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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 Loamy 14-18 PZ Mountain Big Sagebrush and Mountain Brome 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/R023XY908NV
The Loamy 16+” (023XY019NV) ecological site is the modal site for this group as it has the most acres mapped. This site occurs on mostly concave mountain and plateau sideslopes on all aspects. At lower elevations this site is restricted to cool, moist, northerly exposures. Slopes range from 2 to 50 percent, but slope gradients of 2 to less than 30 percent are most typical. Elevations are 6500 to 9000 feet. Average annual precipitation is 16 to over 20 inches. The soils of this site have formed in colluvium derived from volcanic rock or mixed parent materials. The soils are deep, fertile, and well drained. These soils have thick, dark-colored, medium-textured surface layers. Subsoils are friable loams, clay loams, or clays. Soil temperature regime is cryic and soils are neutral to slightly acidic and non-calcareous. Sheet and rill erosion potential is slight to moderate depending on the slope. Few overland flow patterns are discernible. Wind erosion potential is slight. These soils present very few limitations to the growth of native vegetation. The plant community is dominated by mountain brome, Columbia needlegrass (Achnatherum nelsonii), western needlegrass (Achnatherum occidentale), and mountain big sagebrush. Snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) is often present. Annual production is 1800 lbs/ac in normal years.Associated sites
F023XY028NV Backslope Aspen
R023XY007NV LOAMY 14-16 P.Z.
R023XY015NV STONY LOAM 12-14 P.Z.
R023XY017NV CLAYPAN 14-16 P.Z.
R023XY065NV LOAMY SLOPE 16+ P.Z.
R023XY066NV ASHY LOAM 14-16 P.Z.
Similar sites
R023XY066NV ASHY LOAM 14-16 P.Z.
FEID dominant grass
R023XY048NV GRANITIC SLOPE 16+ P.Z.
less productive site
R023XY084NV DEEP LOAMY 14-16 P.Z.
FEID dominant grass; less productive site
R023XY065NV LOAMY SLOPE 16+ P.Z.
on straight to convex sideslopes;less productive site
R023XY007NV LOAMY 14-16 P.Z.
PSSPS-FEID codominant; less productive site
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana
Herbaceous (1) Bromus marginatus
(2) AchnatherumPhysiographic features
This site occurs on mostly concave mountain and plateau sideslopes on all aspects. At lower elevations this site is restricted to cool, moist, northerly exposures. Slopes range from 4 to 75 percent, but slope gradients of 2 to 30 percent are most typical. Elevations are 6000 to 9000 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Plateau
Elevation 6000 – 9000 ft Slope 4 – 75 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is semiarid and characterized by cold, moist winters and warm, dry summers. 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 85 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) 70 days Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 20 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 have formed in colluvium derived from mixed parent materials with additions of loess and volcanic ash. The soils are very deep, fertile, and well drained. These soils have thick, dark-colored, medium-textured surface layers (mollic epipedons). Subsoils are friable loams, clay loams, or clays. Soil temperature regime is cryic and soils are neutral to slightly acid and non-calcareous. Sheet and rill erosion potential is slight to moderate depending on slope. Few overland flow patterns are discernible. Wind erosion potential is slight. These soils present very few limitations to the growth of native vegetation. The soil moisture regime is xeric. The soil series associated with this site include: Bullump, Harcany, Hastee, Squawval, Thulepah, and Tusel.
A representative soil series is Snag, an ashy-skeletal, glassy Vitrandic Argicryolls. A mollic epipedon occurs from the soil surface to 41 inches and an argillic horizon occurs from 30 to 62 inches.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Colluvium – andesite
Surface texture (1) Ashy sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 72 – 84 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 26 % Surface fragment cover >3" 2 – 40 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 6 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.1 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)3 – 59 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 17 % Ecological dynamics
Where management results in abusive grazing use by livestock and/or feral horses, mountain big sagebrush, snowberry, and rabbitbrush will increase at the expense of desirable perennial grasses and forbs.
Fire Ecology:
Presettlement fire return intervals in mountain big sagebrush communities varied from 15 to over 25 years. Plants are readily killed in all seasons, even light severity fires. Mountain big sagebrush is highly susceptible to injury from fire. It is often top-killed by fire and will not resprout. Fires top-kill mountain snowberry. Although plant survival may be variable, mountain snowberry root crowns usually survive even severe fires. Mountain snowberry sprouts from basal buds at the root crown following fire. Mountain brome is likely to be top-killed by fire, although the coarse stems and broad leaves may be more fire-resistant than fine-leaved bunchgrasses. Mountain brome is most susceptible to fire damage when it is actively growing in spring and early summer. Perennial needlegrasses tend to be among the least fire resistant bunchgrass due to the densely tufted stems. Idaho fescue grows in a dense, fine-leaved tuft. Fires tend to burn within the accumulated fine leaves at the base of the plant and may produce temperatures sufficient to kill some of the root crown. Mature Idaho fescue plants are commonly reported to be severely damaged by fire in all seasons. Bluegrasses are generally unharmed by fire. They produce little litter, and their small bunch size and sparse litter reduces the amount of heat transferred to perennating buds in the soil. Their rapid maturation in the spring also reduces fire damage, since they are dormant when most fires occur. 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.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
States 2 and 5 (additional transitions)
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Community PhaseThe reference plant community is dominated by mountain brome, needlegrasses, and mountain big sagebrush. Potential vegetative composition is about 70% grasses, 15% forbs and 15% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is about 45 to 60 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 1050 1260 1540 Forb 225 270 330 Shrub/Vine 195 234 286 Tree 30 36 44 Total 1500 1800 2200 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 1.2State 2
Current Potential StateCommunity 2.1
Community PhaseCommunity 2.2
Community PhaseCommunity 2.3
Community Phase (at risk)Community 2.4
Community PhasePathway a
Community 2.1 to 2.2Pathway b
Community 2.1 to 2.3Pathway c
Community 2.1 to 2.4Pathway a
Community 2.2 to 2.1Pathway b
Community 2.2 to 2.4Pathway a
Community 2.3 to 2.2Pathway a
Community 2.4 to 2.1Pathway b
Community 2.4 to 2.2State 3
Shrub StateCommunity 3.1
Community PhaseCommunity 3.2
Community PhasePathway a
Community 3.1 to 3.2Pathway a
Community 3.2 to 3.1State 4
Tree StateCommunity 4.1
Community PhaseCommunity 4.2
Community PhasePathway a
Community 4.1 to 4.2State 5
Annual StateCommunity 5.1
Community PhaseCommunity 5.2
Community PhasePathway a
Community 5.1 to 5.2Pathway a
Community 5.2 to 5.1Transition A
State 1 to 2Transition A
State 1 to 2Transition A
State 2 to 3Transition B
State 2 to 4Transition C
State 2 to 5Transition A
State 3 to 4Transition B
State 3 to 5Transition A
State 4 to 5Additional 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 756–1584 mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 360–720 – Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 90–270 – Columbia needlegrass ACNEN2 Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. nelsonii 90–180 – western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 90–180 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 36–90 – Cusick's bluegrass POCUE2 Poa cusickii ssp. epilis 30–48 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes 90–180 Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 9–54 – sedge CAREX Carex 9–54 – blue wildrye ELGL Elymus glaucus 9–54 – slender wheatgrass ELTRT Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 9–54 – purple oniongrass MESP Melica spectabilis 9–54 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSPS Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 9–54 – Forb3 Perennial 180–360 giant hyssop AGAST Agastache 9–54 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 9–54 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 9–54 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 9–54 – geranium GERAN Geranium 9–54 – waterleaf HYDRO4 Hydrophyllum 9–54 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 9–54 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 9–54 – mule-ears WYETH Wyethia 9–54 – Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 126–360 mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 90–270 – mountain snowberry SYOR2 Symphoricarpos oreophilus 36–90 – 5 Secondary Shrubs 90–180 Utah serviceberry AMUT Amelanchier utahensis 18–90 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 18–90 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 18–90 – currant RIBES Ribes 18–90 – elderberry SAMBU Sambucus 18–90 – Tree6 Deciduous 18–90 quaking aspen POTR5 Populus tremuloides 18–90 – 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 (%) Table 16. Community 4.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 17. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 18. Community 5.2 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. Mountain brome is one of the most important forage grasses in the quaking aspen zone. Mountain brome is ranked as excellent forage for both cattle and horses and good for domestic sheep. Domestic sheep will graze mountain brome only when it is fairly succulent. Columbia needlegrass provides valuable forage for all classes of livestock. Overall production is generally low in the upper sagebrush and mountain brush zones and at the limits of its range where Columbia needlegrass grows only in scattered patches. It is especially valuable to cattle and horses on summer ranges and to domestic sheep on lambing grounds. It is more often cropped closely by cattle and horses than by sheep. Columbia needlegrass is palatable to livestock throughout its range. As with most needlegrasses, it is most palatable early in the season before the foliage becomes coarse and wiry. Palatability to cows and horses is increased because large amounts of fine leafage remain green throughout the growing season. Palatability of Columbia needlegrass is described as fair to good for cattle and horses, becoming nearly unpalatable at maturity. Nevada needlegrass is unaffected by moderate grazing, but disappears under heavy grazing. As with most needlegrasses, it is most palatable early in the season before the foliage becomes coarse and wiry. Palatability to cows and horses is increased because large amounts of fine leafage remain green throughout the growing season. Palatability of Nevada needlegrass is described as fair to good for cattle and horses, becoming nearly unpalatable at maturity. Idaho fescue provides important forge for many types of domestic livestock. The foliage cures well and is preferred by livestock in late fall and winter. Bluegrasses are widespread forage grasses. They are the earliest grasses in the spring and are sought by domestic livestock and several wildlife species. Bluegrasses are palatable species, but their production is closely tied to weather conditions. They produces little forage in drought years, making them a less dependable food source than other perennial bunchgrasses. 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. Snowberry is readily eaten by all classes of livestock, particularly domestic sheep.
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:
Mountain big sagebrush is highly preferred and nutritious winter forage for mule deer and elk. 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. Snowberry is an important forage species for deer and elk on high elevation summer ranges. Snowberry is frequently one of the first species to leaf out, making it a highly sought after food in the early spring. Mountain brome seedheads and seeds provide food for many birds and small mammals. Pronghorn antelope will consume mountain brome primarily in the spring. The palatability of mountain brome is excellent for deer, particularly during the late spring and early summer. Columbia needlegrass provides valuable forage for many species of wildlife. It is also consumed by mule deer and other wildlife species throughout the growing season. Needlegrasses are a significant component in the diet of pocket gophers. Columbia needlegrass is palatable to many species of wildlife throughout its range. As with most needlegrasses, it is most palatable early in the season before the foliage becomes coarse and wiry. Palatability of Columbia needlegrass is described as fair for wildlife overall, becoming nearly unpalatable at maturity. Western needlegrass provides valuable forage for many species of wildlife. Idaho fescue provides important forge for several wildlife species. It is reported to be good forage for pronghorn, and deer in ranges of northern Nevada. Bluegrasses are 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. 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.Hydrological functions
Runoff is low to high. Permeability is moderately slow to moderately rapid.
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
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. Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand.
Other information
Mountain snowberry is useful for establishing cover on bare sites and has done well when planted onto roadbanks. Mountain brome is an excellent native bunchgrass for seeding alone or in mixtures in disturbed areas, including depleted rangelands, burned areas, roadways, mined lands, and degraded riparian zones. 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: Washoe County, NV Township/Range/Section T34N R23E S30 UTM zone N UTM northing 296116 UTM easting 4519733 Latitude 40° 48′ 11″ Longitude 119° 25′ 1″ General legal description NE 1/4 NW 1/4, 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/).
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).
Contributors
BH/SW/CP
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) P. Novak-Echenique Contact for lead author State Rangeland Management Specialist Date 11/28/2011 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 typically non-existent. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are typically non-existent. Water flow patterns (of short length) may rarely be observed on steeper slopes in areas recently subjected to summer convection storms or rapid spring snowmelt. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none to rare. Occurrence is limited to areas of water flow patterns. Frost heaving of shallow rooted plants should not be considered a "normal" condition. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground 10-15%; varies depending on soil 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) 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 or subangular blocky. Soil surface colors are dark grayish browns and soils are typified by a thick mollic epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 4 inches is typically more than 3.5 percent. -
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., Idaho fescue & needlegrasses] 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 or massive structure are not to be interpreted as compacted. -
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: Deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses >>Sub-dominant:
tall shrubs (mountain big sagebrush & mixed mountain browse species) > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial grasses and grass-like plants >> fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial and annual forbsOther:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs common. Standing-dead shrub canopy material ± 30% of total woody canopy; some of the mature bunchgrasses (<20%) have dead centers. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Under canopy and between plant interspaces (35-50%) and litter depth is <½ 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-June) ± 1800 lbs/ac; Spring moisture significantly affects total production. Favorable years ±2200 lbs/ac; unfavorable years ±1500 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 are cheatgrass, annual mustards, and knapweeds. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years
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