Natural Resources
Conservation Service

ecological site group ESG048A24

Saline Uplands

Accessed: 08/28/2026

Home / esg CATALOG / MLRA 048A / ecological site group ESG048A24

Ecological site group description

Key Characteristics

Uplands
<75% bedrock outcrop
Surface SAR <8, or Subsurface EC <8, or Surface EC <4
Gypsum <5% surface and <10% subsurface
EC >1.5 surface or >2 subsurface - 42 soil components
Uplands
<75% bedrock outcrop
Gypsum <5% surface, gypsum <10% subsurface, surface SAR <8, subsurface EC <8, and surface EC <4.
EC>1.5 surface or >2 subsurface - 42 soil components

Provisional. An approved ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model, enough information to identify the ecological site, and full documentation for all ecosystem states contained in the state and transition model.

Physiography

This ESG is located on mountain slopes.

Soil features

This ESG is characterized by EC >1.5 surface or >2 subsurface.

Vegetation dynamics

The modal ecological site for this ESG is R048AY231CO - Dry Mountain Loam Gunnison Basin LRU.

Major Land Resource Area

MLRA 048A
Southern Rocky Mountains

Subclasses

Correlated Map Unit Components

21276877, 21276780, 21276815, 21979137, 21981770, 21407070, 21408158, 21825776, 21820408, 21820411, 21820490, 21819963, 21819967, 21866146, 21866145, 21866213, 21866858, 21866469, 21866688, 21866689, 21866960, 21866581, 21866852, 21866945, 21910660, 21910663, 21910664, 21910666, 21910723, 21910726, 21910729, 21910835, 21910838

Stage

Approved

Contributors

Travis Nauman

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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

State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Mixed Grass/Shrub

Bluebunch wheatgrass, needlegrasses, other grasses, and forbs co-dominant with Wyoming big sagebrush.

Community 1.2
Grassland

Bluebunch wheatgrass, needlegrasses, other grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Wyoming big sagebrush canopy cover low.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

fire, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, vegetative treatments, and/or small scale insect/pathogen outbreaks

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

State 2
Mature Sagebrush

Community 2.1
Mature Sagebrush

Old stands of Wyoming big sagebrush with high canopy cover. Reduced understory. Grasses located under shrubs. Active soil loss.

State 3
Seeded State

Community 3.1
Seeded Grassland/Shrub

Seeded grass species, shrubs (high canopy cover), pioneering native grasses, and forbs.

Community 3.2
Seeded Grassland

Seeded grass species and other pioneering native grasses, shrubs, and forbs.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

fire, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, vegetative treatments, and/or small scale insect/pathogen outbreaks

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

State 4
Seeded Mature Sagebrush

Community 4.1
Mature Sagebrush with Seeded Species

Old stands of Wyoming big sagebrush with high canopy cover. Very sparse understory. Grasses located under shrubs. Active soil loss.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

seeded herbaceous species plants and/or shrub removal

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

fire, vegetation treatments, insect herbivory, drought, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, and/or encroached shrub removal

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

seeded herbaceous species planted and/or shrub removal

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

intensive management and inputs may be required to return to reference state, wet climatic years, native plantings, vegetative treatments, proper grazing, and/or fire

Transition T3A
State 3 to 4

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 3

fire, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, vegetative treatments, and/or small scale insect/pathogen outbreaks

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

ecological site group ESG048A24

Saline Uplands

Accessed: 08/28/2026

Ecological site group description

Key Characteristics

Physiography

Soil features

Vegetation dynamics

Major Land Resource Area

Subclasses

Correlated Map Unit Components

Stage

Contributors

Natural Resources
Conservation Service