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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
Associated sites
R029XY006NV LOAMY 8-10 P.Z.
R029XY008NV SHALLOW CALCAREOUS LOAM 8-12 P.Z.
R029XY162NV ERODED SLOPE 8-10 P.Z.
Similar sites
R029XY031NV SHALLOW DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
GRSP dominant shrub; more productive site
R029XY037NV COBBLY SLOPE 5-8 P.Z.
SAVEB, LYCIU important shrubs; more productive site
R029XY107NV GRANITIC COBBLY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
ATCO important shrub; ACSP12 dominant grass; more productive site
R029XY074NV SHALLOW LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
ATCO codominant; more productive site
R029XY036NV COBBLY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.
ATCO, SAVEB important shrubs
R029XY038NV COBBLY LOAM 8-12 P.Z.
ARTRW, codominant; more productive site
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Ephedra nevadensis
(2) Menodora spinescensHerbaceous (1) Achnatherum hymenoides
Physiographic features
This site occurs on summits and sideslopes of fan remnants and partial ballenas on all aspects. Slopes range from 2 to 30 percent, but slope gradients of 8 to 30 percent are typical. Elevations are 4200 to about 6400 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan remnant
(2) Ballena
Elevation 4200 – 6400 ft Slope 2 – 30 % Aspect E, S, W Climatic features
The climate associated with this site is arid, characterized by cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is (6) 8 to 10 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 50 to 53 degrees F. The average growing season is about 110 to 140 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no influencing water features associated with this site.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are very shallow to a duripan and well drained. These soils have formed in calcareous loess over gravelly alluvium derived from limestone. The soil profile is modified with over 35 percent rock fragments. High amounts of rock fragments occur at the soil surface. Coarse fragments on the surface provide a stabilizing affect on surface erosion conditions. Runoff is high to very high, available water capacity is very low and water intake rates are moderate. The soil series associated with this site is Treadwell.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly sandy loam
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 4 – 10 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 30 – 55 % Surface fragment cover >3" 10 – 70 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.4 – 0.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 20 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)Not specified Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.9 – 11 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)30 – 65 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
As ecological condition declines, Douglas’ rabbitbrush, horsebrush, and galleta will increase while Indian ricegrass, desert needlegrass, winterfat and spiny hopsage will decrease. Cheatgrass is a species likely to invade this site.
Fire Ecology:
No information is available on spiny menodora or its communities in relation to fire ecology.
Nevada ephedra generally sprouts after fire damages aboveground vegetation. Underground regenerative structures commonly survive when aboveground vegetation is consumed by fire. However, severe fires may kill shallowly buried regenerative structures. 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.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. DRAFT STM
Figure 5. DRAFT STM LEGEND
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
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityThe reference plant community is dominated by spiny menodora, Nevada ephedra, and Indian ricegrass. Other important species include Anderson wolfberry, spiny hopsage, and winterfat. Potential vegetative composition is about 20% grasses, 10% forbs, and 70% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 10 to 20 percent.
Figure 6. 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 140 210 280 Grass/Grasslike 40 60 80 Forb 20 30 40 Total 200 300 400 State 2
Current Potential StateState 3
Annual StateAdditional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Primary Perennial Grasses 21–69 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 15–45 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 6–24 – threeawn ARIST Aristida 2–6 – 2 Secondary Perennial Grasses 8–24 King's eyelashgrass BLKI Blepharidachne kingii 200–6 – Forb3 Perennial 7–24 mariposa lily CALOC Calochortus 2–6 – larkspur DELPH Delphinium 2–6 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 2–6 – desert princesplume STPI Stanleya pinnata 2–6 – 4 Annual 1–11 desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 2–6 – threeawn ARIST Aristida 2–6 – King's eyelashgrass BLKI Blepharidachne kingii 2–6 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 2–6 – Shrub/Vine5 Primary Shrubs 138–225 spiny menodora MESP2 Menodora spinescens 105–135 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 15–45 – spiny hopsage GRSP Grayia spinosa 6–15 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 6–15 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 6–15 – 6 Secondary Shrubs 27–81 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 3–9 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 3–9 – Wiggins' cholla CYEC3 Cylindropuntia echinocarpa 3–9 – Fremon's bushmallow MAFR2 Malacothamnus fremontii 3–9 – grizzlybear pricklypear OPPOE Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea 3–9 – desert snowberry SYLO Symphoricarpos longiflorus 3–9 – littleleaf horsebrush TEGL Tetradymia glabrata 3–9 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 3–9 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to Indian ricegrass 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. Nevada ephedra is important winter range browse for domestic cattle, sheep and goats.
Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.
Wildlife Interpretations:
Mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn browse Nevada ephedra, especially in spring and late summer when new growth is available. Indian ricegrass is an important forage for several wildlife species.Hydrological functions
Runoff is high to very high. Permeability is moderate
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
Native Americans used Nevada ephedra as a tea to treat stomach and kidney ailments.
Other information
Nevada ephedra is useful for erosion control, and seedlings have been successfully planted onto reclaimed strip mines, with survival ranging from 12 to 94%. Atrazine may be effective in controlling Nevada ephedra, though some plants can survive through crown sprouting. Irrigation may increase control by atrazine. Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native Americans. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Lincoln County, NV Township/Range/Section T2S R62E S8 Latitude 37° 47′ 4″ Longitude 115° 3′ 35″ General legal description Section 8, T2S. R62E. MDBM. Approximately 2.5 miles south, southwest of White River Narrows and 1.25 miles east of State Highway 318. Lincoln County, Nevada. Other references
Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/)
Hood, Sharon M.; Miller, Melanie, editors. 2007. Fire Ecology and Management of the Major Ecosystems of Southern Utah. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-202. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 110p.
USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov)
Contributors
CMJ/PN-E
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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