Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site R024XY012OR

SANDY
6-10 PZ

Accessed: 04/02/2026

Home / esd CATALOG / MLRA 024X / ecological site R024XY012OR

USC

Metric

General information

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.

Click to explore map

Figure 1. Mapped extent

Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.

Associated sites

R024XY005OR	SODIC DUNES Sodic Dunes (sodic sandy dunes, lower production, different composition – SAVE4 co- dominant with ARTRT, DISP present)
R024XY013OR	LOW SODIC TERRACE 6-10 PZ Low Sodic Terrace 6-10 PZ (loamy surface, higher salts and carbonates, droughtier conditions, lower production, different composition – SAVE4 dominant, GRSP, ATCO, PIDE4 prominent, HECO26 minor)
R024XY014OR	SODIC TERRACE 6-10 PZ Sodic Terrace 6-10 PZ (loamy surface, higher salts and carbonates, lower production, different composition – ARTR and GRSP co-dominant, SAVE4, ATCO and PIDE4 prominent, HECO26 minor)
R024XY015OR	DESERT LOAM 6-10 PZ Desert Loam 6-10 PZ (loamy surface, higher salts and carbonates, shallower soil, lower production, droughtier conditions, different composition – ATCO-PIDE4 dominant, HECO26 absent)
R024XY016OR	LOAMY 8-10 PZ Loamy 8-10 PZ (loamy surface, different composition – ARTRW8 and ACTH7 dominant, PSSPS and ACHY prominent, HECO26 present)
R024XY018OR	SANDY LOAM 8-10 PZ Sandy Loam 8-10 PZ (finer sandy surface, different composition – ATCA2 absent, ARTRW8(T)/HEC026 strongly dominant, ACHY prominent)

Similar sites

R024XY018OR	SANDY LOAM 8-10 PZ Sandy Loam 8-10 PZ (finer sandy surface, different composition – ATCA2 absent, ARTRW8(T)/HEC026 strongly dominant, ACHY prominent)
R024XY110OR	DUNES Dunes (sandy dune topography, higher production, different composition – ATCA2 absent, LECI4 common)
R024XY005OR	SODIC DUNES Sodic Dunes (sodic sandy dunes, lower production, different composition – SAVE4 co- dominant with ARTRT, DISP present)

R024XY018OR

SANDY LOAM 8-10 PZ

Sandy Loam 8-10 PZ (finer sandy surface, different composition – ATCA2 absent, ARTRW8(T)/HEC026 strongly dominant, ACHY prominent)

R024XY110OR

DUNES

Dunes (sandy dune topography, higher production, different composition – ATCA2 absent, LECI4 common)

R024XY005OR

SODIC DUNES

Sodic Dunes (sodic sandy dunes, lower production, different composition – SAVE4 co- dominant with ARTRT, DISP present)

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Atriplex canescens (2) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata
Herbaceous	(1) Hesperostipa comata (2) Achnatherum hymenoides

Download full description

Physiographic features

This site occurs on fans and terraces adjacent to lake basins. It is found on topography with level to gentle slopes. Slopes typically range from 2 to 8 percent. Elevation varies from 3800 to 4800 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Fan (2) Terrace (3) Pluvial lake (relict)
Elevation	4000 – 4800 ft
Slope	2 – 8 %
Water table depth	0 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 10 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow and rain during the months of December through March. The soil temperature regime is mesic to frigid near mesic with a mean annual air temperature of 48 degrees F. Air temperature extremes range from 110 to -20 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 90 to 120 days. The optimum growth period for native plants is from the first of April through early June.

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	120 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

The soils of this site are typically very deep over lacustrine sediments, alluvial fan remnants or low terraces. Surface textures are loamy fine sands to sandy loams over fine sandy loam subsoils. Substratums are fine sands. Soils are somewhat excessively drained. Permeability is rapid. The available water holding capacity (AWC) is about 3 to 6 inches for the profile. The potential for wind erosion is moderate to severe. Water erosion potential is slight.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Eolian sands – rhyolite (2) Volcanic ash – granodiorite
Surface texture	(1) Loamy fine sand (2) Sandy loam
Family particle size	(1) Sandy
Drainage class	Somewhat excessively drained to well drained
Permeability class	Very rapid to rapid
Soil depth	60 – 72 in

Ecological dynamics

The potential native plant community is dominated by fourwing saltbush and needle and thread. Indian ricegrass is prominent. Basin big sagebrush is common. Basin wildrye, beardless (creeping) wildrye and a variety of forbs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 60 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 30 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 40-60% (basal and crown).

Range in Characteristics:
Production will increases at the upper end of the precipitation zone. Both needle and thread and Indian ricegrass are indicative of the coarseness of the soil on this site. Needle and thread increases on fine sandy loam surfaces. Indian ricegrass increases on coarse sandy surfaces. Fourwing saltbush, a C4 plant, increases in warm mesic areas on deep soils. When fourwing saltbush is present in higher densities it adds considerably to total production. Basin wildrye a minor component increases with available deep subsurface water.

Response to Disturbance - States:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of over grazing, fourwing saltbush, needle and thread and Indian ricegrass will decrease in the stand. Basin big sagebrush and bottlebrush squirreltail will increase. Bare ground increases and annuals invade. With further deterioration annuals continue to invade, bare ground increases and wind erosion reduces the site productivity. Annual invasion is prevalent under deteriorated conditions following fire.

States: ARTRT/ELEL5-annuals-bare ground; Annuals-bare ground following fire under deteriorated conditions

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference Plant Community

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Referencer Plant Community

State 1
Reference Plant Community

Community 1.1
Referencer Plant Community

The reference native plant community is dominated by fourwing saltbush and needle and thread. Indian ricegrass is prominent. Basin big sagebrush is common. Basin wildrye, beardless (creeping) wildrye and a variety of forbs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 60 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 30 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 40-60% (basal and crown).

Figure 4. 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	300	480	600
Shrub/Vine	150	240	300
Forb	50	80	100
Total	500	800	1000

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Dominant, moderate rooted bunchgrass			240–320
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	240–320	–
2	Sub-dominant, moderate rooted bunchgrass			160–240
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	160–240	–
3	Common, perennial, rhizomatous grass			15–40
	beardless wildrye	LETR5	Leymus triticoides	15–40	–
5	Other perennial grasses			30–90
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	15–40	–
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	5–15	–
	sand dropseed	SPCR	Sporobolus cryptandrus	0–15	–
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	0–15	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	5–15	–
	thickspike wheatgrass	ELLA3	Elymus lanceolatus	0–15	–
Forb
9	Perennial forbs			15–80
	hawksbeard	CREPI	Crepis	2–8	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	2–8	–
	buckwheat	ERIOG	Eriogonum	2–8	–
	granite prickly phlox	LIPU11	Linanthus pungens	0–8	–
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	2–8	–
	lupine	LUPIN	Lupinus	2–8	–
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	2–5	–
	sandwort	ARENA	Arenaria	0–5	–
	evening primrose	OENOT	Oenothera	2–5	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	2–5	–
	fleabane	ERIGE2	Erigeron	2–5	–
	scarlet globemallow	SPCO	Sphaeralcea coccinea	0–3	–
	foothill deathcamas	ZIPA2	Zigadenus paniculatus	1–3	–
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–3	–
	Douglas' dustymaiden	CHDO	Chaenactis douglasii	0–3	–
	blazingstar	MENTZ	Mentzelia	0–3	–
	silverpuffs	MICRO6	Microseris	0–2	–
	larkspur	DELPH	Delphinium	0–2	–
Shrub/Vine
11	Dominant, deciduous, sprouting shrub			40–320
	fourwing saltbush	ATCA2	Atriplex canescens	40–320	–
12	Sub-dominant, evergreen, non-sprouting shrub			40–80
	basin big sagebrush	ARTRT	Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata	40–80	–
15	Other shrubs			40–100
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	5–25	–
	spiny hopsage	GRSP	Grayia spinosa	5–25	–
	winterfat	KRLA2	Krascheninnikovia lanata	0–25	–
	bud sagebrush	PIDE4	Picrothamnus desertorum	0–20	–
	littleleaf horsebrush	TEGL	Tetradymia glabrata	5–20	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Grazing:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing use in spring, fall and early winter under a planned grazing system. Use should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to prevent trampling damage and soil compaction. Grazing management should be keyed for needle and thread, Indian ricegrass and fourwing saltbush. Needle and thread and Indian ricegrass can be severely damaged if heavily grazed during periods of flowering and grass seed formation before root reserves have accumulated and soil moisture is low. Fourwing saltbush can be severely damaged by heavy late winter/early spring grazing during periods of “bark slippage”. Deferred grazing or rest is recommended at least once every three years.

Wildlife:
This site offers food and cover for antelope, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, sage grouse and a variety of other birds, rodents and their associated predators. It is an important spring, fall and winter use area for sage grouse, antelope, mule deer and desert bighorn sheep.

Hydrological functions

The soils of this site have high wind erosion and low runoff potential. The hydrologic cover condition is good when the deep rooted bunchgrass component is greater than 70 percent of potential. The soils are in hydrologic groups A.

Other information

This site has moderately low potential for range seeding because it is very droughty and subject to wind erosion.

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:

Download reference sheet

Natural ResourcesConservation Service