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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
Associated sites
F021XE232CA Pinus contorta var. murrayana/Arctostaphylos nevadensis/Carex rossii
F021XE234CA Populus tremuloides/Symphoricarpos rotundifolius/Bromus marginatus
R021XE207CA Wet Meadow 16+ P.Z.
R021XE222CA Loamy Slope 30+ P.Z.
R021XE225CA Willow Thicket
Similar sites
R021XE226CA Seep
Dominated by CAREX and SCIRP; occurs on permanently wet sites
R021XE207CA Wet Meadow 16+ P.Z.
Dominated by CAREX; wetter site.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Deschampsia caespitosa
(2) Carex nebrascensisPhysiographic features
This site occurs in nearly level intermontane basins. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent. Elevations range from 5500 to 8200 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Intermontane basin
Flooding duration Long (7 to 30 days) Flooding frequency Occasional to frequent Ponding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Ponding frequency Rare Elevation 5500 – 8200 ft Slope 0 – 8 % Ponding depth 0 – 6 in Water table depth 12 – 50 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate of this site is subhumid, characterized by warm, dry summers and cold, moist winters. The area's precipitation comes mostly from winter Pacific cyclonic storms, with a very slight summer monsoonal season that is erratic but can be locally significant. Average annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 50 inches with most occurring during the winter months. Approximately half the precipitation falls as snow; half as rain. The mean annual air temperature is 38 to 44 degrees F. The average growing season is about 30 to 60 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 60 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 50 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site has a seasonal high water table recharged from snowmelt and springflow.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are very deep and poorly to very poorly drained. Surface layers are typically very dark, medium textured with high organic matter content. These soils have an aquic moisture regime and are usually saturated in some part of the moisture control section during winter, spring, and early summer, and usually dry in all parts during summer and fall.
A mollic epipedon extends from the soil surface to 22 inches. Soil series associated with this site include a drier phase of Dismalswamp.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – andesite
Surface texture (1) Ashy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Poorly drained to excessively drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 72 – 84 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)7.6 – 7.8 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)5.6 – 6.5 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 50 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
This is a lentic site. Tufted hairgrass and Nebraska sedge have similar ecological amplitudes and often occur together. Wet meadows have a simple structure consisting of a layer of herbaceous plants. Shrub or tree layers are usually absent or very sparse; they may, however, be an important feature of the meadow edge. Transition to coniferous forest will occur at montane and subalpine elevations. At lower elevations, a transition to broad leaved trees or shrubs, particularly sagebrush, may occur. Most wet meadow plant species are perennial and a substantial change in the plant community may develop slowly. Foxtail barley, dock and lodgepole pine are invaders on this site.
Fire Ecology:
Fire in wetland communities often only top-kills plants. Prescribed fires, to reduce litter cover, are most effective in late summer, early fall or during years when the water is below the soil surface. Sedges have deep buried rhizomes which usually survive all but the most severe fires. Tufted hairgrass generally survives all but the most severe fires. It usually sprouts from the root crown after aerial portions are burned. Tufts formed by the leaves often protect basal buds from fire damage.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
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant Community
Figure 3. Semi-wet Meadow
The reference plant community is characterized by a dense stand of perennial grasses, grass-like plants and forbs. Tufted hairgrass and Nebraska sedge dominate this site. Potential vegetative composition is 80% grasses and grass-like plants; 15% forbs, 1% trees, 1% moss and 3% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal) is 70 to 85 percent.
Figure 4. 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 1600 2400 3200 Forb 300 450 600 Shrub/Vine 100 105 120 Tree 0 30 40 Moss 0 15 40 Total 2000 3000 4000 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes 1775–3230 Nebraska sedge CANE2 Carex nebrascensis 495–825 – sedge CAREX Carex 65–260 – meadow barley HOBR2 Hordeum brachyantherum 60–165 – Forb2 Perennial forbs 75–300 arnica ARNIC Arnica 15–60 – aster ASTER Aster 15–60 – willowherb EPILO Epilobium 15–60 – cinquefoil POTEN Potentilla 15–60 – clover TRIFO Trifolium 15–60 – Shrub/Vine3 Shrubs 60–120 silver sagebrush ARCA13 Artemisia cana 30–60 – willow SALIX Salix 30–60 – Tree4 Deciduous Trees 50–150 quaking aspen POTR5 Populus tremuloides 50–150 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing during summer and fall. Nebraska sedge increases under heavy grazing while tufted hairgrass decreases. To maintain current species composition, grazing levels should be low to moderate. Once established, Nebraska sedge competes for and maintains dominance. Where management results in abusive grazing by livestock, other coarse-fibers grass-like plants and less palatable forbs become dominant on this site. Misuse can also cause gully erosion, causing the water table to drop, reducing site productivity and changing plant community species composition toward more drought tolerant plants. Sod may be broken with small, bare areas exposed.
Tufted hairgrass provides good to excellent forage for all classes of livestock. It is often an abundant source of forage throughout its growing season. Tufted hairgrass is a decreaser with excessive grazing by cattle. However, it is tolerant of moderate amounts of fairly close grazing because of dense growth and tillering. Palatability of beaked sedge varies seasonally. Beaked sedge provides good forage in the spring but becomes tough during the summer. Frosts or hard freezes on upper elevation meadows make forage unpalatable in the fall. Grazing management of this community should allow for regrowth at the end of the grazing season to replenish carbohydrate reserves for winter respiration and early spring growth. When the soils are wet they are highly susceptible to soil compaction.
Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.
Wildlife Interpretations:
The sedges and tufted hairgrass have high to moderate resource values for elk and medium values for mule deer. Elk consume beaked sedge later in the growing season. Tufted hairgrass forage value for other wildlife species has been rated fair to good, thus use of tufted hairgrass by wildlife species is variable.
Hydrological functions
This lentic site has ponded water and a high water table after spring runoff. The water table drops to below 12 inches later in the growing season.
Recreational uses
The sedges can withstand moderate trailing and recreational use. To reduce pack and saddle stock grazing impact, use should be minimized until after senescence (September and October).
Other information
Nebraska sedge and tufted hairgrass have high potential for biomass production and long-term revegetation and medium potential for erosion control and short-term revegetation.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Modoc County, CA Township/Range/Section T48N R16E S31 Latitude 41° 59′ 18″ Longitude 120° 10′ 37″ General legal description Dismal Swamp, Mount Bidwell, on the Modoc National Forest in the Warner Mountains, Modoc County, CA. Other references
Fire Effects Information System [Online]. http://www.fs.fed.us/feis
Hickman, J.C. (ed). 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California. University of California Press, Los Angeles, California.
Miles, S.R. and C.B. Goudey. 1997. Ecological Subregions of California Section and Subsection Descriptions. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region R5-EM-TP-005. Subsection M261Gf-Warner Mountains.
Modoc Elk Working Group. 2000. The Greater Modoc Area A Strategic Plan for Elk Management. Modoc County, CA
Contributors
P.NOVAK-ECHENIQUE
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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