Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site DX035X03A004
Hills or Elevated Plains
12 to 15 inches
Last updated: 5/20/2025
Accessed: 04/30/2026
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Click to explore map
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.
Classification relationships
The understory vegetation was compared to existing ESDs:
Savannah (R036XB127NM)
Hills (R036XB124NM)
Sandstone Hills (R036XB122NM)
Gravelly (R036XB114NM)
The overstory plant community was compared to information developed for the Zuni Reservation:
Juniper woodland (F036XB002NM)
Pinyon/Juniper woodland (F036XB001NM)
The understory vegetation, in almost all of the mapping units visited, was dominated by blue grama. The above ESDs were used to estimate potential plant community structure for this ESD in the HCPC as well as the other states. The Savannah and Hills ESDs appeared to be most comparable to the plant communities encountered. Remnant species were found in some of the plant communities suggesting that their existence in the plant community may have been altered over time. Both forest ESDs provided suggestions in stand structure and succession.Ecological site concept
The representative map unit is on hills and alluvial fans, as well as on higher lying sideslopes on hills. Slope ranges from 2 to 15%. The unit is characterized by fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy soil textures and are generally deep and well drained, although the soil can be shallow in some areas. The alluvium is generally derived from sandstone.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Pinus edulis
(2) Juniperus monospermaShrub (1) Atriplex canescens
(2) Krascheninnikovia lanataHerbaceous (1) Bouteloua gracilis
(2) Bouteloua curtipendulaLegacy ID
F035XG004NM
Physiographic features
The representative map unit is on hills and alluvial fans, as well as on higher lying sideslopes on hills. Slope ranges from 2 to 15%. The unit is characterized by fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy soil textures and are generally deep and well drained, although the soil can be shallow in some areas. The alluvium is generally derived from sandstone. Overall, the terrain appears to be gentle rolling hills, with or without distinctive drainage patterns. Aspect can vary, as well as influence diversity and density of vegetation. Areas can be irregular in shape. These map units vary in elevation which also influences species composition and site potential. It does vary from wetter and colder positions on the landscape to drier and lower landscapes, characterized by different species densities and dominance.
The associated mapping units are similar to Map Unit (MU) 340 in several respects but there exists minor differences in elevation, landform, and possibly differences in microclimate (precipitation and temperature regimes). The associated soils depict the range of variability of the pinyon-juniper plant communities in this region. These other soils are likely to react in similar fashion as MU 340 to biological, climatic, and human influences with slight variations due to individual soil characteristics, relative precipitation zones, or their position on the landscape. These differences may be expressed in variations of species composition, (overstory or understory) and tree density.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Alluvial fan
(3) Saddle
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) to very brief (4 to 48 hours) Flooding frequency None to rare Ponding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) to very brief (4 to 48 hours) Ponding frequency None to rare Elevation 6700 – 7800 ft Slope 2 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The representative weather station is located near Quemado, NM, Catron County, within 40 miles to sites sampled. The weather station is within the climatic division NM-04, Southwestern Mountains. According to Catron County Soil Survey, this map unit is within a precipitation zone of 12-15 inch average annual precipitation. Average annual air temperature is 47 to 54 degrees (F). Due to elevation and latitude, this landscape is prone to winter and summer moisture with summer moisture exceeding winter. Summer precipitation is typically derived from convective showers with snow- and rain-mixed winter storms. Frost-free days are based on >=32.5 degrees (F); freeze-free days based on >= 30 degrees (F).
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 130 days Freeze-free period (average) 210 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
None, except downslope runoff and slope retention of snow-pack on North slopes.<br />
This unit is not influenced by wetlands or free-flowing streams or seeps.Soil features
The site is supported by the Flugle series and typic ustorthents on hills and alluvial fans in map unit 340 of the Catron County, Northern Part, Soil Survey. Other soils supporting this site are the Loarc, Datil, Majada, Lapdun, Ralphston, Amenson, Manzano, Celsosprings, Dioxice, Motoqua, Faraway, Guy, Celacy, Joachem, Abrazo, Apache, Diatee, Hiarc, Telescope, Mion, Travessilla, and Royosa series.
In map unit 340, the Flugle soil component comprises 40% of the map unit with 2 to 15% slopes and contains a fine sandy loam texture. The typic ustorthents comprise 35% of the unit with 5 to 15% slopes derived from sandstone.
The Flugle soil is deep and well drained and formed in alluvium. The typic Ustorthents are shallow to deep and well-drained and derived mostly from sandstone. This map unit has variable slope and aspect characteristics and varies elevationally with comparable differences in temperature and precipitation regimes. Some sites are dominated by pinyon pine with codominant oneseed juniper, while other sites contain ponderosa pine and alligator juniper co-occurring with the pinyon/juniper, indicative of variable climatic conditions. Lower-elevation sites are prone to being drier and dominated by oneseed juniper.
This site also occurs in map units 335, 580, and 655; ranging in slope from 1 to 20%, with soil textures of fine sandy loam to gravelly or cobbly loam; on hills, alluvial fans, slopes and ridges.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly fine sandy loam
(2) Cobbly loam
(3) Sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to moderately well drained Permeability class Moderate to rapid Soil depth 20 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)11 – 13 in Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
Many of the soil map units (MU), including the reference site (MU 340), are complex soils comprised of a mixture of soil types. MU 340 has not been classified into an Ecological Site Description (ESD), as well as map units 366, 492, 497. Portions of the remaining mapping units have been classified in an ESD as hills, savannah, gravelly, swale, basalt hills, stony loam, shallow sandstone, or deep sand. The remaining range sites have varying densities of pinyon and juniper present. In many instances the trees found upon those sites are in moderate to high density and many exhibit a very old age class, indicating that trees were a prominent feature upon the landscape. This ESD does not address swale, lowlands, or any other range site classed as a grassland-dominated plant community, though woodland species may be found upon such sites in very low densities, that is, extremely widely scattered trees with a spacing of 100+ feet.
The existing condition on many of these mapping units is characterized as follows: moderate to high tree densities exist; pinyon pine dominates most stands by frequency and canopy cover; map units are comprised of an uneven-aged stand of trees; pinyon pine seedlings/saplings surpass those of juniper; herbaceous cover exhibits minimal plant diversity; many of the sites contain dwarf mistletoe infestations and varying levels of pinyon pine mortality; all sites were found on hills, slopes, elevated plains, or ridges; and fire scars were typically found only on old oneseed juniper trees.
Map units 340, 335, 580, and 655 were sampled to collect data on tree density, canopy cover, basal area, composition, and age structure. Overall, pinyon pine dominated the stands, at 54% of composition by frequency and an average of 58% based on canopy cover. The age structure is dominated by oneseed juniper in the old tree age class on most sites with pinyon dominating the mid-aged class, indicating a transition to pinyon-dominated stands. It appears that pinyon may be shorter lived than juniper due to greater susceptibility to adverse conditions (climate, disease infestations, soil productivity). Juniper on the other hand is long-lived and appears to be the mainstay in many of these woodland/savannah plant communities.
There is variation in plant community structure when addressing the woodland characteristics of all the map units associated with this ESD. This ESD addresses those map units with less than 25% slope to nearly level, rolling terrain (slopes, hills, elevated plains, ridges), and generally with soils derived from alluvium or colluvium. Exposed bedrock or rock outcrops would be small inclusions or anomalies which are not directly associated with this ESD. Overstory vegetation could vary from the minor inclusions of ponderosa pine and alligator juniper at the upper range of this ESD (ie: MU 340, 341) to oneseed-dominated plant communities (ie: MU 650) at the lower end of this ESD. These differences are primarily driven by topography, elevation, aspect, or moisture variations, or a combination of all factors. It’s possible that an ESD could be developed for more site-specific detail, although in general terms, given the overall elevation, temperature, and precipitation range, the plant communities upon these soils would likely react in the same manner to biotic or abiotic influences resulting in relatively similar plant composition and successional pathways.
There are 3 states and up to 4 plant communities within those states. The states are described as follows: Historical Climax Plant Community (HCPC), State #1; Existing plant community (State #2) which is representative of the potential natural community (PNC) with some level of grazing and having variations in pinyon or juniper density; and an Early Seral State, State#3, which is a grassland-dominated state.
Grazing is not considered a part of the HCPC but other natural processes such as fire, drought, disease, and wildlife impacts are. These same influences also occur in State 2, with mechanical treatment as the primary source of change in State 3. A catastrophic fire may occur in States 1 and 2 as a wind-driven anomaly resulting in total reduction of the canopy cover, subsequently transitioning to State #3, a grassland landscape.
Overall, the common disturbances that affect the pinyon/juniper (P/J) in these map units are drought, disease, fire, excessive moisture, land treatment practices, and livestock grazing. Fire and drought would be common occurrences in the historical plant community and would regulate tree density and recruitment as well as herbaceous/shrub plant composition and distribution. The other disturbances would be more prevalent in the PNC and early seral states of the P/J communities. Overgrazing would contribute to the reduction or elimination of natural fire cycles by removing fine fuels. A broken fire cycle allows for high moisture periods to benefit P/J seedling establishment and survival and eventually an increase tree density. Drought, disease, and land treatment practices are disturbances that aid in resetting the plant community, substituting for natural fire occurrences to a limited extent.
Understory vegetation in the historical plant community and well managed plant communities generally would have a greater mix of cool- and warm-season herbaceous vegetation as well as a greater diversity in shrub species. In the heavily grazed plant communities, high tree density exists with almost a monoculture of blue grama along with invasive plants or annuals. Very few shrubs species are present, usually in decadent forms. Site indices (based on tree diameter in relation to basal area) for these sites are typically rated at a “2”, although drier sites rate at a “3”.
The Historic Plant Community would consist of old growth trees dominating the site comprising 70 to 80% of the stand, mid-age trees would comprise 20-25%, and young age classes (seedlings/saplings) comprise 0-10% of the stand. The young age class could be virtually nonexistent in some isolated areas due to recurring low-intensity natural fires. Mature trees would be long-lived, large diameter, with few, if any, dead trees present.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. State-and-Transition Model
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 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateThis state represents the most ecologically stable conditions in terms of resistance to erosion. Moreover, this state has the highest potential for productivity and plant diversity.
Community 1.1
Reference Plant CommunityReference Plant Community: This phase reflects a plant community structure not influenced by grazing or other human activity. Natural processes would occur such as, drought and disease mortality, natural fire events (both low and high intensity), and natural regeneration from favorable moisture periods. Plant Community #1 would be dominated by pinyon pine with codominant oneseed juniper. Canopy cover is about 30 to 40%; landscape portrays a woodland appearance with a mixture of tree species, including occurrences of Rocky Mountain juniper or alligator juniper with incidental occurrences of ponderosa pine. A diverse mixture of herbaceous understory would also persist, comprised of both cool- and warm-season species bunchgrasses and forbs. Some shrubs may also be present such as mountain mahogany, fourwing saltbush, skunkbush, and winterfat. Tree density may range from 40 to 60 trees per acre. Typically, an older age class would dominate the stands with large diameter trees common. Natural fire would tend to suppress regeneration to very few survival trees. A variation may occur in a lower elevation and precipitation range (warmer /drier sites) for this ESD, whereas pinyon pine and oneseed juniper may be the only trees species present; and ponderosa pine, alligator and Rocky Mountain junipers may not occur at all.
Plant Community #2 is dominated by oneseed juniper with codominant or subdominant pinyon pine (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)Tree 1510 3775 6040 Grass/Grasslike 300 400 490 Shrub/Vine 30 40 50 Forb 5 10 15 Total 1845 4225 6595 State 2
Potential StateThis state has high tree cover.
Community 2.1
Potential Natural CommunityPotential Natural Community (PNC): State 1 would transition to State 2 as a result of overgrazing and reduction in fire. This in turn would result in an overall increase in tree density and canopy cover and may have a variable effect on understory species composition. Plant Community #1 would be the PNC with heavy grazing impact and poor range management practices, similar to existing conditions. The site would be considered deteriorated and would have a high density of pinyon pine. Oneseed juniper would be subdominant in terms of frequency and canopy cover. Canopy cover would range from 45 to 65%. Blue grama would be the dominant grass species, although forage production could be very low, 100 to 200 lb/ac. Plant Community #2 could result from PC1 by implementing improved grazing management (extended rest, deferment, reduced stocking rates), reduction in grazing intensity (less than 35% actual use on forage plants), land treatments (reduction in trees, mechanical, herbicide, fuelwooding and reseeding). Pinyon pine could still dominate but oneseed juniper may become codominant comprising 35 to 45% of the tree composition. Canopy cover could range from 40 to 50%. Herbaceous cover could be diverse, as in HCPC, but at reduced amounts and distribution.
Plant Community #3 would result from PC1 or PC2 due to effects of drought, disease (reducing pinyon density), and overgrazing. The site would remain deteriorated with blue grama dominating the understory but at a lower production level (50 to 150 lb/ac). Oneseed juniper would dominate and pinyon pine would be subdominant (Figure 6. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Tree 5510 10010 14510 Grass/Grasslike 210 250 300 Shrub/Vine 0 30 60 Forb 5 10 15 Total 5725 10300 14885 State 3
Early Seral StateThis state has low tree cover.
Community 3.1
Early Seral CommunityEarly seral phase: State #3 could result from State 1 or 2 due to a catastrophic fire or land treatments that remove virtually all of the tree canopy cover. Two possible plant communities could exist. Plant Community #1 would be a deteriorated site resulting from heavy livestock grazing and likely dominated by blue grama, along with rabbitbrush or horsebrush. Some secondary herbaceous plants may also be present such as red threeawn, sand dropseed, squirreltail, globemallow, fringed sagewort, and buckwheat. Fourwing saltbush, wolfberry, and skunkbush may be found as well. Plant Community #2 would result from improved grazing management practices (extended rest and deferment, reduced stocking levels, lighter grazing intensity, and reseeding). This plant community would exhibit a mixture of native cool- and warm-season species such as western wheatgrass, junegrass, spike muhly, Stipa spp., Indian ricegrass, galleta, sideoats grama, bluestems, and muttongrass, as well as fourwing saltbush, winterfat, and mountain mahogany.
Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Tree 760 1530 2290 Grass/Grasslike 330 460 600 Shrub/Vine 80 110 140 Forb 10 20 30 Total 1180 2120 3060 Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 warm-season increasers 250–410 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 250–400 – Arizona threeawn ARAR6 Aristida arizonica 0–3 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–3 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 1–2 – mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 0–1 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 0–1 – 2 warm-season decreasers 10–30 spike muhly MUWR Muhlenbergia wrightii 1–10 – mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana 0–5 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 2–4 – pine dropseed BLTR Blepharoneuron tricholepis 3–4 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–2 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–2 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 1–2 – 3 cool-season increasers 20–30 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 10–15 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 7–10 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 3–5 – New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 5 – 4 cool-season decreasers 10–20 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 5–7 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 2–4 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 2–3 – pinyon ricegrass PIFI Piptochaetium fimbriatum 2 – Forb5 warm-season forbs 5–15 James' buckwheat ERJA Eriogonum jamesii 3–6 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 2–4 – Carruth's sagewort ARCA14 Artemisia carruthii 0–3 – four o'clock MIRAB Mirabilis 0–2 – Shrub/Vine6 half-shrub increasers 0–10 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–10 – prairie sagewort ARFR4 Artemisia frigida 1–2 – 7 cool-season decreasers 10–20 skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 10–15 – hairy mountain mahogany CEMOP Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus 5–10 – 8 warm-season decreasers 10 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 5 – 9 succulents 2 pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 1 – yucca YUCCA Yucca 1 – 10 warm-season increasers 2–6 currant RIBES Ribes 1–3 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 1–2 – desert-thorn LYCIU Lycium 0–1 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 0 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 0 – Tree11 conifers 1510–6040 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 900–3600 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 610–2440 – Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 warm-season increasers 200–250 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 200–240 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 1–5 – Arizona threeawn ARAR6 Aristida arizonica 1–3 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 0–3 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–2 – mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 0–2 – 2 warm-season decreasers 5–15 James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 5–6 – spike muhly MUWR Muhlenbergia wrightii 1–3 – mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana 0–2 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 1–2 – pine dropseed BLTR Blepharoneuron tricholepis 0–1 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 0–1 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0 – 3 cool-season increasers 0–20 squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 1–10 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 1–4 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–3 – New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 0–3 – 4 cool-season decreasers 0–5 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 1–2 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 0–1 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0–1 – pinyon ricegrass PIFI Piptochaetium fimbriatum 0 – Forb5 warm-season forbs 5–15 New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 20–25 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 15–20 – Carruth's sagewort ARCA14 Artemisia carruthii 4–8 – James' buckwheat ERJA Eriogonum jamesii 1–3 – four o'clock MIRAB Mirabilis 1–2 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 0–2 – Shrub/Vine6 half-shrub increasers 0–20 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–20 – Carruth's sagewort ARCA14 Artemisia carruthii 2–4 – James' buckwheat ERJA Eriogonum jamesii 2–4 – prairie sagewort ARFR4 Artemisia frigida 0–3 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 1–2 – 7 cool-season decreasers 0–15 skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 1–10 – hairy mountain mahogany CEMOP Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus 0–5 – 8 warm-season decreasers 0–10 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–5 – 9 succulents 0–5 pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 0–3 – yucca YUCCA Yucca 1–3 – 10 warm-season increasers 0–11 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–3 – currant RIBES Ribes 0–3 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 0–2 – rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 0–2 – desert-thorn LYCIU Lycium 0–1 – Tree11 conifers 5510–14510 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 3264–8590 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 2250–5920 – Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 warm-season increasers 310–530 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 300–500 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 4–10 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 3–7 – mat muhly MURI Muhlenbergia richardsonis 3–5 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 3–5 – Arizona threeawn ARAR6 Aristida arizonica 2–3 – 2 warm-season decreasers 10–30 spike muhly MUWR Muhlenbergia wrightii 1–7 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 5–6 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 3–5 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 1–3 – mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana 0–3 – pine dropseed BLTR Blepharoneuron tricholepis 0–2 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–2 – 3 cool-season increasers 0–35 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 1–20 – New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 1–8 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–6 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 0–1 – 4 cool-season decreasers 0–5 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 2–4 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–3 – pinyon ricegrass PIFI Piptochaetium fimbriatum 0 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0 – Forb5 warm-season forbs 15–25 James' buckwheat ERJA Eriogonum jamesii 5–10 – Carruth's sagewort ARCA14 Artemisia carruthii 4–8 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 5 – four o'clock MIRAB Mirabilis 1–2 – Shrub/Vine6 half-shrub increasers 15–20 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 10–20 – prairie sagewort ARFR4 Artemisia frigida 5–10 – 7 cool-season decreasers 10–25 skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 10–15 – hairy mountain mahogany CEMOP Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus 0–10 – 8 warm-season decreasers 15–25 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 10–15 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 5–10 – 9 succulents 20–30 pricklypear OPUNT Opuntia 10–15 – yucca YUCCA Yucca 10–15 – 10 warm-season increasers 25–35 rubber rabbitbrush ERNA10 Ericameria nauseosa 10–15 – desert-thorn LYCIU Lycium 5 – Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 2–5 – currant RIBES Ribes 5 – spineless horsebrush TECA2 Tetradymia canescens 3–5 – Tree11 conifers 760–2290 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 451–1368 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 306–927 – Interpretations
Animal community
These areas are grazed by livestock. Slopes are gentle enough to allow livestock unlimited access over most of the terrain. There are no naturally occurring water sources (springs or streams) in any of the map units. Livestock use depends on the development of man-made watering facilities (wells or stock tanks). Livestock have been in various parts of these map units for over a century, and their influence on the land and vegetation is evident (decreased herbaceous plant diversity, sheet or gully erosion, broken fire cycle, lack of fine fuels for natural fires). Currently stocking capacity for these map units is low due to low production of almost a homogenous stand of blue grama. Plant diversity could be sustained through all three states if livestock are managed properly, reduced stocking rates, planned grazing systems that afford substantial growing season rest and recovery after a grazing event, and reintroduction of fire into the ecosystem for nutrient cycling and maintain an open canopy level. The deteriorated condition in the woodland/savannah plant communities (States 2 and 3) requires a substantial amount of effort to rebuild the plant community structure and diversity while livestock grazing is ongoing.
Wildlife such as deer and elk utilize these areas for forage, escape cover, and thermal cover. It has been observed that cool-season species are mostly utilized by wildlife during fall, winter, and early spring. Competition for forage between livestock and wildlife can occur on this site, especially for cool-season grasses and shrubs.Hydrological functions
Coarse fragments occur in very minimal amounts, except on a few soil map units. Soils are either sandy loam or fine sandy loam. A few soils contain gravelly, cobbly, or stony surface textures. Most soils are well drained and allow for water to filter through the profile and recharge the water table. Excessive moisture contributes to surface flow and subsequent soil erosion (sheet or gully).
Several of the soil map units do not have well defined drainage patterns, and springs or sustained stream flows are not expected to occur on these soils map units. Some of the soils have very good water holding capacity while others do not. The deeper soils at higher elevation and precipitation zones have the ability to produce greater tree densities and larger diameter trees, whereas other sites at lower elevation appear to be harsher (shallow soil or drier) resulting in stunted tree growth.Recreational uses
These map units collectively are conducive to recreational opportunities such as camping and firewood gathering. The woodland/savannah plant communities also provide thermal and nesting cover for wildlife and may provide hunting opportunities at certain times of the year.
Most map units are not steep and are readily accessible to vehicles or off-road vehicles. There is sufficient grade on the landscape that proper road placement and construction would be prudent to avoid accelerating soil erosion. Scenic values are not that high, and changing the vegetative patterns across the landscape would not change the scenic rating significantly.Wood products
Many of the sites produce a substantial amount of wood fiber, both in the HCPC or in the PNC deteriorated states. The map units are readily accessible making them a good source for both commercial and individual firewood gathering. The sites also produce sufficient seedling, saplings in State 2, which may provide an opportunity for commercial harvesting of root stock for commercial landscaping. Some sites may produce up to 2 cords of firewood per acre per year, based on a 150-year rotation cycle, harvesting only the old growth age class trees in the stand.
Wood posts and stays could also be derived from the woodland/savannah plant communities but the volume and quality may vary significantly between soil map units due to varying height, density, and age class of trees across the landscape. Few of the oneseed juniper are straight enough for posts, but generally good enough for stays. Limited amounts of alligator and Rocky Mountain junipers are available on certain soil map units (340, 341, 700) but harvesting
opportunities may be restricted by the lack of sustained volume.Other products
n areas where ponderosa pine exists as an anomaly in the stands, selective cutting could provide additional firewood volume, as well as incidental sawtimber or vigas for commercial sale. The potential revenues drawn from the sale of the trees may not substantiate the cost for creating access to remove the trees as well as the added soil disturbance associated with road building and harvesting. Ponderosa pines do serve as raptor and cavity nesting platforms in addition to providing a vegetative diversity on the landscape.
Other information
Historical and current grazing impacts have significantly altered the plant composition on many of the soil mapping units. Restoration efforts will entail a long-term recovery process to restore the native plant structure in any of the states desired. Reseeding will be an integral part of the recovery process.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Interpretive Plant Community: Four soil map units were sampled to determine stand density, age structure, and tree species dominance (by frequency and canopy cover). This data was used to estimate HCPC plant composition and stand structure. The data was summarized and collectively used to estimate successional pathways as well. The four map units sampled are #340, 580, 335, and 655, with a total of 10 plots sampled, varying in aspect and elevation. This ESD is derived from interpretation of 4 selected study sites within 4 soil map units, all occurring on BLM lands. Fixed study plots were measured in each of the study sites as well as understory vegetation sampling conducted in association with the study plots. MU 340 contained 5 study plots, MUs 335 and 580 contained two study plots each, and MU 655 contained three study plots. The data gathered was summarized and averaged to extrapolate its relevance across all of the remaining soil mapping units considered in this ESD. Each study plot had one 0.1-acre plot measured and the data summarized per study site. Sites were not selected randomly. They were selected based on best representation of the landscape and to maintain consistency within the soil mapping unit.
Other references
Barger, R.L. and P.F. Folliott. (1972) Physical characteristics and utilization of major woodland tree species in Arizona. USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-83, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.
Brown, J.K. and J.K. Smith. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p.
Howell, J., Jr. 1940. Pinyon and juniper – A preliminary study of volume, growth, and yield, USDA Soil Conservation Service, Region 8, Bulletin 71, Albuquerque, NM.
McPherson, G.R. and J.F. Weltzin. 2000. Disturbance and climate change in United States/Mexico borderland plant communities: a state-of-the-knowledge review. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-50. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 24 p.
USDI-BLM. 2005. Fire Regime Condition Class (FRGG) Interagency Handbook Reference Condition. April 6. Draft document. Modeler: Doug Havlina.
USDA Forest Service. 2000. Vegetative Structural Stages, Southwestern Region, RMSTAND data. March (updated January 3, 2003).
USDA-NRCS. 1988. Soil Survey of Socorro County Area, New Mexico. 328 p.Contributors
Michael Carpinelli
Noe Gonzalez, USDI-BLM, Woodland EcologistApproval
Kendra Moseley, 5/20/2025
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) Contact for lead author Date 04/30/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Accessibility statement
