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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
R021XY210OR LOAMY 14-18 PZ
Loamy 14-18" PZ
R021XY212OR SHALLOW LOAM 14-18 PZ
Shallow Loam 14-18" PZ
R021XY216OR STONY CLAYPAN 14-20 PZ
Stony Claypan 14-20" PZ
Similar sites
R021XY212OR SHALLOW LOAM 14-18 PZ
Shallow Loam 14-18" PZ (Frigid temperature regime)
R021XY216OR STONY CLAYPAN 14-20 PZ
Stony Claypan 14-20" PZ (surface stones)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on terraces, benches and tablelands. Slopes range from 0 to 15%. Elevations range from 4000 to 6500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Terrace
(2) Plateau
Elevation 4000 – 6500 ft Slope 0 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 18 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of October through April. The soil temperature regime is frigid to mesic with the mean annual air temperature ranging from 45 to 47 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 90 to -30 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 50 to 110 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from May through June.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 110 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are very shallow to a claypan or clayey layer which restricts root penetration. Bedrock or a duripan immediately underlie the claypan. Typically the surface layer is loamy and contains less than 30 percent rock fragments, which are primarily gravel size. Permeability is slow. The available water holding capacity is 2 to 5 inches. Runoff is medium. Erosion hazard by water is moderate.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Permeability class Slow Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 30 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)2 – 5 in Ecological dynamics
This site is typically dominated by Idaho fescue. At the lower end of its precipitation range, bluebunch wheatgrass may approach co-dominance. Soils in this site that have a gravelly surface will show an increase in Thurber needlegrass. Idaho fescue production increases with increased soil surface thickness.
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass will decline in the stand and low sagebrush and Sandberg bluegrass will increase. In the absence of periodic fire, western juniper will invade or increase in the stand.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
HCPC, FEID-PSSP6/ARAR8Community 1.1
HCPC, FEID-PSSP6/ARAR8The potential native plant community is dominated by Idaho fescue. Bluebunch wheatgrass and Sandberg bluegrass are common. Low sagebrush dominates the aspect. Antelope bitterbrush and shrubby buckwheat may occur. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 75% grasses, 5% forbs and 20% 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 486 653 819 Shrub/Vine 126 195 261 Forb 45 81 117 Tree 45 68 90 Total 702 997 1287 Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR5551 , D21 Mid Elev., NA, Good Condtion. 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 10 40 45 5 0 0 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 Deep-rooted, dominant, perennial grasses 90–180 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 360–540 – 2 Deep-rooted, sub-dominant, perennial grasses 90–180 bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 90–180 – 4 Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses 27–54 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 27–54 – 5 Other perennial grasses 9–45 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 0–5 – sedge CAREX Carex 0–5 – onespike danthonia DAUN Danthonia unispicata 0–5 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–5 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–5 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 36–72 Hooker's balsamroot BAHO Balsamorhiza hookeri 9–18 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 9–18 – phlox PHLOX Phlox 9–18 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 9–18 – 9 Other perennial forbs 9–45 milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – mariposa lily CALOC Calochortus 0–5 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–5 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–5 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–5 – largehead clover TRMA3 Trifolium macrocephalum 0–5 – Shrub/Vine11 Dominant evergreen shrubs 90–180 little sagebrush ARAR8 Artemisia arbuscula 90–180 – 12 Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs 36–81 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 18–45 – mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 9–18 – slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 9–18 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 45–90 western juniper JUOC Juniperus occidentalis 45–90 – Interpretations
Animal community
Mule deer will feed on this site in the spring. Pronghorn antelope will use this site year-round. The site may serve as strutting grounds for sage grouse.
Hydrological functions
The soils are in hydrologic groups C and D. The soils of this site have moderate to high runoff potential.
Other products
This site is suited to grazing in late spring, summer and fall under a planned grazing system. Use should be postponed until soils are firm enough to prevent trampling damage and soil compaction.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Klamath County, OR Township/Range/Section T38S R14E S? General legal description NW of Gerber Reservoir in Dry Prairie basin: T38S, R14E Location 2: Klamath County, OR Township/Range/Section T41S R18E S15 General legal description Lake County east of Goose Lake: T41S, R18E, Sec 15 (NW, SE) Location 3: Klamath County, OR Township/Range/Section T36S R10E S22 General legal description South of Sprague River (town): T36S, R10E, Sec 22 (NE, SW) Contributors
Barrett, Carlson
E Ersch
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 08/22/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None, moderate sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some to few in interspaces -
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% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None, slight 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 to significantly resistant to erosion: aggregate stability = 4-6 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Very shallow (to claypan) loams, clay loams or silty clay loams (<30% rock fragments in the surface layer): Low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
High amount of plant cover (70-90%), rock fragments, and gentle slopes (0-15%) effectively limit rainfall impact and overland flow; infiltration is moderately slow to slow -
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 > Bluebunch wheatgrass = Low sagebrush > dominant shrubs > dominant forbs > other grasses = other forbsSub-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: 1200, Normal: 900, Unfavorable: 600 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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