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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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 022A–Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains
This ESD was developed using older policy requirements which have been improved with the intent of improving ESD products overall. Users should approach these materials with some caution as the content herein, while likely useful for some purposes, was developed within parameters now recognized as needing varying levels of improvement. As always, a site-specific investigation is highly recommended when site-specific management alternatives are to be developed and/or management decisions are to be made.
Each ESD is an interpretation of the ecological relationships between biotic and abiotic aspects of the landscape. Users of this document should be aware of the limitations of this tool to the extent that specific local conditions may not be entirely captured within the ESD. In particular, management decisions should be supported by site-specific inventories, assessments and planning processes based on the best available information including and extending beyond the ESD.
An ESD is not a permanent determination of ecological dynamics. Rather, each ESD is an evolving body of work intrinsically tied to the soil surveys and data associated with soil map unit components of correlated soil-ecological site relationships. As new information becomes available, updates may be made or may be underway at any given time. Minor updates may be made without announcement when such changes do not modify the ecological site concept, the soils correlated or the state-and-transition model.
Associated sites
R022AY022NV LOAMY SLOPE 14-16 P.Z.
R022AY023NV LOAMY SLOPE 16-20 P.Z.
R022AY028NV CLAYPAN 16+ P.Z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
Herbaceous (1) Achnatherum occidentale
Physiographic features
This site occurs on mountains. Slopes
range from 4 to 75 percent, but slope
gradients of 4 to 30 percent are most
typical. Elevations are 5400 to over
8600 feet.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Intermontane basin
Elevation 5400 – 8600 ft Slope 4 – 30 % Climatic features
Average annual precipitation is 16 inches to 24 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 39 to 45 degrees F. The average growing season is about 40 to 70 days. Climate data used to support this section were derived from PRISM and is not specifically tied to any dominant climate station.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 70 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 20 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, well drained, and formed in
colluvium and residuum derived from
tuff, tuff-breccia and andesite. An argillic
horizon and a mollic epipedon occur
from the soil surface to 14 inches.
Runoff is very high and permeability is
moderate. The soils are usually moist in
the moisture control section during late
fall, winter, and spring, and dry from
July through early October. Soil series associated with this site include: Loope.
CA729 Toiyabe National Forest Area, California
235;Hawkinspeak-Angelwhine association;Loope
350;Leroman-Chenhigh-Celeridge association;Loope
370;Celeridge-Gerdog-Loope association;Loope
380;Joecut-Celeridge-Gerdog association;Loope
381;Joecut-Heenlake association;Loope
390;Heenlake-Loope-Chenhigh association;Loope
391;Heenlake-Loope-Dogbed association;Loope
392;Heenlake-Loope association;Loope
400;Pinew-Carshal-Loope association;Loope
430;Newcone-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 75 percent slopes;Loope
440;Dogbed-Celeridge-Carshal association;Loope
450;Carshal-Loope-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 75 percent slopes;Loope
520;Canfire-Crispy-Rock outcrop association;Loope
580;Murain-Shorthike association;Loope
581;Murain association;Loope
590;Loope-Heenlake-Carshal association;Loope
591;Loope-Heenlake-Celeridge association;Loope
592;Loope-Pinew-Heenlake association;Loope
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very gravelly sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 14 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 30 – 50 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 6 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)1.3 – 1.4 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)6.1 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)60 – 75 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)1 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
As ecological condition declines, big sagebrush, snowberry and other woody plants increase in prevalence as western needlegrass, basin wildrye and other perennial grasses and forbs decline in the understory.
Fire Ecology:
The fire return interval in mountain big sagebrush communities ranges from 15 to 40 years. Very frequent fire suppresses mountain big sagebrush establishment, while long fire return intervals promote tree invasion into mountain big sagebrush communities. Mountain big sagebrush is highly susceptible to injury from fire. Plants are readily killed in all seasons, even by light severity fires. Mountain big sagebrush plants top-killed by fire will not resprout. Regeneration of mountain big sagebrush is from on-site or off-site seed. Depending on circumstances of the environment and seed source, mountain big sagebrush seeds may sprout profusely the spring after burning, or very sparsely.
Antelope bitterbrush is highly susceptible to fire. Some ecotypes sprout following fire, either from dormant buds encircling an aboveground root crown, from calluses of meristematic tissue beneath the bark, or from dormant buds on a belowground lignotuber. Very young and very old plants (younger than 5 or older than 40-60 years) do not sprout well.
Western needlegrass is classified as "moderately" resistant, but depending on the season of burn, phenology, and fire severity, this perennial bunchgrass is moderately to severely damaged by fire. Aboveground vegetation of western needlegrass is often consumed by fire. The distribution of fuels within the plant influences the severity and length of burn time. Fire in the many leafy vegetative culms can promote burning beneath the soil surface, producing subsurface charring. The abundant dead material which is sometimes present with western needlegrass contributes to fire damage regardless of season. Post burn regeneration usually occurs by seed. Western needlegrass has also adapted to fire by regenerating by fire-enhanced flowering.
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 Community
The reference plant community is characterized by an open canopy of soft-woody shrubs and a dense understory of perennial grasses. The plant community is dominated by western needlegrass, basin wildrye mountain big sagebrush and antelope bitterbrush. Potential vegetative composition is about 50% grasses, 10% forbs, and 40% shrubs. Approximate ground cover(basal and crown) is 15 to 30 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 200 300 400 Shrub/Vine 140 210 280 Forb 40 60 80 Tree 20 30 40 Total 400 600 800 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 280–400 western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 240–320 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 40–80 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 40–80 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 3–18 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 3–18 – Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 3–18 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 3–18 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 16–80 Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 160–280 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 120–200 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 40–80 – 5 Secondary Shrubs 60–100 curl-leaf mountain mahogany CELE3 Cercocarpus ledifolius 6–18 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 6–18 – currant RIBES Ribes 6–18 – roundleaf snowberry SYRO Symphoricarpos rotundifolius 6–18 – Tree6 Evergreen 30–50 antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 12–60 – mountain snowberry SYOR2 Symphoricarpos oreophilus 6–24 – curl-leaf mountain mahogany CELE3 Cercocarpus ledifolius 6–24 – Jeffrey pine PIJE Pinus jeffreyi 6–18 – singleleaf pinyon PIMO Pinus monophylla 6–18 – currant RIBES Ribes 6–15 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 6–15 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing. Western needlegrass has a spreading and deeply penetrating root system, which makes it resistant to trampling. Western needlegrass provides valuable forage for many species of wildlife. The early growth and abundant production of basin wildrye make it a valuable source of forage for livestock. It is important forage for cattle and is readily grazed by cattle and horses in early spring and fall. Though coarse-textured during the winter, basin wildrye may be utilized more frequently by livestock and wildlife when snow has covered low shrubs and other grasses. 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.
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:
Basin wildrye provides winter forage for mule deer, though use is often low compared to other native grasses. Basin wildrye provides summer forage for black-tailed jackrabbits. Because basin wildrye remains green throughout early summer, it remains available for small mammal forage for a longer time than other grasses. Mountain big sagebrush is highly preferred and nutritious winter forage for mule deer and elk.
Other products
Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand. Native Americans used big sagebrush leaves and branches for medicinal teas, and the leaves as a fumigant. Bark was woven into mats, bags and clothing.
Other information
Basin wildrye is useful in mine reclamation, fire rehabilitation and stabilizing disturbed areas. Its usefulness in range seeding, however, may be limited by initially weak stand establishment.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Mono County, CA Township/Range/Section T6N R24E S6 Latitude 38° 23′ 36″ Longitude 119° 25′ 23″ General legal description Toiyabe National Forest, approximately .5 miles from the head of Burcham Creek. Other references
Fire Effect Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://plants.usda.gov/).
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) Patti Novak-Echenique Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 07/18/2013 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Rills are none to rare. A few may be expected on steeper slopes in areas recently subjected to summer convection storms. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Waterflow patterns are none to rare. A few may be expected on steeper slopes in areas recently subjected to summer convection storms. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none to rare. Occurrence is usually limited to areas of waterflow patterns. Small terracettes may occur on steeper slopes. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground 10-25% depending on amount of surface rock fragments. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual & perennial forbs) mostly stays in place. It may be expected to move distance of slope length during intense summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt events. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during large rainfall events. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values should be 3 to 6 on most soil textures found on this site. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is typically fine granular. Soil surface colors are browns and soils are typified by a mollic epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 4 inches is typically 1 to 3 percent. Organic matter content can be more or less depending on micro-topography. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial herbaceous plants (especially deep-rooted bunchgrasses [i.e. western needlegrass& basin wildrye]) slow runoff and increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Compacted layers are none. Subsoil argillic horizons are not to be interpreted as compaction. -
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:
Deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrassesSub-dominant:
tall shrubs (mountain big sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > associated shrubs > shallow-rooted, cool season perennial grasses > fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial and annual forbsOther:
evergreen treesAdditional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs may be common with standing dead shrub canopy material as much as 25% of total woody canopy; some of the mature bunchgrasses (<10%) have dead centers. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Reference Plant Community: Under cover and between plant interspaces (35-50%) and litter depth is <¼ inch. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (through June) ± 600 lbs/ac; Favorable years ± 800 lbs/ac, Unfavorable years ± 400 lbs/ac -
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:
Potential invaders include cheatgrass and annual mustards. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years. Reduced growth and reproduction occur during extended or extreme drought conditions.
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