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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Quercus berberidifolia
(2) Quercus wislizeniHerbaceous (1) Lotus scoparius
Physiographic features
This ecological site is found on slopes ranging from 30 to 70% at elevations from 984 to 2296 feet on strongly, north-facing aspects.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
Elevation 984 – 2296 ft Slope 30 – 70 % Aspect N, NE, NW Climatic features
The average annual precipitation in MLRA 15 is from 6 to 20 inches (150 to 510 millimeters) in the area south of San Francisco, and snowfall is rare. The north half of this area can be divided into two rainfall and snowfall zones. The southern half north of San Francisco has an average annual precipitation from 18 to 40 inches (460 to 1,015 millimeters) and snowfall is rare. In the north half, average annual precipitation is from 40 to 79 inches per year (1,015 to 2,010 millimeters) and snowfall is common. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout fall, winter, and spring but is very low in summer. Coastal areas receive some moisture from fog in summer. Most of the rainfall occurs as low to moderate intensity, Pacific frontal storms during the winter from October to May. The average annual temperature is from 51 to 66 degrees F (10 to 19 degrees C), decreasing from south to north. The average frost-free period is 275 days (180 to 365 days), decreasing with elevation and from south to north.
At Pinnacles National Monument, the average annual precipitation is 17 inches with a range between 17 and 19 inches, mostly from rain in the winter months from November through April. The average annual air temperature is between 59 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit, and the frost-free period (>32F) is 190 to 210 days.
NOTE: Data collected for monthly precipitation and temperatures is only from one climate station.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 210 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils for this site are residuum derived from diatomaceous mudstone.
This ecological site occurs on the following soil components in the Pinnacles National Monument soil survey.
SSA MU Symbol Component
CA069 123 Teapot
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate to rapid Soil depth 17 – 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 40 – 0 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1.4 – 0 in Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)4.5 – 6.5 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)50 – 75 % Ecological dynamics
The reference state for this ecological site is QUWI2, and QUBE.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 3. Diatomaceous hillslopes
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textState 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State - Plant Community 1Community 1.1
Reference State - Plant Community 1The reference plant community for this ecological site is dominated by scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia) and interior live oak (Quercus wislezenii).
State 2
Reference State - Plant Community 2Community 2.1
Reference State - Plant Community 2This plant community is found on the more west- and south-facing slopes where evapotranspiration is greater and soil moisture is more limited.
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
SCRUB-01 - % and lbs.
Other references
FEIS: Scrub oak
Contributors
K. Moseley
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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