Natural Resources
Conservation Service
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
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.
Click to explore map
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
This site occurs on upland soils that contain high fragment content in surface and at least some subsurface layers. Slopes are quite variable.
This site correlates to the Sandy ecological site group.Similar sites
GX070A01X019 Gravelly Terraces
The Gravelly Terraces site is an analog in LRU 70A.1.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs on hilly convex river terrace remnants, cuestas, mesas, and fans along mountain foot slopes. Slopes are convex and range from 1 to 25 percent on all aspects. Elevation ranges from 4,300 to 7,500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Terrace
(2) Fan
(3) Fan remnant
Flooding duration Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) to very brief (4 to 48 hours) Flooding frequency None to rare Ponding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) Ponding frequency None to rare Elevation 4300 – 7500 ft Slope 1 – 25 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor 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
Site may occur along drainageways at toe of foot slopes. Dry washes and riverine systems may occur in this area.
Soil features
Soils are moderately deep to deep and well to somewhat excessively drained. Surface textures are gravelly sandy clay loam, or gravelly sandy loam or gravelly clay loam with about 18 to 30 percent clay. Substratum is a gravelly sandy clay loam, or gravelly sandy loam or gravelly clay loam with about 18 to 30 percent clay with a calcic horizon between 12 and 40 inches. Underlying material is a gravelly loam and gravelly sandy loam (sand, loamy sand, or sandy loam with 0 to 85 percent pebbles).
They have moderate permeability. The available water holding capacity is low to moderate. The effective rooting depth is 40 to 60 inches. Air and water move freely through these soils.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic Soils:
Tinaja
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained to excessively drained Permeability class Moderate to very rapid Soil depth 40 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 15 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)3.6 – 5.5 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)15 – 40 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.4 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)20 – 80 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 30 % Ecological dynamics
As the ecological condition deteriorates , it is accompanied by a sharp decrease in plant cover. When adequate plant cover is lacking, this site is subject to severe sheet and gully erosion due to a very slow water intake rate.
A system of deferred grazing which varies the time of grazing and rest in a pasture during successive years is needed to maintain or improve the plant community. Rest during April , May, and June allows western wheatgrass to grow and reproduce. Rest during the summer is beneficial to warm season plants such as blue grama, alkali sacaton, vine mesquite, and sideoats grama. Spring rest will also allow alkali sacaton sufficient time to green up before grazing.
Text from the Grazing Section that is relevant to plant ecology:
Approximately 80 percent of the total annual yield is from species that furnish forage for grazing or browsing. Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as western wheatgrass, vine mesquite, sideoats grama, alkali sacaton, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat to decrease. Species most likely to invade include sleepygrass and broom snakeweed. Species most likely to increase are blue grama, galleta, buffalograss, mat muhly, cholla cactus, plains pricklypear, and oneseed juniper.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. Generalized STM for sandy sites
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 CommunityThis is a plant community that is dominated by mid-grasses, with scattered woody species making up an important part of the plant community. Perennial and annual forbs are evenly distributed and make up a minor part of the community. Blue grama, alkali sacaton, and western wheatgrass are the most abundant species. Grasses make up 75 percent of the composition, woody species make up about 15 percent, and forbs make up about 10 percent.
The potential plant community produces approximately 1,300 pounds per acre of air dry grasses, forbs, and shrubs during years with favorable growing conditions and about 600 pounds per acre during unfavorable years. The average production is about 950 pounds per acre.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 460 700 990 Shrub/Vine 50 150 210 Forb 50 90 100 Total 560 940 1300 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 0-10% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 20-20% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 30-40% Forb foliar cover 10-20% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 10-20% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0-10% Surface fragments >3" 0% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 40-50% Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM3716 , R070AY016NM Gravelly Upland HCPC. R070AY016NM Gravelly Upland HCPC.
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 5 7 10 15 20 25 13 5 0 0 State 2
DegradedThis state is generally dominated by such plants as blue grama, broom snakeweed, galleta, buffalograss, mat muhly, cholla cactus, plains pricklypear, oneseed juniper, and sleepygrass.
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 Short Warm Season 30–320 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 55–105 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 30–77 – plains muhly MUCU3 Muhlenbergia cuspidata 18–65 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 18–65 – spike muhly MUWR Muhlenbergia wrightii 18–65 – buffalograss BODA2 Bouteloua dactyloides 18–65 – 2 Tall Warm Season 90–260 alkali sacaton SPAI Sporobolus airoides 55–105 – 3 Tall Cool Season Stolon 200–600 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 115–154 – 4 Mid warm season stolon 30–130 galleta grass PLEUR12 Pleuraphis 30–77 – 5 Tall warm season 30–130 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 30–130 – 6 Short Coarse warm season 10–23 threeawn ARIST Aristida 18–35 – eastern bottlebrush grass ELHYH Elymus hystrix var. hystrix 10–23 – Shrub/Vine7 Mid palatable drought tolerant 30–130 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 30–77 – 8 short high protein 20–30 winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 18–35 – 9 Low durable deciduous 20–30 Gambel oak QUGA Quercus gambelii 18–35 – 11 Cactus 10–50 tree cholla CYIM2 Cylindropuntia imbricata 6–32 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 6–32 – 13 Wolf Berry 10–30 Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 6–26 – 14 Yucca 10–30 soapweed yucca YUGL Yucca glauca 3–26 – 15 Sagewort 0–30 field sagewort ARCA12 Artemisia campestris 3–26 – Forb10 perennial forbs 10 hairy ragweed AMCA7 Ambrosia canescens 10–30 – globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea 10–30 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 3–26 – Wright's spiderwort TRWR Tradescantia wrightii 6–13 – Tree12 Juniper 10–30 Rocky Mountain juniper JUSC2 Juniperus scopulorum 6–32 – Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife: This site provides habitat for mule Deer, coyote, desert cottontail, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, marsh hawk, scaled quail, roadrunner, western racer, and woodhouse toad.
Hydrological functions
Characteristic Soil Series-----Hydrologic Group
Tinaja----------------------------BRecreational uses
This site has attractive aesthetic appeal and natural beauty. It is fair for camping, hiking, and picnicking. Hunting is fair for deer, rabbits, and quail.
Wood products
Limited wood from juniper for firewood unless site is heavily encroached by juniper and piñon trees.
Other products
Guide to initial Stocking rates as Acres per Animal Unit Month.
Range Condition------------AC/AUM
100%-----------------------2.5 to 3
75%------------------------2.9 to 4.6
50%------------------------4.5 to 9.0
25%------------------------9.1 plusOther information
Grazing: This site can be used any season of the year by all classes of grazing animals. Approximately 80 percent of the total annual yield is from species that furnish forage for grazing or browsing. A variety of grasses, forbs and shrubs provide good nutrition to grazing and browsing animals. Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as western wheatgrass, vine mesquite, sideoats grama, alkali sacaton, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat to decrease. Species most likely to invade include sleepygrass and broom snakeweed. Species most likely to increase are blue grama, galleta, buffalograss, mat muhly, cholla cactus, plains pricklypear, and oneseed Juniper.
As the ecological condition deteriorates , it is accompanied by a sharp decrease in plant cover. When adequate plant cover is lacking, this site is subject to severe sheet and gully erosion due to a very slow water intake rate.
A system of deferred grazing which varies the time of grazing and rest in a pasture during successive years is needed to maintain or improve the plant community. Rest during April, May, and June allows western wheatgrass to grow and reproduce. Rest during the summer is beneficial to warm season plants such as blue grama, alkali sacaton, vine mesquite, and sideoats grama. Spring rest will also allow alkali sacaton sufficient time to green up before grazing.Supporting information
Contributors
Don Sylvester
John E. Tunberg
John TunbergApproval
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 08/29/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
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.
Accessibility statement
