Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R006XA219OR
Juniper Dunes 8-10 PZ
Last updated: 9/11/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024
General 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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 006X–Cascade Mountains, Eastern Slope
Stretching from northern Washington to southern Oregon, MLRA6 encompasses the mountain slopes, foothills, elevated plateaus and valleys on the eastern slopes of the Cascade mountains. This MLRA is a transitional area between the Cascade Mountains to the west and the lower lying Columbia Basalt Plateau to the east. Situated in the rain shadow of the Cascade Crest, this MLRA receives less precipitation than portions of the cascades further west and greater precipitation than the basalt plateaus to the east. Geologically, the majority of the MLRA is dominated by Miocene volcanic rocks, while the northern portion is dominated by Pre-Cretaceous metamorphic rocks and the southern portion is blanketed with a thick mantle of ash and pumice from Mount Mazama. The soils in the MLRA dominantly have a mesic, frigid, or cryic soil temperature regime, a xeric soil moisture regime, and mixed or glassy mineralogy. They generally are moderately deep to very deep, well drained, and loamy or ashy. Biologically, the MLRA is dominated by coniferous forest, large expanses of which are dominated by ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir or lodgepole pine. Areas experiencing cooler and moister conditions include grand fir, white fir, and western larch while the highest elevations include pacific silver fir, subalpine fir and whitebark pine. Economically, timber harvest and recreation are important land uses in these forests. Historically, many of these forests would have experienced relatively frequent, low and mixed severity fire favoring the development of mature forests dominated by ponderosa pine or Douglas-fir. In the southern pumice plateau forests, less frequent, higher severity fire was common and promoted the growth of large expanses of lodgepole pine forests.
LRU notes
This unit is characterized by a landscape of basalt terraces, abandoned lakebeds and dunes where exceedingly dry ponderosa pine – western juniper forests occur. These forests are largely geographically confined to the Lost Forest Research Natural Area, and despite receiving less than 11 inches of annual precipitation, persist among a desert shrubland due to unique soil characteristics. Here, deep eolian deposits of ash and pumice increase water holding capacity relative to nearby soils. Geologically, these deposits are underlain by Pliocene basalt from the High Cascades volcanic province. Botanically, these forests share characteristics with other dry pine forests as well as the nearby shrub steppe. Common members include, antelope bitterbrush, big sagebrush, needle and thread, Indian ricegrass, creeping wildrye and granite prickly gilia. The climate of this unit is cool and very dry with a soil climate defined by a frigid temperature regime and an aridic moisture regime. The historical fire regime of this site is likely similar to other very dry ponderosa pine communities, with moderately frequent, low severity fire common.
Ecological site concept
In reference condition, this site supports a plant community dominated by western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), Basin big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. tridentata), needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata) and indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides). Deep deposits of volcanic ash and pumice create the conditions for the plant community of this site and infrequent fire due to fuel limitations likely allowed juniper to persist historically. The influence of ash in these soils increases water holding capacity and bolsters site resilience during drought.
This is a provisional ecological site and is subject to extensive review and revision before final approval. All data herein should be considered provisional and contingent upon field validation prior to use in conservation planning.
Associated sites
R006XA214OR |
Forested Pumice Dunes 8-11 PZ Sandier Texture, drier soils |
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Similar sites
R006XA214OR |
Forested Pumice Dunes 8-11 PZ Sandier Texture, drier soils |
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R006XA216OR |
Forested Shrubby Dunes 8-11 PZ Greater cover of ponderosa pine |
R006XA218OR |
Juniper Sandy Slopes 8-11 PZ Higher elevation |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Juniperus occidentalis |
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Shrub |
(1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata |
Herbaceous |
(1) Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
T1A | - | Prolonged improper grazing management |
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T1B | - | Catastrophic fire, prolonged inappropriate grazing management |
R2A | - | Extended rest from grazing, possible reseeding of native grasses |
T2B | - | Continued improper grazing management, catastrophic fire |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
P1.1a | - | Mixed severity fire, windthrow, prolonged or severe drought, insect outbreak |
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P1.2a | - | Time elapses under a moderately frequent, mixed severity fire regime |