Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R030XC381AZ
Limestone/Sandstone Cliffs
13-17" p.z.
Last updated: 10/21/2024
Accessed: 04/22/2026
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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.
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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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 030X–Mojave Basin and Range
This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Province and is characterized by broad basins, valleys, and old lakebeds. Widely spaced mountains trending north to south occur throughout the area. Isolated, short mountain ranges are separated by an aggraded desert plain. The mountains are fault blocks that have been tilted up. Long alluvial fans coalesce with dry lakebeds between some of the ranges.
LRU notes
AZ LRU 30-3 – Upper Mohave Desert
Elevations range from 2800 to 4500 feet and precipitation averages 9 to 12 inches per year. Vegetation includes Joshua tree, blackbrush, creosotebush, ratany, bush muhly, big galleta, black grama, desert needlegrass, and Indian ricegrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic.Ecological site concept
This ecological site is located on extremely steep slopes. Slopes arise abruptly to near vertical. Soils are non-calcareous, very shallow over limestone or sandstone bedrock.
Associated sites
R030XC380AZ Sandy Loam Upland 13-17" p.z. Cobbly Surface
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus gambelii
(2) Juniperus osteospermaShrub (1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis
(2) Garrya flavescensHerbaceous (1) Koeleria macrantha
Physiographic features
This site occurs on footslopes, backslopes and summits of mountains and escarpments.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain
(2) Escarpment
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 1524 – 1981 m Slope 35 – 50 % Climatic features
Precipitation in this LRU ranges from 13-17 inches. Winter-summer rainfall ratios range from 70-30% to 60-40%. Snowfall is common throughout the area and ranges from a trace to 10 inches. At the lower elevations, snow seldom persists more than a day. Summer rains fall July-September, originate in the Gulf of Mexico, and are convective thunderstorms. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the northern Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low. Temperatures are warm in the summer and cold in the winter. Freezing temperatures are common October-May. Winter-summer rainfall ratios in this LRU average 65% to 35%.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 230 days Freeze-free period (average) 300 days Precipitation total (average) 430 mm BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site range from shallow to deep with slopes ranging from 35 to 50 percent. They are very gravelly or cobbly on the surface and throughout the soil profile.
A typical soil profile is:
0 to 2 inches-brown very gravelly loam
2 to 14 inches-dark brown and light gray, calcareous very gravelly loam
14 inches-limestone bedrock
Soils correlated to this ecological site include 623095, Yumtheska, Shivwits Area, Arizona, Part of Mohave County Soil Survey Area.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Extremely cobbly loam
(2) Very cobbly
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained Permeability class Moderate Soil depth 25 – 152 cm Surface fragment cover <=3" 40 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 % Available water capacity
(0-101.6cm)3.56 – 6.1 cm Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-101.6cm)0 – 10 % Electrical conductivity
(0-101.6cm)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-101.6cm)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-101.6cm)7.4 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)40 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)5 % Ecological dynamics
Limestone/Sandstone Cliffs, 10"-13" p.z., is a shrub dominated ecological site. Perennial grasses and forbs are sparse. Annual forbs and grasses flourish following rainfall. Natural disturbances are extremely rare. After introduction of non-native annuals (forbs and/or grasses), they flourish following wet winters.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe dominant aspect of this site is one of chaparral shrubs and scattered trees with an understory of perennial grasses and forbs. Common trees are gambel oak, Utah juniper and Colorado pinyon. Common shrubs include turbinella oak, yellow silktassel, Utah serviceberry, desert ceanothus and Wyoming big sagebrush. Cool season grasses are more common than warm season grasses. Muttongrass and prairie junegrass are the most common grass species. Spiny phlox and rock goldenrod are the most common forb species.
In the abscence of fire the plant community trends towards one with a substantial amount of pinyon and juniper trees, especially at higher elevations and cooler aspects.
Immediately after burning the plant community will be dominated by annual grasses, forbs and half shrubs, including red brome and/or cheatgrass and broom snakeweed. Yerba santa will be one of the earliest shrub species to increase. Within 5 to 10 years chaparral shrub species, such as turbinella oak, desert ceanothus and manazanita, will begin to reestablish in substantial amounts. If not disturbed again the plant community will return to the former mix of trees, shrubs, forbs and grasses with trees again a major component in the cooler/wetter niches.
If the site burns again before re-establiahment of trees, especially if the occurrence of fire is frequent, the trees and less fire toloerant shrubs will be essentially removed from the plant community.Figure 4. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(kg/hectare)Representative value
(kg/hectare)High
(kg/hectare)Shrub/Vine 803 1004 1189 Tree 114 63 238 Grass/Grasslike 57 103 159 Forb 35 63 95 Total 1009 1233 1681 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 0% Forb foliar cover 0% 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% State 2
Historic Native Plant Community plus Introduced AnnualsCommunity 2.1
Non-native AnnualsThis plant community resembles the historic native plant community, but exotic annuals have been introduced. Non-native species include wild oat, red brome, Mediterranean grass (Schismus spp.), and filaree. The flourish of non-native annuals that occurs following rainfalls may preclude native annuals.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Introduction of non-native annual forb and grass seed.
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Common Native Perennia Spring Grasses 67–135 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 27–54 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 27–54 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 13–27 – 2 Occasional Native Perennial Spring Grasses 13–27 sedge CAREX Carex 0–13 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–13 – 3 Occasional Native Perennial Summer Grasses 0–13 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–13 – Forb4 Occasional Native Perennial Forbs 40–81 rockcress ARABI2 Arabis 0–13 – white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–13 – aster ASTER Aster 0–13 – mariposa lily CALOC Calochortus 0–13 – Indian paintbrush CASTI2 Castilleja 0–13 – bastard toadflax COMAN Comandra 0–13 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–13 – sulphur-flower buckwheat ERUM Eriogonum umbellatum 0–13 – Munz's bedstraw GAMU3 Galium munzii 0–13 – hymenaea HYMEN Hymenaea 0–13 – lupine LUPIN Lupinus 0–13 – Colorado four o'clock MIMU Mirabilis multiflora 0–13 – evening primrose OENOT Oenothera 0–13 – firecracker penstemon PEEA Penstemon eatonii 0–13 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–13 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 0–13 – spiny phlox PHHO Phlox hoodii 0–13 – goldenrod SOLID Solidago 0–13 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 0–13 – 5 Occasional Native Annual Forbs 0–13 gilia GILIA Gilia 0–13 – Shrub/Vine6 Common Native Shrubs 673–1009 Wyoming big sagebrush ARTRW8 Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis 135–202 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 67–108 – ashy silktassel GAFL2 Garrya flavescens 67–108 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 67–108 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 67–108 – snowberry SYMPH Symphoricarpos 67–108 – Utah serviceberry AMUT Amelanchier utahensis 67–108 – manzanita ARCTO3 Arctostaphylos 67–108 – 7 Occasional Native Shrubs 108–202 alderleaf mountain mahogany CEMO2 Cercocarpus montanus 27–67 – Stansbury cliffrose PUST Purshia stansburiana 27–67 – New Mexico locust RONE Robinia neomexicana 13–27 – mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 0–13 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–13 – goldenbush ERICA2 Ericameria 0–13 – sulphur-flower buckwheat ERUM Eriogonum umbellatum 0–13 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–13 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–13 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 0–13 – 8 Occasional Native Cacti 13–40 pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 13–40 – 9 Occasional Native Agave-Yucca-Likes 13–40 agave AGAVE Agave 0–27 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–27 – Tree10 Occasional Native Trees 135–202 velvet ash FRVE2 Fraxinus velutina 27–40 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 27–40 – twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 27–40 – singleleaf pinyon PIMO Pinus monophylla 27–40 – Gambel oak QUGA Quercus gambelii 27–40 – Table 8. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Steep slopes and dense woody vegetation found on this site in some areas limit accessibility to livestock.
This site is used extensively by wildlife, especially mule deer. Year-round browse is provided.
Potential wildlife species present include scrub jay, bushtit, long-eared owl, ash-throated flycatcher, rufous-sided towhee, American kestrel, mule deer, coyote woodrat, brush mouse, great basin pocket mouse, cottontail, gray fox, cougar, striped whipsnake, great basin rattlesnake.Recreational uses
Recreational uses include hunting, wildlife observation and hiking.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Mohave County, AZ Township/Range/Section T39 N. R15 W. S24 General legal description Arizona, Mohave County, Mt. Bangs 7 1/2 min. quad. map, Sec. 24, T. 39 N., R. 15 W. Contributors
Larry D. Ellicott
Stephen Cassady
Steve CassadyApproval
Kendra Moseley, 10/21/2024
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 04/22/2026 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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