Ecological site R010XA019OR

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

R010XA001OR	Loamy 8-10 PZ Droughty Loam 8-10 PZ
R010XA002OR	Juniper Shrubby Pumice Hills 8-10 PZ Pumice Hills 8-10 PZ
R010XA007OR	Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ South 10-12 PZ
R010XA009OR	Juniper Shrubby Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ

Similar sites

R010XA001OR

Loamy 8-10 PZ

Droughty Loam 8-10 PZ

R010XA018OR

Juniper Shrubby Loam 10-12 PZ

Loamy 10-12 PZ

R010XA007OR

Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ

South 10-12 PZ

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis (2) Purshia tridentata
Herbaceous	(1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata (2) Poa sandbergii

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on gentle hills and the tops or slopes of low ridges.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Hill (2) Ridge (3) Plateau
Elevation	701 – 1,006 m
Slope	0 – 20%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges primarily from 8 to 12 inches and somewhat higher in a few locations. Precipitation occurs mainly between the months of October and June mostly in the form of rain. The soil temperature regime is mesic. The average annual air temperature is 49 degrees F. with extreme temperatures ranging from -20 to 104 degrees F. The frost free period is 90 to 120 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid March through mid June.

Redmond climate report located at: ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/climate/taps/or/41017.txt

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	120 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	305 mm

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Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

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Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

The soils of this site are moderately deep, well drained and coarse to medium textured. They are generally formed from volcanic ash and the underlying bedrock. Permeability is moderately rapid and the available water holding capacity is 2 to 4 inches for the profile. The potential for wind erosion is high.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderately rapid
Soil depth	102 cm
Surface fragment cover <=3"	10 – 25%
Surface fragment cover >3"	1 – 15%
Available water capacity (0-101.6cm)	5.08 – 10.16 cm
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	25 – 60%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	10 – 50%

Ecological dynamics

Burning results is a decline or loss of bitterbrush and big sagebrush. Overgrazing causes a decline in bluebunch wheatgrass and an increase in Thurber needlegrass. Excessive grazing in late summer or fall will reduce the vigor of bitterbrush.

Increasers and invaders include, cheatgrass, annual fescue, and squirreltail.

In areas of deeper soil, composition of antelope bitterbrush and perennial grasses may be higher than indicated above.

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 Communtiy

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Historic Climax Plant Communtiy

State 1
Historic Climax Plant Communtiy

Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Communtiy

The potential native plant community is dominated by a very open stand of juniper with a shrub layer of big sagebrush and antelope bitterbrush. Herbaceous species are dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass with Sandberg bluegrass and Thurber needlegrass common. Vegetative composition is approximately 80% grass, 5% forbs, and 15% shrubs/trees.

Figure 4. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (kg/hectare)	Representative value (kg/hectare)	High (kg/hectare)
Grass/Grasslike	370	457	545
Shrub/Vine	94	145	195
Forb	13	34	54
Tree	7	20	34
Total	484	656	828

Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4001, B10A Mesic, Low Elev., N/A, Sandy, Good Condition. B10A Mesic, Low Elev., N/A, Sandy, Good Condition RPC Growth Curve.

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	0	5	20	55	15	5	0	0	0	0	0

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (kg/hectare)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Dominant deep rooted perennial grasses			269–404
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSP6	Pseudoroegneria spicata	269–404	–
2	Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses			20–40
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	7–13	–
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	7–13	–
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	7–13	–
3	Dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses			78–101
	prairie Junegrass	KOMA	Koeleria macrantha	50–101	–
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	50–101	–
Forb
7	Dominant perennial forbs			7–13
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	7–13	–
9	Other perennial forbs			7–40
	curvepod milkvetch	ASCU4	Astragalus curvicarpus	0–6	–
	basalt milkvetch	ASFI	Astragalus filipes	0–6	–
	arrowleaf balsamroot	BASA3	Balsamorhiza sagittata	0–6	–
	tapertip hawksbeard	CRAC2	Crepis acuminata	0–6	–
	fleabane	ERIGE2	Erigeron	0–6	–
	bigseed biscuitroot	LOMA3	Lomatium macrocarpum	0–6	–
	lupine	LUPIN	Lupinus	0–6	–
	spreading phlox	PHDI3	Phlox diffusa	0–6	–
	deathcamas	ZIGAD	Zigadenus	0–6	–
Shrub/Vine
11	Dominant evergreen shrubs			67–135
	Wyoming big sagebrush	ARTRW8	Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis	34–67	–
	antelope bitterbrush	PUTR2	Purshia tridentata	34–67	–
12	Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs			27–61
	slender buckwheat	ERMI4	Eriogonum microthecum	13–34	–
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNA10	Ericameria nauseosa	7–13	–
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	7–13	–
Tree
16	Dominant evergreen trees			7–34
	western juniper	JUOC	Juniperus occidentalis	7–34	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Mule deer use this site as winter range. Key species are Antelope Bitterbrush and Wyoming Big Sagebrush.

Hydrological functions

The soils of this site have high infiltration rates and moderate runoff potential.

Recreational uses

Hunting, hiking.

Wood products

A minor amount of juniper is cut for firewood from this site.

Other products

Key species for grazing management are bluebunch wheatgrass and bitterbrush.

Other information

Adapted species for range seedings include crested wheatgrass, Siberian wheatgrass, and secar bluebunch wheatgrass.

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 and Bruce Frannsen
Contact for lead author	State Rangeland Management Specialist for NRCS - Oregon
Date	08/03/2012
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):
5-15%
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None to some, Severe 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):
Moderately deep, well drained, sandy loams and very gravelly loams; 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 (45-60%) and moderate slopes (to 20%) moderately 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:
Bluebunch wheatgrass > Sandberg bluegrass > Antelope bitterbrush = Basin big sagebrush > other forbs > shrubby buckwheat = Western Juniper > other dominant grasses > Common yarrow > other dominant forbs

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: 800, Normal: 600, 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:
Perennial brush species will increase with deterioration of plant community. Western Juniper readily increases on the site. 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

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