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Ecological site F023XY036NV

JUOS/ARTRV/PSSPS

Accessed: 09/17/2026

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General 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) Juniperus osteosperma
Shrub	(1) Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana
Herbaceous	(1) Pseudoroegneria spicata subsp. spicata (2) Achnatherum thurberianum

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Physiographic features

This forestland site occurs on plateaus, hills, and mountain sideslopes on all aspects. Slope gradients are generally from 15 to 75 percent. Elevations are from about 4800 to 8000 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Mountain slope (2) Hill (3) Plateau
Elevation	4800 – 8000 ft
Slope	15 – 75 %
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The climate associated with this site is semiarid and characterized by cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is about 10 to 14 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 43 to 47 degrees F. The average growing season is 60 to 90 days.

Nevada’s climate is predominantly arid, with large daily ranges of temperature, infrequent severe storms, heavy snowfall in the higher mountains, and great location variations with elevation. Three basic geographical factors largely influence Nevada’s climate: continentality, latitude, and elevation. Continentality is the most important factor. The strong continental effect is expressed in the form of both dryness and large temperature variations. Nevada lies on the eastern, lee side of the Sierra Nevada Range, a massive mountain barrier that markedly influences the climate of the State. The prevailing winds are from the west, and as the warm moist air from the Pacific Ocean ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Range, the air cools, condensation occurs and most of the moisture falls as precipitation. As the air descends the eastern slope, it is warmed by compression, and very little precipitation occurs. The effects of this mountain barrier are felt not only in the West but throughout the state, with the result that the lowlands of Nevada are largely desert or steppes. The temperature regime is also affected by the blocking of the inland-moving maritime air. Nevada sheltered from maritime winds, has a continental climate with well-developed seasons and the terrain responds quickly to changes in solar heating.
Nevada lies within the mid-latitude belt of prevailing westerly winds which occur most of the year. These winds bring frequent changes in weather during the late fall, winter and spring months, when most of the precipitation occurs. To the south of the mid-latitude westerlies, lies a zone of high pressure in subtropical latitudes, with a center over the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, this high-pressure belt shifts northward over the latitudes of Nevada, blocking storms from the ocean. The resulting weather is mostly clear and dry during the summer and early fall, with scattered thundershowers. The eastern portion of the state receives significant summer thunderstorms generated from monsoonal moisture pushed up from the Gulf of California, known as the North American monsoon. The monsoon system peaks in August and by October the monsoon high over the Western U.S. begins to weaken and the precipitation retreats southward towards the tropics (NOAA 2004).

Average annual precipitation is 16 to over 20 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 41 to 44 degrees F. The average growing season is about 50 to 70 days.

Mean annual precipitaion at the Bear Creek, Nevada SNOTEL station (170501020301) is 37.69 inches.

monthly mean precipitation is:
January 3.84; February 3.75; March 4.38; April 4.9;
May 3.99; June 2.82; July .95; August 1.66;
September 1.22; October 2.12;
November 3.67; December 4.38.

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	80 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 3. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 4 Annual average temperature pattern

Soil features

The soils associated with this site are very shallow to granitic parent material and are well drained. Available water capacity is very low, but trees and shrubs extend their roots into fractures in the bedrock allowing them to utilize deep moisture. Surface soils typically have high amounts of large stones and boulders. Large rock fragments on the soil surface provide a stabilizing affect on surface erosion conditions. Runoff is high to very high and the potential for sheet and rill erosion is moderate to severe depending on slope. The soil series associated with this site include: Berit, Deanran, and Foxcan.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Very gravelly sandy loam (2) Very gravelly loam (3) Stony loam
Family particle size	(1) Clayey
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderate to moderately rapid
Soil depth	3 – 14 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	25 – 50 %
Surface fragment cover >3"	6 – 35 %
Available water capacity (0-40in)	0.6 – 0.7 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	0 – 5 %
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	0 – 2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	0 – 2
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	6.1 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	36 – 45 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	0 – 15 %

Ecological dynamics

Utah juniper is not shade tolerant. It is a climax species in harsh areas where stands are open and regeneration can occur without competition for light.

Across the West, junipers have expanded their historical range in the years since European settlement, Utah juniper is used by many birds and animals, both wildlife and livestock, for cover and food. especially into sagebrush-grass communities below areas of traditional pinyon-juniper. Overgrazing, fire suppression, and climatic change have been identified as potential causes of juniper invasion. In the absence of fire or other disturbances, trees eventually dominate the site and crowd out herbaceous and shrub species.

Juniper litter has an allelopathic effect on some understory species, especially Sandberg bluegrass, and blue grama. This effect is particularly evident on heavy, poorly drained clay soils. Broadcasting grass seeds over litter appeared to lower the allelopathic effects.

Major Successional Stages of Forestland Development

HERBACEOUS: Vegetation is dominated by grasses and forbs under full sunlight. This stage is experienced after a major disturbance such as wildfire. Skeleton forest (dead trees) remaining after fire or other disturbances have little or no affect on the composition and production of the herbaceous vegetation.

SHRUB-HERBACEOUS: Herbaceous vegetation and woody shrubs dominate the site. Various amounts of tree seedlings (less than 20 inches in height) may be present up to the point where they are obviously a 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 canopy cover generally less than 5 percent. Vegetation consists of grasses, forbs and shrubs in association with tree saplings.

IMMATURE FORESTLAND: Utah juniper greater than 4½ feet in height form a major constituent of the visual aspect and vegetal structure of the plant community. The upper crown of dominant and codominant trees are pyramidal-shaped. Young juniper plants are prevalent in the understory. Understory vegetation is minimally influenced by a tree overstory canopy of about 10 to 20 percent.

MATURE FORESTLAND: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by Utah juniper that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Dominant trees average greater than five inches in diameter at one-foot stump height. Tree canopy cover is typically about 20 to 30 percent. Understory vegetation is strongly influenced by tree competition. Infrequent, yet periodic wildfire is a natural factor influencing the development and maintenance of these mature forestlands. This stage of woodland development is assumed to be representative of this forestland site in a pristine environment.

OVER-MATURE FORESTLAND: This stage is dominated by Utah juniper that have reached maximal heights for the site. Dominant and codominant trees average greater than five inches in diameter at one-foot stump height. Upper crowns of most trees are typically irregularly flat-topped or rounded. Understory vegetation is sparse due to tree competition, overstory shading, duff accumulation, etc. Tree canopy cover is commonly greater than 35 percent.

Fire Ecology:
The fire return intervals for Utah juniper communities range from 10 to 30 years. Utah juniper is usually killed by fire, especially when trees are small. Mountain big sagebrush is highly susceptible to injury from fire. It is often top-killed by fire and will not resprout. Burning bluebunch wheatgrass may remove most of the aboveground biomass but does not usually result in plant mortality. Bluebunch wheatgrass is generally favored by burning. Burning stimulates flowering and seed production. However, season of burning affects mortality. Thurber’s needlegrass is classified as moderately resistant, but depending on season of burn, phenology, and fire severity, this perennial bunchgrass is moderately to severely damaged by fire. Early season burning is more damaging to this needlegrass than late season burning.

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 text

State 1
Reference Plant Community

Community 1.1
Community Phase

The reference plant community is dominated by Utah juniper. However, in northwestern Washoe County, Utah juniper hybridizes with western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) to varying degrees and taxonomic separation of these hybrid trees is difficult. Stands of the hybrid trees are included in this ecological site. Mountain big sagebrush is the principal understory shrub, although Wyoming big sagebrush is common at lower elevations. Bluebunch wheatgrass, Thurber's needlegrass, and western needlegrass are the most prevalent understory grasses. An overstory canopy of 20 to 30 percent is assumed to be representative of tree dominance on this site in the pristine environment. Wildfire is recognized as a natural disturbance that influenced the structure and composition of the climax vegetation of this forestland site. Overstory tree canopy composition is 100 percent Utah juniper.

Forest overstory.MATURE FORESTLAND: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by Utah juniper that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Dominant trees average greater than five inches in diameter at one-foot stump height. Tree canopy cover is typically about 20 to 30 percent. Understory vegetation is strongly influenced by tree competition. Infrequent, yet periodic wildfire is a natural factor influencing the development and maintenance of these mature forestlands. This stage of woodland development is assumed to be representative of this forestland site in a pristine environment.

Forest understory. Understory vegetative composition is about 35 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 55 percent shrubs and young trees when the average overstory canopy is medium (20 to 30 percent). Average understory production ranges from 300 to 600 pounds per acre with a medium canopy cover. Understory production includes the total annual production of all species within 4½ feet of the ground surface.

Figure 5. 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)
Shrub/Vine	150	225	300
Grass/Grasslike	105	158	210
Forb	30	45	60
Tree	15	22	30
Total	300	450	600

Community 1.2
Community Phase

Community 1.3
Community Phase

Pathway a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Pathway b
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Pathway a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Pathway a
Community 1.3 to 1.2

State 2
Current Potential

Community 2.1
Community Phase

Forest overstory.MATURE FORESTLAND: The visual aspect and vegetal structure are dominated by western juniper trees that have reached or are near maximal heights for the site. Dominant trees average greater than five inches in diameter at one-foot stump height. Tree canopy cover ranges from 20 to 30 percent. Understory vegetation is strongly influenced by tree competition, overstory shading, duff accumulation, etc. Few tree seedlings and/or saplings occur in the understory. Infrequent, yet periodic wildfire is a natural factor influencing the understory of mature western juniper forestlands.

Forest understory. Understory vegetative composition is about 40 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 50 percent shrubs and young trees when the average overstory canopy is medium (20 to 30 percent). Average understory production ranges from 200 to 500 pounds per acre with a medium canopy cover. Understory production includes the total annual production of all species within 4½ feet of the ground surface.

Community 2.2
Community Phase

Community 2.3
Community Phase

Community 2.4
Community Phase

Pathway a
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Pathway b
Community 2.1 to 2.3

Pathway a
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Pathway a
Community 2.3 to 2.2

Pathway b
Community 2.3 to 2.4

Pathway a
Community 2.4 to 2.1

Pathway b
Community 2.4 to 2.2

State 3
Infilled Tree State

Community 3.1
Community Phase

Community 3.2
Community Phase

Pathway a
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Pathway a
Community 3.2 to 3.1

State 4
Annual State

Community 4.1
Community Phase

Transition A
State 1 to 2

Transition B
State 1 to 3

Transition A
State 2 to 3

Transition B
State 2 to 4

Transition A
State 3 to 4

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Primary Perennial Grasses			69–120
	western needlegrass	ACOCO	Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale	23–40	–
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	23–40	–
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSPS	Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata	23–40	–
2	Secondary Perennial Grasses			14–56
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	5–23	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	2–5	–
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	2–5	–
Forb
3	Perennial			23–40
	Forb, perennial	2FP	Forb, perennial	23–40	–
Shrub/Vine
4	Primary Shrubs			46–80
	mountain big sagebrush	ARTRV	Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana	23–40	–
	Wyoming big sagebrush	ARTRW8	Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis	23–40	–
5	Secondary Shrubs			11–38
	antelope bitterbrush	PUTR2	Purshia tridentata	5–23	–
	purple sage	SADOI	Salvia dorrii ssp. dorrii var. incana	2–5	–
	desert snowberry	SYLO	Symphoricarpos longiflorus	2–5	–
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	2–5	–
Tree
6	Evergreen			5–23
	Utah juniper	JUOS	Juniperus osteosperma	5–23	–

Table 7. Community 1.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 8. Community 1.3 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 10. Community 2.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 11. Community 2.3 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 12. Community 2.4 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 13. Community 3.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 14. Community 3.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 15. Community 4.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to cattle and sheep grazing where terrain permits. Grazing management should be keyed to bluebunch wheatgrass and Thurber's and western needlegrass production. These bunchgrasses are highly nutritious and remain palatable throughout the grazing season. New plants of these grasses are established entirely from seed and grazing practices should allow for ample seed production and seedling establishment. Many areas are not used because of steep slopes or lack of adequate water.

Harvesting trees under a sound management program for fuelwood or posts can open the tree canopy to allow increased production of understory plants desirable for grazing.

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 decisionmaker.

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.

Wildlife Interpretations:
This site is used by year around by mule deer. It is also used by upland game species. This site is also used by various song birds, rodents, reptiles and associated predators natural to the area. Feral horses will use this site in the late spring, summer and fall.

Hydrological functions

Runoff is high to very high. Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid. Hydrologic soil group is D.

Recreational uses

Steep slopes and stony surfaces inhibit many forms of recreation. This site has potential for hiking, big game hunting and nature study.

Wood products

Utah juniper wood is very durable. Its primary uses have been for posts and fuelwood. It probably has considerable potential in the charcoal industry and in wood fiber products.

PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY

Low quality site for tree production. Site index ranges from about 30 to 50 (Howell,1940).

Productivity Class: 0
CMAI*: <2.2 to 4.6 ft3/ac/yr;
<0.16 to 0.32 m3/ha/yr.
(culmination is estimated to be at 100 years)
*CMAI: is the culmination of mean annual increment or highest average growth rate of the stand in the units specified.

Fuelwood Production: About 3 to 6 cords per acre for stands averaging 5 inches in diameter at 1-foot height with a medium canopy cover. There are about 274,000 gross British Thermal Units (BTUs) heat content per cubic foot of western juniper wood. Firewood is commonly measured by cord, or a stacked unit equivalent to 128 cubic feet. Solid wood volume in a cord varies, but assuming an average of 75 cubic feet of solid wood per cord, there are about 21 million BTUs of heat value in a cord of Utah juniper wood.

Posts (7 foot): 25 to 40 posts per acre in stands of medium canopy.

MANAGEMENT GUIDES AND INTERPRETATIONS

1. LIMITATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
a. Moderate to severe equipment limitations due to surface stoniness.
b. Moderate to severe equipment limitations on steeper slopes.
c. Proper spacing is the key to a well-managed, multiple-use and multi-product juniper woodland.

2. ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
a. Adequately protect from wildfire.
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 for fuel wood.
2) Harvest Cutting - Selectively harvest surplus trees to achieve desired spacing. Selective harvesting can provide income as well as improve stand quality and yield. Tree harvest will also open overstory canopy to increase understory herbaceous production desirable for grazing by livestock and big game. Do not select only "high grade" trees during harvest.
3) Slash Disposal - Broadcasting slash enhances reestablishment of native understory species and establishment of seeded grasses and forbs after tree harvest.
4) Spacing Guide - D+12
b. Prescription burning program to maintain desired canopy cover and manage site reproduction.
c. Mechanical tree removal (i.e., chaining) – usually not recommended due to surface stoniness and shallow soils.
d. Pest Control - Porcupines can cause extensive damage and populations should be controlled.
e. Fire hazard - Fire usually not a problem in mature, well-managed stands.

Other products

Utah juniper is used by many birds and wildlife for cover and food. The foliage is grazed by mule deer when other foliage is scarce and during periods of deep snow. Juniper "berries" or berry-cones are eaten by jackrabbits and coyotes. Many bird species depend on juniper berry-cones for fall and winter food. 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.

Table 16. 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
Utah juniper	JUOS	30	50	2	5	–	–	–

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: Washoe County, NV
Township/Range/Section	T34N R22E S35
UTM zone	N
UTM northing	292814
UTM easting	4518217
Latitude	40° 47′ 19″
Longitude	119° 27′ 20″
General legal description	SE 1/4, West side of Granite Range, north of Gerlach, Washoe County, Nevada. This site also occurs in Humboldt County, Nevada.

Other references

Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).

Howell, J. 1940. Pinyon and Juniper: A Preliminary Study of Volume, Growth, and Yield. Regional Bulletin 71. Albuquerque, NM: USDA, SCS; 90p.

Vasek, F.C. 1966. The Distribution and Taxonomy of Three Western Junipers; Brittonia 18:350-372.

USDA-NRCS. 1986. Field Identification of Western Nevada Junipers, Woodland Technical Note No. 15, Reno, Nevada. 8p.

USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).

Contributors

SW/SB

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:

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