Natural Resources
Conservation Service
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 024X–Humboldt Basin and Range Area
Major land resource area (MLRA) 24, the Humboldt Area, covers an area of approximately 8,115,200 acres (12,680 sq. mi.). It is found in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. Elevations range from 3,950 to 5,900 feet (1,205 to 1,800 meters) in most of the area, some mountain peaks are more than 8,850 feet (2,700 meters).
A series of widely spaced north-south trending mountain ranges are separated by broad valleys filled with alluvium washed in from adjacent mountain ranges. Most valleys are drained by tributaries to the Humboldt River. However, playas occur in lower elevation valleys with closed drainage systems. Isolated ranges are dissected, uplifted fault-block mountains. Geology is comprised of Mesozoic and Paleozoic volcanic rock and marine and continental sediments. Occasional young andesite and basalt flows (6 to 17 million years old) occur at the margins of the mountains. Dominant soil orders include Aridisols, Entisols, Inceptisols and Mollisols. Soils of the area are generally characterized by a mesic soil temperature regime, an aridic soil moisture regime and mixed geology. They are generally well drained, loamy and very deep.
Approximately 75 percent of MLRA 24 is federally owned, the remainder is primarily used for farming, ranching and mining. Irrigated land makes up about 3 percent of the area; the majority of irrigation water is from surface water sources, such as the Humboldt River and Rye Patch Reservoir. Annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) for most of the area, but can be as much as 40 inches (101 cm) in the mountain ranges. The majority of annual precipitation occurs as snow in the winter. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in the spring and fall.Ecological site concept
This ESC has not been correlated to any map unit components and has not been verified in the field. This ESC will be considered draft and full consideration will be given to correlating it as state of 024XY021NV or 024XY32NV.
Associated sites
R024XY021NV Loamy Slope 12-14 P.Z.
R024XY023NV NORTH SLOPE 14+ P.Z.
R024XY027NV CLAYPAN 12-16 P.Z.
R024XY029NV SOUTH SLOPE 12-16 P.Z.
R024XY032NV LOAMY SLOPE 14+ P.Z.
R024XY046NV GRAVELLY NORTH SLOPE
Similar sites
R024XY021NV Loamy Slope 12-14 P.Z.
FEID-PSSPS codominant grasses.
R024XY032NV LOAMY SLOPE 14+ P.Z.
BRMA4 dominant grass; not associated with rock outcrop and talus.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata subsp. vaseyana
(2) Artemisia tripartitaHerbaceous (1) Festuca idahoensis
(2) Pseudoroegneria spicataPhysiographic features
This site occurs on smooth to usually concave mountain side slopes on all aspects. The site is typically associated with talus and rubbleland lying below areas of rock outcrop. Slopes range from 15 to 75 percent, but slope gradients of 30 to 50 percent are typical. Elevations are 6500 to 8500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
Elevation 1981 – 2591 m Slope 15 – 75 % Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is semiarid and characterized by cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 14 to over 18 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 42 to 44 degrees F. The average growing season is about 60 to 90 days. There is no climate station available for this site.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 90 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 460 mm BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features associated with this site.
Soil features
Ecological dynamics
As ecological condition declines and where management results in abusive grazing use by livestock or feral horses, the composition of bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, and mountain brome decreases as Sandberg's bluegrass and bottlebrush squirreltail increase and become the dominant vegetation in the understory. Mountain big sagebrush, snowberry, and rabbitbrush increase in density and become the dominant vegetation in the overstory. Cheatgrass is the species likely to invade this site.
Fire Ecology:
Presettlement fire return intervals in mountain big sagebrush communities varied from 15 to 25 years. Plants are readily killed in all seasons, even light severity fires. 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. 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. 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. The effects of fire on slender wheatgrass are dependent on its growth form. Tall, decadent plants with many leaves sustain the most fire damage, while those with short, sparse growth form, is the least likely to sustain damage to the root system during a fire. 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. Perennial needlegrasses tend to be among the least fire resistant bunchgrass due to the densely tufted stems. Cusick’s bluegrass is unharmed to slightly harmed by light-severity fall fires. Cusick’s bluegrass regenerates after fire from seed and by tillering. 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. Mountain big sagebrush is highly susceptible to injury from fire. It is often top-killed by fire and will not resprout. Aboveground parts of Utah serviceberry may be killed or consumed under fire conditions with sufficient flame lengths. Utah serviceberry may be slightly harmed by fire, depending on moisture conditions, but is generally considered to be fire tolerant. Utah serviceberry sprouts from the root crown following fire. Soil moisture is important to aid sprouting. Common snowberry is classified as a sprouter and has high resistance to fire. It is a rhizomatous species with rhizomes buried 2 to 5 inches (5-12.5 cm) deep in mineral soil. After fire has killed the top of the plant, new growth sprouts from these rhizomes. This rhizomatous growth response is highly variable and depends on conditions at specific sites. Regeneration from buried seed is favored by fires of low severity and short duration that remove little of the soil organic level. Threetip sagebrush is severely damaged by fire. In some instances sprouting is described as weak, but in other cases researchers have observed prolific or vigorous sprouting.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 textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe reference plant community is variable due to the relatively unstable nature of the site. Bush oceanspray, mountain big sagebrush, threetip sagebrush, Utah serviceberry, snowberry and currant are the major shrubs. Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass and mountain brome are the dominant grasses. Potential vegetative composition is about 50% grasses, 10% forbs and 40% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 40 to 55 percent.
Figure 3. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 4. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(kg/hectare)Representative value
(kg/hectare)High
(kg/hectare)Grass/Grasslike 448 673 897 Shrub/Vine 359 538 717 Forb 90 135 179 Total 897 1346 1793 Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses 309–847 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 67–202 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSPS Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 67–202 – mountain brome BRMA4 Bromus marginatus 67–135 – slender wheatgrass ELTR7 Elymus trachycaulus 27–67 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 27–67 – Cusick's bluegrass POCU3 Poa cusickii 13–54 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 13–34 – western needlegrass ACOCO Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale 13–34 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 27–135 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 7–40 – sedge CAREX Carex 7–40 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 7–40 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 7–40 – Forb3 Perennial Forbs 67–202 tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 7–40 – western stoneseed LIRU4 Lithospermum ruderale 7–40 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 7–40 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 7–40 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 7–40 – Shrub/Vine4 Primary Shrubs 605–1412 currant RIBES Ribes 168–336 – threetip sagebrush ARTR4 Artemisia tripartita 168–336 – mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 168–336 – rockspirea HODU Holodiscus dumosus 34–135 – snowberry SYMPH Symphoricarpos 34–135 – Utah serviceberry AMUT Amelanchier utahensis 34–135 – 5 Secondary Shrubs 34–168 yellow rabbitbrush CHVIL4 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. lanceolatus 13–27 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 13–27 – black chokecherry PRVIM Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa 13–27 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site has limited value for livestock grazing, due to steep slopes and surface rock. Grazing management should be keyed to dominant grasses and palatable shrubs production. Idaho fescue provides important forage for many types of domestic livestock. The foliage cures well and is preferred by livestock in late fall and winter. Bluebunch wheatgrass is considered one of the most important forage grass species on western rangelands for livestock. Although bluebunch wheatgrass can be a crucial source of forage, it is not necessarily the most highly preferred species. 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. Slender wheatgrass is grazed by all classes of livestock. 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 needlegrass has a spreading and deeply penetrating root system, which makes it resistant to trampling. Letterman’s needlegrass begins growth early in the year and remains green throughout the relatively long growing season, thus, making it valuable forage for livestock. 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. Cusick's bluegrass makes up only a small proportion of the biomass of the sagebrush communities in which it lives, but it is often taken preferentially by cattle, especially early in the season. 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. Utah serviceberry provides good browse for domestic sheep and domestic goats. In the spring, Utah serviceberry provides fair forage for cattle and good to excellent browse for domestic sheep and goats. Utah serviceberry provides good forage late in winter and in early spring, because it leafs out and blooms earlier than associated species. Common snowberry is considered important browse for many types of livestock. It is especially important to domestic sheep and cattle. Common snowberry is highly palatable to cattle. It plays a critical role in permitting cattle to meet their protein requirements during the latter half of the growing season. Domestic sheep also utilize common snowberry for browse and it is considered fair to good forage. It is has no forage value for horses. Threetip sagebrush may provide some browse for domestic sheep but its value to cattle appears limited. It is not used by cattle in Nevada.
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:
Idaho fescue provides important forage for several wildlife species. It is reported to be good forage for pronghorn, and deer in ranges of northern Nevada. Bluebunch wheatgrass is considered one of the most important forage grass species on western rangelands for wildlife. Bluebunch wheatgrass does not generally provide sufficient cover for ungulates, however, mule deer are frequently found in bluebunch-dominated grasslands. 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. Slender wheatgrass is grazed by sage grouse, deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn, various rodents, and all classes of livestock. The seeds are eaten by various seed predators. Slender wheatgrass provides hiding and thermal cover for songbirds, upland game birds, waterfowl, and small mammals. 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. Deer, elk, and mountain goat also use Cusick's bluegrass early in the season. The value of Cusick's bluegrass as cover for small animals has been rated as poor to fair. Mountain big sagebrush is highly preferred and nutritious winter forage for mule deer and elk. Utah serviceberry is a very important species for mule deer in the Great Basin. Porcupines and desert bighorn sheep also use Utah serviceberry. Utah serviceberry fruit is preferred by many birds. It can be an important winter food for birds since berries stay on the shrub throughout the winter. In Nevada, sage grouse eat the fruit of Utah serviceberry. Common snowberry is considered important browse for many types of wildlife. Bighorn sheep use common snowberry regularly during the summer. Forage value to elk is fair. Common snowberry is important as both cover and food for bird and small mammal populations. These include sharp-tailed, ruffed, and blue grouse, wild turkey and, several non-game species of bird including the kingbird, western flycatcher, and western bluebird. Among small mammals that rely on common snowberry are fox squirrels, desert cottontails, and pocket gopher. Threetip sagebrush is not a preferred browse for most wild ungulates. Threetip sagebrush is used to some extent by mule deer in both summer and winter. Elk do not generally feed on threetip sagebrush. Sagebrush-grassland communities provide critical sage-grouse breeding and nesting habitats. 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.Hydrological functions
Runoff is medium.
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 hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.
Other products
Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand. 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. Utah serviceberry fruits were used by Native Americans and early European explorers in North America for food and medicine. Common snowberry fruit was eaten fresh but was not favored by Native Americans in Washington and Oregon. The fruits were eaten fresh and also dried for winter use. Common snowberry was used on hair as soap, and the fruits and leaves mashed and applied to cuts or skin sores as a poultice and to soothe sore, runny eyes. Tea from the bark was used as a remedy for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. A brew made from the entire plant was used as a physic tonic. Arrowshafts and pipestems were made from the stems.
Other information
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. Slender wheatgrass is widely used for revegetating disturbed lands. Slender wheatgrass is a short-lived perennial with good seedling vigor. It germinates and establishes quickly when seeded making it a good choice for quick cover on disturbed sites. It persists long enough for other, slower developing species to establish. It is especially valuable for use in saline soils. It has been used for rehabilitating mine spoils, livestock ranges, and wildlife habitat and watershed areas. 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. Utah serviceberry has been used to revegetate big game winter range and for surface stabilization. It grows slowly from seed and therefore transplanting may be more successful than seeding for revegetation projects.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Humboldt County, NV Township/Range/Section T35N R38E S13 UTM zone N UTM northing 4528857 UTM easting 445137 Latitude 40° 54′ 32″ Longitude 117° 39′ 5″ General legal description SE¼ About 6 miles southeast of Winnemucca, Water Canyon area, Sonoma Mountains, 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
CP/GKB
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:
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Accessibility statement
