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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.
Ecological site concept
From an old key to ESDs in MLRA 70A:
17B. Soils shallow to moderately deep. Slopes usually smooth but range from 0 to 35 percent, soils are shallow to moderately deep loam, clay loam, or clay. Vegetation includes blue grama, hairy grama, little bluestem, mountain muhly, sideoats grama, big bluestem, common wolftail, galleta, wild buckwheat, juniper, piñon, oak, mountian mahogany, and skunkbush sumac.
Note that the Soils section suggests that textures are modified by coarse fragments--suggesting that the textures described in the referenced key are merely base textures.
Given that the physiography of this site is quite varied, it could theoretically occur on multiple LRUs of MLRA 70A. Also, given that this site concept occurs on both shallow and moderately deep soils, it correlates to two Ecological Site Groups: Shallow (GX070A01XESG02) and Uplands (GX070A01XESG04).Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Juniperus
(2) Pinus edulisShrub (1) Quercus
(2) Cercocarpus montanusHerbaceous (1) Bouteloua gracilis
(2) Schizachyrium scopariumPhysiographic features
This site occurs on complex landscape of hills, mesa sides, bajada and narrow valleys. They formed in calcareous old alluvium and eolian sediments from limestone and sandstone. The slopes are usually smooth and range from 0 to 35 percent. Local relief, the difference in elevation of the bottom of the valley to the top of the ridges, is generally less than 500 feet but may be as much as 1,000 feet. Elevation ranges from 5,300 to 7,200 feet above sea level.
Note: Based on the description above, and on the correlation to soil components, it seems likely that this site occurs, in part, on High Plains deposits such as the Ogallala Formation. These deposits of sediment washed out of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains during the Tertiary and Early Quaternary, and are generally dominated by igneous rocks.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Bajada
(3) Valley side
Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 5300 – 7200 ft Slope 0 – 35 % Aspect NE, SW Climatic features
The climate of this area can be classified as “semi-arid continental”.
Precipitation averages 14 to 16 inches. Seventy seven percent of the year’s moisture normally falls during the period of May through October. Practically all of it is brought by brief afternoon and evening thunderstorms. In July and August, normally the wettest months of the year, one can expect about one day in five when rainfall exceeds one-tenth inch. Early spring precipitation in May benefits the cool-season plants. Winter precipitation, supplying 24 percent of the year’s moisture, normally has no more than two days a month with as much as one-tenth inch of moisture. Much of the winter precipitation falls as snow.
Air temperatures vary from a monthly mean of 20 degrees F in January to 69 degrees F in July. Daily high temperatures average in the 80’s and low 90’s during the summer. Winter low temperatures fall below the freezing mark much of the time from November through March with minimum temperatures approaching 25 degrees F below zero. Dates of the last killing frost may vary from May 9th through May 17th, and the first killing frost from September 27th to October 8th. The frost-free season ranges from 141 days to 153 days from early May to early October.
Wind velocities for the area average 10 to 12 miles per hour and prevail from the south and southwest. Generally, March is the windiest month. Strong winds during the spring cause rapid drying of the soil surface.
Nearby mountains to the west intercept much of the precipitation from the Pacific storms coming through this area during the winter. About 70 percent of the 14 to 16 inches of annual precipitation falls in the form of rainfall during the frost-free season. About 40 percent of the annual precipitation benefits cool-season plants, 50 percent benefits warm-season plants and 10 percent falls during the season of plant dormancy. Relative humidity is moderately low. The sun shines approximately 75 percent of the time.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site using 50 percent probability for freeze-free and frost-free seasons using 28.5 degrees F and 32.5 degrees F respectively.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 150 days Freeze-free period (average) 170 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
This site is not influenced by water from a wetland or stream.
Soil features
Soils are shallow to moderately deep. Surface textures are loam, stony loam, gravelly silty loam or gravelly loam. Subsurface layers are stony loam, cobbly clay loam, silty clay loam, stony silty clay, silty clay or clay. Clay percent ranges between 19 and 35 percent. Percent calcium carbonate equivalence in the mineralogy control section ranges from 40 to 80 percent. In some pedons the weak cementation is discontinuous. There are boulders and cobbles on some areas. The soils have moderate to slow permeability. The available water-holding capacity is low to high. The effective rooting depth is 10 to 40 inches. Soils along the valley bottom receive added water as runoff from adjacent slopes.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic soil:
Dean
Dioxice
DumasTable 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Channery loam
(2) Cobbly loam
(3) Stony clay loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Slow to moderately slow Soil depth 10 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 20 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 30 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3 – 12 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)5 – 80 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 4 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 1 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.6 – 9 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)5 – 25 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)2 – 15 % Ecological dynamics
Text from the Grazing Section that is relevant to plant ecology:
Approximately 80 percent of the total annual yield are from species, which furnish forage for grazing animals. Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as little bluestem, big bluestem, sideoats grama, piñon ricegrass, western wheatgrass, and mountain mahogany to decrease. Species most likely to increase are blue grama, oneseed juniper, oak brush, threeawn spp., and ring muhly. As the ecological condition deteriorates, it is accompanied by a sharp increase of oneseed juniper and oak. As further deterioration advances, ground cover is greatly reduced. Oneseed juniper and oak brush may increase to the point where they dominate the site with very little forage production. Late spring and summer rest is especially beneficial to little bluestem, sideoats grama, and big bluestem. Rest during April, May, and June is needed to allow piñon ricegrass, western wheatgrass, and other cool-season grasses to grow and reproduce.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. Generalized STM for shallow sites in 70A. For more site-specific information, see the interactive STM. Note that this site also correlates to the Upland Group.
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
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 Plant CommunityThe site is a grassland with an aspect dominance of piñon-juniper with an understory of grasses, forbs and browse. Approximately 50 percent of the total vegetative production is made up of grasses. Grass species are dominated by warm-season mid-grasses. Woody species make up approximately 35 percent of the vegetative production. A variety of perennial and annual forbs make up approximately 10 percent of the vegetative production.
North and east facing slopes typically produce a denser vegetative cover and produce more vegetative growth than the south or west facing slopes.Figure 5. 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)Grass/Grasslike 210 560 900 Shrub/Vine 130 350 560 Forb 30 80 140 Total 370 990 1600 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10-10% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 10-10% Forb foliar cover 20-30% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 10-10% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 20-20% Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM3714 , R070AY014NM Hills HCPC. R070AY014NM Hills HCPC Grassland .
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 3 5 10 10 25 30 12 5 0 0 State 2
DegradedDegraded communities are generally dominated by blue grama, oneseed juniper, oak brush, threeawn spp., and ring muhly.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Restoration pathway resulting from the implementation of prescribed grazing.
Conservation practices
Grazing Management Plan - Applied Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 160–220 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 160–220 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 160–220 – 2 100–160 little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 105–158 – 3 30–50 mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana 32–53 – 4 50–100 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 53–105 – 5 20–50 big bluestem ANGE Andropogon gerardii 21–53 – 6 20–50 common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 21–53 – 7 20–50 James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 21–53 – 8 20–50 Graminoid (grass or grass-like) 2GRAM Graminoid (grass or grass-like) 21–53 – Forb9 20–30 buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 21–32 – 10 50–100 Forb, annual 2FA Forb, annual 53–105 – Forb, perennial 2FP Forb, perennial 53–105 – Shrub/Vine11 100–160 juniper JUNIP Juniperus 105–158 – 12 50–100 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 53–105 – 13 100–160 oak QUERC Quercus 105–158 – 14 50–70 hairy mountain mahogany CEMOP Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus 53–74 – 15 20–50 skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 21–53 – 16 30–50 Shrub, deciduous 2SD Shrub, deciduous 32–53 – Interpretations
Animal community
Habitat for Wildlife: This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by mule deer, coyote, eastern cottontail, grasshopper mouse, brush mouse, great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, plain titmouse, scrub jay, rufous sided towhee, western diamondback rattlesnake, and fence lizard.
There is seasonal use by the blue grouse, turkey, and mountain lion. Band tailed pigeons will flock to these habitats during years of high mast production.Hydrological functions
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations Soil Series
Hydrologic ---------Group
Dean---------------- B
Dioxice------------- B
Dumas--------------- B
Penrose Varient----- DRecreational uses
The site has good aesthetic appeal and natural beauty. It is fair for screening and fair to good for hiking and picnicking. Poor to fair for camping. Hunting for deer is fair to good.
Wood products
Piñon and juniper furnish some firewood. Juniper can be used as fence posts. A limited number of piñon are used for Christmas trees. All are limited due to slopes.
Other products
Grazing:
This site is best suited to be grazed in the spring, summer and fall. Distribution of domestic livestock is a problem on this site due to the slopes. Cattle, horses and sheep tend to graze flatter slopes leaving the steeper slopes ungrazed. Goats are best suited for this site. A younger age of cattle would better utilize the site than the older cows. Approximately 80 percent of the total annual yield are from species, which furnish forage for grazing animals. These species are a large variety of grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide good nutrition for grazing animals. Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as little bluestem, big bluestem, sideoats grama, piñon ricegrass, western wheatgrass, and mountain mahogany to decrease. Species most likely to increase are blue grama, oneseed juniper, oak brush, threeawn spp., and ring muhly. As the ecological condition deteriorates, it is accompanied by a sharp increase of oneseed juniper and oak. As further deterioration advances, ground cover is greatly reduced. Oneseed juniper and oak brush may increase to the point where it is dominating the site with very little forage production. A system of deferred grazing, which varies the time of grazing and rest in a pasture during successive years, is needed to maintain the plant community. Late spring and summer rest is especially beneficial to little bluestem, sideoats grama and big bluestem. Rest during April, May, and June is needed to allow piñon ricegrass, western wheatgrass, and other cool-season grasses to grow and reproduce.Other information
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index----- Ac/AUM
100 - 76------------- 3.1 – 4.0
75 – 51-------------- 3.8 – 5.1
50 – 26-------------- 5.0 – 11.7
25 – 0--------------- 11.7+Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Colfax County, NM Location 2: Mora County, NM Location 3: San Miguel County, NM Location 4: Union County, NM Contributors
Elizabeth Wright
John Tunberg
Christine Bishop
Don SylvesterApproval
Kendra Moseley, 9/12/2023
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 04/22/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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