Ecological site R044AY502WA

F043AY518WA	Warm-Frigid, Xeric, Loamy Slopes, mixed ash surface (Douglas-Fir/Warm Dry Shrub) Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus This site occurs on hillslopes, mountain slopes, and terraces. They have loamy soil materials and lack a high water table. They do not have a distinct volcanic ash mantle and are very deep. Overstory species include Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca,and Pinus ponderosa. The understory is typified by Physocarpus malvaceus, Symphoricarpos albus, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Bromus vulgaris.
F043AY521WA	Warm-Frigid, Moist- Xeric Loamy Foothills/Mountainsides, ashy surface (Grand Fir Warm Dry Shrub) Abies grandis - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus Found on lower Hill slopes, mountain slopes and terraces. Textures are loamy and sites lack a high water table. The soil surface has a dsitinct layer of volcanic ash material. Overstory species include Abies grandis and Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca. The understory is typified by Physocarpus malvaceus,Symphoricarpos albus,Calamagrostis rubescens,and Hieracium albiflorum.
F043AY512WA	Warm, Xeric, Loamy Mountainsides, ashy surface (Ponderosa Pine/Dry Grass) Pinus ponderosa / Pseudoroegneria spicata , Pinus ponderosa / Festuca idahoensis This site occurs on very poorly and poorly drained loamy mineral soils in drainageways with a water table within 20 inches of the surface. Site vegetation is dominated by a mix of wetland adapted species including Alnus incana,Salix,Deschampsia cespitosa, and Carex

R044AY501WA	Mesic, Aquic, Organic Depressions and Seeps Found on floodplains and seeps at lower, warmer elevations. Confined to depressions and other areas of water accumulation; water table at 0 to 6 inches with mucky surface texture. Site vegetation is dominated by a mix of wetland adapted species including Spiraea, Alnus viridis , Carex, and Sphagnum
R043AY510ID	Poorly Drained Floodplains 23-25" PZ Mesic Columbia-Colville Valleys Found on floodplains and in drainageways. Water table within 30 inches of the surface for some time during spring and summer. They have loamy surface textures. Found in locations where MLRA 44A transitions to MLRA 43A at valley margins and upper reaches. Site vegetation is typified by Carex and Calamagrostis stricta.

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Calamagrostis canadensis (2) Galium trifidum

Landforms	(1) Valley > Drainageway
Elevation	2100 – 0 ft
Slope	0 – 4 %
Water table depth	22 – 0 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Elevation	1855 – 2395 ft
Slope	0 – 10 %
Water table depth	20 – 30 in

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	120-130 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	20-20 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	120-130 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)
Precipitation total (actual range)	20-30 in

Parent material	(1) Volcanic ash (2) Loess (3) Alluvium
Surface texture	(1) Ashy loam
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Depth to restrictive layer	Not specified
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	7 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-60in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-60in)	Not specified
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-60in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-60in)	6.7
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (10-60in)	0 – 2 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (10-60in)	Not specified

Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Depth to restrictive layer	0 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	0 %
Surface fragment cover >3"	0 %
Available water capacity (0-40in)	3.9 – 7 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-60in)	0 %
Electrical conductivity (0-60in)	0 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-60in)	0
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-60in)	6.1 – 7.8
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (10-60in)	0 – 60 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (10-60in)	0 – 15 %

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	06/26/2026
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:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R044AY502WA

Warm-frigid, Aquic-Xeric, Loamy, Flood Plains (Grass/Sedge) Semi-wet Meadow

Last updated: 9/07/2023 Accessed: 06/26/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Warm-frigid, Aquic-Xeric, Loamy, Flood Plains (Grass/Sedge)
Semi-wet Meadow

Last updated: 9/07/2023
Accessed: 06/26/2026