Natural Resources
Conservation Service
ecological site group 29-1
Ecological Site Group 1
Accessed: 08/30/2026
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
None specified
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.
Climate
The group is characterized by a four-state STM with four community phases in the first state, four community phases in the second state, two community phases in the third state, and one community phase in the fourth state.
Vegetation dynamics
The group is characterized by a four-state STM with four community phases in the first state, four community phases in the second state, two community phases in the third state, and one community phase in the fourth state.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 029X
Southern Nevada Basin and Range
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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Ecological site groups
Major Land Resource Areas
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
Community 1.1
Mature Woodland; At Risk
singleleaf pinyon - Utah juniper overstory shrub - perennial grass dominated understory few tree seedlings and saplings occur in understory
Community 1.2
Herbaceous/Shrub Stage
perennial bunchgrasses & sprouting shrubs dominant non-sprouting shrubs present tree seedlings (<20") are present burned tree skeletons may be present
Community 1.3
Sapling Stage
shrubs and perennial bunchgrasses dominant tree saplings (20"-4.5') present
Community 1.4
Immature Woodland
singleleaf peinyon & Utah juniper >4.5' tree seedlings and saplings present in the understory shrub-perennial grass dominated understory
Pathway P 1.2
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Fire
Pathway P 2.3
Community 1.2 to 1.3
time and lack of disturbance
Pathway P 3.2
Community 1.3 to 1.2
fire
Pathway P 3.4
Community 1.3 to 1.4
time and lack of disturbance
Pathway P 4.1
Community 1.4 to 1.1
time and lack of disturbance
Pathway P 4.2
Community 1.4 to 1.2
fire
State 2
Current Potential State
Community 2.1
Mature Woodland; At Risk
singleleaf pinyon - Utah juniper overstory shrub - perennial grass dominated understory few tree seedlings and sapling occur in understory annual non-native species present
Community 2.2
Herbaceous / Shrub Stage
perennial bunchgrass & sprouting shrubs dominant non-sprouting shrubs present tree seedlings (<20") are present burned tree skeletons may be present annual non-native species present and may be increasing
Community 2.3
Sapling Stage
shrubs and perennail bunchgrasses dominant tree saplings (20"-4.5') present annual non-native species present and may be increasing
Community 2.4
Immature Woodland
singleleaf pinyon & Utah juniper >4.5' tree seedlings and saplings present in the understory shrub - perennial grass dominated understory annual non-native species present and may be increasing
Pathway P 1.2
Community 2.1 to 2.2
fire
Pathway P 2.3
Community 2.2 to 2.3
time and lack of disturbance
Pathway P 3.2
Community 2.3 to 2.2
fire
Pathway P 3.4
Community 2.3 to 2.4
time and lack of disturbance
Pathway P 4.1
Community 2.4 to 2.1
time and lack of disturbance
Pathway P 4.2
Community 2.4 to 2.2
fire
State 3
Annual Plant State
Community 3.1
Annual non-natives dominate site Trace amounts of perennial bunchgrasses
Community 3.2
Sprouting shrub overstory Annual non-native understory
Pathway P 1.2
Community 3.1 to 3.2
Time allows for sprouting shrubs to recover
Pathway P 2.1
Community 3.2 to 3.1
Fire
State 4
Over Mature Woodland State
Community 4.1
Singleleaf pinyon - Utah juniper overstory, canopy closed Shrubs & deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses declining Annual non-native species common in understory Soil erosion probable
Transition T 1.2
State 1 to 2
Introduction of non-native annual species
Transition T 1.4
State 1 to 4
Time and lack of disturbance
Transition T 2.3
State 2 to 3
Severe and Repeated Fire
Transition T 2.4
State 2 to 4
Time and lack of disturbance
Restoration pathway R 4.2
State 4 to 2
Thinning of trees and seeding or recovery of understory species
Transition T 4.3
State 4 to 3
Severe and Repeated Fire
Citations
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No Citations
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