Mahogany North Slope 16-22 PZ CELE3/PSSPS

Description

Reference Plant Community Phase. This plant community has a curlleaf mountain mahogany overstory with bluebunch wheatgrass dominating the understory. Nevada bluegrass and Oregon grape can be subdominant in the understory. A wide variety of other grasses occur in the understory in small amounts. Several other shrubs can occur in the plant community in small amounts as well. Very few forbs except arrowleaf balsamroot are present in the understory. The historic natural fire frequency is approximately every 250-500 years. When the site burns, it burns in a mosaic pattern across the site. The site never burns in its entirety.

Submodel

Description

Unknown new site. Utah juniper in Phase D has become so dominant because of the lack of fire and improper grazing management that the plant community has moved across the threshold to a new site. When juniper cover nears 20 percent, the threshold is crossed. Soil erosion has increased dramatically and production potential has been lost. It is not economically feasible to move this plant community back across the threshold to Phase D or A, State 1. This site may resemble Juniper Breaks 12-16” JUOS/PSSPS.

Submodel