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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
R021XY410OR DEEP LOAMY 16-20 PZ
R021XY412OR LOAMY 18+ PZ
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs in/on mountain slopes, rolling uplands, plateaus and valleys. Slopes range from 1-45 percent. Elevations range from 4400 to 6000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Plateau
(3) Valley
Elevation 4400 – 6000 ft Slope 1 – 45 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 24 inches which occurs mainly between the months of November and June, mostly in the form of rain and snow. The soil temperature regime is frigid. The average annual air temperature is 43-46 degrees F with extreme temperatures ranging from 85 to -30 degrees F. The frost free period is 20 to 50 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from May through late July.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 80 days Freeze-free period (average) 120 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 moderately deep or deep, well drained, stony loam surface textures and loam to clay loam subsoils. They are generally formed in/from tuff, breccia, rhyolite or basalt. Permeability is slow. The potential for water erosion ranges from low to high depending on the slope.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Stony loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow Soil depth Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)Not specified Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)2 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7 Ecological dynamics
The potential native plant community is dominated by ponderosa pine. An occasional single white fir or incense cedar sometimes occurs in the understory of the stand. The midstory is dominated by pine reproduction, curlleaf mtn. mahogany and traces of tall shrubs such as choke cherry and bitter cherry. Other shrubs present include bitterbrush, snowberry, Klamath plum, serviceberry, green manzanita, wax currant, Oregon grape and squaw carpet. Herbaceous species include Ross sedge, Idaho fescue, mountain brome, Wheeler bluegrass, western needlegrass, heartleaf arnica, strawberry, hawkweed and numerous other species.
Marginal areas for the site (droughty, low elevation) and south aspects will have greater grass cover and an absence of white fir and incense cedar.
Pine regeneration is favored by heavy thinnings and patch cuts. White fir regeneration is removed by understory burning. Heavy grazing pressure by livestock may reduce fescue, bluegrass, sedge, brome, and palatable forbs. Rabbitbrush, snowbrush, and manazanita invade after major fires.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-CARO5/PUTR2-CELE3/PIPOCommunity 1.1
HCPC, FEID-CARO5/PUTR2-CELE3/PIPOVariability in plant composition and production is influenced by the density of the tree overstory. Perennial grasses and bitterbrush decrease where dense stands of ponderosa pine have developed. White fir increases with elevation.
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 296 464 632 Shrub/Vine 56 144 232 Tree 48 92 136 Forb 40 68 96 Total 440 768 1096 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 Dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 240–400 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 160–240 – Ross' sedge CARO5 Carex rossii 80–160 – 2 Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses 48–192 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 16–64 – western fescue FEOC Festuca occidentalis 16–64 – Wheeler's bluegrass POWH2 Poa wheeleri 16–64 – 5 Other perennial grasses 8–40 western needlegrass ACOC3 Achnatherum occidentale 0–5 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–5 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 0–5 – Forb7 Dominant perennial forbs 40–96 woolly mule-ears WYMO Wyethia mollis 8–24 – white hawkweed HIAL2 Hieracium albiflorum 8–24 – white hawkweed HIAL2 Hieracium albiflorum 8–24 – woolly mule-ears WYMO Wyethia mollis 8–24 – strawberry FRAGA Fragaria 8–16 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 8–16 – American vetch VIAM Vicia americana 8–16 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 8–16 – American vetch VIAM Vicia americana 8–16 – strawberry FRAGA Fragaria 8–16 – Shrub/Vine13 Dominant deciduous (or 1/2 shrubs) shrubs 48–192 curl-leaf mountain mahogany CELE3 Cercocarpus ledifolius 16–64 – prostrate ceanothus CEPR Ceanothus prostratus 16–64 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 16–64 – 15 Other shrubs 8–40 Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 0–5 – greenleaf manzanita ARPA6 Arctostaphylos patula 0–5 – Klamath plum PRSU2 Prunus subcordata 0–5 – common snowberry SYAL Symphoricarpos albus 0–5 – Tree16 Dominant evergreen trees 40–120 ponderosa pine PIPO Pinus ponderosa 40–120 – 17 Sub-dominant evergreen trees 8–16 white fir ABCO Abies concolor 8–16 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock grazing- This site is normally very accessible for grazing but use may be light under heavy shade except for rest, travel and bedding. Most grazing is available in logged, burned or disturbed sites (except dense brush fields) and in plantations.
Wildlife-Mule deer, elk, bobcat, coyote, grouse-primarily summer rangeHydrological functions
The soils of this site have low to medium infiltration rates and low to high runoff potential depending on slope. The hydrologic soil group is C.
Recreational uses
hiking and hunting
Wood products
Lumber, poles, firewood, primarily summer range.
Other information
For road stabilization or critical area stabilization where competition with tree seedlings is not a concern- choices include pubescent wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, hard fescue, sheep fescue, smooth brome and/or orchardgrass.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Klamath County, OR Township/Range/Section T39S R13E S5 General legal description SE Klamath county at Goodlow Mtn. Natural Area along road through Natural Area in T39S, R13E, Sec 5 (E half of SW) Location 2: Lake County, OR Township/Range/Section T37S R16E S28 General legal description Lake county along highway west of Quartz Mtn. Pass T37S, R16E, Sec 28, 29, 30 Contributors
BLM ESI Team
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 09/05/2012 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:
None to some on steeper slopes (to 60%) -
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):
<1% -
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):
Moderately deep to deep, well drained loams, gravelly loams and stony loams (15-50% rock fragments in the subsoil): Moderate to High OM (2-5%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant vegetative cover of over 125% and moderate slopes (1-45%) effectively limit rainfall impact and overland flow; infiltration is moderate 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 > Ross sedge > Ponderosa Pine > other dominant forbs > other dominant grasses = other dominant shrubs > other grasses = other shrubs > White FirSub-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: 1000, Normal: 800, 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 and Ponderosa Pine readily increase on the site (can be converted to woodland w/out fire). 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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