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.
Associated sites
R022AY016NV WET MEADOW
R022AY018NV DRY MEADOW
R022AY019NV GRAVEL BAR
Similar sites
R022AY018NV DRY MEADOW
Dry Meadow
R022AY016NV WET MEADOW
Wet Meadow
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Carex simulata
(2) Carex nebrascensisPhysiographic features
This site occurs in intermontane basins on floodplains and stream terraces and adjacent to springs and seeps. Slopes range from 0 to 30 percent, but slope gradients of 0 to 8 are most typical. Elevations are 6000 to 11500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Flood plain
(2) Stream terrace
Flooding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) Flooding frequency Occasional to rare Elevation 6000 – 11500 ft Slope 0 – 30 % Ponding depth 0 in Water table depth 5 – 72 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate on this site is subhumid-continental, characterized by cold, moist winters, and cool, dry summers. The average annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 50 inches, mostly occurring as snow. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 34 to 45 degrees F. The average frost free period ranges from 30 to 70 days.
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 perennial streams, springs and seeps associated with this site.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are very deep and poorly drained. Surface layers are typically very dark, medium textured with high to very high organic matter content, with redox features present. Subsoil material is typically stratified, but when averaged is moderately coarse to moderate textured. These soils are typically saturated near the surface during the early to middle part of the growing season, with the water table dropping late in the growing season. The near surface saturated soil condition is conducive to the growth of species adapted for saturated conditions, and is the dominant soil factor in determining the vegetative community. The soil series associated with this site are Hopeval, Lavaspring, and Wetbag. Soil families associated with this site are Cumulic Cryaquolls, Hopeval inclusion and Wetbag inclusion.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very bouldery sandy loam
(2) Peaty silt loam
(3) Mucky loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained Permeability class Very slow to moderate Soil depth 60 – 0 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 10 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 7.1 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)0 – 7 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 25 % Ecological dynamics
Fire Ecology:
Fire in wet meadow communities often only top-kills plants. Prescribed fires are most effective in late summer, early fall, or during dry years when the water is below the soil surface. The sedges have deep buried rhizomes which usually survive all but the most severe fires. Sedges have deep buried rhizomes which usually survive all but the most severe fires. Fire consumes the aboveground tissue of beaked sedge, top-killing the plant. The rhizomes, however, survive most fires, even those that consume organic soils. Tufted hairgrass generally survives all but the most severe fires. It usually sprouts from the root crown after aerial portions are burned. Tufts formed by the leaves often protect basal buds from fire damage. Tufted hairgrass seeds occur in the seedbank. After fire tufted hairgrass may regenerate from soil-stored seed. Baltic rush is fire tolerant when dormant and top-killed by fire during the growing season. It establishes after fire through seed and/or lateral spread by rhizomes. Straightleaf rush has high fire tolerance. Straightleaf rush is common under infrequent fire regimes, due to the high moisture in the surrounding area.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 dominated by a dense stand of perennial grasses, grass-like plants and forbs. The representative plant community is dominated by anologue sedge, Nebraska sedge, Baltic rush and tufted hairgrass. Potential vegetative composition is about 85% grasses and grass-like plants, 10% forbs and 5% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 70 to 75 percent.
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 1105 1700 2975 Forb 130 200 350 Shrub/Vine 65 100 175 Total 1300 2000 3500 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perrenial Grasses 1040–1820 slenderbeak sedge CAAT3 Carex athrostachya 150–250 – clustered field sedge CAPR5 Carex praegracilis 150–250 – mountain sedge CASC12 Carex scopulorum 150–250 – analogue sedge CASI2 Carex simulata 150–250 – Cusick's bluegrass POCU3 Poa cusickii 100–166 – Kentucky bluegrass POPR Poa pratensis 100–166 – tufted hairgrass DECE Deschampsia cespitosa 100–160 – Sierra rush JUNE Juncus nevadensis 13–53 – straightleaf rush JUOR Juncus orthophyllus 13–53 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes 100–300 different-nerve sedge CAHE8 Carex heteroneura 10–20 – smallwing sedge CAMI7 Carex microptera 10–20 – Nebraska sedge CANE2 Carex nebrascensis 10–20 – nearlyblack sedge CASU7 Carex subnigricans 10–20 – slender wheatgrass ELTRT Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 10–20 – red fescue FERUA3 Festuca rubra ssp. arenaria 10–20 – meadow barley HOBR2 Hordeum brachyantherum 10–20 – mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 10–20 – alpine timothy PHAL2 Phleum alpinum 10–20 – Forb3 Primary Perennial Forbs 70–260 common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 20–80 – American bistort POBI6 Polygonum bistortoides 20–80 – western mountain aster SYSP Symphyotrichum spathulatum 10–20 – longstalk clover TRLO Trifolium longipes 5–20 – mountain carpet clover TRMO2 Trifolium monanthum 5–20 – fewflower clover TROL Trifolium oliganthum 5–20 – cows clover TRWO Trifolium wormskioldii 5–20 – mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 0–5 – 4 Secondary Perennial Forbs 20–160 Shrub/Vine4 Secondary Shrubs 0–100 silver sagebrush ARCA13 Artemisia cana 10–40 – Geyer willow SAGE2 Salix geyeriana 10–40 – slender cinquefoil POGR9 Potentilla gracilis 10–20 – plantainleaf buttercup RAAL Ranunculus alismifolius 10–20 – California false hellebore VECAC2 Veratrum californicum var. californicum 10–20 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to Nebraska sedge production. The palatability of sedges varies with the amount and distribution of palatable grasses and other plants associated with it, with the season of year, and with the amount of moisture in the soil. As a rule, it is fair forage for sheep and fairly good to good for cattle. Unless the soil is too boggy, cattle readily graze the moist areas where sedges grow. It is also produces a large volume of meadow hay for winter livestock feeding. Tufted hairgrass provides good to excellent forage for all classes of livestock. It is often an abundant source of forage throughout its growing season. Baltic rush is described as a fair to good forage species for cattle. On average, Baltic rush’s palatability is considered medium to moderately low. Baltic rush is considered palatable early in the growing season when plants are young and tender, but as stems mature and toughen palatability declines. Straightleaf rush tends to be resistant to grazing pressure. Straightleaf rush is considered palatable early in the growing season when plants are young and tender, but as stems mature and toughen palatability declines.
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:
Sedges have a high to moderate resource value for elk and a medium value for mule deer. Elk consume beaked sedge later in the growing season. Tufted hairgrass has a high to moderate resource value for elk and a medium value for mule deer. Use of tufted hairgrass by wildlife species is variable. Tufted hairgrass forage value for wildlife has been rated fair to good. Baltic rush provides food for several wildlife species and waterfowl. Baltic rush is an important cover species for a variety of small birds, upland game birds, birds of prey, and waterfowl. Straightleaf rush provides food for several wildlife species and waterfowl. Straightleaf rush is an important cover species for a variety of small birds, upland game birds, birds of prey, and waterfowl.Hydrological functions
Runoff is low to very high and permeability is very slow to moderate.
Other products
The stems of Baltic rush were historically used by Native Americans as a foundation for coiled basketry.
Other information
Analogue sedge has a high potential for biomass production and long-term revegetation, and medium potential for erosion control and short-term revegetation. Sod from Analogue sedge rapidly recolonizes disturbed sites by rhizome expansion. Its rhizomes form a dense network that is effective in stabilizing stream banks and preventing soil erosion. Tufted hairgrass has a broad ecological range and is useful for revegetation, particularly on disturbances at high elevation or high latitude. Tufted hairgrass has been successfully established by seeding on alpine disturbances. It is a valuable soil stabilizer, especially in wet, acid locations. Baltic rush's production of deep and fibrous roots originating from a mass of coarse and creeping rhizomes makes it a valuable species for stabilizing streambanks and protecting against soil erosion.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Alpine County, CA Township/Range/Section T11N R19E S30 Latitude 38° 46′ 35″ Longitude 119° 55′ 51″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest, Hope Valley, CA Other references
Fire Effect Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/).
USDA-NRCS Plant Database (Online; http://plants.usda.gov/).
Contributors
ALC/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
