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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.
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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
R025XY415UT Mountain Shallow Gravelly Ridge (Black Sagebrush)
This site is also a similar site with differentiae.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia arbuscula
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site can be found on fan remnants, mountain slopes, and ridges on slopes ranging from 5 to 30%. It can occur at elevations between 5,000 to 6,500 feet. Flooding and ponding do not occur on this site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan remnant
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 5000 – 6500 ft Slope 5 – 30 % Climatic features
The climate is cold and snowy in the winter and warm and dry in the summer. The average annual precipitation is 12 to 17 inches. Approximately 55 percent occurs as rain from May through September. On the average July, August and September are the driest months and March, April and May are the wettest. Though a large proportion of the precipitation falls in the months of May through September, the soil is dry through much of this period due to high evapotransportation rates. In average years, grasses begin growth around May 1 and end growth around September 30.
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 42-45
Mean Annual Soil Temperature: 44-47
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 0 days Freeze-free period (average) 120 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils on this site were formed in alluvium and colluvium derived from quartzite, schist, and mixed sedimentary rocks. The soil is well drained with moderate permeability in the upper 10 inches of soil. The soil is also deep with bedrock greater than 20 inches beneath the soil surface. The soil texture at the surface is very cobbly loam. Surface gravels are 13 to 15% by cover and subsurface gravels are between 25 to 34% by volume. Surface and subsurface rocks over 3 inches in diameter are 27 to 29% and 7 to 20% by cover and volume, respectively. Available water capacity is between 3 and 4.6 in the upper 40 inches of soil. The soil pH is between 6.6 and 7.8. The soil temperature regime is frigid.
Soils associated with this site:
Box Elder Co. UT601-Acord (4, 5)
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Very cobbly loam
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Surface fragment cover <=3" 13 – 15 % Surface fragment cover >3" 27 – 29 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 4.6 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)6.6 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)25 – 34 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)7 – 20 % Ecological dynamics
As this site deteriorates due to grazing pressure Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass decrease while dwarf rabbitbrush, low rabbitbrush, Sandberg bluegrass and mat-forming forbs increase. When the potential natural plant community is burned, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and bitterbrush decrease while low rabbitbrush, arrowleaf balsamroot, and milkvetch increase.
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 StateThe general view of this site is low sagebrush, Idaho fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass. The composition by air-dry weight is approximately 50 percent perennial grasses, 20 percent forbs, and 30 percent shrubs.
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 150 325 500 Shrub/Vine 90 195 300 Forb 60 130 200 Total 300 650 1000 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10-20% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 10-30% Forb foliar cover 10-10% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 0% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 0% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – – – >0.5 <= 1 – – – 5-15% >1 <= 2 – 10-20% 25-35% – >2 <= 4.5 – – – – >4.5 <= 13 – – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). UT3201 , PNC. Excellent Condition.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 15 40 20 10 5 5 0 0 0 Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Shrub/Vine0 Primary Shrubs 105–140 little sagebrush ARAR8 Artemisia arbuscula 105–140 – 3 Secondary Shrub 35–70 Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 21–35 – longstem sandwort ARLO Arenaria longipedunculata 21–35 – longflower rabbitbrush CHDE2 Chrysothamnus depressus 21–35 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 21–35 – slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 21–35 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 21–35 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 21–35 – Grass/Grasslike0 Primary Grasses 210–280 Idaho fescue FEID Festuca idahoensis 140–175 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 70–105 – 1 Secondary Grasses 35–70 Thurber's needlegrass ACTH7 Achnatherum thurberianum 21–35 – Geyer's sedge CAGE2 Carex geyeri 21–35 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 21–35 – spreading wheatgrass ELSC4 Elymus scribneri 21–35 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 21–35 – Forb2 Forbs 105–140 low pussytoes ANDI2 Antennaria dimorpha 105–140 – Torrey's milkvetch ASCA9 Astragalus calycosus 105–140 – arrowleaf balsamroot BASA3 Balsamorhiza sagittata 105–140 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 105–140 – shortstem buckwheat ERBR5 Eriogonum brevicaule 105–140 – shaggy fleabane ERPU2 Erigeron pumilus 105–140 – western stoneseed LIRU4 Lithospermum ruderale 105–140 – tailcup lupine LUCAC3 Lupinus caudatus ssp. caudatus 105–140 – oblongleaf bluebells MEOB Mertensia oblongifolia 105–140 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 105–140 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 105–140 – Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides proper grazing for cattle and sheep during spring, summer, and fall.
Wildlife using this site include blacktail jackrabbit, coyote, sage grouse, and mule deer.Hydrological functions
The soil series are in hydrologic group C. The run off curve number is 74 when the vegetation is in good condition.
Recreational uses
Hiking and Hunting
Wood products
None
Other products
None
Other information
Threatened and endangered species include plants and animals.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Box Elder County, UT Township/Range/Section T13N R17W S19 General legal description Type Location: 700 ft NW of SE Corner Section 19, Township 13N, Range 17W Legal Description: 700 ft NW of SE Corner Section 19, Township 13N, Range 17 W 3.5 miles SW of Cotton Thomas Basin, Box Elder County Contributors
GBB
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) Shane A. Green (NRCS), Brock Benson (NRCS), Robert D. Stager (BLM), Mike Gates (BLM), Tyler Staggs (BLM), Alan Bass (BLM). Revised to include updated terminology and concepts by V. Keith Wadman (NRCS Retired). Contact for lead author shane.green@ut.usda.gov Date 12/15/2011 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None to very few rills present. Some very minor rill development may occur on steeper slopes or on areas located below exposed bedrock or other water shedding areas where increased runoff may occur. Any rills present should be <1 inch deep, fairly short (<6 feet long) and somewhat widely spaced (6-8 feet). Minor rill development may be observed following major thunderstorm or spring runoff events but should heal during the next growing season. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some very minor evidence of water flow patterns may be found around perennial plant bases. They show little evidence of current erosion. They are expected to be somewhat short (3-6 feet), stable, sinuous and not connected. There may be very minor evidence of deposition. Evidence of water flow may increase somewhat with slope. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Perennial vegetation shows little evidence of erosional pedestalling (2 to 3% of individual plants). Plant roots are covered and litter remains in place around plant crowns. Terracettes should be absent or, if present, stable. A slight increase in both pedestal and terracette development may occur with increasing slope. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
5-20% bare ground. Soil surface is typically covered by approximately 35% coarse fragments. Bare ground spaces should not be greater than 1 to 2 feet in diameter. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None to very few gullies present on site. A few gullies may be present in landscape settings where they transport runoff from areas of greater water flow such as exposed bedrock. These gullies will be limited to slopes exceeding 20% slope and adjacent to sites where this runoff accumulation occurs. Any gullies present should show little sign of accelerated erosion and should be stabilized with perennial vegetation. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. No evidence of wind generated soil movement is expected. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Most litter resides in place with some redistribution caused by water movement. Minor litter removal may occur in flow channels with deposition occurring within 1 to 2 feet at points of obstruction. The majority of litter accumulates at the base of plants. Some grass leaves and small twigs (grass stems) may accumulate in soil depressions adjacent to plants. Woody stems are not likely to move. However, some litter movement is expected (up to 6 feet) with increases in slopes >15% and/or increased runoff resulting from heavy thunderstorms. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
This site should have a soil stability rating of 4 or 5 under the plant canopies, and a rating of 3 to 4 in the interspaces. The average rating should be a 4. Soil surface texture is typically a cobbly loam. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
(Acord) Soil surface 0-5 inches. Texture is a cobbly loam; color is very dark brown (10YR3/3); and structure is weak fine granular. Mollic epipedon ranges to 12 inches. Use the specific information for the soil you are assessing found in the published soil survey to supplement this description. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
The cobbly surface and soil profile would be expected to provide a runoff surface that would naturally reduce infiltration in all but gentle storms and slow snowmelt. Perennial vegetation produces sufficient cover and spatial arrangement to intercept most raindrops and reduce raindrop splash erosion. Litter on soil surface and cryptogamic crusting, where present, also protects soil from splash erosion and encourages a higher rate of infiltration. Plant spatial distribution should slow runoff, allowing additional time for infiltration. Bare spaces are expected to be small and irregular in shape and are usually not connected. Vegetative structure is usually adequate to capture snow and ensure that snowmelt occurs in a controlled manner, allowing maximum time for infiltration, and reducing runoff and erosion in all but the most extreme storm events. When perennial grasses and shrubs decrease due to natural events including drought, insect damage, etc., which reduce ground cover and increasing bare ground, runoff is expected to increase and any associated infiltration reduced. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. This site has a well developed argillic horizon thar could be mistaken for a compaction laver. -
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:
Non-Sprouting shrubs (low sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush), > tall perennial bunchgrasses (Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass).Sub-dominant:
short perennial bunchgrasses (Nevada bluegrass, bottlebrush squirretail >> Rhizomatous grasses (thickspike wheatgrass) > Sprouting shrubs (green rabbitbrush) >> Perennial forbs (arrowleaf balsamroot).Other:
Perennial and annual forbs can be expected to vary widely in their expression in the plant community based upon departures from average growing conditions.Additional:
Natural disturbance regimes include fire, drought, and insects. Assumed fire cycle of 30 to 40+ years. Functional/structural groups may appropriately contain non-native species if their ecological function is the same as the native species in the reference state (e.g. Crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, Siberian Wheatgrass etc.). Following a disturbance such as fire, drought, rodents or insects that remove woody vegetation, forbs and perennial grasses (herbaceous species) may dominate the community for a period of time. If a disturbance has not occurred for an extended period of time, woody species may continue to increase. These conditions would reflect a functional community phase within the reference state. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
All age classes of perennial grasses should be present under average to above average growing conditions with age class expression likely subdued during periods of extended drought. Slight decadence in the principle shrubs could occur near the end of the fire cycle or during periods of extended drought, or insect infestations. In general, a mix of age classes should be expected with some dead and decadent plants present. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover will be heavier under plants. Most litter will be herbaceous and depths of 1/2 to 3/4 inch would be considered normal. Perennial vegetation should be well distributed on the site. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Annual production in air-dry herbage should be approximately 600 - 700#/acre on an average year, but could range from 300 to 1000#/acre during periods of prolonged drought or above average precipitation. -
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:
Cheatgrass, Russian thistle, Utah juniper, and non-native invasive annual forbs such a alyssum. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial plants should have the ability to reproduce in all years, except in extreme drought years. Green rabbitbrush sprouts vigorously following fire. There are no restrictions on either seed or vegetative reproduction. Some seedling recruitment of major species is present during average and above average growing years.
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