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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
R021XY102OR SODIC FLAT 10+ PZ
Similar sites
R021XY102OR SODIC FLAT 10+ PZ
High alkalinity
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Sarcobatus vermiculatus
(2) Chrysothamnus nauseosusHerbaceous (1) Puccinellia nuttalliana
(2) Distichlis spicataPhysiographic features
This site occurs in lake basins and on floodplains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Basin floor
(2) Flood plain
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency None to frequent Ponding duration Long (7 to 30 days) Ponding frequency None to frequent Elevation 4000 – 4700 ft Slope 0 – 2 % Water table depth 0 – 60 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 18 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of October through April. The soil temperature regime is mesic with a mean annual air temperature of about 47 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 110 to -30 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 75 to 125 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-April to July.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 130 days Freeze-free period (average) 170 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site has a fluctuating water table which is at or near the surface during the spring. Saline and alkaline conditions dramatically reduce available water to plants when compared to other sites having similar textures and depth.
Soil features
The soils of this site are moderately alkaline. The soils are both saline and alkali. The presence of salts and sodium limit the use of these soils. These soils typically have a white and black crusted surface and are known as white and black alkali soils. The soila are very deep to bedrock and have fluctuating water table which is at of near the surface during the spring. Because of the salts, plant avaiable water is dramatically reduced when compared to toerh soils having somewheat pooorly or poorly drained. Texture is variable and ranges from loamy fine sand to silty clay loam in both the suface and subsoil. Runoff is very slow and in most cases the soils pond water. Erosion hazard from water is slight, but wind erosion can be a concern where the suface soil is exposed.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Loamy fine sand
(2) Silty clay loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained Soil depth 60 in Ecological dynamics
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Nuttall alkali-grass will decrease in the stand and inland saltgrass will become dominant. With further deterioration, black greasewood and rabbitbrush will increase. Foxtail barley and pepperweed will invade the site.
The typical plant composition of this site results from poor soil drainage and accumulations of salts and sodium. Where small elevational increases occur and drainage is improved, there is an increase in plants less tolerant of salts and sodium.State and transition model
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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
HCPC, PUNU2-DISPCommunity 1.1
HCPC, PUNU2-DISPThe potential native plant community is dominated by Nuttall alkali-grass and inland saltgrass with lesser amounts of sedges and bottlebrush squirreltail. Black greasewood and rabbitbrush may occur in the stand. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 90% grasses, 5% forbs and 5% shrubs.
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 720 898 1070 Shrub/Vine 60 75 90 Forb 40 55 70 Total 820 1028 1230 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR5501 , D21 Low Elev., NA, Meadow/Lakebed/Irr.. RPC Growth Curve.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 0 5 15 30 35 10 5 0 0 0 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 500–700 Nuttall's alkaligrass PUNU2 Puccinellia nuttalliana 500–700 – 2 Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 220–370 saltgrass DISP Distichlis spicata 200–300 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 10–50 – sedge CAREX Carex 10–20 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 10–20 aster EUCEP2 Eucephalus 10–20 – 10 Other annual forbs 30–50 Shrub/Vine13 Dominant deciduous (or 1/2 shrubs) shrubs 60–90 rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 20–30 – green rabbitbrush ERTE18 Ericameria teretifolia 20–30 – greasewood SAVE4 Sarcobatus vermiculatus 20–30 – Interpretations
Animal community
When located near water, this site provides food and cover for mule deer and quail. Some shorebirds or waterfowl may use this site temporarily while water is ponded.
Hydrological functions
The soils are typically in hydrologic groups C or D, but may range to B.
Other products
This site is suited to livestock grazing in summer and fall when the soil is dry. This site can be damaged if heavily grazed during the winter and spring seasons while the soils are wet.
Other information
The soils in this site typically reflect hydric soil characteristics. Chemical conditions in the soil may make it corrosive to concrete and steel. This site is not well suited for seeding due to the presence of salts and sodium.
Supporting information
Contributors
Barrett, Carlson
E Ersch (OSU)
K.KennedyRangeland 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 08/21/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None, slight sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
5-15% black & white alkali spots are devoid of vegetation -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None, slight wind erosion hazard: severe when soil is exposed and dry -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine to moderately coarse - 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 = 3-4 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Very deep, moderately alkaline, somewhat poorly or poorly drained loamy fine sands to silty clay loams: Low OM (<2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
High ground cover (75-85%) and gentle slopes (0-2%) effectively limits rainfall impact and overland flow, infiltration can be limited by excess thatch -
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:
Nuttall alkali grass > Inland saltgrass > other forbs > shrubs > sedges = dominant forbsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
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: 1500, Normal: 1000, Unfavorable: 700 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. 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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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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