Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R047XA432UT
Mountain Loam
(oak)
Last updated: 2/05/2025
Accessed: 08/21/2026
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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): 047X–Wasatch and Uinta Mountains
MLRA 47 occurs in Utah (86 percent), Wyoming (8 percent), Colorado (4 percent), and Idaho (2 percent). It encompasses approximately 23,825 square miles (61,740 square kilometers). The northern half of this area is in the Middle Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System. The southern half is in the High Plateaus of the Utah Section of the Colorado Plateaus Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. Parts of the western edge of this MLRA are in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. The MLRA includes the Wasatch Mountains, which trend north and south, and the Uinta Mountains, which trend east and west. The steeply sloping, precipitous Wasatch Mountains have narrow crests and deep valleys. Active faulting and erosion are a dominant force in controlling the geomorphology of the area. The Uinta Mountains have a broad, gently arching, elongated shape. Structurally, they consist of a broadly folded anticline that has an erosion-resistant quartzite core. The Wasatch and Uinta Mountains have an elevation of 4,900 to about 13,500 feet (1,495 to 4,115 meters).
The mountains in this area are primarily fault blocks that have been tilted up. Alluvial fans at the base of the mountains are recharge zones for the basin fill aquifers. An ancient shoreline of historic Bonneville Lake is evident on the footslopes along the western edge of the area. Rocks exposed in the mountains are mostly Mesozoic and Paleozoic sediments, but Precambrian rocks are exposed in the Uinta Mountains. The Uinta Mountains are one of the few ranges in the United States that are oriented west to east. The southern Wasatch Mountains consist of Tertiary volcanic rocks occurring as extrusive lava and intrusive crystalline rocks.
The average precipitation is from 8 to 16 inches (203 to 406 mm) in the valleys and can range up to 73 inches (1854 mm) in the mountains. In the northern and western portions of the MLRA, peak precipitation occurs in the winter months. The southern and eastern portions have a greater incidence of high-intensity summer thunderstorms; hence, a significant amount of precipitation occurs during the summer months. The average annual temperature is 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 15 C). The freeze-free period averages 140 days and ranges from 60 to 220 days, generally decreasing in length with elevation.
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, and Mollisols. The lower elevations are dominated by a frigid temperature regime, while the higher elevations experience cryic temperature regimes. Mesic temperature regimes come in on the lower elevations and south facing slopes in the southern portion of this MLRA. The soil moisture regime is typically xeric in the northern part of the MLRA, but grades to ustic in the extreme eastern and southern parts. The minerology is generally mixed and the soils are very shallow to very deep, generally well drained, and loamy or loamy –skeletal.LRU notes
Major Land Resource Unit 47A is located in the northern half of the Middle Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System. This MLRA includes the Wasatch Mountains which tend to run north and south. These steeply sloping, precipitous mountains have narrow crests and deep valleys. They are primarily fault blocks that have been tilted up. The alluvial fans located at the base of these mountains are important recharge zones for valley aquifers.
Ecological site concept
The soils in this site are moderately deep and deep, well-drained, and have dark colored surface layers. They are underlain by medium to fine textured layers that may contain gravel and cobble. Some soils may have lime layers below about 36 inches, but the overlying soil is usually non-calcareous. They formed on gently sloping to very steep mountain slopes and hilly plateaus in materials weathered from sandstone, shale, limestone, quartzite, and igneous rocks. Intake rate is moderate and water movement through the soil is moderate to slow. Roots penetrate the soil readily. These soils have a high water-holding capacity that ranges from about 5 to 7 inches in a 40 inch profile. Rock fragments are variable throughout the profile, but average less than 30 percent by volume. Stone or cobble may occur as a surface mantle. Under proper management, these soils have little surface runoff and light or no erosion.
Associated sites
R047XA406UT Mountain Gravelly Loam (mountain big sagebrush)
R047XA448UT Mountain Shallow Loam (oak)
R047XA471UT Mountain Very Steep Stony Loam (oak)
R047XA430UT Mountain Loam (mountain big sagebrush)
R047XA430UT is the Mountain loam (Mountain big sagebrush) site. It is often found in a mosaic with this site. Gambel oak rarely propagates from seed in its northern ranges, and mountain big sagebrush cannot invade an oak stand. The result is a sharp mosaic of oak and sagebrush sites that changes very slowly if at all.
Similar sites
R047XA410UT Mountain Gravelly Loam (oak)
R047XA410UT is the Mountain gravelly loam (Gambel oak) site. It produces smaller trees and more grass, and typically has a greater amount of annual production than this site.
R047XA418UT Mountain Loam (bigtooth maple)
R047XA448UT Mountain Shallow Loam (oak)
R047XA463UT Mountain Stony Loam (Gambel oak)
R047XA471UT Mountain Very Steep Stony Loam (oak)
R047XA473UT Mountain Very Steep Stony Loam (browse)
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Quercus gambelii
(2) Symphoricarpos oreophilusHerbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on gentle to steep mountain slopes, fan remnants, and swales. It is commonly found on slopes ranging from 15 to 60 percent, but can also be found on gently sloping washes and toeslopes. The elevation ranges from 5,400 and 8,400 feet and run-off is typically high to very-high.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Mountain
(3) Fan remnant
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 5400 – 8400 ft Slope 15 – 60 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate of this site is characterized by cold snowy winters and cool dry summers. The average annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 27 inches with about 60 percent of the moisture coming between October and March while the plants are dormant. Plants depend on winter and early spring moisture for most of their annual production. Limited precipitation and increased rates of evapotranspiration from June through September slows plant growth and causes dormancy in many of the grass and forb species.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 130 days Freeze-free period (average) 160 days Precipitation total (average) 30 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Due to its landscape position, this ecological site is not typically influenced by streams or wetlands.
Wetland description
N/A
Soil features
The soils in this site are moderately deep and deep, well-drained, and have dark colored surface layers. They are underlain by medium to fine textured layers that may contain gravel and cobble. Some soils may have lime layers below about 36 inches, but the overlying soil is usually non-calcareous. They formed on gently sloping to very steep mountain slopes and hilly plateaus in materials weathered from sandstone, shale, limestone, quartzite, and igneous rocks. Intake rate is moderate and water movement through the soil is moderate to slow. Roots penetrate the soil readily. These soils have a high water-holding capacity that ranges from about 5 to 7 inches in a 40 inch profile. Rock fragments are variable throughout the profile, but average less than 30 percent by volume. Stone or cobble may occur as a surface mantle. Under proper management, these soils have little surface runoff and light or no erosion.
Major Soils Associated With This Site:
Soil Survey Area: Typical Soil Component (and Map Unit)
Morgan Area (UT609): Bertag (BcE); Charcoal (LmG); Cloud Rim (CnG); Henefer (HeD, HeG); Morgala (MoG, MrG); Norcan (NtG); Ostler (OaG, OcG, ODG); Schuster (ScG)
Salt Lake Area (UT612): Deer Creek (DCG, DGG); Harkers (HDF, HGG, HHF, HKF); Henefer (HKF, HNF)
Summit Area (UT613): Hades (132, 133, 136, 137, 138, 141, 146)
Carbon Area (UT616): Dantino Variant (88)
Heber Valley Area (UT622): Broadhead (BOE, BPC, BPD, BPE, BPF, BTC, BTD, BTE, BTF, HWC, HWE); Cloud Rim (CMD, CME, CNF); Deer Creek (DcA, DcC, DWC, DWD, WNC, WND); Manila (MaB, MaC, MaD)
Sanpete Valley Area (UT627): Ant Flat (AHE2); Deer Creek (DED, DEE, DEF); Harkers (HED, HKE); Manila (MbC); Sedwell (LNE); Tingey (TGG, TGH)
Sevier County (UT628): Vicking (VPF)Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Gravelly loam
(3) Stony silt loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderate Soil depth 40 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 5 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 20 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 7 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.1 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)4 – 25 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
Ecological Dynamics of the Site
This site is characterized by Gambel oak dominance with perennial bunchgrasses and forbs in the interspaces. Historically, wildfires rejuvenated aging oak stands every 40 to 80 years on this site. Gambel oak resprouts vigorously after fire and oak stem density decreases steadily as time without wildfire increases. On higher elevation sites, mature oak can be invaded by juniper or Douglas fir. These resinous conifers increase the likelihood of wildfire which removes the invaders and resets the Oak to vigorous resprouting and site dominance.
Reference State (State 1)
The Reference State for the Mountain Loam (oak) site was determined by study of relic areas that have been protected from altered disturbance regimes and are considered to be representative of the Historic Climax Plant Community. Literature reviews, trends in plant community dynamics, and historical accounts are also considered.
State 1, the reference state, represents the historic plant communities of the mountain loam (oak) site and the naturally occurring dynamics associated with those communities. This state includes all known biotic communities that would exist under natural disturbance regimes and current climatic conditions. The dominant overstory species is Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) with the understory dominated by the perennial bunchgrasses slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Elymus spicata). The plant communities in State 1 are naturally resistant to disturbance and resilient following disturbance due to favorable amounts of precipitation and the ability of Gambel oak to resprout following disturbance. Wildfire is the predominant disturbance affecting ecological processes and is the primary factor driving plant community change in this state. The common fire return interval is 35 to 100 years and plant recovery following a wildfire is rapid, often with Gambel oak resprouting within the same growing season.
Community Phase 1.1 Gambel oak / Perennial Bunchgrasses
This plant community consists of mature Gambel oak trees that dominate the overstory and slender wheatgrass and/or bluebunch wheatgrass that dominate the understory. Mountain brome, Geyer sedge, as well as other cool season grasses may be present. Common shrubs and forbs are mountain snowberry, Saskatoon serviceberry, thickleaf peavine, and a suite of other species adapted to grow either in the interspaces or under the canopy of Gambel oak stands. Bare ground is not common and no non-native plants are present.
Community Pathways
1.1a Wildfire --This pathway often occurs late in the growing season when precipitation is low and fuel load is at its peak. Gambel oak is at peak underground carbohydrate storage around this time of year, which provides the energy needed for resprouting.
1.1b No Fire --This pathway is a subsequent step in natural succession that occurs when fire free periods approach their upper limits and allow fire sensitive species to encroach into Gambel oak sites.
Community Phase 1.2 Post-fire Community / Resprouting Gambel oak Thicket
This plant community consists of young Gambel oak shoots that are beginning to reestablish following a wildfire. Burned trunks will usually be visible above the new growth. The Gambel oak suckers often form dense thickets of foliage up to several feet in height which effectively intercept sunlight and crowd out potential invaders. Given adequate recovery time of a few months to a year, the interspaces will exhibit native buchgrasses and forbs, but few shrubs.
Community Pathways
1.2a Natural Succession—As the post-fire community ages, Gambel oak becomes less dominant near the soil surface, but maintains its dominance in the canopy. Perennial grasses become more robust and the plant community becomes more diverse with the establishment of shrubs and shade sensitive species.
Community Phase 1.3 Encroachment by Other Tree Species
This plant community is comparable in composition to community 1.1 with the addition of fire sensitive tree species such as Rocky mountain Douglas fir, canyon maple, and/or white fir. The percent composition of these tree species is relatively low (3 to 5 percent).
Community Pathways
1.3a Wildfire-- This pathway often occurs late in the growing season when precipitation is low and fuel load is at its peak. Gambel oak also is at peak carbohydrate storage around this time of year, an adaptation which provides the energy needed to resprout and maintain its niche.
Transition 1-- Invasive Plants
Transition from Reference State (State 1) to current Potential State (State 2)
This transition occurs when non-native or invasive species become established in the plant community. Common invasive species include dalmatian toadflax, annual forbs, dandelion, houndstongue, rubber rabbitbrush, broom snakeweed, and cheatgrass. Intermediate wheatgrass, smooth brome, and Kentucky bluegrass may also spread into the site. Events that may facilitate the establishment of non-native plants are wildfire, introduction of livestock, seeding, and recreation.
Current Potential State (State 2)
State 2 is very similar to State 1 in form and function, with the exception of the presence of non-native plants and animals, possible extinctions of native species, and a different climate. State 2 is a description of the ecological site shortly following Euro-American settlement.
Community Phase 2.1 Gambel oak / Slender wheatgrass
The composition of Plant Community Phase 2.1 is 10 to 20 percent grasses, 0 to15 percent forbs and 80 to 90 percent shrubs by air-dry weight. After a fire, Gambel oak sprouts vigorously and suppresses perennial grass and forb production. Non-native species are present, but not dominant.
Community Pathways
2.1a Wildfire -- This pathway often occurs late in the growing season when precipitation is low and fuel load is at its peak. Gambel oak is at peak underground carbohydrate storage around this time of year, which provides the energy needed for resprouting.
2.1b No Fire -- This pathway is a subsequent step in natural succession that occurs when fire free periods approach their upper limits and allow fire sensitive species to encroach into Gambel oak sites.
2.1c Prescribed Fire and Re-seed – This pathway occurs when land owners and/or land managers are attempting to improve the vigor of the native plant community.
2.1d Continuous Heavy Grazing – This pathway occurs when improper grazing continues for extended periods of time not allowing for native plants to recover, ultimately lowering the health and vigor of these plants to compete with available resources.
Community Phase 2.2 Resprouting Gambel oak thicket
Plant Community Phase 2.2 is comprised of 20 to 40 percent grasses, 10 to 25 percent forbs, and 50 to 70 percent shrubs. Gambel oak stem density is less than Phase 1.1, though oak production may be higher. Non-native species are present, but not dominant.
Community Pathways
2.2a Natural Succession on the site
Community Phase 2.3 Encroachment by other tree species
Phase 2.3 is characterized by encroachment of conifer species including Douglas fir, juniper and pinyon. Higher elevations of this ecological site are more susceptible to conifer encroachment. At lower elevations, this phase is characterized by decadent Gambel oak with patches of young sprouts. Gambel oak dies naturally around 80 years of age and promptly responds with vigorous young sprouts to replace the oak foliage. Native species are present, but not dominant
Community Pathways
2.3a Wildfire -- This pathway often occurs late in the growing season when precipitation is low and fuel load is at its peak. Gambel oak is at peak underground carbohydrate storage around this time of year, which provides the energy needed for resprouting.
2.3b Brush Management (Fire) and re-seeding – Utilization of techniques such as prescribed fire and range seeding can reduce composition of invading conifers as well as temporarily reduce competition from oak to allow for the herbaceous component to become established.
2.3c Continuous Heavy Grazing -- This pathway occurs when improper grazing continues for extended periods of time not allowing for native herbaceous plants and shrubs to recover, ultimately lowering the health and vigor of these plants to compete with available resources.
Community Phase 2.4 Seeded Gambel oak Woodland
Phase 2.4 is an aerial seeding following fire. Both native and non-native perennial grasses and forbs are included in most seed mixes. Under proper grazing, native grass and forb species can outcompete introduced species and dominate the understory within 5-10 years.
Community Pathways
2.4a Wildfire -- This pathway often occurs late in the growing season when precipitation is low and fuel load is at its peak. Gambel oak is at peak underground carbohydrate storage around this time of year, which provides the energy needed for resprouting.
2.4b Natural Succession/prescribed grazing – This pathway can occur through natural succession and prescribed grazing. Over time the oak will begin to be the dominant aspect on the site, and with proper grazing management the herbaceous understory and shrubs will maintain health and vigor on the site.
2.4c Continuous Heavy Grazing -- This pathway occurs when improper grazing continues for extended periods of time not allowing for native herbaceous plants and shrubs to recover, ultimately lowering the health and vigor of these plants to compete with available resources.
Community Phase 2.5 Overgrazed Gambel oak
Phase 2.5 displays a reduction in the herbaceous understory and/or shrub component do to improper grazing/browsing from livestock and/or wildlife.
Community Pathways
2.5a No Fire – lack of fire over time will allow other tree species to naturally encroach into the site.
2.5b Brush Management (Mechanical) and re-seeding -- utilization of techniques such as mechanical brush management and range seeding can reduce composition of oak to allow for the herbaceous component to become established.
2.5c Natural succession and prescribed grazing – practicing prescribed grazing over time will allow the herbaceous and shrub components to become established on this site.
Transition 2 Noxious Weed Invasion / Repeated Wildfires
Transition from State 2 to State 3
Transition 3 Prescribed Grazing (Goats)
Transition from State 2 to State 4
State 3 Noxious Weed State
State 3 is characterized by a dominance of non-native noxious weeds. The threshold has been crossed into State 3 and the dynamics of this site will likely prohibit the return back into State 2 without and extraordinary amount of external inputs.
Community Phase 3.1 Broadleaf weed dominates interspaces
Native herbaceous and/or shrubs have largely been replaced by prolific noxious weeds establishment which generally flourish in sites where there is a short fire return interval. This process makes it incredibly hard for native herbaceous species to become reestablished on the site. Gambel oak is able to remain on this site by utilizing available resources due to its extensive root system and its sprouting abilities following wildfire.
Community Pathway
3.1a Wildfire – The nature of this site with the abundance of noxious weeds/fine fuels shortens the fire return interval compared to the historic fire regime.
Community Phase 3.2 Weed co-dominant with resprouting Gambel oak
Following a wildfire, the herbaceous weed component and sprouting Gambel oak will dominate this site.
Community Pathway
3.2a Natural Succession – Due to the nature of this site, there is often a frequent fire return interval which will return this site back to Community Phase 3.1.
State 4: Herbaceous State:
Utilizing browsing animals such as goats, the threshold from State 2 is crossed in to this State. Browsing animals will shift the competitive advantage to the herbaceous component leaving the site devoid of Gambel oak and dominated by the herbaceous understory.
Community Phase 4.1 Devoid of Gambel oak
Gambel oak is absent from this phase. This community phase is dominated by herbaceous species.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateCommunity 1.1
Reference StateThe dominant aspect of the plant community is shrubs with Gambel oak being the primary species. The composition is approximately 25 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs, and 65 percent shrubs by average annual air-dry weight.
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)Shrub/Vine 780 900 1350 Grass/Grasslike 325 375 563 Forb 130 150 225 Total 1235 1425 2138 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 40-40% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 20-20% Forb foliar cover 10-10% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 0% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 0% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – – – >0.5 <= 1 – – – 9-11% >1 <= 2 – – 19-21% – >2 <= 4.5 – – – – >4.5 <= 13 – 39-41% – – >13 <= 40 – – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Shrub/Vine0 Dominant Shrubs 678–1074 Gambel oak QUGA Quercus gambelii 495–743 – mountain snowberry SYOR2 Symphoricarpos oreophilus 83–165 – Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 50–83 – creeping barberry MARE11 Mahonia repens 50–83 – 3 Sub-Dominant Shrubs 202–515 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB Shrub (>.5m) 83–165 – mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 17–50 – alderleaf mountain mahogany CEMO2 Cercocarpus montanus 17–50 – yellow rabbitbrush CHVIV4 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus var. viscidiflorus 17–50 – slender buckwheat ERMI4 Eriogonum microthecum 17–50 – chokecherry PRVI Prunus virginiana 17–50 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 17–50 – Woods' rose ROWO Rosa woodsii 17–50 – Grass/Grasslike0 Dominant Grasses 183–331 slender wheatgrass ELTR7 Elymus trachycaulus 83–165 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 50–83 – Geyer's sedge CAGE2 Carex geyeri 50–83 – 1 Sub-Dominant Grasses 336–830 Grass, annual 2GA Grass, annual 83–165 – Grass, perennial 2GP Grass, perennial 83–165 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 17–50 – Letterman's needlegrass ACLE9 Achnatherum lettermanii 17–50 – Columbia needlegrass ACNE9 Achnatherum nelsonii 17–50 – California brome BRCA5 Bromus carinatus 17–50 – blue wildrye ELGL Elymus glaucus 17–50 – sheep fescue FEOV Festuca ovina 17–50 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 17–50 – spike fescue LEKI2 Leucopoa kingii 17–50 – western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 17–50 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 17–50 – Forb0 Dominant Forbs 84–166 Nevada pea LALA3 Lathyrus lanszwertii 50–83 – sticky purple geranium GEVI2 Geranium viscosissimum 17–50 – Fendler's meadow-rue THFE Thalictrum fendleri 17–33 – 2 Sub-Dominant Forbs 355–421 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 50–83 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 50–83 – common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 17 – littleleaf pussytoes ANMI3 Antennaria microphylla 17 – silverleaf milkvetch ASAR4 Astragalus argophyllus 17 – heartleaf milkweed ASCO Asclepias cordifolia 17 – cutleaf balsamroot BAMA4 Balsamorhiza macrophylla 17 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 17 – showy goldeneye HEMU3 Heliomeris multiflora 17 – littleleaf alumroot HEPA11 Heuchera parvifolia 17 – oneflower helianthella HEUN Helianthella uniflora 17 – Gray's biscuitroot LOGR Lomatium grayi 17 – tailcup lupine LUCAC3 Lupinus caudatus ssp. caudatus 17 – feathery false lily of the valley MARAR Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum 17 – low beardtongue PEHU Penstemon humilis 17 – mule-ears WYAM Wyethia amplexicaulis 17 – Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides a good balance of nutritious forage when oak, perennial grasses, and forbs are all present. Sheep, cattle, and horses do well grazing during the spring, summer, and fall. Goats often prefer gambel oak and are capable of consuming over 50 percent oak in their diet. Tannic acid is present in all parts of oak plants and may become fatal to livestock when oak is the only source of available forage.
Gambel oak is a primary food and nesting resource for porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)in the winter. Squirrels, deer, and upland birds consume acorns during the fall and winter. This site is good habitat for chukars, quail, turkeys, songbirds, squirrels, snowshoe hares, cottontails, bobcat, coyotes, mule deer, and elk. It is fair habitat for golden eagle, hawks, cougars, bear, and small mammals.Hydrological functions
Soil series in this site are grouped into b and c hydrologic groups. They have moderately low to moderately high runoff potential. When the vegetation is in climax (potential), the hydrologic curves for the soils in b hydrologic group are 45 to 40 and those in c hydrologic group are 55 to 50. When range condition has declined from climax, field investigation is needed in order to determine hydrologic curve numbers.
Recreational uses
This site has aesthetic value and is excellent for hunting, hiking and horseback riding. A large number of forbs and shrubs are in bloom from early spring and throughout the summer and fall. Wildlife can often be viewed throughout the year. Shrubs offer screening for camping areas and picnicking.
This site is often used for hunting upland game birds, coyotes, snowshoe hares, elk and mule deer. Winter uses include snowshoeing, snowmobiling and skiing during a fairly long winter season. Other motorized recreation is dependent on road access.Wood products
Mature gambel oak stands can be harvested for fence posts, stays and firewood. Larger diameter logs are best for fencing materials, while smaller pieces are ideal for firewood. It is a moderately weather-resistant wood and extremely hard. However, when moist it tends to rot more quickly than other post materials. As a fuelwood, gambel oak is desirable because it gives off high amounts of heat and little smoke or soot. Though not used for lumber, gambel oak has some value for small wooden crafts. A harvested stand resprouts shortly thereafter and usually takes about 60 years to regenerate fully.
Other products
Natural products such as animal hides, shed antlers, wildflowers, butterflies, and stones can be harvested in small quantities from this site.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented here has been derived from NRCS clipping data and other inventory data. Field observations from range trained personnel were also used.
Other references
Alexander, R. R. 1985. Major habitat types, community types, and plant communities in the Rocky Mountains. USDA- Forest Service Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. General technical report RM-123. 105p.
Alexander 1988. Forest vegetation on National Forests in the Rocky Mountain and Intermountain Regions: Habitat types and community types. USDA- Forest Service Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. General technical report RM-162. 47p.
Galatowitsch, S.M. 1990. Using the original land survey notes to reconstruct pre-settlement landscapes in the American West. Great Basin Naturalist: 50(2): 181-191. Keywords: [Western U.S., conservation, history, human impact]
Parson, R. E. 1996. A History of Rich County. Utah State Historical Society, County Commission, Rich County, Utah. Keywords: [Rich County, Utah, Historic land use, European settlements]
UDWR, Utah Big Game Range Trend Studies. 2007. Available at: http://wildlife.utah.gov/range/statewide%20management%20units.htm. Accessed 5 February 2009.
USDA-NRCS. 2003. National Range and Pasture Handbook. in USDA, editor, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service-Grazing Lands Technology Institute. Keywords: [Western US, Federal guidelines, Range pasture management]
Western Regional Climate Center, Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries. Available at: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/Climsmut.html. Accessed 5 February 2009.
Web Soil Survey, Official Soil Series Descriptions. Available at: http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html. Accessed 20 February 2009.Contributors
Darryl Trickler
Jamin JohansonApproval
Kendra Moseley, 2/05/2025
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) V. Keith Wadman (NRCS Retired). Contact for lead author shane.green@ut.usda.gov Date 10/24/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None to Rare. Some minor rill development may occur on steeper slopes (> 20%) or on areas located below exposed bedrock or other water shedding areas where increased runoff may occur. Where these rills are present, they should be fairly short (3-6 feet), < 1 inch deep and somewhat widely spaced (4-8 feet). Minor rill development may be observed on all slopes following major thunderstorm or spring runoff events but should heal during the next growing season. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Rare. Some very minor evidence of water flow patterns may be found winding around perennial plant bases. They show little evidence of current erosion. They are expected to be short (3-6 feet), stable, sinuous and normally not connected. There may be very minor evidence of deposition. Evidence of water flow may increase somewhat in slopes > 20%. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Perennial vegetation shows little evidence of erosional pedestalling (1 to 2% of individual plants). Plant roots are covered and most litter remains in place around plant crowns. Terracettes should be absent or, if present, stable. A slight increase in both pedestal and terracette development may occur with increasing slope. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground ranges from 15% - 20%. Soil surface may be covered by 20 to 35% coarse fragments. Bare ground openings should not be greater than 1 foot in diameter and should normally not be connected. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None to Rare at site level. Scattered landscape level gully channels, however, are a normal component of basin/range environments. Where landscape gullies are present, they should be stable, partially vegetated on their sides and bottoms, with no evidence of head-cutting. Some slight increase in disturbance may be evident following significant weather events or when gullies convey considerable runoff from higher elevation rocky or naturally eroding areas. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. No evidence of wind generated soil movement is present. Wind caused blowouts and deposition are not present. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Most litter resides in place with some redistribution caused by water movement. Minor litter removal may occur in flow channels with deposition occurring within 1 to 2 feet at points of obstruction. The majority of litter accumulates at the base of plants. Some grass leaves and small twigs (grass stems) may accumulate in soil depressions adjacent to plants. Woody stems are not likely to move. However, some litter movement is expected (up to 6 feet) with increases in slopes >20% and/or increased runoff resulting from heavy thunderstorms. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
This site should have a soil stability rating of 5 or 6. Soil surface textures are typically loams, very fine sandy loams and silt loams. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
(Deer Creek) Soil surface 0-3 inches. Surface texture is a loam which may have an organic mat of partially decomposed leaves and twigs 1 inch deep on the surface; color is dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2); and structure is weak thick platy parting to weak fine granular. Mollic epipedon ranges to 14 inches. Use the specific information for the soil you are assessing found in the published soil survey to supplement this description. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial vegetation produces sufficient cover and spatial arrangement to intercept most raindrops and reduce raindrop splash erosion. Litter on soil surface and cryptogamic crusting, where present, also protects soil from splash erosion and encourages a higher rate of infiltration. Plant spatial distribution should slow runoff, allowing additional time for infiltration. Bare spaces are expected to be small and irregular in shape and are usually not connected. Vegetative structure is usually adequate to capture snow and ensure that snowmelt occurs in a controlled manner, allowing maximum time for infiltration, and reducing runoff and erosion in all but the most extreme storm events. When perennial grasses and shrubs decrease due to natural events including drought, insect damage, etc., which reduce ground cover and increase bare ground, runoff is expected to increase and associated infiltration reduced. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Some soils may have natural textural variability within their profiles, these should not be mistaken for a compaction pan. -
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:
Sprouting shrubs (Gambel oak, bitterbrush, Mountain snowberry) >> Rhizomatous grasses (slender wheatgrass) > Perennial bunchgrasses and grasslikes (bluebunch wheatgrass, Geyer sedge), = > Non-sprouting shrub (mountain big sagebrush)Sub-dominant:
Perennial forbs (thickleaf peavine).Other:
A wide variety of other perennial grasses and both perennial and annual forbs can be expected to occur in the plant community.Additional:
Natural disturbance regimes include fire, drought, and insects. Assumed fire cycle of 40 to 60+ years. Functional/structural groups may appropriately contain non-native species if their ecological function is the same as the native species in the reference. Following a disturbance such as fire, drought, rodents or insects that remove woody vegetation, forbs and perennial grasses (herbaceous species) may dominate the community for a period of time. If a disturbance has not occurred for an extended period of time, woody species may continue to increase. These conditions would reflect different functional community phases within the reference state. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Slight decadence in the principle shrubs could occur near the end of the fire cycle or during periods of extended drought, or insect infestations. In general, a mix of age classes should be expected with some dead and decadent plants present. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover will be heavier under plants. Most litter will be herbaceous and depths of 1 to 3 inches would be considered normal. Perennial vegetation should be well distributed on the site. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Annual production in air-dry herbage should be approximately 1550 - 1650 #/acre on an average year but could range from 1350 - 2300 #/acre during periods of prolonged drought or above average precipitation. -
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:
Cheatgrass, alyssum, mustard species, Canada thistle, black medic, Utah juniper. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial plants should have the ability to reproduce in all years, except in extreme drought years. Gambel Oak and Green rabbitbrush sprouts vigorously following fire. There are no restrictions on either seed or vegetative reproduction. Some seedling recruitment of major species is expected to be present during average and above average growing years.
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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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