERTE Mertensia 2–8 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 2–8 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 2–8 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 2–8 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant, evergreen, perennial shrubs 90–180 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 90–180 – 12 Sub-dominant, evergreen, perennial shrubs 36–144 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 36–144 – 13 Dominant, deciduous, perennial shrubs 108–288 Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 54–144 – chokecherry PRVI Prunus virginiana 54–144 – 14 Sub-dominant, deciduous, perennial shrubs 108–306 bitter cherry PREM Prunus emarginata 18–90 – wax currant RICE Ribes cereum 36–90 – common snowberry SYAL Symphoricarpos albus 36–72 – rose ROSA5 Rosa 18–54 – 15 All other perennial shrubs 36–72 yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 18–36 – peraphyllum PERAP Peraphyllum 18–36 – Tree16 Dominant, evergreen, perennial tree 18–36 ponderosa pine PIPO Pinus ponderosa 18–36 – 17 Sub-dominant, evergreen, perennial trees 0–18 Douglas-fir PSME Pseudotsuga menziesii 0–18 – Interpretations
Animal community
This site offers food and cover for mule deer and elk.
Hydrological functions
The soils are hydrologic group B. The soils of this site have moderately low runoff potential.
Wood products
A few scattered fir trees offer cover and diversity for wildlife.
Other products
This site is suited to use by cattle, sheep, and horses in late spring, summer and fall under a planned grazing system. Use should be avoided until the soils are firm enough to withstand trampling damage and soil compaction.
Supporting information
Contributors
A Bahn, H Barrett
E ErschApproval
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 Contact for lead author Oregon NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist 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 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:
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):
0-5% -
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 = 3-5 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Deep well drained loams (25 inches thick): Moderate OM (3-5%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (80-90%) and gentle to steep slopes (12-60%) moderately to significantly 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 > shrubs > other grasses > forbs > treesSub-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: 2200, Normal: 1800, Unfavorable: 1400 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 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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