Natural Resources
Conservation Service
High Mountain Stony Clay (slender wheatgrass)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1a
introduction of exotic species
More details -
Transition T2a
Heavy continuous season-long grazing by livestock and the prevention of wildfire
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Transition T3a
Wildfire or prescribed burning
More details -
Transition T3b
Chemical treatment of forbs and woody species
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Transition T3c
tillage and seeding
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Transition T5a
heavy, continuous season-long grazing
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Transition T6a
heavy, continuous season-long grazing
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State is a description of this ecological site just prior to Euro-American settlement but long after the arrival of Native Americans. The description of the Reference State was determined by NRCS Soil Survey Type Site Location information and familiarity with rangeland relict areas where they exist. Vegetation in the reference state would have varied from grassland to shrub steppe depending primarily on time since the last wildfire. Following recent fires (1.2a), a co-dominant mixture of grasses and forbs with scattered shrubs would have been prevalent (1.1). As the time elapsed since last fire increased (fire return intervals averaged approximately every 30 to 50 years) (1.1a), the shrubs would have increased in dominance and the herbaceous understory lessened. The dominant shrub would have been mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus), while slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus), cutleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza macrophylla), and mule-ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis) would have been the primary understory species. A more complete list of species by lifeform for the Reference State is available in accompanying tables in the “Plant Community Composition by Weight and Percentage” section of this ESD document.
Submodel
Description
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. This state can be regarded as the current potential. Vegetation in this Reference State would have varied from grassland to shrub steppe depending primarily on time since the last fire.
Submodel
Description
The combined effects of heavy continuous season-long grazing by livestock and the prevention of wildfire has resulted in an increase of unpalatable species particularly mule-ears and native woody species such as snowberry, mountain big sagebrush, silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana), and snowfield sagebrush (Artemisia spiciformis) at the expense of the palatable herbaceous species.
Submodel
Description
Wildfire, whether natural or prescribed, will remove the shrub component from these sites, leaving only the fire-tolerant herbaceous species, namely mule-ears.
Submodel
Description
Chemical manipulation to reduce the unpalatable native shrubs and forbs will restore the site to a native perennial grass and forb state, provided the seed source for species are available. These include slender wheatgrass, mountain brome, basin wildrye, sheep fescue, Columbia needlegrass, and Letterman's needlegrass.
Submodel
Description
Intermediate wheatgrass, orchardgrass, or smooth brome monocultures may be present where plowing and seeding has taken place to increase herbage production. Various phases should be added, depending on the seeded species chosen.
Submodel
Mechanism
The simultaneous introduction of exotic species, both plants and animals, possible extinctions of native flora and fauna, and climate change has caused State 1 to transition to State 2. Reversal of such historic changes (i.e. a return pathway) back to State 1 is not practical.
Transition T2a
Heavy continuous season-long grazing by livestock and the prevention of wildfire
Mechanism
Heavy continuous season-long grazing by livestock and the prevention of wildfire will cause State 2 to transition to State 3. While these stony soils are somewhat resistant to soil erosion, significant decrease in plant and litter cover due to excessive season long livestock grazing can accelerate soil erosion, xerification, and eutrophication. Moderation of livestock grazing will reverse these trends.
Mechanism
Wildfire or prescribed burning will remove the woody component, but will leave the fire-tolerant mule-ears (State 4).
Mechanism
The use of chemicals, namely 2,4-D, will remove both the woody and forb components leaving stand of native herbs (State 5).
Mechanism
Through tillage and seeding of introduced perennial grass such as intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), or orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), herbage production can be increased in some locations, if this is the desired objective.
Mechanism
Following heavy, continuous season-long grazing the native perennial herbland will return to the Unpalatable Forbs/Woody Encroachment State (State 3).
Model keys
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Ecological sites
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The 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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