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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.
Ecological site concept
Currently there is only a draft of the initial concept for this ecological site. The initial concept for this site places it within the Seasonally Flooded Basin Wildrye Ecological Site Group. To view the General STM and other information available for this ESG please go to https://edit.jornada.nmsu.edu/catalogs/esg/023X/R023XY916NV
The Dry Floodplain (023XY005NV) ecological site is the modal site for this group. This site occurs on the outer margins of axial-stream flood plains, fan skirts and along intermittent drainageways. Slopes gradients of 0 to 2 percent are most typical. Elevations range from 4500 to 6000 feet. Average annual precipitation is 8 to 12 inches. The soils in this site are deep, light colored, silty to clayey in texture and are moderately slow to slowly permeable. A seasonally high water table within 5 feet of the surface is usually present in the early spring. These soils are subject to periodic flooding. The plant community is dominated by basin wildrye and basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata sp. tridentata) with a lesser component of western wheatgrass. Black greasewood is present on this site. Production ranges from 1300 to 3000 lb/ac with normal year production estimated at 2000 lb/acAssociated sites
R023XY009NV LOAMY BOTTOM 8-12 P.Z.
R023XY010NV SALINE BOTTOM
R023XY011NV DUNES 8-10 P.Z.
Similar sites
R023XY040NV GRANITIC FAN 8-10 P.Z.
less productive site; LECI4-ACTH7 codominant
R024XY005NV LOAMY 8-10 P.Z.
less productive site
R023XY082NV LOAMY FAN 10-12 P.Z.
less productive site; SAVE4 & DISP absent
R023XY010NV SALINE BOTTOM
ARTR2 not significant; SAVE4 dominant shrub; less productive site
R024XY033NV STEEP NORTH SLOPE 10-12 P.Z.
SAVE4-ARTR2 codominant; less productive site; different landscape position
R023XY097NV LOAMY FAN 8-10 P.Z.
less productive site
R023XY009NV LOAMY BOTTOM 8-12 P.Z.
more productive site; SAVE4 & DISP absent
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata
Herbaceous (1) Leymus cinereus
Physiographic features
This site occurs on the outer margins of axial-stream terraces, lake terraces, and inset fans. Slopes gradients of 0 to 15 percent are most typical. Elevations are 3800 to 7600 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Lake terrace
(2) Stream terrace
(3) Inset fan
Flooding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) Flooding frequency Rare to occasional Ponding frequency None Elevation 3800 – 7600 ft Slope 0 – 15 % Water table depth 66 – 84 in 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 8 to 12 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 45 to 53 degrees F. The average growing season is about 90 to 120 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) 110 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 3. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 4 Annual average temperature pattern
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features associated with this site.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are moderately deep to very deep, light colored, silty to clayey in texture and have slow to moderately rapid permeability. A seasonally high water table within 5 feet of the surface is usually present in the early spring. These soils are subject to periodic flooding. The soil series associated with this site include: Dithod, Dugway, Jesayno, Jesse Camp, Mcconnel, and Weezweed.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Fine sandy loam
(2) Silt loam
(3) Very fine sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Somewhat poorly drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 20 – 84 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)2.1 – 7.9 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 5 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 16 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 45 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.1 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive livestock use, basin wildrye and Nevada bluegrass decrease as sagebrush, rabbitbrush, inland saltgrass and povertyweed increase. Black greasewood increases with severe site disturbance or as depth to water table increases. Disruption (decrease) of the natural flooding frequency favors an increase in woody species. Periodic fire through this community will maintain the dominance of basin wildrye.
Fire Ecology:
Fire return intervals in basin big sagebrush are intermediate between mountain big sagebrush (15 to 25 years) and Wyoming big sagebrush (10 to 70 years). A naturally wide variation in fire frequency in this system is expected. Basin big sagebrush is readily killed when aboveground plant parts are charred by fire. Prolific seed production from nearby unburned plants coupled with high germination rates enables seedlings to establish rapidly following fire. Black greasewood may be killed by severe fires, but it commonly sprouts soon after low to moderate-severity fires. Basin wildrye is top-killed by fire. Older basin wildrye plants with large proportions of dead material within the perennial crown can be expected to show higher mortality due to fire than younger plants having little debris. Basin wildrye is generally tolerant of fire but may be damaged by early season fire combined with dry soil conditions. The major adaptation of western wheatgrass to fire is its rhizomatous growth form. During a fire the coarse culms usually burn fast with little or no heat transferred to the roots. Recovery takes about 2 to 5 years after a fire. Nevada bluegrass is generally unharmed by fire. It produces little litter, and its small bunch size and sparse litter reduces the amount of heat transferred to perennating buds in the soil.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagramMore 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 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Community PhaseThe reference plant community is dominated by basin wildrye and basin big sagebrush. Potential vegetative composition is about 75% grasses, 10% forbs and 15% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is about 25 to 35 percent.
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)Grass/Grasslike 975 1500 2250 Shrub/Vine 195 300 450 Forb 130 200 300 Total 1300 2000 3000 Community 1.2
Community PhaseCommunity 1.3
Community PhasePathway a
Community 1.1 to 1.2Pathway b
Community 1.1 to 1.3Pathway a
Community 1.2 to 1.1Pathway a
Community 1.3 to 1.1Pathway b
Community 1.3 to 1.2State 2
Current Potential StateCommunity 2.1
Community PhaseCommunity 2.2
Community PhaseCommunity 2.3
Community PhasePathway a
Community 2.1 to 2.2Pathway b
Community 2.1 to 2.3Pathway a
Community 2.2 to 2.1Pathway a
Community 2.3 to 2.1Pathway b
Community 2.3 to 2.2State 3
Shrub StateCommunity 3.1
Community Phase (at risk)Community 3.2
Community Phase (at risk)Pathway a
Community 3.1 to 3.2Transition A
State 1 to 2Transition A
State 2 to 3Additional 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 940–1660 basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 800–1200 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 100–300 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 100–200 needlegrass ACHNA Achnatherum 10–60 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 10–60 – saltgrass DISP Distichlis spicata 10–60 – tall elephantsfoot ELEL3 Elephantopus elatus 10–60 – thickspike wheatgrass ELLA3 Elymus lanceolatus 10–60 – beardless wildrye LETR5 Leymus triticoides 10–60 – 3 Secondary Annual Grasses 1–20 Forb4 Perennial 135–310 povertyweed IVAX Iva axillaris 40–100 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 20–60 – 5 Annual 1–60 Shrub/Vine6 Primary Shrubs 151–475 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 150–375 – greasewood SAVE4 Sarcobatus vermiculatus 1–100 – 7 Secondary Shrubs 30–75 spiny hopsage GRSP Grayia spinosa 20–40 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAO Ericameria nauseosa ssp. consimilis var. oreophila 20–40 – 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 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to perennial grass production. 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. Western wheatgrass provides important forage for domestic sheep. Fall regrowth cures well on the stem, so western wheatgrass is good winter forage for domestic livestock. Nevada bluegrass is a widespread forage grass. It is one of the earliest grasses in the spring and is sought by domestic livestock and several wildlife species. Nevada bluegrass is a palatable species, but its production is closely tied to weather conditions. It produces little forage in drought years, making it a less dependable food source than other perennial bunchgrasses. Basin big sagebrush may serve as emergency food during severe winter weather, but it is not usually sought out by livestock. Black greasewood is an important winter browse plant for domestic sheep and cattle. It also receives light to moderate use by domestic sheep and cattle during spring and summer months. Black greasewood contains soluble sodium and potassium oxalates that may cause poisoning and death in domestic sheep and cattle if large amounts are consumed in a short time.
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 big sagebrush is the least palatable of all the subspecies of big sagebrush. Basin big sagebrush is browsed by mule deer from fall to early spring, but is not preferred. Sagebrush-grassland communities provide critical sage-grouse breeding and nesting habitats. Meadows surrounded by sagebrush may be used as feeding and strutting grounds. Sagebrush is a crucial component of their diet year-round, and sage-grouse select sagebrush almost exclusively for cover. Sage-grouse prefer mountain big sagebrush and Wyoming big sagebrush communities to basin big sagebrush communities. Black greasewood is an important winter browse plant for big game animals and a food source for many other wildlife species. It also receives light to moderate use by mule deer and pronghorn during spring and summer months. 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 longer time than other grasses. Elk consume western wheatgrass during the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Western wheatgrass is used by various small mammals. Nevada bluegrass is desirable for pronghorn antelope and mule deer in the spring and preferable in the spring, summer, and fall for elk and desirable as part of their winter range.Hydrological functions
There are typically no rills. However, there may be a few rills, widely spaced, on portions of floodplain most prone to overland flow. The presence of waterflow patterns are none to slight. If slight, then widely spaced on portions of floodplain most prone to overland flow. There are no pedestals and/or terracettes. Deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses (basin wildrye) slow runoff and increase infiltration. Tall stature and relatively coarse foliage of basin wildrye and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and moisture accumulation on site.
Recreational uses
Aesthetic value is derived from the diverse floral and faunal composition and the colorful flowering of wild flowers and shrubs during the spring and early summer. This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study. This site is used for camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.
Other products
Some Native American peoples used the bark of big sagebrush to make rope and baskets. The leaves, seeds and stems of black greasewood are edible. Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand.
Other information
Basin big sagebrush shows high potential for range restoration and soil stabilization. Basin big sagebrush grows rapidly and spreads readily from seed. Black greasewood is useful for stabilizing soil on wind-blown areas. It successfully revegetates processed oil shale and is commonly found on eroded areas and sites too saline for most plant species. 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. Western wheatgrass is a good soil binder and is well suited for reclamation of disturbed sites such as erosion control and soil stabilization.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Washoe County, NV Township/Range/Section T39N R22E S23 Latitude 41° 14′ 56″ Longitude 119° 28′ 18″ General legal description NW1/4, Approximately 33 miles southeast of Vya, at a point 2 miles north of the junction of Nevada Highway 34 and lower Cottonwood Creek, Washoe County, Nevada. This site is also found in Humboldt County, Nevada. Location 2: Washoe County, NV Township/Range/Section T37N R22E S9 Latitude 41° 6′ 11″ Longitude 119° 30′ 42″ General legal description N1/2, Grass Valley Ranch, along the west side of floodplain, Washoe County, Nevada. This site is also found in Humboldt County, Nevada. Other references
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).Contributors
BH/SW
Approval
Kendra Moseley, 4/10/2025
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) GK BRACKLEY Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 06/20/2006 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Typically none. However, there may be a few rills, widely spaced, on portions of floodplain most prone to overland flow. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None to slight. If slight, then widely spaced on portions of floodplain most prone to overland flow. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground ± 25%; surface rock fragments less than 5%; shrub canopy less than 25%; foliar cover of perennial herbaceous plants ± 50%. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Gullies are rare. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage of grasses and annual & perennial forbs) is only expected to move during occasional periods of flooding by adjacent streams. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during major flooding events. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values will range from 4 to 6. (To be field tested) -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is platy, subangular blocky or granular. Although soil surface colors are somewhat dark, these soils typically have an ochric epipedon. Organic matter can range from 1.5 to 2.5 percent in the upper 2 to 4 inches but drops off rapidly below. (OM values derived from lab characterization data.) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses (basin wildrye) slow runoff and increase infiltration. Tall stature and relatively coarse foliage of basin wildrye and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and moisture accumulation on site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None - Platy subsurface layers 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:
Reference Plant Community: Tall-statured, deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses>>rhizomatous, cool season, perennial grasses >tall shrubs. (By above ground production)Sub-dominant:
Shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial grasses and grass-like plants>deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs>fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs. (By above ground production)Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs are common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 25% of total woody canopy. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Between plant interspaces (± 35%) and depth of litter <1 inch. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (through mid-July) ± 2000 lbs/ac; Winter and spring moisture significantly affect total 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:
Annual mustards, annual kochia, bassia, povertyweed, thistle, and pigweed are invaders on this site. Black greasewood and rabbitbrush spp. are increasers on this site. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years.
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