Natural Resources
Conservation Service
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
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 jeffreyi
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
Herbaceous (1) Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale
Physiographic features
This forest site occurs on alluvial fans and sideslopes of mountains and moraines. Slopes range from 4 to over 75 percent, but slopes are generally 8 to 50 percent. Elevations are from about 5500 to 8500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Moraine
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Fan remnant
Elevation 5500 – 8500 ft Slope 4 – 75 % Climatic features
The climate is characterized as subhumid-continental with cold, moist winters and cool, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 16 to 45 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 39 to 45 degrees F. The average growing season is 30 to 100 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 100 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 well drained to excessively drained. They are formed in glacial till from mixed rock sources or residuum from granitic rocks. The soils typically have high amounts of rock fragments throughout the profile. The soils are usually moist in the control section during late fall, winter, and spring, and dry from mid-July through September. They have a typic xeric or xeric moisture regime and a frigid temperature regime. Available water capacity is low to very low. Reaction is neutral to moderately acidic. Runoff is high to very low and permeability is rapid to moderately rapid.
Soil series correlated to this site are Burnlake, Cloudburst, Corbett and Toiyabe.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Extremely gravelly sandy loam
(2) Extremely bouldery coarse sandy loam
(3) Very bouldery loamy coarse sand
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to excessively drained Permeability class Moderately slow to rapid Soil depth 6 – 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 15 – 45 % Surface fragment cover >3" 9 – 29 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.6 – 6.6 in 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)16 – 45 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)3 – 26 % 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 Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey pine that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover ranges from 25 to 35 percent. White fir and other shade tolerant tree seedlings/saplings occur in the understory. Although infrequent wildfire is presumed to be a natural factor influencing the understory of these mature woodlands, Jeffrey pine, at this stage of growth, is relatively resistant to cool, slow-burning, wildfires because of its thick, insulating bark. This stage of community development is assumed to be representative of this woodland site in the pristine environment.
OVER-MATURE FOREST: In the absence of wildfire or other naturally occurring disturbances, the tree canopy on this site can become very dense. This stage is dominated by Jeffrey pine that have reached maximal heights for the site. The understory vegetation is sparse due to tree competition, overstory shading, duff accumulation, etc. Few seedlings or saplings of Jeffrey pine are found in the understory. Tree canopy cover is commonly greater than 50 percent.
Jeffrey pine occupies many sites from the edges of moist high montane meadows to arid slopes bordering deserts. It generally occurs on the drier or higher elevation sites on soils derived from pumic or granite. Jeffery pine is climax on many of these sites but gradually loses its competitve ability as moisture conditions in the soil and atmosphere become favorable for other species.
Fire Ecology:
Jeffrey pine has been classified as being
moderately resistant to fire. It has a thick, corky bark that withstands high temperatures and has a tall, erect bole free of lower
limbs. The buds develop thick scales able to withstand considerable amounts of heat. Jeffrey pine seedlings have also adapted to
reproducing well on bare mineral soil. Lightning is common in the Sierra Nevada and strongly influences Jeffrey pine through wildfires. Jeffrey pine has adapted to withstand low-severity fires in wellspaced stands. Moderate- to high-severity fires will, however, kill trees pole size and smaller. Mature Jeffrey pines can survive most fires, suffering only bole scorch. These fire effects are intensified with tree density and fuel load. Depending on the season, Jeffrey pine may experience extensive heat-kill of foliage, but may receive only light damage to buds and twigs.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 StateCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe reference plant community is characterized by an overstory canopy of 25 to 35 percent. The site is dominated by Jeffrey pine. California white fir, and Sierra juniper also occur in the overstory. Mountain big sagebrush, bitterbrush, snowbrush ceanothus, currant and snowberry are the principal understory shrubs. Western needlegrass, Letterman's needlegrass, mountain brome, big squirreltail, bluegrass, and sedges are the most prevalent understory grasses and grass-like plants. Arrowleaf balsamroot, coyote mint, rockcress, lupine, and buckwheat are the common understory forbs.
Overstory tree canopy composition is approximately 85% Jeffrey pine with up to 15% white fir and Sierra juniper.Forest overstory.MATURE FORESTLAND: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by Jeffrey pine that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Tree canopy cover ranges from 25 to 35 percent. White fir and other shade tolerant tree seedlings/saplings occur in the understory. Although infrequent wildfire is presumed to be a natural factor influencing the understory of these mature woodlands, Jeffrey pine, at this stage of growth, is relatively resistant to cool, slow-burning, wildfires because of its thick, insulating bark. This stage of community development is assumed to be representative of this forestland site in the pristine environment.
Forest understory. Understory vegetative composition is about 50 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs, and 40 percent shrubs and young trees. Average understory production ranges from 300 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 150 188 225 Shrub/Vine 105 131 158 Forb 30 37 45 Tree 15 19 22 Total 300 375 450 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes 38–68 Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 19–34 – western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 19–34 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes 12–39 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 4–19 – sedge CAREX Carex 4–19 – big squirreltail ELMU3 Elymus multisetus 4–19 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 20–76 rockcress ARABI2 Arabis 4–19 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 4–19 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 4–19 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 4–19 – mountain monardella MOOD Monardella odoratissima 4–19 – Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 12–57 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 4–19 – snowbrush ceanothus CEVE Ceanothus velutinus 4–19 – currant RIBES Ribes 4–19 – snowberry SYMPH Symphoricarpos 4–19 – Tree5 Trees 12–57 Jeffrey pine PIJE Pinus jeffreyi 4–19 – snowbrush ceanothus CEVE Ceanothus velutinus 0–4 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to cattle and sheep grazing where terrain permits. Grazing management should be keyed to perennial grass production. Letterman's and western needlegrass provide palatable, nutritious feed during the late spring and early summer. New plants of these grasses are established entirely from seed and grazing practices should allow for ample seed production and seedling establishment. Mountain big sagebrush is eaten by domestic livestock but has long been considered to be of low palatability, and a competitor to more desirable species. Many areas are not used because of steep slopes or lack of adequate water.
Forage Value Rating: The forage value rating is not an ecological evaluation of the understory as is the range condition rating for rangeland. The forage value rating is a utilitarian rating of the existing understory plants for use by specific kinds of grazing animals.
Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.
Wildlife Interpretations:
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. Important source of snags that host a variety of nesting birds and mammals. Birds and mammals use Jeffrey pine as a food source. Seeds are eaten by the Clark's nutcracker and other birds. any small mammals such as mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and voles eat the stems and roots of young Jeffrey pine. During harsh winters or drought, large mammals such as deer will browse on the needles and bark. Young Jeffrey pine seedlings provide ground shelter for small birds and mammals. Older stands serve as windbreaks for larger mammals. Insect-killed trees provide snags and fallen logs which become habitat for nesting birds and cavity dwellers. Mountain big sagebrush is highly preferred and nutritious winter forage for mule deer.Hydrological functions
None
Recreational uses
Hiking and cross country skiing is the main revreation in this area. Some areas are also suitable for camping.
Wood products
Low-grade trees are processed into dimensional lumber and other products for the construction market. High-grade lumber is an important raw material for molding, mill work, cabinets, doors, and windows. Jeffrey pine is also widely used for firewood.
PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY
Moderate quality site for tree production.
Site index for Jeffrey pine ranges from about 65 to 77. (Table 21, SCS, 190-V-NFM Amend.3; from Meyer, 1938. USDA Tech Bull 630.)
Basal Area (Jeffrey Pine): 118 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=11" and average age 45 years with SI=66 (AB80).
Basal Area (Jeffrey Pine): 88 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=19" and average age 124 years with SI=72 (AB85).
Basal Area (Jeffrey Pine): 153sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=16.3" and average age 71 years with SI=54 (AB55b).
Basal Area (Jeffrey Pine): 183 sq. ft./acre with average D.B.H=21" and average age 133 years with SI=67 (AB86).
Productivity Class (Jeffrey pine): 4
CMAI*:<50 to 64 cu ft/ac/yr; <3.5 to 4.5 cu m/ha/yr.
*CMAI: is the culmination of mean annual increment highest average growth rate of the stand in the units specified.
Fuelwood Production: 45 to 60 cords per acre for Jeffrey pine stands averaging 11.6 inches and more in diameter and 110 years of age. There are about 213,750 gross British Thermal Units (BTUs) heat content per cubic foot of Jeffrey pine wood. Solid wood volume in a cord varies but usually ranges from 65 to 90 cubic feet. Assuming an average of 75 cubic feet of solid wood per cord, there are about 16 million BTUs of heat value in a cord of Jeffrey pine wood.
Board-foot Volume per Acre (Scribner Rule): For Jeffrey pine stands averaging 11.6 inches and more in diameter and 110 years of age:
Site Index 65 = 13,200 bd ft
Site Index 77 = 19,600 bd ft
Management Guides and Interpretations
1. LIMITATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
No significant restrictions or limitations for forest land use or management.
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
Native peoples used big sagebrush leaves and branches for medicinal teas, and the leaves as a fumigant. Bark was woven into mats, bags and clothing.
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 Jeffrey pine PIJE 50 70 50 64 – – – Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Alpine County, CA Township/Range/Section T10N R19E S5 Latitude 38° 44′ 46″ Longitude 119° 54′ 47″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest, near Pickett Peak, Other references
Fire Effects Information System[Online], http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis
Plants Database [Online], http://www.plants.usda.gov
Lanner, Ronald M.. 1984. Trees of the Great Basin, A Natural History. Reno University of Nevada Press.
Meyer, W.H. 1938. Even-aged Stands of Ponderosa Pine. USDA Tech. Bull. 630
USDA-NRCS. 1980. National Forestry Manual - Part 537. Washington, D.C.
Potter, D. A. 1998. Forested Communities of the Upper Montane in the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada. USDA FA PSW GTR 169.
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
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
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:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
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 plant reproductive capability:
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
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.
Accessibility statement
