Ecological site R024XY032OR

R024XY015OR	DESERT LOAM 6-10 PZ Desert Loam 6-10 PZ (non-aspect, higher salts and carbonates, different composition – ATCO dominant)
R024XY016OR	LOAMY 8-10 PZ Loamy 8-10 PZ (non-aspect, deeper soil, higher production)
R024XY017OR	SHALLOW LOAM 8-10 PZ Shallow Loam 8-10 PZ (non-aspect, higher production)
R024XY020OR	SHRUBBY LOAM 8-10 PZ Shrubby Loam 8-10 PZ (non-aspect, higher production)
R024XY030OR	LOAMY SLOPES 6-10 PZ Loamy Slopes 6-10 PZ (higher production, cooler slopes)
R024XY031OR	DROUGHTY SHALLOW SLOPES 6-10 PZ Droughty Shallow Slopes 6-10 PZ (higher salts and carbonates, different composition – ATCO dominant)
R024XY033OR	ARID NORTH SLOPES 6-10 PZ Arid North Slopes 6-10 PZ (higher production, north aspect, different composition - ARTRW8 and PSSPS dominant w/ACTH7 sub-dominant)

R024XY030OR	LOAMY SLOPES 6-10 PZ Loamy Slopes 6-10 PZ (higher production, cooler slopes)
R024XY638OR	SOUTH SLOPES 8-10 PZ South Slopes 8-10 PZ (higher production, cooler slopes, different composition – ARTRW8 and PSSPS dominant w/ACTH7 sub-dominant)
R024XY031OR	DROUGHTY SHALLOW SLOPES 6-10 PZ Droughty Shallow Slopes 6-10 PZ (higher salts and carbonates, different composition – ATCO dominant)

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Artemisia tridentata subsp. wyomingensis (2) Salvia dorrii
Herbaceous	(1) Achnatherum hymenoides (2) Achnatherum thurberianum

Landforms	(1) Terrace (2) Hill (3) Mountain slope
Elevation	3500 – 5200 ft
Slope	15 – 50 %
Aspect	S

Frost-free period (average)	140 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Parent material	(1) Loess – rhyolite
Surface texture	(1) Very gravelly sandy loam (2) Fine sandy loam
Family particle size	(1) Clayey
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained
Permeability class	Moderate to moderately slow
Soil depth	6 – 20 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)	1 – 3 in

Ecological dynamics

The reference native plant community is dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush and Indian ricegrass. Thurber's needlgrass and bluebunch wheatgrass are prominent in the stand. Spiny hopsage, bottlebrush squirreltail and Sandberg bluegrass are common. Desert needlegrass, purple sage and mormon tea are sporadic. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 65 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs and 30 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 20 to 30 percent (basal and crown).

Four states have been identified for this site: a reference state; a state with the presence of annuals; a state with a shrub/annual co-dominance; and a state with annual dominance.

Reference: Plant community phase change is driven by infrequent fire. Wyoming and basin big sagebrush decline after fire while Thurber’s needlegrass, Indian ricegrass and other grasses increase. May see a temporary increase in rabbitbrush after fire. Time facilitates the reintroduction of sagebrush. The introduction of invasive annual grasses and forbs transitions into the state 2.

State 2: Compositionally similar to the reference state with a trace of cheatgrass and weedy forbs. Ecological function has not changed, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. Prescribed grazing and infrequent fire (> 50 year return interval) maintain state dynamics. The timing and/or intensity of grazing or prolonged drought favors Wyoming and basin big sagebrush, squirreltail and Sandberg’s bluegrass. Prescribed grazing and/or release from drought may reverse the decline in needlegrass and Indian ricegrass production. Infrequent fire reduces the shrub community and promotes the bunchgrass component. Mismanaged grazing and/or prolonged drought leads to a biotic threshold and into state 3.

State 3: Wyoming and basin big sagebrush is decadent with little recruitment. The perennial grass component is significantly reduced in both density and productivity. Cheatgrass and/or annual forbs and/or Sandberg’s bluegrass along with sagebrush control site resources and drive ecological dynamics. Bare ground is abundant. Spatial and temporal energy capture and nutrient cycling has been truncated. Infiltration may be reduced due to lack of ground cover. Risk of soil erosion by both wind and water is increased. Catastrophic wildfire will lead to an abiotic threshold and into state 4.

State 4: Cheatgrass and/or annual weed dominated plant community with limited to no shrub or perennial grass component. Soil erosion and redistribution along with changes in dynamic soil properties affect the hydrologic cycle and thus the nutrient cycle. Harsh environmental factors increase state resiliency to change.

Range in Characteristics-
The depth to a restrictive layer and apect influences the composition and production of the site. Production will increase with greater soil depth. Indian ricegrass will increase on shallow coarse soils and warm slopes. Desert needlegrass will increase on deeper soils. Bluebunch wheatgrass will increase on east slopes. Thurber’s needlegrass increases on loamy surfaces. Purple sage will increase on warm steep droughty slopes and ephedra will increase on toe slopes and over fractured substratums. On older higher terraces with stable erosion pavement the erosion pavement has developed a distinctive desert varnish. The distinctive dark color is due to precipitated concentrates of manganese and lesser amounts of iron.

Response to Disturbance - States
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of over grazing, Indian ricegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, Thurber’s needlegrass and desert needlegrass will decrease in the stand. Wyoming big sagebrush, squirreltail and Sandberg bluegrass will increase. Minor amounts of annuals will invade. With further deterioration, bare ground rapidly increases, erosion accelerates and site productivity decreases. The invasion of annuals and the natural re-establishment of native perennials is limited on eroded surfaces and in areas of heavy erosion pavement.

States: ARTRW8/ELEL5-POSE-bare ground with erosion pavement; Annuals (scattered)-bare ground with erosion pavement

State and transition model

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Standard diagram

Figure 4. Group 6, STM

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Ecosystem states

1. ReferenceState

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Reference Plant Community

State 1
ReferenceState

Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community

The reference native plant community is dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush and Indian ricegrass. Thurber's needlegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass are prominent in the stand. Spiny hopsage, bottlebrush squirreltail and Sandberg bluegrass are common. Desert needlegrass, purple sage and mormon tea are sporadic. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 60 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 30 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 20 to 30 percent (basal and crown).

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	120	180	300
Shrub/Vine	60	90	150
Forb	20	30	50
Total	200	300	500

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, perennial, moderate rooted bunchgrass			60–90
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	60–90	–
2	Sub-dominant, moderate rooted bunchgrasses			45–135
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	30–60	–
	desert needlegrass	ACSP12	Achnatherum speciosum	0–45	–
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSPS	Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata	15–30	–
3	Other moderate and shallow rooted bunchgrasses			15–45
	Webber needlegrass	ACWE3	Achnatherum webberi	0–15	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–15	–
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–15	–
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–15	–
	foxtail wheatgrass	PSSA2	×Pseudelymus saxicola	0–15	–
Forb
4	Perennial Forbs			15–45
	curvepod milkvetch	ASCU4	Astragalus curvicarpus	0–6	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	0–6	–
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	0–6	–
	Douglas' dustymaiden	CHDO	Chaenactis douglasii	0–6	–
	tapertip hawksbeard	CRAC2	Crepis acuminata	0–6	–
	buckwheat	ERIOG	Eriogonum	0–6	–
	granite prickly phlox	LIPU11	Linanthus pungens	0–6	–
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–6	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	0–6	–
	scarlet globemallow	SPCO	Sphaeralcea coccinea	0–6	–
	princesplume	STANL	Stanleya	0–6	–
	largehead clover	TRMA3	Trifolium macrocephalum	0–6	–
Shrub/Vine
5	Dominant, evergreen, non-sprouting shrub			30–60
	Wyoming big sagebrush	ARTRW8	Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis	30–60	–
6	Sub-dominant, deciduous, sprouting shrub			6–30
	purple sage	SADO4	Salvia dorrii	6–30	–
7	Other evergreen, non-sprouting shrub			6–15
	spiny hopsage	GRSP	Grayia spinosa	6–15	–
8	Other, deciduous, sprouting shrubs			0–24
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	0–6	–
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNA10	Ericameria nauseosa	0–6	–
	littleleaf horsebrush	TEGL	Tetradymia glabrata	0–6	–
	shortspine horsebrush	TESP2	Tetradymia spinosa	0–6	–
9	Deciduous, non-sprouting shrubs			6–27
	shadscale saltbush	ATCO	Atriplex confertifolia	6–15	–
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–6	–
	bud sagebrush	PIDE4	Picrothamnus desertorum	0–6	–

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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Ecological site R024XY032OR

ARID SOUTH SLOPES 6-10 PZ

Accessed: 04/11/2026

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General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

ARID SOUTH SLOPES
6-10 PZ