Foothills

Description

Reference State
Reference Plant Community: The reference plant community is dominated by blue grama, sideoats grama, and black grama. Changes in species dominance and composition may occur naturally with respect to aspect and elevation. Blue grama, cool-season grasses, and pinyon-juniper are favored on cooler sites (north aspects, higher elevations), while black grama, other warm-season grasses, and some shrubs are favored on warmer sites (south aspects, lower elevations). Heavy continuous use by livestock can result in a decrease in black grama, sideoats grama, little bluestem, New Mexico muhly, cool-season grasses, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat. A community dominated by blue grama with galleta as the subdominant may result.

Diagnosis: Grass cover is uniform with few large bare areas present. Shrubs and trees constitute a noticeable component of this site. Evidence of erosion such as pedestalling of grasses, rills and gullies is infrequent.

Submodel