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Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site is on level to gently rolling slopes, located on valley and mesa tops. This site occurs on all exposures. Elevation ranges from 4500 to 6000 feet (1362 to 1818 meters).
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mesa
Elevation 4500 – 6000 ft Slope 3 – 12 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate is arid, with wide yearly and seasonal variations in moisture patterns. There are occasionally gully washers. The annual precipitation is 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm), of which about 35% falls during November through March. Major native plants make their main growth from mid-March to mid-May. There is sometimes fall growth from late summer rains. The mean annual temperature is about 52ºF (11ºC), and about 34ºF (1ºC) from the winter, and 59ºF (15ºC) through the growing season, March through October. Summer temperatures occasionally reach 102º (39ºC) or more. The frost free period is generally 150 days or more. April and May are usually windy. The average annual moisture deficit is high, more than 51 inches (127 cm).
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 0 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 in BarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
None
Soil features
The soils of this site are shallow and well drained. Typically the surface layer is a brown, sandy loam. The underlying layer is brown sandy loam. Hard bedrock, usually sandstone, is at a depth of less than 20 inches (50 cm).
These soils are on the edge of mesa tops and high benches. They formed in calcareous loamy material derived from a mixture of loess and locally transported residuum. Reaction is mildly to strongly alkaline. Permeability is moderately rapid and available water holding capacity is low. Effective rooting depth is less than 20 inches (50 cm). Rock fragments range from 0 to 35 percent by volume. Surface runoff is medium and the water erosion hazard is moderate.
Major soils associated with the site are:
Farb sandy loam 3 to 12% slope.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Soil depth 0 – 20 in Ecological dynamics
The plant community is about 75-85 percent grasses, 4-10 percent forbs, 20-30 percent shrubs air-dry weight. This site has a scattering of juniper trees. New Mexico feathergrass, Indian ricegrass, saline wildrye, and galleta dominate the grass species in the plant community making up 70-80 percent of the total annual production in grasses for this site. Red threeawn and bottlebrush squirreltail are the sub-dominant grass species. Many forbs and shrubs enhance the wildlife values and add color to this site in early spring.
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 Community (HCPC)Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC)If ecological retrogression is cattle induced, desirable grass species will decrease. However, if retrogression is sheep or goat induced, desirable forbs, shrubs and grasses will be reduced. Deterioration of the site caused by the over grazing by cattle will decrease New Mexico feathergrass, Indian ricegrass, saline wildrye, galleta and bottlebrush squirreltail. Further deterioration by over grazing will increase, red threeawn, datil yucca, basin big sagebrush, broom snakeweed, and plains pricklypear cactus. With severe depletion of the natural grasses, species such as cheatgrass and Russian thistle will invade the site along with other annuals.
Vegetation density 1/ is approximately 8 to 12 percent.
1/ Vegetation density=basal area. This is the area of ground surface covered by the perennial stem or stems. Usually, this is measured 1 inch (2.54 cm) above the soil in contrast with the full spread of perennial foliage.
Figure 3. 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 185 230 300 Shrub/Vine 75 140 205 Forb 15 30 45 Total 275 400 550 Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Grasses 160–300 New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 80–100 – saline wildrye LESA4 Leymus salinus 80–100 – James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 60–80 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 60–80 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 20–40 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–20 – Forb2 Forbs 20–40 white princesplume STAL2 Stanleya albescens 10–15 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–10 – Shrub/Vine3 Shrubs 80–200 basin big sagebrush ARTRT Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata 20–40 – shadscale saltbush ATCO Atriplex confertifolia 20–40 – mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 20–40 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 10–20 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 10–20 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 10–20 – Mexican cliffrose PUME Purshia mexicana 0–15 – desert princesplume STPI Stanleya pinnata 0–10 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 0–10 – plains pricklypear OPPO Opuntia polyacantha 0–10 – mountain ball cactus PESI Pediocactus simpsonii 0–10 – Interpretations
Animal community
INTERPRETATIONS FOR GRAZING ANIMALS
This site provides some spring and early summer forage for sheep, cattle, horses, and small mammals.
This range site is very fragile and cannot withstand very much grazing pressure. Grazing of any significance will almost completely remove New Mexico feathergrass, Indian ricegrass, saline wildrye, and galleta from the plant community, leaving the unpalatable species for grazing.
Vegetative palatability will influence proper use considerations. The season, kind of animal, past grazing use, and associated plant species will directly influence the variation in animal preference for forages under various conditions of this range site.
Annual production:
If the range is in excellent condition, the approximate total annual production (air-dry) ranges are:
Favorable years 550 pounds/Ac (623 Kg/ha)
Normal years 400 pounds/Ac (453 Kg/ha)
Unfavorable years 275 pounds/Ac (300 Kg/ha)
Of this production, 20 to 25 percent will likely be unpalatable or out of reach of grazing animals.
GUIDE TO INITIAL STOCKING RANGES 2/
Condition Percent Climax
Class Vegetation Ha/AUM AUM/HA AUM/Ac Ac/AUM
Excellent 76-100 3.1-4.0 .32-.20 .13-.07 8-11
Good 51-75 5.0-7.0 .21-.12 .08-.06 12-12
Fair 26-50 8.0-12.0 .13-.07 .05-.02 16-33
Poor 0-25 13.0> .08< .03< 34>
2/ Stocking rates are based on an average growing season. Based on 1200 lbs (540 Kg) of forage (air-dry) per animal unit month (AUM). (This figure takes into account the vegetation that disappears through trampling, small herbivores, etc, which amounts to approximately 7.9 lbs (3.6 Kg) per day under normal conditions).
INTERPRETATIONS FOR WILDLIFE
This site has very little potential for wildlife habitat, because of the lack of available water through most of the year. This site provides a small amount of habitat at least part of the year for jack rabbits, upland game birds, non-game birds, small mammals, and reptiles.
Hydrological functions
Soils in this site are grouped into “D” hydrologic group, as outlined in the “Soils of Colorado, Loss Factors and Erodibility Hydrologic Groupings, 1979” handbook. Field investigations are needed to determine hydrological cover conditions and hydrologic curve numbers. The hydrologic curve number of group “D” soil is about 80 when hydrologic conditions are good, as shown in “Peak Flows in Colorado” handbook.
Refer to SCS National Engineering Handbook, Section 4, to determine runoff quantities from the curves.
Recreational uses
RECREATION AND NATURAL BEAUTY:
This site has many forbs and some shrubs that bloom in the early spring which are aesthetically pleasing. There is very little hunting or recreation on this site because of the lack of water.
Wood products
None
Other information
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED PLANTS AND ANIMALS:
The Mesa Verde cactus, Sclerocactus mesa-verdae, may inhabit this site.
MAJOR POISONOUS PLANTS TO LIVESTOCK
Broom snakeweed is poisonous to cattle and sheep. It is a cumulative poison. Selenium is the poisonous principle and causes problems when growing on cretaceous or eocene shales. Causes abortion or weak underweight calves too. Problems occur when forage is scarce and broom snakeweed makes up greater than 10% of the diet.
Effects on animals
Poisoning is not common but will occur on overgrazed ranges. Broom snakeweed causes abortion in cattle or may produce weak underweight calves. Losses are sporadic and will occur when 10 to 20 percent of the body weight of green material is consumed in ½ to 20 weeks.
Desert princesplume can be poisonous to horses, cattle, and sheep. The type of poisoning cumulative to acute on high selenium soils. Poisoning occurs in early spring when forage is scarce.
Effects on animals
Selenium is the toxic principle. Not a common problem since plant is highly unpalatable. Good indicator of seleiferous soils. Plants that grow on Cretaceous or Eocene shale soils bearing selenium may affect animals. When plants are crushed in the hand, a sulfurous odor is given off.
Poisoning is cumulative. Poisoning can cause alkali disease (the chronic disease) which develops from eating small amounts of selenium-bearing vegetation over an extensive period of time or poisoning can cause blind staggers (the acute disease) which results from feeding on relatively large amounts of selenium in a short time. In acute causes of selenium poisoning, animals walk aimlessly into objects. “Blind staggers” or alkali disease are names given for the disease. Hoofs grow abnormally with the formation of deep rings. The hair falls out, especially the mane and tail of horses. Recovery of animals affected may take several months or years, even after being placed on good forage.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Montezuma County, CO General legal description Hamilton, 1 mile southeast of Ismay Trading Post, western Montezuma county. 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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