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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
This site applies to areas where soils are shallow to a root-restrictive layer, and slopes are between 1 and 35 percent. Given this broad range of abiotic characteristics, it appears that this site overlaps with a number of others in MLRA 70A. See Similar Sites below.
Associated sites
GX070A01X004 Shallow Loamy
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GX070A01X013 Lithic Sandstone
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GX070A01X014 Lithic Limestone
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GX070A01X006 Slopes
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GX070A01X007 Limy Escarpments
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Similar sites
GX070A01X004 Shallow Loamy
The Shallow Loamy site applies to areas where slopes are 10% or less, and soils are shallow to paralithic contact with shale or calcareous sandstone.
GX070A01X013 Lithic Sandstone
The Lithic Sandstone site applies to areas where slopes are 10% or less, and soils are shallow to lithic sandstone.
GX070A01X014 Lithic Limestone
The Lithic Limestone site applies to areas where slopes are 10% or less, and soils are shallow to lithic limestone.
GX070A01X006 Slopes
The Slopes site applies to escarpments that lack rock outcrop. Soils on many of the upper escarpment positions are shallow to paralithic materials.
GX070A01X007 Limy Escarpments
The Limy Escarpments site applies to escarpments that exhibit rock outcrop. Soils on many of the upper escarpment positions are shallow to lithic or paralithic materials.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
The site is on hills, ridges, and plains at elevations of 5,500 to 7,800 feet. Slopes are 1 to 35 percent. The soils formed in fine textured material weathered from shale, claystone, or sandstone. The climate is semiarid continental with mean annual air temperature of 47 to 56 degrees F, and a mean summer temperature of 65 to 70 degrees F. Annual precipitation is 10 to 18 inches with about 70 percent falling during the frost-free season, which lasts 115 to 160 days.
North and east facing slopes usually produce more vegetation than south and west facing slopes.Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan
(2) Escarpment
(3) Hill
Flooding frequency None Elevation 5800 – 7200 ft Slope 10 – 35 % 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) 160 days Freeze-free period (average) 140 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 4. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 5 Annual average temperature pattern
">Influencing water features
Site may lie along riverine or wash channels where they wander toward a mesa.
Soil features
Soils are well drained, very shallow and shallow over shale or limestone. Surface texture is very flaggy clay loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, gravelly sandy loam, or gravelly clay loam. Subsurface textures are silty clay, clay loam, or clay; with 35 to 60 percent clay. Permeability is moderate to slow. Available water holding capacity is very low to low. Effective rooting depth is 7 to 20 inches.
Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.
Characteristic soils:
Mion
Penrose
LitleTable 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Flaggy clay loam
(2) Silt loam
(3) Gravelly loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained Permeability class Moderate to slow Soil depth 8 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 30 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 5 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)2 – 4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 5 % 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)30 – 35 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 5 % Ecological dynamics
The structure of the potential natural plant community is predominantly grasses with scattered overstory of oneseed juniper. Grass species are dominated by warm-season mid-grasses. Woody species make up 30 percent of the vegetation. Juniper, mountain mahogany, and oak are the major woody species. Forbs make up 10 percent of the vegetation.
Continuous grazing in the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as sideoats grama, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, mountain mahogany, New Mexico feathergrass, and winterfat to decrease.
Species most likely to increase are blue grama, galleta, threeawn, oneseed juniper, sleepygrass, and oakbrush.
As the condition further deteriorates it is accompanied by a sharp increase in oneseed juniper and oak brush. Ground cover is greatly reduced, causing excessive erosion which exposes the weathered shale.
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 late winter and early spring is beneficial to shrubs such as mountain mahogany.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 6. Generalized STM for shallow sites in 70A
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 structure of the potential natural plant community is predominantly grasses with scattered overstory of oneseed juniper. The grass community is dominated by warm-season mid-grasses. Woody species make up 30 percent of the vegetation. Juniper, mountain mahogany, and oak are the major woody species. Forbs make up 10 percent of the vegetation.
Other grasses may occur in trace amounts include vine mesquite, prairie junegrass, and big bluestem.
Other woody plants may occur in trace amounts include; winterfat, skunkbush, and Bigelow sagebrush.
Forbs that may occur in trace amounts include; asters and Indian paintbrush.Figure 7. 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 320 400 650 Tree 150 200 300 Forb 50 70 100 Total 520 670 1050 Table 6. Ground cover
Tree foliar cover 10-10% Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover 10-20% Grass/grasslike foliar cover 20-30% Forb foliar cover 0-10% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0% Litter 10-20% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0% Surface fragments >3" 30-40% Bedrock 10-10% Water 0% Bare ground 10-20% Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM3719 , R070AY019NM Shallow Savanna HCPC. R070AY019NM Shallow Savanna 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, galleta, threeawn, oneseed juniper, sleepygrass, and oakbrush.
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 blue grama 50–150 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 50–150 – 2 sideoats grama 75–200 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 75–200 – 3 little bluestem 50–150 little bluestem SCSCS Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium 50–150 – 4 wolftail 10–50 wolfstail LYCUR Lycurus 15–50 – 5 western wheatgrass 30–100 western wheatgrass PASM Pascopyrum smithii 25–100 – 7 threeawn 10–50 slimspike threeawn ARLO16 Aristida longespica 15–50 – 8 needle and thread 30–100 needle and thread HECOC8 Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata 25–100 – 11 New mexico feathergrass 30–100 New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 25–100 – Tree9 oneseed juniper 30–100 oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 25–100 – 10 pinion pine 10–50 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 15–50 – Shrub/Vine12 mountain mahogany 10–50 alderleaf mountain mahogany CEMO2 Cercocarpus montanus 15–50 – 13 fringe sage 10–50 field sagewort ARCA12 Artemisia campestris 15–50 – 14 apache plume 10–50 Apache plume FAPA Fallugia paradoxa 15–50 – 15 fourwing saltbush 10–50 fourwing saltbush ATCAC Atriplex canescens var. canescens 15–50 – 16 oak brush 10–50 Gambel oak QUGA Quercus gambelii 15–50 – Forb17 Buckwheat 10–50 buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 15–50 – Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by mule deer, coyote, bobcat, eastern cottontail, rock squirrel, southern plains woodrat, piñon mouse, great horned owl, ferruginous hawk, plain titmouse, brown towhee, scrub jay, western diamondback rattlesnake, and red spotted toad.
Hydrological functions
Characteristic
Soil Series Hydrologic Group
Mion D
Penrose D
Litle DRecreational uses
This site has high aesthetic appeal and natural beauty with a variety of plants and physiographic features breaking the open space of the landscape. Hiking is fair to good. Camping and picnicking are poor to fair. Deer hunting is good. The site is good range for deer. Bird watching is fair.
Wood products
Some piñon and juniper fence posts and firewood.
Other products
Grazing: This site is adapted to spring, summer and fall grazing. Distribution of domestic livestock is a problem on this site. All ages and classes prefer to graze flatter slopes, leaving the steeper slopes ungrazed. It is better suited to younger livestock. Goats will be best suited to use the large amount of woody species on the site. Approximately 70 percent of the total annual yield is by species that produce forage or browse. The large variety of grasses, forbs, and shrubs provide a balanced feed and excellent nutrition for all grazing and browsing animals.
Continuous grazing in the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as sideoats grama, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, mountain mahogany, New Mexico feathergrass, and winterfat to decrease.
Species most likely to increase are blue grama, galleta, threeawn, oneseed juniper, sleepygrass, and oakbrush.
As the condition further deteriorates, it is accompanied by a sharp increase in oneseed juniper and oak brush. Ground cover is greatly reduced, causing excessive erosion which exposes the weathered shale.
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 late winter and early spring is beneficial to shrubs such as mountain mahogany.Other information
Guide to Initial Stocking rate in Acres per Animl Unit Month.
Range Condition------------Acres/AUM
75 plus--------------------3.4 to 4.6
50 to 75-------------------4.5 to 6.8
25 to 49-------------------6.7 to 12.6
25 or less-----------------12.6 plus.Supporting information
Contributors
Don Sylvester
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 08/19/2026 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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