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Ecological site R009XY018OR

Cold Loamy 17-24 PZ

Accessed: 11/21/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 009X / Ecological site R009XY018OR

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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.

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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

R009XY022OR	Cold Shallow 13+ PZ Mountain Shallow 13"+ PZ
R009XY027OR	Cold Very Shallow 13+ PZ Mountian Very Shallow 13"+ PZ

R009XY022OR

Cold Shallow 13+ PZ

Mountain Shallow 13"+ PZ

R009XY027OR

Cold Very Shallow 13+ PZ

Mountian Very Shallow 13"+ PZ

Similar sites

R009XY017OR	Cold Loamy 13-17 PZ Mountain Loamy 13-17" PZ

R009XY017OR

Cold Loamy 13-17 PZ

Mountain Loamy 13-17" PZ

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	Not specified

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Physiographic features

This site occurs near and within forestland on terraces, tablelands and mountian plateaus north of the Wallowa Mountains. Slopes range from 0 to 20%. Elevation varies from 3400 to 5000 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Mountain
Elevation	3,400 – 5,000 ft
Slope	20%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges from 17 to 24 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of Novenmber through March followed by ample early summer rainfall. Localized convection al storms occasionally occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is frigid with a mean annual air temperature of 43 degrees F. The frost-free period ranges from 60 to 100 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from late April to late July.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	100 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	24 in

Soil features

The soils of this site are dominantly moderately deep over basalt bedrock and are well drained. Typically the surface layer is a loam, gravelly loam, or very cobbly silt loam. The subsoil is a silt loam or silty clay loam over a clay loam to clay. Coarse fragments range to greater than 35% throughout some soils. Permeability ranges from very slow to moderate. The available water holding capapcity (AWC) is about 5 to 7 inches for the profile. The potential for erosion is moderate.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Loam (2) Very gravelly loam (3) Silt loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Very slow to moderate

Ecological dynamics

Range in Characterisitics:
Variability in plant composition and yeild is dependent on aspect and soil depth rather than on precipitation and elelvation ranges that occur within the site. There tends to be a higher proportion of bluebunch wheatgrass and lower total production on south and southwesterly slopes particularly at shallower depths. Conversely, Idaho fescue is in higher proportion with greater total production on north slopes.
Response to disturbance:
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue decreases and buckwheat, cinquefoil and yarrow increases. Kentucky bluegrass rapidly invades replacing Idaho fescue the preferred species during early summer use. With further deterioration, forbs continue to increase and soft chess, cheatgrass, tarweed and other annuals invade. Under deteriorated conditions annuals and unpalatable forbs dominate the site.

State and transition model

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Standard diagram

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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Historic Climax Plant Community

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Historic Climax Plant Community

State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community

Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community

The potential native plant community is dominated by Idaho fescue. Bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, buckwheat, lupine and a variety of other forbs are prominent in the stand. The vegetative composition of the community is approximatley 90 percent grasses and 10 percent forbs.

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	1386	1602	1818
Forb	72	171	270
Shrub/Vine	36	54	72
Total	1494	1827	2160

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	Perennial Deep-rooted Dominant			1260–1440
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	1260–1440	–
2	Perennial Deep-rooted Sub-dominant			90–270
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSP6	Pseudoroegneria spicata	90–270	–
4	Perenial Shallow-rooted Sub-dominant			36–108
	prairie Junegrass	KOMA	Koeleria macrantha	18–72	–
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	18–36	–
Forb
7	Perennial All Dominant			36–108
	parsnipflower buckwheat	ERHE2	Eriogonum heracleoides	18–54	–
	lupine	LUPIN	Lupinus	18–54	–
8	Perennial All Sub-dominant			18–36
	cinquefoil	POTEN	Potentilla	18–36	–
9	PPFF			18–126
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	2–13	–
	agoseris	AGOSE	Agoseris	2–13	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	2–13	–
	brodiaea	BRODI	Brodiaea	2–13	–
	mariposa lily	CALOC	Calochortus	2–13	–
	hawksbeard	CREPI	Crepis	2–13	–
	fleabane	ERIGE2	Erigeron	2–13	–
	old man's whiskers	GETR	Geum triflorum	2–13	–
	Scouler's woollyweed	HISC2	Hieracium scouleri	2–13	–
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	2–13	–
Shrub/Vine
13	Perennial Deciduous Dominant			36–72
	rose	ROSA5	Rosa	18–36	–
	common snowberry	SYAL	Symphoricarpos albus	18–36	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Grazing:
This site is suited to use by cattel and sheep in the summer and fall. It has few limitations. Care should be taken to avoid trampling damage and soil compaction when sils are wet.
Wildlife:
This site is important as a spring, summer and fall feeding site for deer and elk. The sites are usually adjacent to forested areas which provide hiding and thermal cover.
Native Wildlife Associated With The Potentail Climax Community:
Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, Hawks, Coyote, Rodents, and White-tailed deer.

Hydrological functions

The hydrologic cover condition is good at higher condidtion classes. The soils in this site are dominantly in hydrologic group C.

Recreational uses

North of the Wallowa Mountains this site occurs on ridgetops interfingering with the forest. It provides a pleasing visual diversity with forests.

Wood products

A few scatterd ponderosa pine may occur. These provide limited benefits in terms of wood products, shade and diversity.

Other information

This site has a potential for range seeding when it occurs in large enough units. As a complex with shallow sites the potential for range seeding is often low because it occurs as small mounds (biscuits).

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	07/30/2012
Approved by	Bob Gillaspy
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None to some, moderate 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):
5-10%
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None, slight wind erosion hazard
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine - limited movement
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Moderately resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 3-5
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Deep and moderately deep, well drained with a loam, gravelly loam, or very cobbly silt loam surface. Coarse fragments range to greater than 35% throughout some soils; low OM (1-2%)
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (80-90%) and gentle slopes (0-20%) effectively limit rainfall impact and overland flow
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:
Idaho fescue > Bluebunch wheatgrass > forbs > shrubs > other grasses

Sub-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):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Favorable: 2300, Normal: 1800, Unfavorable: 1400 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:
Forb species will increase with deterioration of plant community. Bluegrasses, cheatgrass, and medusahead invade sites that have lost deep rooted perennial grass functional groups.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species should be capable of reproducing annually

Download reference sheet