Search

Search for a Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site R010XB047OR

JD Shallow South 12-16 PZ

Last updated: 12/13/2023
Accessed: 11/13/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 010X / Ecological site R010XB047OR

USC

Metric

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.

Click to explore map

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

R010XB045OR	JD Clayey South 12-16 PZ JD Clayey South 12-16" PZ
R010XB048OR	JD Loamy South 12-16 PZ JD Mahogany rockland 12"+ PZ
R010XB027OR	JD Clayey 12-16 PZ JD Clayey 12-16" PZ
R010XB030OR	JD Loamy 12-16 PZ JD Loamy 12-16" PZ
R010XB031OR	JD Shallow 12-16 PZ JD Shallow 12-16" PZ
R010XB032OR	JD Very Shallow 12-16 PZ JD Very Shallow 12-16" PZ

Similar sites

R010XB045OR	JD Clayey South 12-16 PZ JD Clayey South 12-16" PZ (deeper soil, higher production)

R010XB045OR

JD Clayey South 12-16 PZ

JD Clayey South 12-16" PZ (deeper soil, higher production)

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	Not specified

Download full description

Physiographic features

This site occurs on south facing aspects of uplands, tablelands, and upper canyon side slopes. Slopes range from 10 to 70 percent with slopes of 30 to 60 percent being most typical. Elevation varies from 2700 to 4800 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Canyon
Elevation	2,700 – 4,800 ft
Slope	10 – 70%
Water table depth	60 in
Aspect	S

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 16 inches. The precipitation occurs as rain and snow during the months of November and March. Localized, occasionally severe, convection storms occur during the summer. The mean annual air temperature is approximately 50 degrees F. Extreme temperatures range from 100 degrees F to -10 degrees F. Soil temperature regimes are mesic. The frost-free period ranges from 90 to 150 days. The period of optimum plant growth is from April through June.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	150 days
Freeze-free period (average)
Precipitation total (average)	16 in

Soil features

The soils of this site are formed in colluvium and loess over basalt and tuffaceous bedrock. They are shallow. Typically the surface layer is a very stony loam over a very stony clay loam subsoil. Depth to bedrock is 10 to 20 inches. Soil permeability is moderate. The available water holding capacity (AWC) is 2 to 4 inches. The erosion potential is severe.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Stony loam
Family particle size	(1) Clayey
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Soil depth	10 – 20 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)	2 – 4 in

Ecological dynamics

Range in Characteristics:

Variability in plant composition and production is dependent on soil depth, texture, and bedrock conditions. Bluebunch wheatgrass increases on fine textured surfaces. Thurber needlegrass increases on coarse textured surfaces. Juniper and antelope bitterbrush increase with bedrock fracturing. Production increases with soil depth.

Response to Disturbance:

If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, bluebunch wheatgrass, and Thurber needlegrass decrease while Sandberg bluegrass, broom snakeweed, and western juniper increase. Cheatgrass, annual brome, medusa-head and other annuals invade. In the absence of fire, western juniper strongly increases and areas of bareground appear between the juniper. Soil erosion rapidly accelerates and inherent site productivity decreases.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Reference Plant Community

State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community

The potential native plant community is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass. Thurber needlegrass and Sandberg bluegrass are common. Juniper and bitterbrush occur sporadically. Other shrubs are minor. The potential vegetative composition is approximately 90 percent grass, 5 percent forbs, and 5 percent shrubs. Approximate ground cover is 40-50 percent (basal and crown).

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	410	660	985
Forb	50	75	115
Shrub/Vine	35	55	85
Tree	5	10	15
Total	500	800	1200

Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR4281, JD Claypan South 10-14 PZ.

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	10	20	35	15	5	0	10	5	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	Perennial, deep-rooted, dominant			480–560
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSP6	Pseudoroegneria spicata	480–560	–
2	Perennial, deep-rooted, sub-dominant			80–120
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	80–120	–
4	Perennial, shallow-rooted, sub-dominant			16–40
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	16–40	–
5	Other perennial grasses, all			24–72
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–36	–
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	0–36	–
Forb
7	Perennial, all, dominant			32–96
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	8–24	–
	arrowleaf balsamroot	BASA3	Balsamorhiza sagittata	8–24	–
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	8–24	–
	lupine	LUPIN	Lupinus	8–24	–
9	Other perennial forbs, all			8–40
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–4	–
	agoseris	AGOSE	Agoseris	0–4	–
	cryptantha	CRYPT	Cryptantha	0–4	–
	Blue Mountain prairie clover	DAOR2	Dalea ornata	0–4	–
	fleabane	ERIGE2	Erigeron	0–4	–
	buckwheat	ERIOG	Eriogonum	0–4	–
	grasswidow	OLSYN	Olsynium	0–4	–
	phacelia	PHACE	Phacelia	0–4	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	0–4	–
Shrub/Vine
11	Perennial, deep-rooted, dominant			16–56
	antelope bitterbrush	PUTR2	Purshia tridentata	16–56	–
15	Other perennial shrubs, all			8–40
	basin big sagebrush	ARTRT	Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata	0–16	–
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNA10	Ericameria nauseosa	0–16	–
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–16	–
Tree
16	Evergreen			8–16
	ponderosa pine	PIPO	Pinus ponderosa	8–16	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Grazing:

This site is suited to spring, summer, and fall use by cattle, sheep, and horses under a planned grazing system. Bluebunch wheatgrass can be damaged if heavily grazed during periods of flowering and seed formation when root reserves and soil moisture is low. Use in the spring should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to prevent plant crown trampling damage, soil compaction, and soil mass movement.

Native Wildlife Associated with the Potential Climax Community:

Mule deer
Elk
Upland birds

When the ecological condition is high this site provides food and cover for deer, elk, other mammals, and upland birds. It is an important wintering area for deer and elk.

Threatened and Endangered Animals:

Listed endangered species (1993), which may occur on this site include the peregrine falcon. Listed threatened species is the bald eagle.

Hydrological functions

The soils of this site have low water holding capacities providing little late season water for plant growth. The hydrologic cover condition is fair when the ecological condition is high.

Other information

When in poor condition this site has low potential for range seeding because it is shallow, stony, and usually steep. Technology for seeding on steep slopes is currently not available.

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	08/06/2012
Approved by	Kirt Walstad
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None to few on steeper slopes, significant sheet & rill erosion hazard
Presence of water flow patterns:
None to few on steeper slopes
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):
10-25%
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):
Shallow to very shallow very stony or very cobbly loams or silt loams: moderate OM (1-3%)
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Moderate ground cover (50-60%) and gentle to very steep slopes (12-70%) 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 > Thurber needlegrass > shrubs > forbs > 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: 1200, Normal: 800, Unfavorable: 500 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:
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