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Ecological site R010XC063OR

SR Droughty North 9-12 PZ

Accessed: 12/21/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 010X / Ecological site R010XC063OR

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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.

Associated sites

R010XC020OR	SR Loamy 9-12 PZ SR Loamy 9-12" PZ
R010XC021OR	SR Clayey 9-12 PZ SR Clayey 9-12" PZ
R010XC025OR	SR Sandy 9-12 PZ SR Sandy 9-12 PZ
R010XC043OR	SR South 9-12 PZ SR South 9-12" PZ
R010XC064OR	SR North 9-12 PZ SR North 9-12 PZ

Similar sites

R010XC064OR	SR North 9-12 PZ SR North 9-12 PZ (cooler site, predominant on due north aspeccts, different composition- Idaho fescue dominant)

R010XC064OR

SR North 9-12 PZ

SR North 9-12 PZ (cooler site, predominant on due north aspeccts, different composition- Idaho fescue dominant)

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis (2) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata
Herbaceous	(1) Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. inermis (2) Festuca idahoensis

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on north facing aspects of mid elevation terraces in the Malheur, Owyhee and adjacent Snake River drainage. Slopes can vary from northeast to northwest and typically range from 15 to 70%. Elevations range from 2,200 to 3.500 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Terrace
Elevation	2,200 – 3,500 ft
Slope	15 – 70%
Aspect	N, NE, NW

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 12 inches, most of which occurs in the
form of rain and snow during the months of December through March. Localized convection storms occasionally occur during the summer. The soil temperature regime is mesic with a mean air temperature of 51 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 100 to -20 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 110 to 150 days. The optimum growth period for plant growth is April through June.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	150 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	12 in

Soil features

The soils of this site are typically moderately deep to very deep and well drained. Typically the surface layer is a silt loam to a very fine sandy loam 5 to 20 inches thick. The subsoil is a silty loam to clay loam 15 to over 30 inches thick. Depth to lacustrine or tuffaceous sediments ranges from 20 to over 60 inches. Permeability is moderate to moderately slow. The available water holding capacity (AWC) is about 4 to 6 inches for the profile. The erosion potential is moderate to severe.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Silt loam (2) Very fine sandy loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderate to moderately slow
Soil depth	20 – 60 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)	4 – 6 in

Ecological dynamics

The potential native plant community is dominated by Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass. Wyoming big sagebrush and lesser amounts of basin big sagebrush are common. Sandberg bluegrass and a variety of forbs and other shrubs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 85 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs and 10 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 80 to 90 percent (basal and crown).

Rsnge in Characteristics:
Idaho fescue increases on due north slopes. Beardless wheatgrass increases on a silty surface and on easterly and westerly exposures. Thurber’s needlegrass increases on a very fine sandy loam surface and on droughtier sites. Basin big sagebrush increases as precipitation approaches 12 inches. Spiny hopsage increases on droughty slump areas. Production increases on deeper foot slope soils and at the upper end of the precipitation zone.

Response to Disturbance:
When the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of over grazing, Idaho fescue species decreases. Beardless and bearded bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, Wyoming and basin big sagebrush increase. With continued deterioration bluebunch wheatgrass decreases and annuals strongly invade. With fire big sagebrush is severely impacted. Under deteriorated conditions rabbitbrush increases slightly and the site is dominated by cheatgrass, other annuals, and biennial forbs. Bare ground increases and excessive erosion particularly in incised channel areas, contributes to downstream sedimentation.

States: ARTRW/PSSPI-POSE-BRTE; CHVI8/ POSE-BRTE/biennial forbs(following fire on degraded range)

State and transition model

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. 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 beardless wheatgrass and Idaho fescue. Wyoming big sagebrush and lesser amounts of basin big sagebrush are common. Bearded bluebunch wheatgrass, Thurber’s needlegrass, Sandberg bluegrass and a variety of forbs and other shrubs are present. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 85 percent grasses, 5 percent forbs and 10 percent shrubs. The approximate ground cover is 80 to 90 percent (basal and crown).

Figure 1. 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	765	1020	1020
Shrub/Vine	90	120	180
Forb	45	60	90
Total	900	1200	1290

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 grass			600–720
	beardless wheatgrass	PSSPI	Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. inermis	600–720	–
2	Sub-dominant, deep-rooted perennial grasses			360–660
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	240–360	–
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSPS	Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata	60–180	–
	Thurber's needlegrass	ACTH7	Achnatherum thurberianum	60–120	–
4	Sub-dominant, shallow-rooted perennial grass			12–36
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	12–36	–
5	Other grasses			5–64
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–24	–
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	0–24	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	5–16	–
Forb
7	Dominant perennial forbs			40–64
	arrowleaf balsamroot	BASA3	Balsamorhiza sagittata	16–24	–
	lupine	LUPIN	Lupinus	16–24	–
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	8–16	–
9	Other forbs			32–92
	hawksbeard	CREPI	Crepis	6–12	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	6–12	–
	buckwheat	ERIOG	Eriogonum	6–12	–
	stoneseed	LITHO3	Lithospermum	4–10	–
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	3–8	–
	fleabane	ERIGE2	Erigeron	3–8	–
	bastard toadflax	COMAN	Comandra	0–8	–
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	0–6	–
	brodiaea	BRODI	Brodiaea	1–4	–
	agoseris	AGOSE	Agoseris	1–4	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	1–4	–
	woodland-star	LITHO2	Lithophragma	1–4	–
Shrub/Vine
11	Dominant, evergreen shrubs			48–96
	Wyoming big sagebrush	ARTRW8	Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis	36–60	–
	basin big sagebrush	ARTRT	Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata	12–36	–
14	Other shrubs			8–66
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	8–24	–
	spiny hopsage	GRSP	Grayia spinosa	0–24	–
	threetip sagebrush	ARTR4	Artemisia tripartita	0–18	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Grazing:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing use in the spring, early summer and fall under a planned grazing system. Use should be postponed until the soils are firm enough to prevent trampling damage and soil compaction. Grazing management should be keyed for Idaho fescue the preferred species over bluebunch wheaygrass. Deferred grazing or rest is recommended at least once every three years.

Native Wildlife Associated with the Potential Climax Community:
This site is commonly used by pronghorn antelope, mule deer, rabbits, rodents, upland birds and various predators. It is a preferred site for sage grouse rearing. Antelope and mule deer make excellent use of the site for fall, late winter and spring forage.

Hydrological functions

The soils of this site are in an upland topographic position. They have moderately high runoff potential and medium infiltration rates when the hydrologic cover is high. Hydrologic cover is high when the bluebunch wheatgrass and Idaho fescue and other deep rooted bunchgrass components are >70 percent of potential. The soils are in hydrologic group C.

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)
Contact for lead author
Date
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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 plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet