Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R007XY011OR
Sands 8-10 PZ
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.
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.
Associated sites
| R007XY012OR |
Sandy 8-10 PZ Sandy 8-10" PZ |
|---|---|
| R007XY013OR |
Sandy Loam 8-10 PZ Sandy Loam 8-10" PZ |
| R007XY014OR |
Loamy 8-10 PZ Loamy 8-10" PZ |
Similar sites
| R007XY012OR |
Sandy 8-10 PZ Sandy 8-10" PZ (finer texture) |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
Not specified |
Physiographic features
This site occurs on level to gently sloping terraces associated with prehjistoric flood levels of the Coulmbia river. The micro rrelic is himmocky or with low dunes that parallel to direction of the prevailing winds.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Terrace
(2) Alluvial fan |
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) |
| Flooding frequency | Rare |
| Elevation | 300 – 1,000 ft |
| Slope | 12% |
| Water table depth | 60 in |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 8 to 10 inches, most of which occurs as rain during the months of November through April. The mean annual air temperature is about 53 degrees F and extremes range from 115 degress F to -10 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 180 to 215 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-March to early June.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 215 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 0 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 10 in |
Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are moderately deep to very deep, excessively drained mixed sands and loamy fine sands. Where hummocky the soils are often loamy fine sands over sandy subsoils. or occasionally water-laid, laminated sediments. Directional low dunes are mixed sands to fine sands. Where relatively level, the substrata is gravelly. the available water capacity ranges from 2 to 8 inches for the profile. Permeability is rapid in the surface layer. The soils are neutral in reaction. The wind erosion hazard is sever.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly sand |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Sandy |
| Permeability class | Rapid |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2 – 8 in |
Ecological dynamics
The soils of this site are prone to erosion by winds. The loss of plant cover from frequent burning, heavy grazing, off-road vehicle use, or other disturbance, will result in severe wind erosion and the formation of blow-outs and active dunes. If heavy grazing use causes site deterioration, needle and thread and indian ricegrass will decrease and cheatgrass, russian thistle, and other undesirables will invade the site.
Variability in this site results from differences in soil texture. An increase in coarse material will usually result in an increase in the proportion of Indian ricegrass. Needleandthread will increase on soils with a finer sand surface. Antelope bitterbrush is prominent where gravelly substrata are present. Occasionally, silt layers can occur in the subsoil which holds moisture within reach of shallower rooted plants, thereby increasing their presence.
State and transition model
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Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
HCPC: HECO26-ACHY/PUTR2
Community 1.1
HCPC: HECO26-ACHY/PUTR2
Needle and thread - indian ricegrass - antelope bitterbrush community. The HCPC is the interpretative plant community for this site. Variability in this site results from differences in soil texture. An increase in coarse material will usually result in an increase in the proportion of indian ricegrass. Needle and thread will increase on soils with a finer sand surface. Antelope bitterbruswh is prominent where gravelly substrata are present. Occasionally, silt layers can occur in the subsoil which holds moisture within reach of shallower rooted plants, (forbs for example) thereby increasing their presence.
Figure 2. 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 | 270 | 400 | 515 |
| Shrub/Vine | 55 | 115 | 175 |
| Forb | 20 | 35 | 50 |
| Total | 345 | 550 | 740 |
Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR2261, B7 SANDS, GOOD CONDITION. RPC growth curve B7 SANDS, GOOD CONDITION.
| 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 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant deep rooted perennial grasses | 200–350 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECO26 | Hesperostipa comata | 200–350 | – | ||
| 2 | Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses | 60–140 | ||||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 50–100 | – | ||
| tufted wheatgrass | ELMA7 | Elymus macrourus | 10–40 | – | ||
| 4 | Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses | 5–10 | ||||
| Sandberg bluegrass | POSE | Poa secunda | 5–10 | – | ||
| 5 | Other perennial grasses | 5–15 | ||||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| yellow wildrye | LEFL4 | Leymus flavescens | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Dominant perennial forbs | 10–25 | ||||
| snow buckwheat | ERNI2 | Eriogonum niveum | 10–25 | – | ||
| 9 | Other perennial forbs | 10–25 | ||||
| common yarrow | ACMI2 | Achillea millefolium | 0–10 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Carey's balsamroot | BACA3 | Balsamorhiza careyana | 0–10 | – | ||
| naked mariposa lily | CANU2 | Calochortus nudus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Douglas' dustymaiden | CHDO | Chaenactis douglasii | 0–10 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 0–10 | – | ||
| pale evening primrose | OEPA | Oenothera pallida | 0–10 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 0–10 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–10 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| scurfpea | PSORA2 | Psoralidium | 0–10 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 11 | Dominant evergreen shrubs | 50–150 | ||||
| antelope bitterbrush | PUTR2 | Purshia tridentata | 50–150 | – | ||
| 15 | Other shrubs | 5–25 | ||||
| basin big sagebrush | ARTRT | Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata | 0–5 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| green rabbitbrush | ERTE18 | Ericameria teretifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–5 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Native Wildlife Associated With the Climax Community:
The site provides many of the habitat elements for pronghorn antelope and wintering mule deer. It also provides food and cover for various rodents, songbirds, and their associated predators.
Wildlife:
This site is commonly used by mule deer and pronghorn antelope. When this site is adjacent to irrigated cropland, ring-necked pheasant and gray partridge may be present.
Livestock Grazing:
This site is suited to winter grazing use by cattle and sheep in a grazing system that provides for deferment of grazing use during the growing season which is two of every three years.
Hydrological functions
The soils of this site have rapid infiltration rates and very low runoff potential. The hydrologic soil groups are A and C.
Recreational uses
This site is attractive to off-road vehicle users because of its hummocky relief and sandy surface. This use commonly results in the loss of protective vegetation and sever wind erosion.
Other information
Caution must be exercised in seeding because the soils are droughty and subject to severe wind erosion.
Supporting information
Contributors
Alan Bahn
E Ersch
E Ersch (OSU)
JPR
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) | Jeff Repp |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | Oregon NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist |
| Date | 07/25/2012 |
| Approved by | Bob Gillaspy |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None, slight sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-20% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Few -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Few to many; may be directional low dunes present; severe wind erosion hazard -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine - some movement expected (wind) over short distances -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Slightly resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 2-3 -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Moderately deep to very deep sands and loamy fine sands; low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Moderate ground cover (30-40%) and low (0-3%) slopes should reduce rainfall impact and overland flow; increased flow possible on steeper slopes (up to 20%) -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None -
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:
Needle and thread > antelope bitterbrush > indian ricegrass > Thickspike wheatgrass > forbs > shallow rooted perennial grasses > other shrubsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Normal decadence and mortality expected -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
In areas with adequate plant cover -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 700, Normal: 500, Unfavorable: 400 lbs/acre/year at high RSI (HCPC) -
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:
Rabbitbrush, sage brush and broom snakeweed may increase and reduce cover of herbaceous plants. Cheatgrass and annual forbs invade sites that have lost shallow rooted perennial grass functional groups -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing annually
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