Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R028AB202UT
Semidesert Alkali Loam (Black Greasewood) South
Last updated: 6/12/2025
Accessed: 07/02/2026
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral 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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 028A–Ancient Lake Bonneville
MLRA 28A occurs in Utah (82 percent), Nevada (16 percent), and Idaho (2 percent). It encompasses approximately 36,775 square miles (95,246 square kilometers). A large area west and southwest of Great Salt Lake is a salty playa. This area is the farthest eastern extent of the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. It is an area of nearly level basins between widely separated mountain ranges trending north to south. The basins are bordered by long, gently sloping alluvial fans. The mountains are uplifted fault blocks with steep side slopes. Most of the valleys are closed basins containing sinks or playa lakes. Elevation ranges from 3,950 to 6,560 feet (1,204 to 2000 meters) in the basins and from 6,560 to 11,150 feet (1996 to 3398 meters) in the mountains. Much of the MLRA has alluvial valley fill and playa lakebed deposits at the surface from pluvial Lake Bonneville, which dominated this MLRA 13,000 years ago. A level line of remnant lake terraces on some mountain slopes indicates the former extent of this glacial lake. The Great Salt Lake is what remains of the pluvial lake.
Mountains in the interior of this MLRA consist of tilted blocks of marine sediments from Cambrian to Mississippian age with scattered outcrops of Tertiary continental sediments and volcanic rocks. The average annual precipitation is 5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 cm) in the valleys and ranges up to 49 inches (124 cm) in the mountains. Most of the rainfall in the southern LRU occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season (April through September). The driest period is from midsummer to early autumn in the northern LRU. Precipitation in winter typically occurs as snow. The average annual temperature is 39 to 53 °F (4 to 12 °C). The freeze-free period averages 165 days and ranges from 110 to 215 days, decreasing in length with increasing elevation. The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. Soils are dominantly in the mesic or frigid soil temperature regime, aridic or xeric soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. The soils are generally well drained, loamy or loamy-skeletal, and very deep.LRU notes
The Basin and Range South LRU has mountain ranges that are about 40 percent sedimentary/metasedimentary (limestone/quartzite dominant) and about 40 percent Tertiary volcanics. The basin floors are generally higher in the southern LRU than in the north LRU between 4,900 and 6,100 feet (1,493 to 1,859 meters) in elevation. The Basin and Range South LRU also exhibits patterns of summers with a greater relative amount of precipitation in July and August coming from convective storms (ustic trending pattern). Pinyon and juniper ecological sites have a great percentage of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis or monophylla) than Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), with pinyon pine up to 50 percent of the tree composition in the semidesert zones and more than 50 percent in upland zones. Warm season grasses, such as James’ galleta (Pleuraphis jamesii) or blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), are present within the plant community, and can make up a large portion of the subdominant grass composition. Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) and cliffrose (Purshia sp.) are also present and dominant on some ecological sites in the southern LRU, while they are sparse or absent in the northern LRU.
Classification relationships
EPA Ecoregion: North American Deserts Cold Deserts Central Basin and Range Shadscale-Dominated Saline Basins, Sagebrush Basins and Slopes
Ecological site concept
The Semidesert Alkali Loam (Black Greasewood) South ecological site occurs in the broad ecotone between the Semidesert Loam (Wyoming big sagebrush) and Alkali Flat (Greasewood) site on lake terraces and fan remnants on low slopes. This site typically contains both greasewood and Wyoming sagebrush. Greasewood increases as the ecotone nears the Alkali Flat site and Wyoming big sagebrush increases as it nears Semidesert Loam. This site has influence from summer thunderstorms and contains warm season grasses in the plant community.
Associated sites
R028AY220UT Semidesert Loam (Wyoming Big Sagebrush)
This site typically occurs adjacent to the site higher on the landscape
Similar sites
R028AY220UT Semidesert Loam (Wyoming Big Sagebrush)
This site is dominated by Wyoming sagebrush with little to no greasewood.
R028AY202UT Semidesert Alkali Loam (Black Greasewood) North
This site occur in the Basin and Range North LRU and has little to no warm season grasses in the plant community.
R028AY008NV SODIC TERRACE 8-10 P. Z.
This site occurs in Nevada’s portion of 28A and is very similar to this site.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis
(2) Sarcobatus vermiculatusHerbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
The Semidesert Alkali Loam (Black Greasewood) South site occurs on stream terraces, fan remnants, alluvial fans, and alluvial flats. It is commonly found on slopes from 0 to 5 percent with low to medium runoff. Aspect has little effect on site dynamics. See block diagram below (SS-Area-Component UT611-41)
Figure 1. Block Diagram
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Stream terrace
(2) Fan remnant
(3) Alluvial fan
Flooding frequency None to very rare Ponding frequency None Elevation 5100 – 5350 ft Slope 0 – 5 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate is semi-arid and characterized by cold snowy winters and ustic trending summers that have influence from thunderstorms generated from monsoonal moisture pushed up from the Gulf of California. The average annual precipitation is 8 to 12 inches. Approximately 70 percent comes as rain from March through October. Mean Annual Air Temperature: 45-52 Mean Annual Soil Temperature: 47-54.
There are no Western Region Climate Center stations that intersect this site and none within a reasonable distance from the site (1000 meters). The tables are derived from PRISM model using 30 year normal data.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) Freeze-free period (average) Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 4. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 5 Annual average temperature pattern
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soil is deep and well drained and the surface texture is typically silt loam. The soil formed in alluvium derived from basic and intermediate igneous and sedimentary rock. Rock fragments are less than 10 percent by volume in the soil profile. Permeability is slow to moderately rapid and runoff is medium. The high amounts of sodium salts and silica cementation are the limiting soil factors affecting plant growth.
Soils are moderately to strongly affected by salts. Sodium is the most common salt, but others may be present. Water intake rates are slow to moderately slow, available water holding capacity is very low to high, and runoff is low to medium. The soil moisture regime is aridic bordering on xeric.
This site has been correlated to the following soil components:
White Pine County, Nevada, East Park NV779: Taylorsflat
UT626: Annabella, Manselo, Medburn, Taylorsflat, Trenton, Woodrow
UT628: Mellor, Woodrow
UT629: Woodrow
UT632: Mellor
UT634: Annabella, ManseloTable 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – sandstone
(2) Lacustrine deposits – limestone
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Silt loam
(3) Fine sandy loam
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow to moderate Soil depth 60 – 0 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 2 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.6 – 6.7 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 40 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 4 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 5 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.9 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 8 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
The Semidesert Alkali Loam (Black Greasewood) South site is a broad ecotone between Alkali Flat (Greasewood) 028AY004UT and Semidesert Loam (Wyoming big sagebrush) 028AY220UT that occurs on lake terraces and fan remnants. Greasewood increases as the ecotone nears the Alkali Flat site and Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. Wyomingensis) increases as it nears Semidesert Loam. There is often an equal mixture of both shrubs in the community.
Black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) requires access to groundwater and develops best where moisture is easily available (Eddleman 2002; Mozingo 1987; Brown 1965). It is a deep-rooted shrub and the groundwater can be fairly deep in the soil profile. Wyoming big sagebrush is the most drought tolerant of the big sagebrushes and is generally long-lived. Seedling establishment every year is not necessary to keep the stand intact. Common bunchgrasses in this site are Nevada bluegrass (Poa secunda), bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), and James' galleta (Pleuraphis jamesii). These grasses are tolerant to drier conditions that exist on this site.
These communities often exhibit the formation of microbiotic crusts within the interspaces between shrubs. These crusts influence the soils on these sites and their ability to reduce erosion and increase infiltration; they may also alter the soil structure and possibly increase soil fertility (Fletcher and Martin 1948, Williams 1993). Finer-textured soils such as silts tend to support more microbiotic cover than coarse-textured soils (Anderson 1982). Disturbance such as hoof action from inappropriate grazing and cheatgrass invasion can reduce biotic crust integrity (Anderson 1982, Ponzetti et al. 2007) and increase erosion.
Ecosystem drivers can range from insect outbreaks, to fire, to grazing. Native insects, like the Aroga moth, can defoliate and kill sagebrush (Furniss & Barr 1975). These events have been cyclical and are influenced by climate patterns.
Annual non-native species such as Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus), Russian thistle (Salsola iberica) , and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invade these sites where competition from perennial species is decreased. This ecological site has low resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasion. Increased resilience increases with elevation, aspect, increased precipitation and increased nutrient availability. Five possible stable states have been identified for this site.
Fire Ecology:
Fire is a rare disturbance in salt-desert shrub communities likely occurring in years with above-average production. Black greasewood may be killed by severe fires, but can resprout after low to moderate severity fires (Robertson 1983, West 1994). Grazing and other disturbance may result in increased biomass production due to sprouting and increased seed production, also leading to greater fuel loads (Sanderson and Stutz 1994). Higher production sites would have experienced fire more frequently than lower production sites.
Wyoming big sagebrush is easily killed by fire (Blaisdell 1953). Wyoming big sagebrush only regenerates from seed. Repeated fires may eliminate the onsite seed source and reestablishment after fire may require 50-120 or more years (Baker 2006). Even then, up to 25 years after fire, Wyoming big sagebrush typically has less than 5 percent of pre-fire cover (Baker 2011). However, the introduction and expansion of cheatgrass has dramatically altered the fire regime (Balch et al. 2013), therefore altering restoration potential of Wyoming big sagebrush communities (Evans and Young 1981). Sites with low abundances of native perennial grasses and forbs typically have reduced resiliency following disturbance and are less resistant to invasion or increases in cheatgrass (Miller et al 2013).State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 6. R028AB202UT STM
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 textEcosystem states
SWAPAEHSWAPAEHSWAPAEHState 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 StateThe Reference State is a representative of the natural range of variability under reference conditions. The Reference State has three general community phases; a shrub grass dominant phase, a perennial grass dominant phase and a shrub dominant phase. State dynamics are maintained by interactions between climatic patterns and disturbance regimes. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Plant community phase changes are primarily driven by fire, periodic drought and/or insect or disease attack.
Community 1.1
Black greasewood-Wyoming big sagebrush/squirreltailThis community is dominated by Black greasewood and Wyoming big sagebrush in the shrub layer. Bottlebrush squirreltail dominates the herbaceous layer with significant amounts of Nevada bluegrass and Indian ricegrass commonly present. Typical forbs include scarlet globemallow and Pacific aster. Shadscale and yellow rabbitbrush are other important shrubs. Percent composition by air-dry weight is 35 percent grass, 10 percent forbs, and 50 percent shrubs. Natural fire frequency is estimated to be 40 to 50 years.
Figure 7. 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)Shrub/Vine 110 316 440 Grass/Grasslike 70 201 280 Forb 20 58 80 Total 200 575 800 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 20-40% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 10-20% Forb foliar cover 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 – – – 0-10% >1 <= 2 – – 15-25% – >2 <= 4.5 – 35-45% – – >4.5 <= 13 – – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). UT2021 , 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 30 5 5 0 0 0 0 Community 1.2
Black greasewood/yellow rabbitbrushWyoming big sagebrush decreases significantly in the community, black greasewood also decreases initially but is a vigorous sprouter with fire. Yellow rabbitbrush and, at times, smooth horsebrush, increase in the community and much of the excess fine fuel accumulation is removed. Bottlebrush squirreltail, Nevada bluegrass, Indian ricegrass and other cool season bunchgrasses flourish, western wheatgrass also increases. Fire tolerant shrubs may persist as dominants in the community for 30 years or longer. Percent composition by air-dry weight is 40 percent grass, 10 percent forbs, and 50 percent shrubs.
Community 1.3
Wyoming sagebrush/Black greasewoodBlack greasewood, Wyoming big sagebrush and yellow rabbitbrush increase in percent composition. Shrubs become old and decadent. Bottlebrush squirreltail, Indian ricegrass and Nevada bluegrass begin to lose vigor due to increased shrub competition and are becoming dense with old vegetation. Percent composition by air-dry weight is 30 percent grass, 5 percent forbs, and 65 percent shrubs.
Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.2Disturbance to remove shrub layer, typically fire.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.3Time since disturbance. Time allows shrubs to establish again in the community.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1Normal fire frequency of 40 to 50 years returns on the site.
Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.2Recent fire occurrence.
State 2
Current Potential StatePlant communities in the Current Potential State can include both native and non-native species. This state is irreversibly changed from the Reference State because the non-native species will now remain a permanent part of the community.
Community 2.1
Black greasewood/Wyoming sagebrush/Nevada bluegrass/Bottlebrush squirreltail/non-native speciesThis community is dominated by Black greasewood and Wyoming big sagebrush in the shrub layer. Shadscale and yellow rabbitbrush are also present. Bottlebrush squirreltail dominates the herbaceous layer with significant amounts of Nevada bluegrass and Indian ricegrass. Typical forbs include scarlet globemallow and Pacific aster. This community is dominated by native species but include non-native species. Percent composition by air-dry weight is 35 percemt grass, 10 percent forbs, and 50 percent shrubs. Natural fire frequency is estimated to be 40 to 50 years.
Community 2.2
Black greasewood/yellow rabbitbrush/ bottlebrush squirreltail/ western wheatgrass/non-native speciesFire tolerant shrubs including black greasewood, yellow rabbitbrush, and horsebrush increase and dominate the shrub layer. Wyoming big sagebrush decreases because it is not a fire tolerant species. Bottlebrush squirreltail, Nevada bluegrass, and other native cool season bunchgrasses are significantly reduced. Western wheatgrass and James' galleta may also decrease. This community is similar to community phase 1.2, except the inclusion of non-native species.
Community 2.3
Black greasewood/Wyoming sagebrush/yellow rabbitbrush/perennial grasses/non-native speciesFire has been excluded from this community past the typical fire frequency. Black greasewood, Wyoming big sagebrush and yellow rabbitbrush dominate the overstory; shadscale may increase if present. Bottlebrush squirreltail, Nevada bluegrass, Indian ricegrass, and other native bunchgrasses are significantly reduced. Western wheatgrass and James' galleta begin to decrease. Bare ground may dominate the interspaces in some communities. This community is similar to 1.3, except the non-native species that are present, but do not dominate the site.
Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.1 to 2.2Recent fire occurrence.
Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.3Improper grazing (including season long, overstocking, wrong season, etc.) and/or drought that remove annual and perennial fine fuels from the site, lessening the potential for fire to occur. Fire frequency extends beyond the 40 to 50 year average.
Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1Fire frequency returns to within the normal range for the community.
Pathway 2.3a
Community 2.3 to 2.2Recent fire occurrence.
State 3
Shrub Dominated/Invasive Annual StateNative shrubs dominate with an understory of invasive annuals. Native herbaceous plants have been removed either from poor management and/or change in fire return interval.
Community 3.1
Black greasewood/Wyoming sagebrush/invasive annualsBlack greasewood, Wyoming big sagebrush and yellow rabbitbrush dominate the shrub layer and the community. Rubber rabbitbrush and shadscale may occur in significant numbers. Remaining bottlebrush squirreltail, Nevada bluegrass, and other perennial herbaceous vegetation is mostly found only in protected locations under shrubs. Invasive, non-native grasses and weeds including cheatgrass, annual mustards, and redstem storksbill dominate the understory.
Community 3.2
Black greasewood/yellow rabbitbrush/invasive annualsBlack greasewood, yellow rabbitbrush and, at times, smooth horsebrush dominate the shrub layer. These fire tolerant shrubs persist as dominants in this community with fire periods reoccurring at intervals of 10 to 30 years or less. Broom snakeweed may be an episodic dominant species when conditions are favorable. Bottlebrush squirreltail, Nevada bluegrass, and other native bunchgrasses are significantly reduced or not found; invasive annuals including cheatgrass, annual mustards, and redstem storksbill dominate the understory.
Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2Long-term improper grazing (including season long, overstocking, wrong season, etc.) and/or drought that remove annual and perennial fine fuels from the site, lessening the potential for fire to occur.
Pathway 3.2a
Community 3.2 to 3.1Time since fire
State 4
Invasive Annual StateInvasive non-native annuals dominate. This can occur from a decrease in the fire return interval, with fire occurring more frequently than typical for the site. This increase in the occurrence of fire can make it difficult even for shrubs that sprout like greasewood and rabbitbrush to survive. Frequent fires favor the establishment and dominance of annual species, like cheatgrass. Once annual species are dominant, this increases the likelihood of the site to be burned on a regular basis because of the increase in fine fuels.
Community 4.1
Invasive annualsDominance of annual grasses and forbs increases fire frequency interval. More frequent fires again establish annual species decreasing the shrub cover or eliminating shrubs from the site.
State 5
Seeded Range StateThe Seeded Range State is seeded to species that may be composed of introduced and native species. Shrubs may or may not be present in this state, but are typically present from natural regeneration. Invasive annual species are also typically present.
Community 5.1
Introduced perennial herbaceousThe Introduced Perennial Herbaceous community phase is seeded to rangeland species that may be composed of introduced, native or combination species. Shrubs are reduced but may occupy a portion of the site because of natural regeneration. Invasive annual grasses and weedy forb species, primarily cheatgrass and various annual mustards, may be present in the seeding.
Community 5.2
Native shrubs/invasive annuals/introduced perennialsCommunity Phase 5.2 is present after either a failed seeding or a poorly managed one. Site may be herbaceous or may be returning to shrubs. The community phase is primarily composed of black greasewood and other native shrub species, invasive annual grasses and weedy forb species, mostly cheatgrass and various annual mustards are also able to re-invade this site. Broom snakeweed may be an episodic dominant species when conditions are favorable.
Pathway 5.1a
Community 5.1 to 5.2Seeding is not well established; improper grazing (including season long, overstocking, wrong season, etc.) and/or drought reduce any perennial grasses established. Highly combustible fine fuels from invasive annuals shorten the fire frequency on the site. Fire frequency is typically 10 to 20 years.
Pathway 5.2a
Community 5.2 to 5.1Site receives excellent grazing management over a long period of time. Highly combustible fine fuels from invasive annuals continue to dominate the community resulting in a shortened fire frequency. Fire frequency is typically 10 to 20 years. Seeded perennial vegetation slowly recovers.
Transition T1a
State 1 to 2Introduction and establishment of non-native species. This decreases resistance and resilience to disturbance.
Transition T2a
State 2 to 3Decrease in shrub removal disturbance, like fire. This can increase shrub dominance and decrease herbaceous cover. This is often accompanied by an increase in non-native plant species.
Transition T3a
State 3 to 4Disturbance that removes shrubs, such as fire. Fire in this state when there is a dominance of annual non-native grass, like cheatgrass, will create a community after the fire that is often dominated by annual non-native species.
Transition T3b
State 3 to 5Human intervention with the introduction of native or non-native bunchgrasses and forbs.
Transition T4a
State 4 to 5Human intervention with the introduction of native or non-native bunchgrasses and forbs.
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 195–293 Grass, perennial 2GP Grass, perennial 33–65 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 33–65 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 7–20 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 7–20 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 7–20 – 3 Secondary Shrubs 33–65 Grass/Grasslike0 Primary Grasses 163–260 Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 33–65 – cutleaf daisy ERCO4 Erigeron compositus 33–65 – spiny phlox PHHO Phlox hoodii 7–65 – scarlet globemallow SPCO Sphaeralcea coccinea 7–33 – Pacific aster SYCHC Symphyotrichum chilense var. chilense 7–33 – freckled milkvetch ASLE8 Astragalus lentiginosus 7–33 – fivehorn smotherweed BAHY Bassia hyssopifolia 7–10 – Douglas' dustymaiden CHDO Chaenactis douglasii 7–10 – bastard toadflax COUM Comandra umbellata 7–10 – 1 Secondary Grasses 33–65 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB Shrub (>.5m) 33–65 – shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 7–20 – green molly BAAM4 Bassia americana 7–20 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVIS5 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus var. stenophyllus 7–20 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa 7–20 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 7–20 – bud sagebrush PIDE4 Picrothamnus desertorum 7–20 – desert princesplume STPI Stanleya pinnata 7–20 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 7–20 – Forb2 Forbs 33–65 Table 9. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 1.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 2.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 16. Community 4.1 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
Supporting information
Other references
Anderson, D. C., K. T. Harper, and S. R. Rushforth. 1982. Recovery of cryptogamic soil crusts from Grazing on Utah winter ranges. Journal of Range Management 35:355-359.
Baker, W. L. 2006. Fire and restoration of sagebrush ecosystems. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:177-185.
Baker, W. L. 2011. Pre-euro-American and recent fire in sagebrush ecosystems. Pages 185-201 in S. T. Knick and J. W. Connelly, editors. Greater sage-grouse: ecology and conservation of a landscape species and its habitats. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Blaisdell, J. P. 1953. Ecological effects of planned burning of sagebrush-grass range on the upper Snake River Plains. US Dept. of Agriculture.
Brown, R. W. 1965. The distribution of plant communities in the Badlands of southeastern Montana. Dissertation. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.
Eddleman, L. E. 2002. Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.: Black greasewood. .in F. T. Bonner, editor. Woody plant seed manual. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. Evans, R. A. and J. A. Young. 1978. Effectiveness of rehabilitation practices following wildfire in a degraded big sagebrush-downy brome community. Journal of RangeManagement 31:185-188.
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).
Fletcher, J. E. and W. P. Martin. 1948. Some Effects of Algae and Molds in the Rain- Crust of Desert Soils. Ecology 29:95-100.
Furniss, M. M. and W. F. Barr. 1975. Insects affecting important native shrubs of the northwestern United States. US Intermountain Forest And Range Experiment Station
USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT INT-19.
Miller, R. F., J. C. Chambers, D. A. Pyke, F. B. Pierson, and C. J. Williams. 2013. A review of fire effects on vegetation and soils in the Great Basin Region: response and ecological site characteristics.
Mozingo, H. N. 1987. Shrubs of the Great Basin: A Natural History. Pages 67-72 in H. N. Mozingo, editor. Shrubs of the Great Basin. University of Nevada Press, Reno NV.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. The North American Monsoon. Reports to the Nation. National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center. Available online: http://www.weather.gov/
Ponzetti, J. M., B. McCune, and D. A. Pyke. 2007. Biotic Soil Crusts in Relation to Topography, Cheatgrass and Fire in the Columbia Basin, Washington. The Bryologist 110:706-722.
Robertson, J. 1983. Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr.). Phytologia 54:309-324.
West, N. E. 1994. Effects of fire on salt-desert shrub rangelands.in Proceedings-- Ecology and Management of Annual Rangelands, General Technical Report INT-313. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Boise, ID.
Williams, J. D. 1993. Influence of microphytic crusts on selected soil physical and hydrologic properties in the Hartnet Draw, Capital Reef National Park Utah. Utah State University.Contributors
Sarah Quistberg
Approval
Kendra Moseley, 6/12/2025
Acknowledgments
T. Stringham and P. Novack-Echenique for the ecological dynamics section.
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 07/02/2026 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
