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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 (1) Pinus contorta
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
(2) RibesHerbaceous (1) Carex
(2) AchnatherumPhysiographic features
This site occurs on sideslopes of mountains and moraines from 7,000 to 8,000 feet. Aspects are typically southeast and southwest but occasional northwest facing slopes are also encountered. Slopes are between 4 and 75 percent, but slopes of 4 to 30 percent are most typical.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Moraine
Elevation 7000 – 8000 ft Slope 8 – 75 % Aspect SE, SW Climatic features
The climate is characterized as subhumid-continental with cold, moist winters and cool, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 30 to 45 inches, mean annual temperature is 30 to 45 degrees F, and the frost-free period is 40 to 70 days. There is no climate station available for this site.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 70 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
There are no influencing water features associated with this site.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are shallow to very deep, and are moderately well drained to somewhat excessively drained. They are formed in till derived from mixed rocks and colluvium derived mainly from granitic rocks. The soil profile is modified with high amounts of rock fragments. The moisture control section is usually moist the spring, fall and winter and is usually dry from July through early October. Available water capacity is low to very low. They are slightly to moderately acidic. They have a typic xeric or xeric moisture regime and a frigid temperature regime. Soil series associated with this site include Alpineco, Hardtil, and Roadcat.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very stony coarse sandy loam
(2) Very bouldery loamy coarse sand
(3) Gravelly loamy coarse sand
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to rapid Soil depth 10 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 15 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 10 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.9 – 4.3 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 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)17 – 35 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 25 % Ecological dynamics
Major Successional Stages of Forest Development:
HERBACEOUS: Vegetation is dominated by grasses and forbs under full sunlight. This stage is experienced for a short period after major disturbance such as crown fire or tree harvest. Skeleton forest (dead trees) remaining after fire or residual trees left following harvest have little or no affect on the composition and production of the herbaceous vegetation.
SHRUB-HERBACEOUS: Herbaceous vegetation and woody shrubs dominate the site. This stage is experienced within two to three years after fire or harvest. Various amounts of tree seedlings (less than 20 inches in height) may be present up to the point where they are obviously a major component of the vegetal structure.
SAPLING: In the absence of disturbance the tree seedlings develop into saplings (20 inches to 4.5 feet in height) with a range in canopy cover of about 5 to 10 percent. Vegetation consists of grasses, forbs and shrubs in association with tree saplings. Understory shrubs dominate the plant community.
IMMATURE FOREST: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by lodgepole pine greater than 4.5 feet in height. At this stage of woodland development, the tree canopy has successfully broken through the suppression of early successional shrub communities. The young pines are still very susceptible to fire at this stage. The upper crown of dominant and co-dominant lodgepole pine are cone or pyramidal shaped. Seedlings and saplings of pines are common in the understory. Dominants are the tallest trees on the site; co-dominants are 65 to 85 percent of the highest of dominant trees. Understory vegetation is moderately influenced by a tree overstory canopy of about 10 to 20 percent.
MATURE FOREST: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by lodgepole pine that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover ranges from 15 to 25 percent. This stage of community development is assumed to be representative of this woodland site in the pristine environment.
OVER-MATURE FOREST: This stage is dominated by lodgepole pine that have reached maximal heights for the site. Understory vegetation is sparse due to tree competition, overstory shading, duff accumulation, etc. Tree canopy cover is commonly greater than 50 percent.
Fire Ecology:
Stand replacing events may occur in this site at somewhat higher frequencies than others in the upper montane region. Fire return intervals for lodgepole pine forest range from 35 to 200 years. Shrubby sites on drier southerly aspects with irregular tree distributions would indicate a return interval closer to 35 years than 200 years. Fires may also be larger and more intense.
Small or moderate-intensity fires are thought to favor perpetuation of the lodgepole habitat. The mature lodgepole trees have very thin bark, deep roots, and medium to low flammability and are considered intermediate in fire tolerance. Mature lodgepole trees are most commonly killed by scorching cambium or crowning. Lodgepole seedlings are shade tolerant but germinate best on bare mineral soil. The seeds seem to be stimulated by fire. The exclusion of fire may allow for the encroachment of white fir.
Other disturbances such as windthrow, insects, disease, lightning or avalanche are typically localized or affect select species and do not occur on a large scale.
Fire Effects:
Sierra lodgepole pine is fire sensitive. Fire prepares an ideal seedbed, and Sierra lodgepole pine is an early postfire colonizer. Following stand-replacing fire, it initially establishes in even-aged stands. Mountain big sagebrush burns readily, but it is a non-sprouter that may lose dominance on sites for as long as 50+ years after fire.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 Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe reference plant community is characterized as an open woodland with a shrubby understory of mountain sagebrush. An overstory canopy cover of 20 to 30 percent is assumed to be representative of tree dominance on this site in the pristine environment. Overstory tree canopy composition is about 70 to 80% lodgepole pine with 15 to 30% Jeffrey pine or Washoe pine. Sierra juniper, white fir and red fir occur as minor consitutents in the overstory canopy.
Mountain big sagebrush is the principal understory shrub. Letterman's needlegrass, western needlegrass, spike trisetum, thread-leaf sedge and Ross' sedge are the most prevalent understory grasses and grass-like plants. Aster, mule's ear wyethia, and rose pussytoes are common understory forbs.Forest overstory.MATURE FOREST: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by lodgepole pine that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover ranges from 20 to 30 percent. This stage of community development is assumed to be representative of this forest site in the pristine environment.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
Forest understory. Understory vegetative composition (air-dry weight) is about 55 percent grasses, 25 percent forbs, and 20 percent shrubs and young trees when the average overstory canopy is medium (20 to 30 percent). Average understory production ranges from 150 to 450 pounds per acre with a medium canopy cover. Understory production includes the total annual production of all species within 4 1/2 feet of the ground surface.
Figure 3. 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 75 125 225 Forb 38 62 113 Shrub/Vine 30 50 90 Tree 7 13 22 Total 150 250 450 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Grasses/Grasslikes 103–198 Ross' sedge CARO5 Carex rossii 25–60 – slender wheatgrass ELTRT Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 13–23 – bluegrass POA Poa 13–23 – spike trisetum TRSP2 Trisetum spicatum 13–23 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 13–23 – western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 13–23 – threadleaf sedge CAFI Carex filifolia 13–23 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 6–26 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 3–13 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 3–13 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 38–113 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 3–8 – rosy pussytoes ANRO2 Antennaria rosea 3–8 – rockcress ARABI2 Arabis 3–8 – lousewort PEDIC Pedicularis 3–8 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 3–8 – Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 26–46 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 13–23 – currant RIBES Ribes 13–23 – Tree5 Evergreen 29–59 lodgepole pine PICO Pinus contorta 13–23 – Jeffrey pine PIJE Pinus jeffreyi 13–23 – Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife Interpretations:
This site provides food and shelter for several mammals and almost 50 bird species. Dead or dying trees provide nexting sites for cavity-nesting birds and mammals. The fallen branches also provides nesting habitat. Blue grouse feed on Sierra lodgepole pine needles during the winter and the seeds are a food source for squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and mice.
Livestock Interpretations:
This site has limited use for livestock grazing due to low forage production and steep slopes. Range potential appears to be transitory as livestock move to primary ecological sites in meadows and other moist habitats.
Stocking rates vary with such factors as kind and class of grazing animal, season of use and fluctuations in climate. Actual use records for individual sites, a determination of the degree to which the sites have been grazed and an evaluation of trend in site condition offer the most reliable basis for developing initial stocking rates.
Selection of initial stocking rates for given grazing units is a planning decision. This decision should be made ONLY after careful consideration of the total resources available, evaluation of alternatives for use and treatment and establishment of objectives by the decision maker.
Hydrological functions
The hydrology of this site is characterized by heavy snowmelt in the spring, with very little summer precipitation. Runoff is low to very high. Permeability is rapid.
Recreational uses
This area is suitable for hiking, camping, hunting and photography.
Wood products
PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY
Low quality site for tree production.
Site index for lodgepole pine ranges from about 45 to 61. (Table 25, SCS, 190-V-NFM Amend.3; from Dahms, 1964. USDA PNW Research paper No. 8.)
Productivity Class : 6
CMAI*: <36 to 50 cu ft/ac/yr;
<2.5 to 3.5 cu m/ha/yr.
*CMAI: is the culmination of mean annual increment highest average growth rate of the stand in the units specified.
Basal Area (Lodgepole Pine): 125 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=13.4" and average age 103 years (AB40).
Basal Area (Lodgepole Pine): 88 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=16" and average age 85 years (AB54).
Basal Area (Lodgepole Pine): 31 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=19" and average age 170 years (AB39).
Basal Area (Washoe Pine): 31 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=24" and average age 184 years (AB39).This site has low quality for tree production. Lodgepole pine wood is suited for common lumber grades, and used for light framing materials, interior paneling, exterior trim, posts, railroad ties, pulp and paper, and has potential for structural particle board.
MANAGEMENT GUIDES AND INTERPRETATIONS:
1. LIMITATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
a. Potential for sheet and rill erosion is severe.
b. Severe equipment limitations due to steep slopes.
c. Proper spacing is the key to a well managed, multiple use and multi-product woodland.
d. Significant limitations for management due to shallow soils.
2. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
a. Adequately protect from uncontrolled burning.
b. Protect soils from accelerated erosion.
c. Apply proper grazing management.
3. SILVICULTURAL PRACTICES
a. Harvest cut selectively or in small patches (size dependent upon site conditions) to enhance forage production.
1) Thinning and improvement cutting - Removal of poorly formed, diseased and low vigor trees to reduce fire hazard.
2) Harvest cutting - Selectively harvest surplus trees to achieve desired spacing. Do not select only "high grade" trees for harvest.
3) Slash disposal - Broadcasting slash improves reestablishment of native understory species and establishment of seeded grasses and forbs after tree harvest.
b. Prescription burning program to maintain desired canopy cover and manage site production.
c. Mechanicl tree removal on suitable sites to enhance forage production and manage site reproduction.
d. Fire hazard - Fire is usually not a problem in well managed, mature stands.
Other information
Throughout the Sierra Nevada, lodgepole pine is periodically attacked by the lodgepole pine needle miner. This insect infestation does occasionally become epidemic and it has killed large numbers of trees.
Sierra lodgepole pine regenerates well on poor soils, rocky slopes and exposed sites.
Lodgepole pine has fascicles of two short needles. The Sierra lodgepole pine has small cones that are symmetrical and open at maturity and fall from the tree within a year. This characteristic differs from the Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine in that the cones are serotinous remaining tightly closed and attached to the tree for many years. The cones remain tightly closed until released by wildfire when large numbers of tiny winged seeds fall into the ashes below.Table 7. Representative site productivity
Common name Symbol Site index low Site index high CMAI low CMAI high Age of CMAI Site index curve code Site index curve basis Citation lodgepole pine PICO 45 61 36 50 – – – Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Alpine County, CA Township/Range/Section T10N R19E S7 Latitude 38° 43′ 38″ Longitude 119° 55′ 37″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest, west of the Blue Lakes Road, near Hope Valley Campground. Other references
Fire Effects Information System[Online], http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis
Lanner, R.M. 1984. Trees of the Great Basin, A Natural History. University of Nevada Press, Reno, NV.
Lanner, R. M. 1999. Conifers of California. Cachuma Press, Los Olivos, CA.
Plants Database [Online], http://www.plants.usda.gov
Potter, D.A. 1998. Forested communities of the Upper Montane in the central and southern Sierra Nevada. USDA-FS PSW GTR 169.
USDA-NRCS. 1998. National Forest Manual- Part 537. Washington D.C.
Contributors
ALM/GKB
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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