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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
(2) Abies magnificaShrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
Herbaceous (1) Bromus marginatus
(2) Achnatherum occidentale ssp. californicumPhysiographic features
This site typically occurs on middle to upper sideslopes of mountains. This site occurs on all aspects but is most common on northeast and northwest-facing slopes. Elevations range from 8,000 to 9,500 feet. Slopes range from 8 to 30 percent.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
Elevation 8000 – 9000 ft Slope 8 – 30 % Aspect NE, NW Climatic features
The climate is subhumid-continental with cold, moist winters and cool, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 25 to 55 inches, the mean annual temperature is 36 to 39 degrees F., and the frost-free period is 30 to 60 days. There is no climate station associated with this site.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 60 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 60 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 of this site are moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in residuum and colluvium derived from andesitic tuff and tuff-breccia. The soils have an umbric epipedon that occurs from the soil surface to 11 inches. A cambric horizon occurs from 11 to 23 inches. The soil profile has 35 to 60 percent rock fragments. The soils are usually moist during late fall winter and spring, and dry from mid-July through September. The soils correlated to this site include: Lostridge.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly coarse sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid Soil depth 20 – 40 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 30 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 1 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.1 – 3.2 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)4.5 – 5.5 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)43 – 48 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 3 % Ecological dynamics
This site is dominated by lodgepole pine and red fir. Sierra lodgepole pine establishes soon after disturbance and is moderately shade tolerant. It forms stable climax communities in the zone just above red fir and white fir-mountain hemlock forests. California red fir will eventually become the climax species under a closed canopy of lodgepole pine. California red fir establishes well in openings and after disturbances and is moderately shade tolerant.
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 and red fir greater than 4.5 feet in height. At this stage of forest development, the tree canopy has successfully broken through the suppression of early successional shrub communities. The young trees 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 lodgepole and red fir 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 25 percent.
MATURE FOREST: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by lodgepole pine and red fir that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover ranges from 30 to about 45 percent. This stage of community development is assumed to be representative of this forest site in the pristine environment.
OVER-MATURE FOREST: This stage is dominated by red fir and lodgepole pine that have reached maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover is commonly greater than 55 percent.
Fire Ecology:
Fire has an important role in Sierra Nevada conifer forests, particularly in the successional relationship between California red fir and lodgepole pine. Fire creates canopy openings by killing mature lodgepole pine and some mature California red fir. Where lodgepole pine occurs under a California red fir canopy, it is eventually succeeded by California red fir. The estimated fire frequency ranges from 10 to 65 years.
Seedlings of California red fir are easily killed by fire. Seedlings and saplings are killed by relatively low-intensity fires, but few older California red fir are affected. Larger California red fir are killed by severe fires.
Sierra lodgepole pine is usually killed by fire because of its shallow root system and thin bark. Stand-replacing fires are related to insect attacks, particulary by pine mountain beetle, and declining vigor and high fuel loading in older stands. When fires occur in Sierra lodgepole stands, they are usually intense and extensive.
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 by an open canopy of pines and firs. This site is dominated by lodgepole pine and red fir. Western white pine and limber pine and may occur in the overstory. Understory is dominated by mountain big sagebrush, currant, and snowberry. Mountain brome, western needlegrass, Ross' sedge and Bolander's bluegrass are the most prevalent understory grass and grass-like plants. Lupine, rockcress, coyote mint, mountain sweetroot, mule'sear wyethia, and white flowered hawkweed are common understory forbs.
Forest overstory.The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by lodgepole pine and red fir that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover ranges from 30 to about 45 percent. This stage of community development is assumed to be representative of this forest site in the pristine environment.
Forest understory. Understory vegetative composition (air-dry weight) is about 45 percent grasses and grass-like plants, 20 percent forbs and 35 percent shrubs and young trees when the average overstory canopy is medium (25 to 35 percent). Average understory production ranges from 450 to 700 pounds per acre with a medium canopy cover. Understory production includes the total annual production of all species within 4.5 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 202 270 315 Shrub/Vine 135 180 210 Forb 90 120 140 Tree 23 30 35 Total 450 600 700 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 150–270 Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 30–54 – western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 30–54 – mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 30–54 – Ross' sedge CARO5 Carex rossii 30–54 – bluegrass POA Poa 30–54 – 2 Secondary Perennnial Grasses 6–30 big squirreltail ELMU3 Elymus multisetus 6–30 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 48–144 mountain monardella MOOD Monardella odoratissima 30–54 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 6–30 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 6–30 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 6–30 – Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 90–162 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 30–54 – currant RIBES Ribes 30–54 – mountain snowberry SYOR2 Symphoricarpos oreophilus 30–54 – Tree5 Trees 48–150 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 50–100 – California red fir ABMA Abies magnifica 30–54 – lodgepole pine PICO Pinus contorta 6–30 – western white pine PIMO3 Pinus monticola 6–30 – limber pine PIFL2 Pinus flexilis 0–6 – Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife Interpretations:
Wildlife forage values appear to be moderate. This site is used by deer in the summer and fall. Hollowed trunks of large trees are used as dens for many mammals especially black bears. This site is an important source of snags that host a variety of nesting birds and mammals. This site is also used by various song birds, rodents, such as pocket gophers, reptiles and associated predators natural to the area.
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is poorly suited to livestock grazing due low forage production. When livestock use occurs, it is primarily the result of grazing animals transiting this site to access more productive communities.
The forage value rating is not an ecological evaluation of the understory. The forage value rating is a utilitarian rating of the existing understory plants for use by specific kinds of grazing animals.Hydrological functions
The hydrologic cover condition of this site is fair in a representative stand. (See Section 4, SCS National Engineering Handbook for runoff quantities and hydrologic curves).
Recreational uses
This site has potential for hiking, big game hunting and nature study. This site also offers biking and cross/country skiing on available dirt roads.
Wood products
This site has low quality 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 FS PNW Res. Paper No.8). Site index for red fir ranges from about 27 to 31. (Table 23, SCS, 190-V-NFM Amend.3; from Schumacher, 1928. Calif. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. 456).
Productivity Class (Lodgepole Pine): 3
Productivity Class (Red Fir): 7
CMAI* (Lodgepole Pine): <36 to 50 cu ft/ac/yr;
<2.5 to 3.5 cu m/ha/yr.
CMAI* (Red fir): <96 to 107 cu ft/ac/yr;
<6.7 to 7.5 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): 78 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=13" and average age 87 years (AB48).
Basal Area (Red Fir): 78 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=19" and average age 77 years (AB48).
MANAGEMENT GUIDES AND INTERPRETATIONS
1. LIMITATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
a. There are no significant restrictions or limitations for forest land use.
2. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
a. Protect soils from accelerated erosion.
b. 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 for fuelwood.
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 reproduction.
c. Mechanical tree removal on suitable sites to enhance forage production and manage site reproduction.
d. Pest control-porcupines can cause extensive damage and populations should be controlled.
e. Fire hazard - Fire usually not a problem in well-managed, mature stands.
Other products
California red fir are used for christmas trees. Cones can be used for decorations and art projects.
Other information
Sierra lodgepole pine is susceptible to windfall. Annosus root disease (Heterobasidion annosum) infects Sierra lodgepole pine in central Oregon and kills trees under stress on dry sites. Lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum) is the most serious parasite of Sierra lodgepole pine. The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) is the most severe insect pest affecting Sierra lodgepole pine.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Alpine County, CA Township/Range/Section T9N R19E S7 Latitude 38° 39′ 4″ Longitude 119° 55′ 47″ General legal description Alpine County, California; on the Toiyabe National Forest about 0.75 mile northeast of The Nipple peak. USGS Carson Pass 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle. Location 2: Mono County, CA Township/Range/Section T10N R18E S25 Latitude 38° 41′ 1″ Longitude 119° 57′ 27″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest, near Forestdale Creek Other references
Dahms, W. G. 1964. Data from Grass and Net Yield Tables for Lodgepole Pine. USDA FS PNW No. 8.
Fire Effects Information System[Online], http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis
Lanner, Ronald M. 1984. Trees of the Great Basin, A Natural History. University of Nevada Press, Reno, NV.
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 FA PSW GTR 169.
Schumacher, F. X. 1928. Normal Yeld Tables for Red Fir. Calif. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bull. No. 456).
USDA-NRCS. 1980. National Forestry 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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