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Ecological site R028AB227UT
Semidesert Gravelly Sandy Loam (Black Sagebrush)
Last updated: 6/12/2025
Accessed: 07/07/2026
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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.
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 (1493 to 1859 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
MLRA: 28A Great Salt Lake Area LRU: Basin and Range South Ecological Zone: Semidesert Ecological Site Semidesert Gravelly Sandy Loam (Black Sagebrush)
EPA Ecoregions: North American Desert Cold Deserts Central Basin and Range Shadscale-Dominated Saline Basins Sagebrush Basins and Slopes, Woodland-and Shrub-Covered Low MountainsEcological site concept
The Semidesert Gravelly Sandy Loam (Black Sagebrush) site is found on alluvial fans on lake terraces. The soil is typically a deep well drained gravelly sandy loam. Black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) is the dominant shrub and Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) is the dominant understory species, blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a common bunchgrass. The similar site in the Basin and Range North LRU is R028AY227UT, all of the soils are currently correlated to the site in the north. Field work is needed to separate out the soils correlated to this site.
Associated sites
R028AY226UT Semidesert Sandy Loam (Wyoming Big Sagebrush)
Located adjacent to the site on soil that has fewer coarse fragments in the soil.
Similar sites
R028AY227UT Semidesert Gravelly Sandy Loam (Black Sagebrush) North
Similar site that occurs in the Basin and Range North LRU. This site has either no or occasional warm season grasses.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Artemisia nova
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
The Semidesert Gravelly Sandy Loam (Black Sagebrush) site occurs on alluvial fans. It is found between 4500 and 6500 feet on slopes between 8 and 15 percent. There is no flooding or ponding on this site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Alluvial fan
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 4500 – 6500 ft Slope 8 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate is semi-arid and characterized by cold snowy winters and warm summers influence by summer thunderstorms. The average annual precipitation is 8 inches.
The southern portion of the MLRA receives significant summer thunderstorms generated from monsoonal moisture pushed up from the Gulf of California, known as the North American monsoon. The monsoon system peaks in August and by October the monsoon high over the Western U.S. begins to weaken and the precipitation retreats southward towards the tropics (NOAA 2004).Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 90-100 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 120-130 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 10-10 in Frost-free period (actual range) 90-110 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 110-140 days Precipitation total (actual range) 10-10 in Frost-free period (average) 100 days Freeze-free period (average) 130 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) CALLAO [USC00421144], Wendover, UT
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(2) MARYSVALE [USC00425477], Marysvale, UT
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The characteristic soils are over 60 inches deep and well drained. They formed in alluvium derived mainly from limestone, sandstone, and shale parent materials. The surface horizon is gravelly sandy loam textures and 3 inches thick. About 15 percent of the soil surface is covered by rock fragments; the volume of rock fragments in the soil profile is 5 to 15 percent.
The soils contain a calcic horizon, which extend from about 10 to 38 inches. The available water capacity is 2 to 6 inches. The permeability is moderate. Runoff is slow with a slight erosion hazard. The cementation is the limiting soil factor affecting plant growth on this site, allowing black sagebrush to dominate the site instead of a big sagebrush species.
This site is correlated to the following soil component:
Beaver County Area (UT628) - ArapienTable 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – limestone and sandstone
(2) Beach sand – shale
(3) Granite
(4) Rhyolite
Surface texture (1) Gravelly sandy loam
(2) Fine sandy loam
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Slow to moderately rapid Soil depth 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 8 – 22 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)1.7 – 6.2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 40 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 8 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)1 – 5 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)8 – 12 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)7 – 0 % Ecological dynamics
As ecological condition deteriorates due to overgrazing, Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata), and globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) decrease while rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) increase.
When the potential natural plant community is burned, Indian ricegrass and black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) decrease while rabbitbrush and horsebrush (Tetradymia nuttallii) increase.
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and annual forbs are most likely to invade this site.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 7. STM R028AB227UT
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More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
SWAPAEHSWAPAEHState 1
Reference StateThe Reference State is a description of this ecological site just prior to Euro-American settlement but long after the arrival of Native Americans. The description of the Reference State was determined by NRCS Soil Survey Type Site Location information, and familiarity with rangeland areas with a low presence of non-native plants. The least modified plant community (1.1) within the Reference State would have been a black sagebrush-dominated (Artemisia nova) stand with scattered prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) and associated bunch grasses such as Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), needle and thread grass (Hesperostipa comata), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), muttongrass (Poa fendleriana), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides). Forbs such as phlox (Phlox spp.), buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.) and locoweed (Astragalus spp.) would have been common. The generally gravelly soils would have accentuated the effects of drought and reduced the chances of fire altering this state. The reference plant community (1.1) would have been relatively stable with occasional use by wildlife. However, heavy utilization by bison, elk, and Native American horses on these sites (1.1a) would have depleted the grasses creating a near monoculture of black sagebrush (1.2). Heavy browsing by deer during the dormant season of black sagebrush (1.1b) would have created an herbaceous variant (1.3). Infestation of some insects and pathogens on sagebrush (1.1c) could have led to a similar result where the herbaceous species became temporarily dominant (1.3). The combination of an unusually dry period and heavy utilization by all grazers (e.g. deer, bison, elk, and horses used by Native Americans) (1.1d) would have removed the palatable species from the plant community while allowing unpalatable, shorter-lived species such as yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus), locoweed, and phlox to predominate (1.4). The depauperate black sagebrush (Artemisia nova) community (1.2) could have also shifted to the unpalatable short-lived shrub community phase (1.4) in areas that have sustained heavy browsing by deer (1.2b). Relatively rocky sites such as these typically would not have declined in overall cover or productivity. However, the portion that was palatable may have changed appreciably. Similarly, these soils would have been more resistant to erosion than other stone-free soils. Each of the phases within State 1 could have returned to Community Phase 1.1 if climate conditions were within the normal range of variability and there was a release from heavy grazing and/or browsing pressure (1.2a, 1.3a, and 1.4a). A small amount of Wyoming big sagebrush and/or an informally recognized variety of big sagebrush (A. tridentata), called “bonnevillensis” (Shultz, 2009) would have also been present. A more complete list of species by lifeform for the Reference State, Community Phase 1.1 is available in the accompanying tables in the “Plant Community Composition by Weight and Percentage” section of this document.
Community 1.1
Black Sagebrush/bunch grasses and perennial forbsThe least modified plant community within the Reference State would have been a black sagebrush-dominated stand with scattered prickly pear and associated bunch grasses, such as, Indian ricegrass, needle and thread, sandberg bluegrass, muttongrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, and blue grama. Phlox, buckwheat, locoweed, and common yarrow would have been the commonly associated forbs. The dominant cover of the plant community is black sagebrush and Indian ricegrass. The composition by air-dry weight is approximately 45 percent perennial grasses, 15 percent forbs, and 40 percent shrubs.
Figure 8. 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 158 304 360 Shrub/Vine 140 270 320 Forb 53 101 120 Total 351 675 800 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10-20% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 20-30% 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 – – – – >1 <= 2 – 15-25% 25-35% 5-15% >2 <= 4.5 – – – – >4.5 <= 13 – – – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). UT2271 , 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
Depauperate Black SagebrushThis plant community would have developed under heavy continuous season-long grazing by bison, elk, and Native American horses. Heavy utilization of grasses would have created a near monoculture of black sagebrush.
Community 1.3
Bunch grasses & perennial forbs/sparse black sagebrushThere are several environmental conditions that would have produced this plant community. Heavy browsing by deer would have resulted in an herbaceous-dominated variant because of the utilization of black sagebrush during the dormant season. Under the occasional very wet period associated with an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event, temporary soil anoxia could have developed (West 2000), killing the sagebrush and allowing the forbs and grasses to dominate for a short time. A similar plant community would have also developed following an outbreak of insects and pathogens where sagebrush was the dominant host.
Community 1.4
Short -lived shrubs/perennial forbsThis plant community would have developed under the combined effect of unusual drought conditions and heavy grazing by all grazers including deer, bison, elk, and Native American horses. Focused utilization would have reduced the palatable species while allowing the noxious, unpalatable, and shorter-lived species such as yellow rabbitbrush, locoweed, and phlox to predominate.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2Heavy continuous season-long grazing by bison, elk, and Native American horses would have converted the Reference State to a depauperate black sagebrush community.
Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3Heavy browsing by deer would have converted the Reference State to a plant community dominated by bunchgrasses and perennial forbs.
Pathway 1.1c
Community 1.1 to 1.4An extremely wet period such as an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event and subsequent anoxic soil conditions would have converted the Reference State to a plant community dominated by bunchgrasses and perennial forbs. The same result would occur following a sudden insect (or other pathogen) outbreak on sagebrush.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1The absence of grazing would have allowed the native bunchgrasses and perennial forbs to return to the system converting it back to the Community Phase 1.1.
Pathway 1.2b
Community 1.2 to 1.4Heavy browsing by deer would have converted the depauperate black sagebrush community to an unpalatable short-lived shrub community phase.
Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.1A return to normal climate conditions and the absence of heavy browsing would have allowed black sagebrush to re-establish and convert back to the Community Phase 1.1.
Pathway 1.4a
Community 1.4 to 1.1A return to normal climate conditions followed by a prolonged reduction in grazing pressure would have allowed black sagebrush and native bunchgrasses to re-establish returning to the reference plant community (1.1).
State 2
Current Potential StateState 2 is similar to State 1 in form and function, with the exception of the presence of non-native plants and animals, possible extinctions of native species, and a different climate. State 2 is a description of the ecological site following Euro-American settlement, which can be regarded as the current potential. The least modified plant community (2.1) within State 2 is a black sagebrush-dominated stand with scattered prickly pear and associated bunch grasses such as bluebunch wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, muttongrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Forbs such as phlox, buckwheat, locoweed, and common yarrow are common. The generally shallow and stony soils accentuate the effect of drought and reduce the chances of fires altering this state. This plant community is relatively stable under mixed use by wildlife and livestock. However, heavy utilization by bison, elk, horses, and domestic cattle on these sites during the growing season (2.1a) would deplete the grasses creating a near monoculture of black sagebrush (2.2). Heavy browsing by deer and sheep (2.1b) would create an herbaceous variant (2.3) because of year-round utilization of black sagebrush. Occasionally very wet years during El Nino-Southern Oscillation periods can cause temporary soil anoxia (West 2000) (2.1c) killing the sagebrush and allowing the forbs and grasses to dominate for a short time (2.3). Some insects and pathogens on sagebrush (2.1c) can lead to a similar result where the herbaceous species become temporarily dominant (2.3). The interaction of an unusually dry period and heavy utilization of grasses by bison, elk, horses, and domestic cattle (2.1d) would remove the palatable species from the plant community while allowing unpalatable, shorter-lived species such as yellow rabbitbrush, locoweed, and phlox to predominate. While species composition does not change, species abundance does (2.4). The depauperate black sagebrush community (2.2) may also shift to the unpalatable short-lived shrub community phase (2.4) with heavy utilization of browse by deer and sheep (2.2b). Relatively rocky sites such as these typically do not decline in overall cover or productivity, however, the portion that is palatable may change appreciably. Similarly, these soils are more resistant to erosion than associated stone-free soils. Each of the phases within State 2 can return to Community Phase 2.1 when climate conditions are within the normal range of variability and grazing pressure is moderated (2.2a, 2.3a, 2.4a). A small amount of Wyoming big sagebrush and/or an informally recognized variety of big sagebrush, called “bonnevillensis” (Shultz, 2009) may also be present.
Community 2.1
Black sagebrush/bunch grasses and perennial forbs/non-native speciesThe least modified plant community within the Black Sagebrush/ Introduced Non-natives State is a black sagebrush-dominated stand with scattered prickly pear and associated bunch grasses such as bluebunch wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, sandberg bluegrass, muttongrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Phlox, buckwheat, locoweed, and common yarrow are commonly associated forbs. This community phase also includes non-native annual species, such as cheatgrass.
Community 2.2
Depauperate black sagebrush/non-native species
Figure 10. Community Phase 2.2, photo 1: Blue grama, cheatgrass and black sagebrush, soil surface had more rock fragments than was expected for this site. Photo taken 9/25/2014 by Sarah Quistberg. Location Marysvale Cemetery, 12S 393867 4256780 UTM.
Figure 11. Community Phase 2.2, photo 2: Blue grama, cheatgrass and black sagebrush, soil surface had more rock fragments than was expected for this site. Photo taken 9/25/2014 by Sarah Quistberg. Location Marysvale Cemetery, 12S 393867 4256780 UTM.
Figure 12. Community Phase 2.2, photo 3: Blue grama, cheatgrass and black sagebrush, soil surface had more rock fragments than was expected for this site. Photo taken 9/25/2014 by Sarah Quistberg. Location Marysvale Cemetery, 12S 393867 4256780 UTM.
This plant community is developed under heavy continuous season-long grazing by bison, elk, cattle, and horses. Heavy utilization of grasses creates a near monoculture of black sagebrush. Some areas currently in this phase, and under tighter management of livestock and wildlife may be recovering, but are still in a phase depauperate in herbaceous understory compared to Community Phase 2.1. Annual non-native species are present.
Community 2.3
Bunchgrasses and perennial forbs/ sparse black sagebrush/non-native speciesThere are several environmental conditions that would produce this plant community. Heavy year-round browsing by deer and sheep would result in an herbaceous-dominated variant because of the utilization of black sagebrush. Following the occasional very wet period associated with an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event, temporary soil anoxia could develop, (West 2000) killing the sagebrush and allowing the forbs and grasses to dominate for a short time. A similar plant community would also develop following an outbreak of insects and pathogens where sagebrush is the dominant host.
Community 2.4
Short -lived shrubs/perennial forbs/ non-native speciesThis plant community is developed under extreme drought conditions combined with heavy continuous season-long grazing. Such disturbances will reduce the palatable species and allow the unpalatable, shorter-lived species such as yellow rabbitbrush, locoweed, and phlox to predominate. Annual non-native species are present in the community.
Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2Heavy continuous season-long grazing by bison, elk, horses, and cattle would convert the black sagebrush/ sparse bunchgrasses and perennial forbs phase to a depauperate black sagebrush community.
Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.1 to 2.3Heavy browsing by deer and sheep would convert the black sagebrush/ sparse bunchgrasses and perennial forbs phase to a plant community dominated by bunchgrasses and perennial forbs.
Pathway 2.1c
Community 2.1 to 2.4An extremely wet period such as an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event and subsequent anoxic soil conditions would convert the Black sagebrush/ sparse bunchgrasses and perennial forbs phase to a plant community dominated by bunchgrasses and perennial forbs. The same result would be seen following a sudden insect (or other pathogen) outbreak on sagebrush.
Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1This plant community can move back towards the Black sagebrush/ sparse bunchgrasses and perennial forbs phase when grazing management, particularly of sheep, and use by deer, take place only during the non-growing season of the herbaceous component, along with broadcast re-seeding with native perennial forbs and grasses.
Pathway 2.2b
Community 2.2 to 2.4Heavy browsing by deer and sheep would convert the depauperate black sagebrush phase to the unpalatable short-lived shrub and perennial forb community.
Pathway 2.3a
Community 2.3 to 2.1This plant community can move back to the Black sagebrush/ sparse bunchgrasses and perennial forbs phase with a return to normal climate conditions and when grazing by both livestock and wildlife is concentrated during the spring to put pressure on the herbaceous component, allowing the native woody component to re-establish.
Pathway 2.4a
Community 2.4 to 2.1A return to the Black sagebrush/ sparse bunchgrasses and perennial forbs phase is possible with a return to normal (or wetter) climate conditions and high intensity short duration grazing management to allow the native woody component to re-establish and decrease the competition by herbaceous species.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2The simultaneous introduction of exotic species, both plants and animals, and possible extinctions of native flora and fauna, along with climate change, will cause State 1 to transition to State 2. A return pathway back to State 1 would be impracticable because of these issues.
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 154–245 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 7–21 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 7–21 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 7–21 – Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 7–21 – 3 Secondary Shrubs 21–35 Grass/Grasslike0 Primary Grasses 205–420 littleleaf pussytoes ANMI3 Antennaria microphylla 7–21 – Utah milkvetch ASUT Astragalus utahensis 7–21 – Searls' prairie clover DASE3 Dalea searlsiae 7–21 – twolobe larkspur DENU2 Delphinium nuttallianum 7–21 – cushion buckwheat EROV Eriogonum ovalifolium 7–21 – largeflower skeletonplant LYGR Lygodesmia grandiflora 7–21 – scarlet globemallow SPCO Sphaeralcea coccinea 7–21 – 1 Secondary Grasses 21–35 Forb0 Primary Forbs 14–35 Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 7–21 – matted buckwheat ERCA8 Eriogonum caespitosum 7–21 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 7–21 – Watson's prickly phlox LIWA4 Linanthus watsonii 7–21 – plains pricklypear OPPO Opuntia polyacantha 7–21 – 2 Secondary Forbs 35–70 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 1.4 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 2.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 2.4 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
The Semidesert Gravelly Sandy Loam (Black Sagebrush) site is suited for cattle and sheep grazing during winter and spring.
Wildlife using this site include rabbit, coyote, fox, badger, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and dove.
This is a short list of the more common species found. Many other species are present as well and migratory birds are present at times.Hydrological functions
The soils are in hydrologic group B with runoff curves ranging from 61 to 79 depending on hydrologic condition.
Recreational uses
Resources that have special aesthetic and landscape value are wildflowers. Some recreation uses of this site are hiking and horseback riding.
Wood products
None
Other information
Threatened and endangered species include plants and animals.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Box Elder County, UT General legal description Box Elder County, Utah, East fan of Pilot Mountains. Other references
Shultz, L.M. 2009. Monograph of Artemisia subgenus Tridentatae (Asteraceae-Anthemideae). Systematic Botany Monographs, pp.1-131.
West, N.E. 2000. Synecology and disturbance regimes of sagebrush steppe ecosystems. In Proceedings of the sagebrush steppe ecosystems symposium: 2000 (pp. 15-26). USDI Bureau of Land Management.
Approval
Kendra Moseley, 6/12/2025
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) Jack Alexander, Range Specialist, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc. Julia Kluck, Soil Scientist, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc. Shane Green, State Range Specialist, Utah NRCS Contact for lead author Shane Green, Shane.Green@ut.usda.gov Date 02/08/2010 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
No rills present. Very minor rill development may occur in sparsely vegetated areas. If rills are present, they should be widely spaced and not connected. Rill development may increase following large storm events, but should begin to heal during the following growing season. Frost heaving will accelerate recovery. Rill development may increase when run inflow enters site from adjacent sites that produce large amounts of runoff (i.e. steeper sites, slickrock, rock outcrop). Site is essentially level and rills do not form. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns will be short (2-5’), narrow (<1’), and meandering; interrupted by plants and exposed rocks. Slight to no evidence of erosion or deposition associated with flow patterns. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Plants may have small pedestals (1-3”) where they are adjacent to water flow patterns, but without exposed roots. Terracettes should be few and stable. Terracettes should be small (1-3”) and show little sign of active erosion. Some plants may appear to have a pedestal but rather than be formed by erosion, the only place litter accumulates and soil collects is at plant bases forming the appearance of a pedestal. Well-developed biological crusts may appear pedestalled, but are actually a characteristic of the crust formation. Some plants may appear to have a pedestal but rather than be formed by erosion, the only place litter accumulates and soil collects is at plant bases forming the appearance of a pedestal. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
20-35% bare ground (soil with no protection from raindrop impact). Herbaceous communities are most likely to have lower values. As species composition by shrubs increases, bare ground is likely to increase. Poorly developed biological soil crust that is susceptible to raindrop splash erosion should be recorded as bare ground. Very few if any bare spaces of greater than 1 square foot. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
No gullies present. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Very minor evidence of active wind-generated soil movement. Wind scoured (blowouts) and depositional areas are rarely present. If present they have muted features and are mostly stabilized with vegetation and/or biological crust. Gravel or desert pavement protects the site from wind scour. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Most litter resides in place with some redistribution caused by water and wind movement. Very minor litter removal may occur in flow patterns and rills with deposition occurring at points of obstruction. The majority of litter accumulates at the base of plants. Some leaves, stems, and small twigs may accumulate in soil depressions adjacent to plants. Woody stems are not likely to move. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface is moderately stable (average soil stability score of 3.5 -5). -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
This description is based on a combination of the 3 correlated soils for this site. This results in variation of each of these attributes. Due to the natural variability of soil attributes, it is critical to supplement this description with the soil-specific information from the published soil survey. Soil surface horizon is typically 6 to 10 inches deep. Structure is typically weak thin or medium platy. Color is typically light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) (moist) or light brown (7.5 YR 6/3) brown (7.5YR 5/3) moist. An ochric horizon extends to a depth of 10 inches. An ochric horizon typically extends to a depth of 2 to 10 inches. The ochric horizon is a surface horizon lacking fine stratification and which is either light colored, or thin, or has an low organic carbon content, or is massive and (very) hard when dry. The A horizon would be expected to be more strongly developed under plant canopies. It is important if you are sampling to observe the A horizon under plant canopies as well as the interspaces. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Bunchgrasses and shrubs equally important for increasing infiltration and reducing runoff. Litter plays a role in increasing infiltration and decreasing runoff. Plants provide microhabitat for seedlings, catch litter and soil, and slow raindrops and runoff. Vascular plants and/or well-developed biological soil crusts (where present) will break raindrop impact and splash erosion. Spatial distribution of vascular plants and interspaces between well-developed biological soil crusts (where present) provide detention storage and surface roughness that slows runoff allowing time for infiltration. Interspaces between plants and any well-developed biological soil crusts (where present) may serve as water flow patterns during episodic runoff events, with natural erosion expected in severe storms. When perennial grasses decrease, reducing ground cover and increasing bare ground, runoff is expected to increase and any associated infiltration reduced. Shrubs catch snow, slow wind evaporation, and provide microhabitat for seedling establishment. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Naturally occurring soil horizons may be harder than the surface because of an accumulation of calcium carbonate and should not be considered as compaction layers. -
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:
Indian ricegrassSub-dominant:
needle and thread, black sagebrushOther:
other grasses > other shrubs > forbsAdditional:
In the northern portion of the MLRA cool-season perennial grasses (Indian ricegrass, needle and thread) dominate. In the southernmost portion of the MLRA warm-season perennial grasses (galleta, sand dropseed) dominate. The two groups share dominance in the middle portion of the MLRA. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
During years with average to above average precipitation, there should be very little recent mortality or decadence apparent in either the shrubs or grasses. Some mortality of bunchgrass and other shrubs may occur during very severe (long-term) droughts. There may be partial mortality of individual bunchgrasses and shrubs during less severe drought. Long-lived species dominate site. Open spaces from disturbance are quickly filled by new plants through seedlings and reproductive reproduction (tillering). -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover includes litter under plants. Most litter will be fine litter. Depth should be 1-2 leaf thickness in the interspaces and up to 1/2” under canopies. Litter cover may increase to 15-25% following years with favorable growing conditions. Excess litter may accumulate in absence of disturbance. Vegetative production may be reduced if litter cover exceeds 40%. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
675#/acre. Even the most stable communities exhibit a range of production values. Production will vary between communities and across the MRLA. Refer to the community descriptions in the ESD. Production will differ across the MLRA due to the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The biological processes on this site are complex; therefore, representative values are presented in a land management context. -
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 and annual forbs -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial plants should have the ability to reproduce sexually or asexually, except in drought years. Density of plants indicates that plants reproduce at level sufficient to fill available resource. Within capability of site there are no restrictions on seed or vegetative reproductive capacity.
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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.
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