Ecological site R044BP812MT

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Symphoricarpos albus (2) Tetradymia canescens
Herbaceous	(1) Pseudoroegneria spicata (2) Festuca campestris

Landforms	(1) Valley > Fan remnant (2) Valley > Escarpment
Elevation	3800 – 6850 ft
Slope	0 – 45 %

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	20-80 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	60-110 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	10-20 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	10-90 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	30-130 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	10-20 in
Frost-free period (average)	50 days
Freeze-free period (average)	90 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Parent material	(1) Alluvium (2) Colluvium
Depth to restrictive layer	20 – 0 in

Ecological dynamics

1.1 Mid-statured bunchgrasses dominant plant type. Bluebunch tends to be the most common however limited Rough fescue or Spike fescue possible. Minor component of mat forming forbs growing between rocks with shortgrasses being equal to forbs. Non-sagebrush shrubs common; including Grey horsebrush, Skunkbush sumac, Gooseberry, Creeping Juniper, Rocky Mtn Juniper, and/or Common Juniper. Extremely limited tree cover such as Ponderosa pine and/or Douglas fir possible
1.1a Plant community experiences long term drought, wildfire (low intensity), untimely grazing event
1.2 Mid-statured bunchgrasses share dominance with short bunchgrasses. Shrubs increases as well as forbs likely to increase. Limited tree cover may exist.
1.2a Plant community receives timely moisture and has an opportunity to rest from disturbance

2.1 Shortgrasses take over dominance with shrubs and forbs as a subdominant plant groups. Mid-statured bunchgrasses rare. Tree presence likely rare
T1A Catastrophic fire (extremely rare), multiple overgrazing events, long term drought, climate change
R1A Time and timely moisture, proper grazing management, brush management

3.1 Site becomes invaded with invasive forbs and grasses. Tree encroachment also often occurs.
T1B Overgrazing, Catastrophic fire, introduction of invasive species
R3A Removal of invasive species (if possible), proper grazing management, time
T2B Overgrazing, Catastrophic fire, introduction of invasive species
R3B Removal of invasive species (if possible), proper grazing management, time

State and transition model

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Additional community tables

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

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 R044BP812MT

Shallow Shrubland

Last updated: 8/26/2019 Accessed: 06/01/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

Ecological site concept

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 8/26/2019
Accessed: 06/01/2026