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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.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Legacy ID
R035XB007NM
Physiographic features
This upland site occurs on plateaus, mesas, and upland valley side slopes. It occupies sandy ridges, side slopes, and alluvial fans. Dunes and hummocks are common. The slopes are generally from 0 to 8 percent; however, the Sheppard loamy fine sand may be as steep as 60 percent. Elevations range from 5,000 to 6,400 feet above sea level. All exposures are involved, with no major difference in vegetation due to exposure.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mesa
(2) Valley side
(3) Dune
Flooding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) Flooding frequency None to rare Elevation 5000 – 6400 ft Slope 0 – 60 % Water table depth 24 – 72 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
This site has an arid, mild, dry climate with distinct seasonal temperature variations and large annual and diurnal temperature changes.
Mean annual precipitation varies from 7 to 10 inches. Deviations of 4 inches or more are quite common. Distribution is 65% during the native-plant growth period, which is from April through September. May and June are the dry months. During July, August, and September, 3.5 inches of precipitation influences the presence and production of warm-season plants. Late-fall and winter moisture is conducive to the production of cool-season plants, which usually begin growth in March and end with plant maturity and seed dissemination. This usually takes place in the early part of June when the moisture deficiency and warmer temperatures occur. The Gulf of Mexico is the principal source of moisture for summer precipitation, which is characterized by brief afternoon thunderstorms. Winter moisture occurs as light rain or snow.
Temperatures vary from a monthly mean of 75 degrees F in July to 27 degrees F in January, and from an annual maximum of 106 degrees F to an annual minimum of -35 degrees F. The average last killing frost in the spring is May 8, and the average first killing frost in the fall is October 10. The frost-free season is approximately 160 days. Temperatures are conducive for native grass and forb growth from April through September. Maximum shrub growth occurs in the spring months.
The wind blows most frequently from an easterly direction; however, a majority of the stronger winds (10 to 25 miles per hour) are from a westerly quadrant. Spring is the windiest season. Average hourly wind velocities are near 6 miles per hour. Spring and summer winds increase transpiration rates of native plants and rapidly dry the surface soil. Small soil particles are often displaced by the wind near the soil surface and often results in structural damage to native plants, especially young seedlings.
Climate data were obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site using 50% probability for freeze-free and frost-free seasons using 28.5 degrees F and 32.5 degrees F, respectively.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 150 days Freeze-free period (average) 180 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site is not influenced by water from a wetland or stream.<br />
Soil features
The soils on this site are deep, well- to somewhat excessively drained, and have light-colored loamy sand and loamy fine sand surfaces ranging from 5 to 10 inches thick. The underlying layers are coarse- and moderately coarse-textured.
These soils formed in material weathered from sandstone. Water intake rate is rapid. Permeability is moderately rapid to rapid. Roots penetrate easily. Available water-holding capacity ranges from 2.5 to 6 inches in a 5-foot profile.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loamy fine sand
(2) Loamy sand
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to excessively drained Permeability class Moderately slow to rapid Soil depth 60 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 35 – 60 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0 – 6 in Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 16 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)60 % Ecological dynamics
The vegetative aspect of this site is a shrub/grass mixture characterized by short- and mid-grasses; mid-grasses are prominent. Shrubs and perennial forbs compose 30 to 40% of the composition of the total vegetation. Annual forbs and grasses occur in relative abundance during spring and summer months in years of above average plant growing conditions.
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 1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historic Climax Plant CommunityThe vegetative aspect of this site is a shrub/grass mixture characterized by short- and mid-grasses; mid-grasses are prominent. Shrubs and perennial forbs compose 30 to 40% of the composition of the total vegetation. Annual forbs and grasses occur in relative abundance during spring and summer months in years of above average plant growing conditions.
Additional plants which usually grow on this site in varying amounts dependent on current growing season conditions are: threeawn spp., sixweeks grama, fiddleneck, annual bromegrass, Russian thistle, fleabane, pale wolfberry, tansymustard, western ragweed, lambsquarters, verbena, whorled milkweed, wooly Indianwheat, and Rocky Mountain beeplant.
Figure 4. 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)Grass/Grasslike 180 330 480 Forb 45 83 120 Total 225 413 600 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 0% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 0% Forb foliar cover 0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 20% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 50% Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM0907 , R035XB007NM-Deep Sand-HCPC. A shrub/grassland characterized by short/mid-grasses with a major perennial forb component. .
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 7 10 10 25 30 10 3 0 0 Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 138–165 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 138–165 – 2 17–28 James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 17–28 – 3 28–55 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 28–55 – 4 55–83 spike dropseed SPCO4 Sporobolus contractus 55–83 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 55–83 – mesa dropseed SPFL2 Sporobolus flexuosus 55–83 – giant dropseed SPGI Sporobolus giganteus 55–83 – 5 17–28 sandhill muhly MUPU2 Muhlenbergia pungens 17–28 – 6 28–55 needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 28–55 – New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 28–55 – 7 17–28 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 17–28 – 8 28–55 alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 28–55 – Forb9 17–28 locoweed OXYTR Oxytropis 17–28 – beardtongue PENST Penstemon 17–28 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 17–28 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 17–28 – Shrub/Vine10 55–83 mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 55–83 – 11 55–83 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 55–83 – 12 28–55 sand sagebrush ARFI2 Artemisia filifolia 28–55 – 13 17–28 rabbitbrush CHRYS9 Chrysothamnus 17–28 – 14 17–28 winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 17–28 – 15 28–55 big sagebrush ARTR2 Artemisia tridentata 28–55 – 16 17–28 black sagebrush ARNO4 Artemisia nova 17–28 – Mexican cliffrose PUME Purshia mexicana 17–28 – 17 17–28 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 17–28 – 18 17–28 plains pricklypear OPPO Opuntia polyacantha 17–28 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 17–28 – Interpretations
Animal community
Habitat for Wildlife:
This ecological site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by badger, kit fox, desert cottontail, Ord’s kangaroo rat, northern grasshopper mouse, scaled quail, mourning dove, Woodhouse’s toad, lesser earless lizard, and prairie rattlesnake.
While not residents, pronghorn antelope and mule deer will move out of adjacent habitats to feed on this site.
Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series---------Hydrologic Group
Bluewing-----------------------B
Bluewing Saline----------------D
Calladito----------------------A
Mayqueen-----------------------B
Sheppard-----------------------A
Shiprock-----------------------B
Stumble------------------------A
Recreational uses
No Data
Wood products
No Data
Other products
Grazing:
This site is suitable for grazing use by cattle, sheep, horses, antelope, burros, and small herbivorous animals. Various birds use this site for food and shelter. Under the pressure of uncontrolled grazing, the potential plant community deteriorates, and there is a marked increase in relative abundance of shrubs, cacti, and perennial forbs. The density of palatable perennial grasses will decrease, and there will be an increase in the density of forbs and annual plants. This results in unprotected soil during part of the year, which increases the wind erosion hazard. In severe deterioration, the site will consist predominantly of shrubs, sandhill muhly, some perennial forbs, and large areas of unprotected soil; juniper may invade this site.
Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index------------Ac/AUM
100 - 76-------------------6.0 – 14.0
75 – 51--------------------8.0 – 18.0
50 – 26--------------------14.0+
25 – 0---------------------18.0++
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: San Juan County, NM Township/Range/Section T27 N R11 W S16 General legal description A typical pedon of Sheppard loamy fine sand in San Juan County, New Mexico, on a ridge 2,045 feet south and 725 feet east of the northeast corner of Section 16, T27N, R11W. Other references
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the San Juan River Valley, Mesas and Plateaus, Major Land Resource Area 35 of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: San Juan, McKinley.
Characteristic soils are:
Sheppard, Mayqueen, Shiprock, Stumble
Other soils included are:
Bluewing, Calladito
Contributors
Don Sylvester
Elizabeth Wright
John Tunberg
Michael CarpinelliRangeland 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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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.
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