Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R047XA463UT
Mountain Stony Loam
(Gambel oak)
Last updated: 2/05/2025
Accessed: 04/19/2026
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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 mineralogy 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.
Classification relationships
Modal Soil: Yeates Hollow Very Stony Loam, Organic Surface, 3-40% — clayey-skeletal, montmorillonitic, frigid Typic Argixerolls
Ecological site concept
The soils of this site are moderately deep to deep and well-drained. They formed in colluvium or alluvium derived from various igneous and sedimentary rocks. Rock fragments are visible on the soil surface and surface textures are usually very cobbly or very stony loams. Rock fragments in the soil profile are usually stones or cobbles and make up greater than 35 percent of the soil volume. Permeability is moderately slow to moderate and water holding capacity ranges from 2.6 to 4.6 inches of water in the upper 40 inches of soil. The soil moisture regime is xeric and the soil temperature regime is frigid
Associated sites
R047XA430UT Mountain Loam (mountain big sagebrush)
This site is often found near the mountain stony loam (Gambel oak) site in areas where the soil is deeper and less rocky. 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.
R047XA461UT Mountain Stony Loam (mountain big sagebrush)
These two sites occur together in distinct patches. Gambel oak rarely propagates from seed in its northern ranges, and mountain big sagebrush cannot invade an oak stand due to resource limitations. 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)
This site has smaller rock fragments in the soil profile and produces more forb, grass, and shrub biomass than the mountain stony loam (oak) site.
R047XA432UT Mountain Loam (oak)
This site produces taller, more robust oak trees than the mountain stony loam (Gambel oak) site and produces less grass. It is found in deeper, less gravelly soils that retain more water. The two are seen together where a gravelly slope meets a loamy bottom.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Quercus gambelii
(2) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyanaHerbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on gently sloping to very steep mountain sides, alluvial fans, and fan remnants at elevations between 5,500 and 8,200 feet. It is found on all aspects and on slopes ranging from 15 to 70 percent. Runoff is high to very high for this site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountain slope
(2) Fan remnant
(3) Alluvial fan
Runoff class High to very high Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 1676 – 2499 m Slope 15 – 70 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate of this site is cool and humid with cold, snowy winters and cool dry summers. The average annual precipitation varies from 16 to 23 inches with an average of about 21. Distribution is about 65 percent during the plant dormant period (October through March). This winter moisture is the most dependable supply for plant growth. Lower precipitation and high evaporation-transpiration rates during July, august and September causes a slowing down in rate of plant growth and dormancy in most of the forbs and grasses.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 100 days Freeze-free period (average) 130 days Precipitation total (average) 640 mm BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
Due to its landscape position, this site is not typically influenced by streams or wetlands.
Wetland description
N/A
Soil features
The soils of this site are moderately-deep to deep and well-drained. They formed in colluvium or alluvium derived from various igneous and sedimentary rocks. Rock fragments are visible on the soil surface and surface textures are usually very cobbly or very stony loams. Rock fragments in the soil profile are usually stones or cobbles and make up greater than 35 percent of the soil volume. Permeability is moderately slow to moderate and water holding capacity ranges from 2.6 to 4.6 inches of water in the upper 40 inches of soil. The soil moisture regime is xeric and the soil temperature regime is frigid.
Soil Survey Area: Soil Components (Map Units in parentheses)
Fairfield-Nephi Area (UT608): Yeates Hollow (WdE, WdF, YbF);
Summit Area (UT613): Horrocks (143);
Heber Valley Area (UT622): Yeates Hollow (YaB, YEC, YED, YTC, YTD);
Sanpete Valley Area (UT627): Bradshaw (BVG); Yeates Hollow (YHE);
Sevier County (UT628): Henefer (HHE, HID, VZF);Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – igneous and sedimentary rock
(2) Colluvium – igneous and sedimentary rock
Surface texture (1) Very stony loam
(2) Very cobbly loam
(3) Stony silt loam
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderate Soil depth 102 – 152 cm Surface fragment cover <=3" 10 – 25 % Surface fragment cover >3" 18 – 35 % Available water capacity
(0-101.6cm)6.6 – 11.68 cm Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-101.6cm)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-101.6cm)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-101.6cm)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-101.6cm)5.6 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)14 – 28 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)11 – 36 % Ecological dynamics
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 (Pseudoroegneria 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 bluebunch wheatgrass 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 Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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 Pathway 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 white fir. The percent composition of these tree species is relatively low (3 to 5 percent).
Community Pathway 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
Phase 2.1 is 10 to 20 percent grasses, 0 to 15 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 Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 2.1c Prescribed Fire and Re-seed – This pathway occurs when land owners and land managers are attempting to improve the vigor of the native plant community.
Community Pathway 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
Phase 2.2 is 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 Pathway 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 Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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 to 10 years.
Community Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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 shrub component do to improper grazing and browsing from livestock and wildlife.
Community Pathway 2.5a No Fire – lack of fire over time will allow other tree species to naturally encroach into the site.
Community Pathway 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.
Community Pathway 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 occurs when the fire return interval has been severely shortened ultimately allowing noxious/invasive weeds to dominate the site.
Transition 3 Prescribed Grazing (Goats)
Transition from State 2 to State 4 occurs when goats are utilized in a specific manner to reduce Gambel oak ultimately giving the competitive advantage to herbaceous species.
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 an 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 – Do 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
With Gambel oak being browsed heavily this turns the competitive advantage to the herbaceous species within the site. The herbaceous component will be significantly greater than that in the Reference State or Current Potential.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 vegetation of this site is 35 percent perennial grasses, 10 percent forbs, and 55 percent shrubs with a general oakbrush aspect.
Figure 4. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(kg/hectare)Representative value
(kg/hectare)High
(kg/hectare)Shrub/Vine 525 894 1018 Grass/Grasslike 334 569 648 Forb 95 163 185 Total 954 1626 1851 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 40-40% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 20-30% 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 (m) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.15 – – – – >0.15 <= 0.3 – – – 9-11% >0.3 <= 0.6 – – 24-26% – >0.6 <= 1.4 – – – – >1.4 <= 4 – 39-41% – – >4 <= 12 – – – – >12 <= 24 – – – – >24 <= 37 – – – – >37 – – – – 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 588–841 Gambel oak QUGA Quercus gambelii 420–504 – mountain big sagebrush ARTRV Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 84–168 – antelope bitterbrush PUTR2 Purshia tridentata 84–168 – 3 Sub-Dominant Shrubs 185–471 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB Shrub (>.5m) 84–168 – Saskatoon serviceberry AMAL2 Amelanchier alnifolia 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 – creeping barberry MARE11 Mahonia repens 17–50 – mountain snowberry SYOR2 Symphoricarpos oreophilus 17–50 – Grass/Grasslike0 Dominant Grasses 219–420 slender wheatgrass ELTR7 Elymus trachycaulus 84–168 – bluebunch wheatgrass PSSP6 Pseudoroegneria spicata 84–168 – muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 50–84 – 1 Sub-Dominant Grasses 454–689 Grass, annual 2GA Grass, annual 84–168 – Grass, perennial 2GP Grass, perennial 84–168 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 17–50 – Columbia needlegrass ACNE9 Achnatherum nelsonii 17–50 – California brome BRCA5 Bromus carinatus 17–50 – Geyer's sedge CAGE2 Carex geyeri 17–50 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 17–50 – basin wildrye LECI4 Leymus cinereus 17–50 – oniongrass MEBU Melica bulbosa 17–50 – Forb2 Sub-Dominant Forbs 319–807 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 84–252 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 84–252 – common yarrow ACMI2 Achillea millefolium 17–34 – tapertip hawksbeard CRAC2 Crepis acuminata 17–34 – shortstem buckwheat ERBR5 Eriogonum brevicaule 17–34 – sticky purple geranium GEVI2 Geranium viscosissimum 17–34 – Nevada pea LALA3 Lathyrus lanszwertii 17–34 – low beardtongue PEHU Penstemon humilis 17–34 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 17–34 – American vetch VIAM Vicia americana 17–34 – Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock:
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.
Wildlife:
Gambel oak is a primary food and nesting resource for porcupines 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
The soil series in this site are in c hydrologic group. When the vegetation is in good condition, the hydrologic curve number is 74.
Recreational uses
This site has excellent potential for aesthetics and natural beauty. It has a large number of forbs and shrubs which have flowers in bloom from early spring throughout the summer and late into the fall. It has shrubs which offer screening for camping and picnicking. Hunting is good for upland game birds, snowshoe hare, elk, and mule deer. This site has values for snowmobiling and skiing during a fairly long period of the winter season.
Wood products
Not all gambel oak stands will grow large enough to be harvested for firewood, especially if the growing season is too short or the soil too shallow. Mature gambel oak stands can be harvested for fence posts, stays and firewood. It is moderately weather-resistant 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 immediately afterward and usually takes about 60 years to regenerate fully.
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]
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 15 June 2009.
Web Soil Survey, Official Soil Series Descriptions. Available at: http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html. Accessed 15 June 2009.Contributors
Darryl Trickler, Tim Watson
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 11/13/2012 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
Rare to Slight. Slight 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 (4-8 feet), < 1 inch deep and somewhat widely spaced (5-10 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:
Slight. Some 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 on 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 20% - 25%. Soil surface may be covered by 35 to 85% 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):
(Yeates Hollow) Soil surface 0-11 inches. Texture is a gravelly silt loam which may have an organic mat of partially decomposed leaves and twigs 1 inch deep on the surface; color is dark brown (7.5 YR 5/3); and structure is moderate coarse medium granular parting to fine granular. Mollic epipedon ranges to 11 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 protect the soil surface from splash erosion and encourage higher infiltration. Bare spaces are expected to be small and irregular in shape and usually not connected. Vegetative structure and distribution are 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 such as long-term drought, insect damage, etc., runoff is likely to increase and infiltration be 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, including changes in clay content, 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, alderleaf mountain mahogany) > Non-sprouting shrub (mountain big sagebrush) = > Perennial bunchgrasses (bluebunch wheatgrass) > Rhizomatous Grasses (slender wheatgrass).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 1400 - 1500 #/acre on an average year but could range from 800 - 1700 #/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. 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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