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Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA108AZ
Clayey Slopes
12-16" p.z.
Last updated: 5/07/2020
Accessed: 09/23/2026
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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): 038X–Mogollon Transition South
AZ 38.1 – Lower Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 3000 to 4500 feet and precipitation averages 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes canotia, one-seed juniper, mesquite, catclaw acacia, jojoba, turbinella oak, ratany, shrubby buckwheat, algerita, skunkbush, tobosa, vine mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, grama species, curly mesquite, desert needlegrass and New Mexico feathergrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This unit occurs within the Transition Zone Physiographic Province and is characterized by canyons and structural troughs or valleys. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock classes occur on rough mountainous terrain in association with less extensive sediment filled valleys exhibiting little integrated drainage.Associated sites
R038XA103AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
R038XA106AZ Limy Upland 12-16" p.z.
R038XA126AZ Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R040XA103AZ Clayey Slopes 10"-13" p.z.
R041XB216AZ Clayey Slopes 8-12" p.z.
R041XC303AZ Clayey Slopes 12-16" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) simmondsia chinensis
(2) calliandra eriophyllaHerbaceous (1) Pleuraphis mutica
(2) Hilaria belangeriPhysiographic features
This site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. It occurs in an upland position; on steep hill slopes and ridges.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Scarp slope
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Elevation 3100 – 4600 ft Slope 15 – 45 % Aspect N, E, S Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 12 to 16 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the northwest part of the area to 50/50% in the southeast part. Summer rains fall July through September; are from high-intensity, convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from a trace to 10 inches per year and can occur from November through March. Snow seldom persists for more than a day except on north aspects. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 59 to 70 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the high 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April, usually during the night or early morning hours. The actual precipitation, available moisture and temperature vary, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 230 days Freeze-free period (average) 290 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are moderately deep to deep (30-60 inches) and dark colored in the surface (6-12 inches). They are clayey textured, gravelly and well drained. They have formed in alluvium and colluvium from a variety of parent materials. Soil surfaces are well covered by gravels, cobbles and/or stones. The erosion hazard is moderate due to gravel, cobble and rock covers and clayey textures. Soils mapped to date on this site include: SSA-627 Mohave County Southern Part MU Wagonbow-41; SSA-637 Yavapai County Western Part MU's ARP-ArD & AwE, Gaddesl-GwD, Jacks-JaD, Lonti-LkD, LnF, LoD & LrD, Thunderbird-TdE & VtE; SSA-663 Gila-Duncan Area MU Aravaipa-3; SSA-675 San Carlos Indian Reservation MU's Eloma-595 & Ryallen-505.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Very gravelly loam
(3) Very gravelly clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to slow Soil depth 30 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 35 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 1 – 15 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 6.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)1 – 15 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7 – 8.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)35 – 55 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is dominated by tobosa and other perennial warm season grasses with a mixture of desert shrubs, half shrubs, succulents and forbs. This includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) and helped to maintain a balance between grasses and shrubs. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable grasses, half shrubs and suffrutescent forbs on this site. The lack of fire for very long periods can lead to increases in large shrubs/succulents like prickly pear, and whitethorn acacia. Trees like juniper, mesquite and canotia can increase as well. In some situations non-native annuals can dominate the site. These species can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species. Non-native annuals can act to increase the fire frequency of areas of the site near roads and urban areas, where the incidence of man-made fires is high.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. MLRA 39 (17-22"), Meadow
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 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Native Midgrass StateCommunity 1.1
Historic Native Plant CommunityThe historic native plant community is dominated by tobosa and other warm season perennial grasses with a mixture of desert shrubs, half-shrubs, suffrutescent forbs and succulents. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community.
Natural fires, which burned at moderate intervals in this region, helped to maintain a balance between perennial grasses and shrubs.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)Grass/Grasslike 320 600 880 Shrub/Vine 35 150 305 Forb 7 50 190 Tree 0 15 75 Total 362 815 1450 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-10% Grass/grasslike basal cover 10-10% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-10% Litter 20-70% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 40-60% Surface fragments >3" 0-20% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 10-40% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 1-5% 1-10% 0-10% >0.5 <= 1 – 2-10% 5-10% 1-15% >1 <= 2 – 1-2% 10-20% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 1-5% 0-5% 0-2% >4.5 <= 13 0-5% 0-2% – – >13 <= 40 0-2% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811 , 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
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 1 7 15 20 22 20 10 5 0 0 State 2
Short Grass StateCommunity 2.1
Short Grass Plant Community
Tobosa is removed from the plant community over time due to the interactions of fire, continuous grazing and drought. When the canopy cover of tobosa drops below 5% and the distribution of that cover is poor (clumped) then tobosa will not be able to recover on the site. Short grasses; especially curly mesquite and including slender and hairy grama will dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community. These species fluctuate widely from drought to wet years.
State 3
Exotic Annual Invaded StateCommunity 3.1
Exotic Annual Invaded Plant CommunityNon-native annual grasses like red brome, wild oats, mediterranean grass (schismus) and cheatgrass can invade and dominate areas of the site. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs. Their presence can increase the fire frequency (of man made fires) especially where roads and urban areas are adjacent to areas of the site. Repeated fires tend to remove the native shrub, grass and forb canopy.
State 4
Shrub Increased StateCommunity 4.1
Shrub Increased Plant CommunityIn the absence of fire for long periods of time and with continuous grazing, shrubs like mesquite and whitethorn acacia and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the plant community. Trees including oneseed and redberry juniper and canotia can increase also. Perennial grasses and forbs cannot recover in the face of increased shrub competition.
State 5
Eroded StateCommunity 5.1
Eroded Plant CommunityShrubs like mesquite and whitethorn acacia; trees like juniper and canotia; and succulents like prickly pear and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site. Non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years herbaceous fuels are sufficient for burning and repeat fires are especially common in areas close to residential zones and roads. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes.
Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated sheet and rill erosion under these circumstances.Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant perennial grasses 300–600 tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 250–500 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–100 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 50–100 – 2 Cool season grasses 1–30 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 1–20 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–20 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–5 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 10–100 curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 30–150 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–50 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–50 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–20 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–15 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–15 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0–15 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–15 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 0–15 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 0–10 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–10 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–5 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 0–5 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–5 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–5 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–2 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0–2 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–1 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–1 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 2–150 sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 1–50 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–25 – small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–20 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–20 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–15 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–15 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–10 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–10 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–5 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–5 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–2 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–2 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–1 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–1 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–1 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–1 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–1 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 5–40 desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–10 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–5 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–5 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 1–5 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–5 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–2 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1–2 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–2 – Gila manroot MAGI Marah gilensis 0–2 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0–2 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–1 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–1 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–1 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–1 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–1 – desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0–1 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–1 – leatherweed CRPO5 Croton pottsii 0–1 – Gregg's prairie clover DAGR2 Dalea greggii 0–1 – Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 0–1 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–1 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–1 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana 0–1 – Oak Creek ragwort PAQU8 Packera quercetorum 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–1 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–1 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–1 – glandleaf milkwort POMA7 Polygala macradenia 0–1 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–1 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–1 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–1 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–1 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 2–150 California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–50 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 1–25 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–15 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–15 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–15 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–15 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–10 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–10 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–10 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–10 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–10 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–5 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–5 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–5 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–5 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–5 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–5 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–5 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–5 – hyssopleaf sandmat CHHY3 Chamaesyce hyssopifolia 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–2 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–2 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–2 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–2 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–1 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–1 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–1 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–1 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–1 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–1 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–1 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–1 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–1 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–1 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–1 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–1 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 10–100 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 1–50 – jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 1–50 – longleaf jointfir EPTR Ephedra trifurca 0–5 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–2 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–2 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–1 – 8 Miscellaneous large shrubs 2–25 whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 1–10 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 1–5 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–2 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–2 – yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 0–1 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–1 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–1 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–1 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–1 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–1 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–1 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 0–1 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–1 – whitethorn acacia ACCOP9 Acacia constricta var. paucispina 0–1 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 15–100 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 10–60 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 1–15 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–10 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–10 – prairie acacia ACAN Acacia angustissima 0–2 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–1 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–55 cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 5–20 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–10 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–10 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–5 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–2 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–2 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–2 – Palmer's century plant AGPA3 Agave palmeri 0–2 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–2 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–1 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–1 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECBO2 Echinocereus bonkerae 0–1 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–1 – devil's cholla GRKU Grusonia kunzei 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–1 – purple pricklypear OPMA8 Opuntia macrocentra 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 2–25 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 2–20 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–2 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 0–75 crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–15 – redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–15 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–15 – Utah juniper JUOS Juniperus osteosperma 0–15 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–1 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–1 – Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing year round, and is easily traversed by livestock. Livestock grazing use is concentrated on south slopes and ridge-tops. North aspects are not grazed until southern aspects are over-used. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water.
The site has good habitat diversity for a variety of desert wildlife species. It is home mainly to small mammals and birds and their associated predators. It is a foraging area for larger mammals like deer and javalina. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.Hydrological functions
This site has rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels and stones, which act to hold water on the site. Due to clayey textured soils it is a good producer of runoff. It produces exceptional runoff when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, fossil hunting, photography.
Wood products
Limited fuel-wood for campfires and branding fires. In areas where juniper has increased there may be more wood available for fuel and for fence stays.
Other products
There is some harvest of food plants like prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts, wild onions and grass nuts. There is limited harvest of medicinal plants like mormon tea. There is limited harvest of fibers from banana yucca and skunkbush sumac. Clay for pot making.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Graham County, AZ Township/Range/Section T8S R21E S11 General legal description Eureka Springs Ranch, 3/4 mile from water at Kennedy Falls Springs. East exposure at 4600 feet elevation. Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. EllicottApproval
Scott Woodall, 5/07/2020
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 09/23/2026 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):
-
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:
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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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