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Ecological site R010XA025OR

Juniper Shallow North 10-12 PZ

Accessed: 12/21/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 010X / Ecological site R010XA025OR

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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

R010XA007OR	Juniper Pumice South 9-12 PZ
R010XA009OR	Juniper Shrubby Pumice Flat 10-12 PZ
R010XA023OR	Juniper Lava Shrubby Blisters 10-12 PZ
R010XA026OR	Juniper Pumice North 10-12 PZ

Similar sites

R010XA026OR	Juniper Pumice North 10-12 PZ
R010XA083OR	Juniper Shrubby North 9-12 PZ

R010XA026OR

Juniper Pumice North 10-12 PZ

R010XA083OR

Juniper Shrubby North 9-12 PZ

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Juniperus occidentalis
Shrub	(1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana
Herbaceous	(1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata (2) Festuca idahoensis

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on the north slopes of buttes, ridges and canyons.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Butte (2) Ridge (3) Canyon
Elevation	2,800 – 4,500 ft
Slope	15 – 50%
Aspect	N

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges for 9 to 12 inches and occurs mainly between the month of November and June, mostly in the form of rain and snow. The soil temperature regime is mesic. The average annual air temperature is 44 degrees F. with extreme temperatures ranging from -10 to 104 degrees F. The frost free period is 60 to 100 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from April through July.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	100 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	12 in

Soil features

The soils of this site are shallow, skeletal, well drained and medium textured. They are generally formed in volcanic ash and the underlying colluvium or residuum. Permeability is moderate and the available water holding capacity is 1 to 3 inches for the profile. The potential for wind erosoin is high.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Soil depth	20 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)	1 – 3 in

Ecological dynamics

Juniper and big sagebrush decrease following burning while rabbitbrush increases. Overgrzing causes a decline in Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass.

Increasers and invaders include cheatgrass, mustard, and grey rabbitbrush.

As stoniness increases, the abundance of juniper and bluebunch wheatgrass increases, while Idaho fescue decreases.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

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 very slow growing western juniper, mountain big sagebrush, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Sandberg bluegrass. Vegetative composition is approximately 65% grasses, 10% forbs, and 25% shrubs/trees.

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	496	604	712
Shrub/Vine	104	136	168
Tree	40	60	80
Forb	32	48	64
Total	672	848	1024

Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4041, B10A Mesic, Low Elev., North Good Condition. B10A Mesic, Low Elev., North 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	0	5	30	50	13	2	0	0	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			440–600
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSP6	Pseudoroegneria spicata	240–320	–
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	200–280	–
2	Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses			8–16
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	8–16	–
4	Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses			48–96
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	40–80	–
	prairie Junegrass	KOMA	Koeleria macrantha	8–16	–
Forb
7	Dominant perennial forbs			24–48
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	8–16	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	8–16	–
	fleabane	ERIGE2	Erigeron	8–16	–
9	Other perennial forbs			8–16
	tapertip hawksbeard	CRAC2	Crepis acuminata	0–5	–
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–5	–
	lupine	LUPIN	Lupinus	0–5	–
Shrub/Vine
11	Dominant evergreen shrubs			80–120
	mountain big sagebrush	ARTRV	Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana	80–120	–
12	Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs			16–32
	slender buckwheat	ERMI4	Eriogonum microthecum	8–16	–
	green rabbitbrush	ERTE18	Ericameria teretifolia	8–16	–
14	Sub-dominant deciduous (or 1/2 shrubs) shrubs			8–16
	desert gooseberry	RIVE	Ribes velutinum	8–16	–
Tree
16	Dominant evergreen trees			40–80
	western juniper	JUOC	Juniperus occidentalis	40–80	–

Interpretations

Hydrological functions

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

Wood products

Not practical for wood product removal. Tree growth form is not suitable for firewood or posts.

Other products

Stoniness and steep slopes make this site of low value for grazing because of poor accessibility.

Other information

Range seedings are impractical except when broadcast after burning. Species recommended include crested wheatgrass, sheep fescue, 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 to some in interspaces
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None to some in interspaces
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 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 to significantly resistant to erosion; aggregate stability = 4-6
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Shallow, skeletal, well drained loams; moderate OM (1-3%)
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant ground cover (60-75%) and moderate to steep slopes (5-50%) 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 >= Idaho fescue > Mountain big sagebrush > Sandberg bluegrass = Western Juniper > forbs > other dominant shrubs > other dominant 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: 1000, Normal: 800, Unfavorable: 600 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

Download reference sheet