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Conservation Service

Ecological site R028AY006NV

DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.

Last updated: 6/12/2025
Accessed: 09/11/2026

Home / esd CATALOG / MLRA 028A / ecological site R028AY006NV

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General 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%), Nevada (16%), and Idaho (2%). It makes up about 36,775 square miles. 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. They are not well dissected because of low rainfall in the MLRA. Most of the valleys are closed basins containing sinks or playa lakes. Elevation ranges from 3,950 to 6,560 ft. in the basins and from 6,560 to 11,150 ft. in the mountains. Most of this area has alluvial valley fill and playa lakebed deposits at the surface. Great Salt Lake is all that remains of glacial Lake Bonneville. A level line on some mountain slopes indicates the former extent of this glacial lake. Most of the mountains in the interior of this area consist of tilted blocks of marine sediments from Cambrian to Mississippian age. Scattered outcrops of Tertiary continental sediments and volcanic rocks are throughout the area. The average annual precipitation is 5 to 12 ins. in the valleys and is as much as 49 ins. in the mountains. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. The driest period is from midsummer to early autumn. Precipitation in winter typically occurs as snow. The average annual temperature is 39 to 53 °F. The freeze-free period averages 165 days and ranges from 110 to 215 days, decreasing in length with elevation. The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic or frigid soil temperature regime, an aridic or xeric soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. They generally are well drained, loamy or loamy-skeletal, and very deep.

Ecological site concept

This site occurs on offshore bars, fan skirts and beach plains of all exposures. Slopes range from 2 to 30 percent but slope gradients of 4 to 15 percent are typical. Elevations are 4500 to 5500 feet.

The climate associated with this site is semiarid, characterized by cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 5 to 8 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 47 degrees F. The average growing season is about 100 to 130 days.

The soils associated with this site are very deep, somewhat excessively drained, have medium runoff and have moderate permeability. They are moderately to strongly alkaline and calcareous throughout. Soil pH ranges from 7.9 to 9.0. The soil surface is covered with about 50 percent pebbles. The soil profile consists of extremely gravelly loamy fine sands and extremely gravelly coarse sands. Rock fragments and coarse fragments in the profile occupy plant growing space and reduce the potential soil moisture holding capacity.

The reference state is dominated by spiny hopsage, fourwing saltbush and Indian ricegrass. Production ranges from 300 to 700 pounds per acre.

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Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Grayia spinosa (2) Atriplex canescens
Herbaceous	(1) Achnatherum hymenoides

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Physiographic features

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Fan skirt

Climatic features

Nevada’s climate is predominantly arid, with large daily ranges of temperature, infrequent severe storms, heavy snowfall in the higher mountains, and great location variations with elevation. Three basic geographical factors largely influence Nevada’s climate: continentality, latitude, and elevation. Continentality is the most important factor. The strong continental effect is expressed in the form of both dryness and large temperature variations. Nevada lies on the eastern, lee side of the Sierra Nevada Range, a massive mountain barrier that markedly influences the climate of the State. The prevailing winds are from the west, and as the warm moist air from the Pacific Ocean ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Range, the air cools, condensation occurs and most of the moisture falls as precipitation. As the air descends the eastern slope, it is warmed by compression, and very little precipitation occurs. The effects of this mountain barrier are felt not only in the West but throughout the state, with the result that the lowlands of Nevada are largely desert or steppes. The temperature regime is also affected by the blocking of the inland-moving maritime air. Nevada sheltered from maritime winds, has a continental climate with well-developed seasons and the terrain responds quickly to changes in solar heating.
Nevada lies within the mid-latitude belt of prevailing westerly winds which occur most of the year. These winds bring frequent changes in weather during the late fall, winter and spring months, when most of the precipitation occurs. To the south of the mid-latitude westerlies, lies a zone of high pressure in subtropical latitudes, with a center over the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, this high-pressure belt shifts northward over the latitudes of Nevada, blocking storms from the ocean. The resulting weather is mostly clear and dry during the summer and early fall, with scattered thundershowers. The eastern portion of the state 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).

The climate associated with this site is semiarid, characterized by cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 5 to 8 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 47 degrees F. The average growing season is about 100 to 130 days.

Mean annual precipitation at MONTELLO 1 SE, NEVADA (265352) is 6.95 inches.

Monthly mean precipitation is:
January 0.61; February 0.46; March 0.43;
April 0.61; May 0.91; June 0.83; July 0.56;
August 0.52; September 0.51; October 0.51;
November 0.53; December 0.48.

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)
Freeze-free period (average)	120 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 3. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 4 Annual average temperature pattern

Soil features

The soils associated with this site are very deep, somewhat excessively drained, have medium runoff and have moderate permeability. They are moderately to strongly alkaline and calcareous throughout. Soil pH ranges from 7.9 to 9.0. The soil surface is covered with about 50 percent pebbles. The soil profile consists of extremely gravelly loamy fine sands and extremely gravelly coarse sands. Rock fragments and coarse fragments in the profile occupy plant growing space and reduce the potential soil moisture holding capacity.

The representative soil series is Luning, a Sandy, mixed, mesic Typic Torriorthents. Diagnostic horizons include an Ochric epipedon from the soil surface to 18 cm . Clay content in the particle control section averages 2 to 8 percent. Rock fragments range from 10 to 30 percent dominantly fine gravel. Reaction is slightly alkaline through strongly alkaline. Effervescence is noneffervescent through violently effervescent. Lithology consists of mixed rocks.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Loamy sand
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Excessively drained
Permeability class	Rapid
Soil depth	58 – 60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	3 – 46 %
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	8 – 8.6
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	10 – 30 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

As ecological condition deteriorates, Indian ricegrass and fourwing saltbush decrease and horsebrush, rabbitbrush and spiny hopsage increase.

Fire Ecology:
Fires in spiny hopsage sites generally occur in late summer when plants are dormant, and sprouting generally does not occur until the following spring. Spiny hopsage is considered to be somewhat fire tolerant and often survives fires that kill sagebrush. Mature spiny hopsage generally sprout after being burned. Spiny hopsage is reported to be least susceptible to fire during summer dormancy. Fire top-kills or kills fourwing saltbush, depending upon ecotype. Fourwing saltbush may sprout after top-kill. Fourwing saltbush probably establishes primarily from seed after fire, with some populations also regenerating vegetatively. Winterfat is either killed or top-killed by fire, depending on fire severity. Severe fire can kill the perennating buds located several inches above the ground surface and thus kills the plant. In addition, severe fire usually destroys seed on the plant. Low-severity fire scorches or only partially consumes the aboveground portions of winterfat and thus does not cause high mortality. Increased presence of non-native annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, can alter fire regimes in shadscale communities by increasing fire frequency under wet to near-normal summer moisture conditions. When fire does occur, the effect on the ecosystem may be extreme. Indian ricegrass can be killed by fire, depending on severity and season of burn. Indian ricegrass reestablishes on burned sites through seed dispersed from adjacent unburned areas. Bottlebrush squirreltail's small size, coarse stems, and sparse leafy material aid in its tolerance of fire. Postfire regeneration occurs from surviving root crowns and from on- and off-site seed sources. Frequency of disturbance greatly influences postfire response of bottlebrush squirreltail. Undisturbed plants within a 6 to 9 year age class generally contain large amounts of dead material, increasing bottlebrush squirreltail's susceptibility to fire. Galleta is a rhizomatous perennial which can resprout after top-kill by fire.

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 text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

SWAPAEH

2. Current Potential State

SWAPAEH

3. Shrub State

SWAPAEH

4. Tree State

SWAPAEH

5. Annual State

SWAPAEH

State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Community Phase

This plant community is dominated by spiny hopsage, fourwing saltbush and Indian ricegrass. Potential vegetative composition is about 30% grasses, 10% forbs and 60% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 10 to 20 percent.

Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	180	300	420
Grass/Grasslike	90	150	210
Forb	30	50	70
Total	300	500	700

Community 1.2
Community Phase

Community 1.3
Community Phase

Pathway a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Low severity fire creates grass/sagebrush mosaic; high severity fire significantly reduces sagebrush cover and leads to early/mid-seral community, dominated by grasses and forbs.

Pathway b
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Time and lack of disturbance such as fire or drought. Excessive herbivory would also reduce perennial understory.

Pathway a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Time and lack of disturbance allows for shrub regeneration

Pathway a
Community 1.3 to 1.1

Low severity fire resulting in a mosaic pattern, fall/winter herbivory may cause mechanical damage to shrubs and reduce shrub density.

Pathway b
Community 1.3 to 1.2

High severity fire significantly reduces sagebrush cover and leads to early/mid-seral community, dominated by grasses and forbs

State 2
Current Potential State

Community 2.1
Community Phase

Community 2.2
Community Phase

Community 2.3
Community Phase

Pathway a
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Low severity fire creates grass/sagebrush masic; high severity fire significantly reduces sagebrush cover and leads to early/mid-seral community dominated by grasses and forbs; non-native annual species present.

Pathway b
Community 2.1 to 2.3

Pathway a
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Pathway a
Community 2.3 to 2.1

Pathway b
Community 2.3 to 2.2

State 3
Shrub State

Community 3.1
Community Phase

Community 3.2
Community Phase

Pathway a
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Pathway a
Community 3.2 to 3.1

State 4
Tree State

Community 4.1
Community Phase

Community 4.2
Community Phase (At Risk)

Pathway a
Community 4.1 to 4.2

Pathway a
Community 4.2 to 4.1

State 5
Annual State

Community 5.1
Community Phase

Transition A
State 1 to 2

Introduction of non-native species such as bulbous bluegrass, cheatgrass and thistles.

Transition A
State 2 to 3

Transition B
State 2 to 4

Transition A
State 3 to 4

Transition B
State 3 to 5

Restoration pathway A
State 4 to 2

Transition A
State 4 to 5

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Primary Perennial Grasses			61–150
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	50–100	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	10–25	–
	James' galleta	PLJA	Pleuraphis jamesii	1–25	–
2	Secondary Perennial Grasses			10–40
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	3–15	–
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	3–15	–
	sand dropseed	SPCR	Sporobolus cryptandrus	3–15	–
Forb
3	Perennial			10–50
	globemallow	SPHAE	Sphaeralcea	3–25	–
Shrub/Vine
4	Primary Shrubs			175–385
	spiny hopsage	GRSP	Grayia spinosa	70–140	–
	fourwing saltbush	ATCA2	Atriplex canescens	35–105	–
	shadscale saltbush	ATCO	Atriplex confertifolia	35–70	–
	winterfat	KRLA2	Krascheninnikovia lanata	35–70	–
5	Secondary Shrubs			14–70
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	5–15	–
	littleleaf horsebrush	TEGL	Tetradymia glabrata	5–15	–

Table 7. Community 1.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 8. Community 1.3 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 10. Community 2.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 11. Community 2.3 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 12. Community 3.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 13. Community 3.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 14. Community 4.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 15. Community 4.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 16. Community 5.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to perennial grass and winterfat production. Indian ricegrass is highly palatable to all classes of livestock in both green and cured condition. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. Bottlebrush squirreltail is very palatable winter forage for domestic sheep of Intermountain ranges. Domestic sheep relish the green foliage. Overall, bottlebrush squirreltail is considered moderately palatable to livestock. When actively growing, galleta provides good to excellent forage for cattle and horses and fair forage for domestic sheep. Although not preferred, all classes of livestock may use galleta when it is dry. Domestic sheep show greater use in winter than summer months and typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts, leaving coarser growth around the edges. Galleta may prove somewhat coarse to domestic sheep. Spiny hopsage provides a palatable and nutritious food source for livestock, particularly during late winter through spring. Domestic sheep browse the succulent new growth of spiny hopsage in late winter and early spring. Fourwing saltbush is one of the most palatable shrubs in the West. Its protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels are comparable to alfalfa. It provides nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. Palatability is rated as good for domestic sheep and domestic goats; fair for cattle; fair to good for horses in winter, poor for horses in other seasons. Winterfat is an important forage plant for livestock, especially during winter when forage is scarce. Abusive grazing practices have reduced or eliminated winterfat on some areas even though it is fairly resistant to browsing. Effects depend on severity and season of grazing. Shadscale is a valuable browse species, providing a source of palatable, nutritious forage for a wide variety of livestock. Shadscale provides good browse for domestic sheep. Shadscale leaves and seeds are an important component of domestic sheep and cattle winter diets.

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 Interpretaions:
Spiny hopsage provides a palatable and nutritious food source for big game animals. Spiny hopsage is used as forage to at least some extent by domestic goats, deer, pronghorn, and rabbits. Fourwing saltbush provides valuable habitat and year-round browse for wildlife. Fourwing saltbush also provides browse and shelter for small mammals. Additionally, the browse provides a source of water for black-tailed jackrabbits in arid environments. Granivorous birds consume the fruits. Wild ungulates, rodent and lagomorphs readily consume all aboveground portions of the plant. Palatability is rated good for deer, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Winterfat is an important forage plant for Wildlife, especially during winter when forage is scarce. Winterfat seeds are eaten by rodents. Winterfat is a staple food for black-tailed jackrabbit. Mule deer and pronghorn antelope browse winterfat. Winterfat is used for cover by rodents. It is potential nesting cover for upland game birds, especially when grasses grow up through its crown. Shadscale is a valuable browse species, providing a source of palatable, nutritious forage for a wide variety of wildlife particularly during spring and summer before the hardening of spiny twigs. It supplies browse, seed, and cover for birds, small mammals, rabbits, deer, and pronghorn antelope. Indian ricegrass is eaten by pronghorn in "moderate" amounts whenever available. In Nevada it is consumed by desert bighorns. A number of heteromyid rodents inhabiting desert rangelands show preference for seed of Indian ricegrass. Indian ricegrass is an important component of jackrabbit diets in spring and summer. In Nevada, Indian ricegrass may even dominate jackrabbit diets during the spring through early summer months. Indian ricegrass seed provides food for many species of birds. Doves, for example, eat large amounts of shattered Indian ricegrass seed lying on the ground. Bottlebrush squirreltail is a dietary component of several wildlife species. Bottlebrush squirreltail may provide forage for mule deer and pronghorn. Desert bighorn sheep of the Mojave Desert utilize galleta as forage. Galleta provides moderately palatable forage when actively growing and relatively unpalatable forage during dormant periods. Galleta provides poor cover for most wildlife species.

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 camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.

Other products

Some Native American peoples traditionally ground parched seeds of spiny hopsage to make pinole flour. Fourwing saltbush is traditionally important to Native Americans. They ground the seeds for flour. The leaves, placed on coals, impart a salty flavor to corn and other roasted food. Top-growth produces a yellow dye. Young leaves and shoots were used to dye wool and other materials. The roots and flowers were ground to soothe insect bites. Seeds of shadscale were used by Native Americans of Arizona, Utah and Nevada for bread and mush. Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native Americans. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source.

Other information

Spiny hopsage has moderate potential for erosion control and low to high potential for long-term revegetation projects. It can improve forage, control wind erosion, and increase soil stability on gentle to moderate slopes. Spiny hopsage is suitable for highway plantings on dry sites in Nevada. Fourwing saltbush is widely used in rangeland and riparian improvement and reclamation projects, including burned area recovery. It is probably the most widely used shrub for restoration of winter ranges and mined land reclamation. Winterfat adapts well to most site conditions, and its extensive root system stabilizes soil. However, winterfat is intolerant of flooding, excess water, and acidic soils. Bottlebrush squirreltail is tolerant of disturbance and is a suitable species for revegetation.

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: White Pine County, NV
Township/Range/Section	T38N R69E S16
Latitude	41° 10′ 43″
Longitude	114° 9′ 59″
General legal description	SW¼SW¼, About 7 miles south of Montello, Pilot Creek Valley area, Elko County, Nevada.

Other references

Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).

Houghton, J.G., C.M. Sakamoto, and R.O. Gifford. 1975. Nevada’s Weather and Climate, Special Publication 2. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, 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/

USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).

Contributors

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)	P. Novak-Echenique
Contact for lead author	State Rangeland Management Specialist
Date	10/22/2013
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Rills are none to rare. A few can be expected on steeper slopes in areas subjected to summer convection storms or rapid spring snowmelt.
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are none to rare but can be expected on steeper slopes in areas subjected to summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none to rare. Occurrence is usually limited to areas of water flow patterns.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground ± 50%, depending on amount of surface rock fragments.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual & perennial forbs) expected to move distance of slope length during intense summer convection storms. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during catastrophic events.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values should be 3 to 6 on most soil textures found on this site. Areas of this site occurring on soils that have a physical crust will probably have stability values less than 3. (To be field tested.)
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is typically medium platy. Soil surface colors are light browns and soils are typified by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 3 inches is typically 1 to 1.5 percent dropping off quickly below. Organic matter content can be more or less depending on micro-topography.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial herbaceous plants (especially deep-rooted bunchgrasses [i.e., Indian ricegrass] slow runoff and increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on site.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Compacted layers are none. Platy or massive sub-surface horizons not to be interpreted as compacted 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:
Reference State: Spiny hopsage & fourwing saltbush

Sub-dominant:
Deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses > associated shrubs>shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses=deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs=fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial and annual forbs.

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 25% of total woody canopy; some of the mature bunchgrasses (~ 20%) have dead centers.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Within plant interspaces (± 20%) and depth of litter is < ¼ inch
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (end of June) ± 500 lbs/ac; Favorable years ±700 lbs/ac and unfavorable years ±300 lbs/ac.
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:
Potential invaders include cheatgrass, Russian thistle, and annual mustards. Cheatgrass is most likely to invade after wildfire.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years. Reduced growth and reproduction occur during extreme or extended drought periods.

Download reference sheet

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R028AY006NV

DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.

Last updated: 6/12/2025 Accessed: 09/11/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 6/12/2025
Accessed: 09/11/2026