State 1
Reference

State 1 represents grassland sites with no invasive or exotic species. All the functional, structural groups have one or more species. By cover saltgrass dominates the reference community. By weight basin wildrye dominates the reference community. Dominant Reference State Species: basin wildrye, saltgrass. At-risk Communities: All communities in the reference state are at risk of invasive species. Annual or biennial weeds and annual grass seeds blow onto most sites annually

Community 1.1
Basin Wildrye, Saltgrass, Sandberg Bluegrass, and Alkali Cordgrass

65% basin wildrye 20% saltgrass 10% Sandberg bluegrass and alkali cordgrass

Community 1.2
Basin WIldrye, Saltgrass, Sandberg Bluegrass, and Alkali Cordgrass

25% basin wildrye 60% saltgrass 10% Sandberg bluegrass and alkali cordgrass

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Result: Shift from Reference Community 1.1 (bunchgrass-rhizomatous grass) to Community 1.2 (rhizomatous grass). Basin wildrye declines while saltgrass makes a corresponding increase. Also, alkali bluegrass declines and alkali cordgrass increases. Primary Trigger: Excessive grazing pressure (heavy grazing intensity, season long grazing or frequent late spring grazing) to basin wildrye. Ecological process: with consistent defoliation pressure basin wildrye and has low vigor, shrinking crowns and some mortality. Saltgrass rhizomes move into the areas vacated by basin wildrye and new saltgrass shoots become established.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Result: Shift from rhizomatous grass community 1.2 back to Reference Community 1.1 with more bunchgrasses. Primary Trigger: Light to moderate grazing especially during dormant season, coupled with favorable moisture years allows basin wildrye to expand. Ecological process: Given the opportunity (good vigor and adequate soil moisture) basin wildrye plants gain the competitive edge and re-establishes dominance via tillering and new seedlings.

State 2
Invaded

State 2 represents the Alkali Terrace ecological site where invasive broadleaf weeds and invasive annual grasses have prominence. Basin wildrye is all but missing and saltgrass remains as a patchwork of spots and clumps. State 2 can have two variations both with or without rabbitbrush: 1. Broadleaf annual or biennial weeds with saltgrass patches 2. Annual grasses with saltgrass patches Community Phases for State 2: Invasive broadleaf annual or biannual weeds with patches of saltgrass Invasive annual grasses with patches of saltgrass Some Invasive Species in State 2: cheatgrass slender cinquefoil rabbitsfoot grass foxtail barley pepperweed .

Community 2.1
Invasive Annual and Biennial Broadleaf Weeds, Rabbitbrush, and Foxtail Barley

State 3
Seeded

State 3 represents a site that has been seeded to desirable grasses such as basin wildrye, beardless wildrye, tall wheatgrass, or western wheatgrass.

Community 3.1
Seeded Grass

85% seeded grass

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Result: Shift from Reference State to State 2 with invasive species Primary Trigger: Grazing pressure (heavy intensity, season long grazing, frequent late spring grazing) to basin wildrye. Ecological process: with consistent grazing pressure basin wildrye has poor vigor, shrinking crowns and mortality. Initially, saltgrass increases but then declines with further grazing pressure. Invasive species colonize and as the deterioration continues, eventually dominate the site. Indicators: Increasing gaps between basin wildrye plants, decreasing cover of saltgrass and increasing cover of invasive species.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Transition from State 2, a community dominated by invasive annual species, to State 3, which is predominately desirable seeded grasses. Species selection for the seeding is critical as the site is moderately saline-sodic. This restoration transition does not occur without significant time and inputs to control weeds, prepare a seedbed, seed desirable species, and post-seeding weed control and management. It may take two years or longer to kill invasive annual species and remaining saltgrass, and to exhaust the seedbank of invasive weed seeds. Care must be taken to maintain soil structure so that the seedbed has many safe-sites for the seed. Seed placement must be managed to achieve seed-soil contact at a very shallow depth (about 1/8 inch is desired). Basin wildrye, beardless wildrye, tall wheatgrass, and western wheatgrass are typical species seeded on Alkali Terrace ecological site. Proper grazing management is essential to maintain the stand post-seeding. The actual transition occurs when the seeded species have successfully established and are outcompeting the annual species for cover and dominance of resources.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 2

Result: Shift from State 3 seeded grasses to State 2 with invasive species Primary Trigger: Grazing pressure (heavy intensity, season long grazing, frequent late spring grazing) to desirable seeded grasses. Ecological Process: with consistent grazing pressure desirable grasses have poor vigor, shrinking crowns and mortality. This allows invasive species to colonize and then expand to a position of dominance. Indicators: increasing gaps between basin wildrye plants, increasing cover of invasive species.