Physiographic features

This site occurs on gently sloping to moderately steep north and east facing mountain slopes. Slopes vary from 30 to 70 percent. Elevations range from 4800 to 7000 feet (1450 to 2150 meters).

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

MLRA 13, the Eastern Idaho Plateaus, is part of the Northwestern Wheat and Range Region. Its elevation ranges from 4209 to 9331 feet above sea level, with an average elevation of 5787 feet. The average annual precipitation is 16.41 inches, with a range of 13.56 to 18.75 inches, based on ten long term climate stations located throughout the MLRA. A spike in precipitation amount often occurs in late spring, usually in May.
Temperatures vary widely in the MLRA throughout the year. A maximum temperature of 103° Fahrenheit occurred at the McCammon climate station (# 105716; elevation 4770 feet), while a minimum of -41° was recorded at the Kilgore station (#104908). At all stations temperatures throughout the year are usually below the national average. Kilgore also recorded the greatest annual snowfall amount of 217 inches. The average temperature is 41.4 degrees F. with an average high of 55.3 degrees and an average low of 27.5 degrees.
The frost-free period ranges from 64 to 90 days, while the freeze-free period can be 98 to 123 days.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Influencing water features

This site is not influenced by adjacent wetlands, streams, or run on.

Soil features

The soils of this site are very deep, well drained, silt loam and loam. The surface layer is a thick dark colored due to the high organic material. They are underlain by medium textured layers that may contain gravel and cobbles. Intake rate is moderate and water movement through the soil is moderate. Roots readily penetrate the soil. These soils have a moderate available water holding capacity (AWC). Rock fragments are variable throughout the profile, but are less than 35 percent by volume. Under proper management, these soils have little surface runoff and slight to no erosion. The soils are characterized by a xeric soil moisture regime and either a frigid or cryic soil temperature regime.





Soil Series Correlated to this Ecological Site


Hades
Rin

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Wildlife Interpretations.

Animal Community – Wildlife Interpretations

This rangeland ecological site provides habitat for many native wildlife species. The plant community exhibits a diverse mixture of forbs throughout the growing season offering excellent habitat for invertebrates. Mule deer and elk utilize the site throughout the year. The rangeland provides seasonal habitat for resident and migratory animals including western toad, shrews, bats, ground squirrels, mice, coyote, red fox, badger, Ferruginous hawk, and prairie falcon. Wyoming ground squirrel, Virginia’s warbler, Idaho pocket gopher, ring-necked snake, and Merriam’s shrew are area sensitive species that may be associated with this site. Water features are sparse provided by seasonal runoff, artificial water catchments, and springs.

State 1 Phase 1.1 – Mountain Snowberry/ Thickspike Wheatgrass/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass Reference Plant Community (RPC): This plant community provides a diversity of grasses, forbs, and shrubs used by native insect communities that assist in pollination. An extensive array of forbs is represented throughout the growing season leading to a diverse insect community. Many avian and mammal species utilize this habitat based on the availability of invertebrate prey species. The reptile and amphibian community is represented by common sagebrush lizard, western rattlesnake, Great Basin spadefoot toad, western toad, and northern leopard frog. Amphibians are associated with springs and isolated water bodies adjacent to this plant community. Development of spring sites that collect all available water would exclude amphibian use on these sites. Native shrub-steppe obligate bird species utilizing the habitat include the Brewer’s sparrow, sage sparrow, sage grouse, and sage thrasher. The plant community provides year-round food and cover for mule deer and elk. Winter habitat is provided for mule deer and elk. Mountain snowberry, wood’s rose, and serviceberry are desirable browse year round for mule deer and antelope while desirable in the fall and winter for elk. A diverse small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, jackrabbits, deer mice, and Great Basin pocket mice would utilize this plant community.

State 1 Phase 1.2- Mountain Snowberry/ Mountain Big Sagebrush/ Thickspike Wheatgrass/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass Plant Community: This phase has developed due to fire return interbals being much longer than normal. An increase in canopy cover of snowberry and sagebrush contributes to a decline in herbaceous understory. Invertebrate diversity and populations would be similar to those in State 1 Phase 1.1. The reptile community will be similar to the State 1 Phase 1.1 community represented by common sagebrush lizard and western rattlesnake. Sagebrush will provide brood-rearing habitat, winter cover, and winter food for sage-grouse. The plant community provides year-round food habitat for mule deer and elk. Mountain snowberry, wood’s rose, and serviceberry are desirable browse for mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. A diverse small mammal population may include Idaho pocket gopher, golden-mantled ground squirrels, marmots, and chipmunks.

State 1 Phase 1.3- Mountain Snowberry/ Mountain Big Sagebrush/ Utah Juniper/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass/ Thickspike Wheatgrass Plant Community: This plant community is the result of improper grazing management and no fire. An increase in canopy cover of sagebrush and juniper contributes to a sparse herbaceous understory. A reduced herbaceous understory results in lower diversity and numbers of insects. The reptile and amphibian community will be similar to the State 1 Phase 1.1 community, represented by common sagebrush lizard, western rattlesnake, Great Basin spadefoot toad, and western toad. The reduced diversity of insects and loss of understory cover may reduce the quality of food and cover for reptile populations. As juniper increases, habitat for Brewer’s sparrow, sage thrasher, and sage sparrow may increase. Remaining sagebrush provides brood-rearing, winter cover, and winter food habitat for sage-grouse but as juniper encroaches, the quality of this habitat is severely reduced or eliminated. The plant community supports limited seasonal habitat for mule deer and elk. Juniper can provide winter habitat (cover and food) for mule deer. As juniper encroaches the site will provide additional thermal cover for large mammals. The small mammal population would be similar to the State 1 Phase 1.1 animal community.

State 1 Phase 1.4 - Thickspike Wheatgrass/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass Plant Community: This plant community is a result of recent wildfire, prescribed burning, or brush management. The plant community, dominated by herbaceous vegetation would provide less vertical structure for animals. Patches of root sprouting shrubs (snowberry, serviceberry, and wood’s rose) may be present and provide limited vertical structure for wildlife over time. Insect diversity would be reduced but a native forb plant community similar to the one in State 1 Phase 1.1 would still support select pollinators. Habitat for common sagebrush lizard, Great Basin spadefoot toad, and western toad would be limited due to the reduction of shrub canopy. Amphibian habitat would be tied to permanent spring sites in the area. Development of spring sites that collect all available water would exclude the use of amphibians on these sites. The dominance of herbaceous vegetation with sparse brush cover would limit use of these areas as nesting habitat by Brewer’s sparrow, sage sparrow, sage grouse, and sage thrasher. The dominant herbaceous vegetation improves habitat for grassland avian species (horned lark, savannah sparrow, vesper sparrow, and western meadowlark). Mule deer and elk use would be seasonal but the site would offer little thermal or young of year cover due to the loss of shrub cover. The populations of small mammals would be dominated by open grassland species. Large blocks of this plant community would fragment the reference plant community and reduce the quality of habitat for shrub-steppe obligate animal species.

State 1 Phase 1.5 - Mountain Snowberry/ Mountain Big Sagebrush/ Thickspike Wheatgrass/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass Plant Community: This plant community is the result of improper grazing management and no fire. An increase in canopy cover of sagebrush and mountain snowberry contributes to a sparse herbaceous understory. The reduced herbaceous understory results in lower diversity of insects. The reptile and amphibian community will be similar to the State 1 Phase 1.1 community, represented by common sagebrush lizard, western rattlesnake, Great Basin spadefoot toad, and western toad. The reduced diversity of insects may reduce reptile diversity and populations. Reduced herbaceous understory is a factor limiting the use of this plant community by avian species. As sagebrush increases, habitat for shrub-steppe obligate birds including Brewer’s sparrow, sage sparrow, and sage thrasher may increase in value. Habitat (brood-rearing and nesting cover) quality for sage-grouse is limited due to a less diverse herbaceous plant community. Winter habitat (cover and food) for sage-grouse may be provided. The reduced vigor of understory vegetation provides a shorter forage season for mule deer and elk. Young of year cover would be provided for deer and elk. Mountain snowberry, wood’s rose, and serviceberry would provide desirable browse for mule deer and elk. Small mammal diversity and populations would be similar to those in State 1 Phase 1.1.

State 2 - Mountain Snowberry/ Dryland Sedge/ Kentucky Bluegrass Plant Community:
This state has developed due to continued improper grazing management and the absence of fire. The reduced diversity of forbs and shrubs would support a limited population of pollinators. Habitat for sagebrush lizard, Great Basin spadefoot toad, and western toad would decrease due to the reduced diversity of shrubs. This plant community does not provide quality habitat for sage thrasher, Brewer’s sparrow, sage-grouse, or sage sparrow. Birds of prey including hawks and falcons may range throughout these areas looking for prey species. Large mammals may utilize the herbaceous vegetation in the spring and fall when the herbaceous vegetation is more palatable. The populations of small mammals would similar to those in State 1 Phase 1.1.

State 3 – Utah Juniper/ Sandberg Bluegrass/ Annuals: This state has developed due to improper grazing management and no fire. The loss of native understory vegetation will reduce insect diversity on the site. Habitat for sagebrush lizard, Great Basin spadefoot toad, and western toad would be limited due to the loss of shrub cover. This plant community does not support the habitat requirements for sage-grouse. Birds using this site as resident or migratory habitat include Juniper titmouse, western bluebird, and Virginia’s warbler. The Juniper titmouse relies heavily on juniper seeds for winter food. Hunting success by raptors on this site may decrease due to a heavy overstory of juniper. Hunting success by raptors on adjacent ecological sites may increase due to increased availability of perch and roosting sites provided by junipers. The plant community supports limited seasonal habitat for mule deer and elk in spring and fall. The encroachment of junipers may increase winter habitat value for mule deer. As juniper encroaches the site will provide additional thermal cover and young of year cover for large mammals.


Grazing Interpretations.

This site is well suited for livestock use in the summer and fall.
Estimated initial stocking rate will be determined with the landowner or decision-maker. They will be based on the inventory which includes species, composition, similarity index, production, past use history, season of use, and seasonal preference. Calculations used to determine estimated initial stocking rate will be based on forage preference ratings.

Hydrological functions

Soils on this site are in hydrologic group B. They have moderately low runoff potential.
Snow accumulates on the site due to high elevation and presence of tall shrubs.

Recreational uses

This site is well suited for recreation use in the summer and fall by big game hunters, hikers, and sightseers.

Wood products

none

Other products

none

Other information

Field Offices

American Falls, ID
Blackfoot, ID
Burley, ID
Driggs, ID
Fort Hall, ID
Idaho Falls, ID
Malad, ID
Pocatello, ID
Rexburg, ID
Soda Springs, ID
St. Anthony, ID

Revision Notes: “Previously Approved” Provisional
This Provisional ecological site concept has passed Quality
Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) to ensure that the site
meets the 2014 NESH standards for a Provisional ecological site
description. This is an updated “Previously Approved” ESD that
represents a first-generation tier of documentation that, prior to the
release of the 2014 National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH),
met all requirements as an “Approved” ESD as laid out in the 1997
(rev.1, 2003) National Range and Pasture Handbook (NRPH). The
document fully described the Reference State and Community
Phase in the State-and-Transition model. All other alternative
states are at least described in narrative form. The “Previously
Approved” ESD has been field-tested for a minimum of five years
and is a proven functional document for conservation planning.
The “Previously Approved” ESD does not contain all tabular and
narrative entries as required in the current “Approved” level of
documentation, but it is expected that the “Previously Approved”
ESD will continue refinement toward an “Approved” status.

Site Development and Testing Plan:
Future work, as described in a Project Plan, is necessary to
validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site
Description. This will include field activities to collect low-,
medium-, and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and
analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil
scientists and vegetation specialists. The final field review, peer
review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD
will be required to produce the final document.

Inventory data references

Information presented here has been derived from NRCS clipping and other inventory data. Also, field knowledge of range-trained personnel was used. Those involved in developing this site description include:
Dave Franzen, co-owner, Intermountain Rangeland Consultants, LLC
Jacy Gibbs, co-owner, Intermountain Rangeland Consultants, LLC
Jim Cornwell, Range Management Specialist, IASCD
Brendan Brazee, State Rangeland Management Specialist, NRCS, Idaho
Lee Brooks, Range Management Specialist, IASCD
Kristen May, Resource Soil Scientist, NRCS, Idaho

Other references

Hironaka, M., M.A. Fosberg, A. H. Winward. 1983. Sagebrush-Grass Habitat Types of Southern Idaho. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. Bulletin Number “35”.
Petersen, S.L., 2004. A Landscape-Scale Assessment of Plant Communities, Hydrologic Processes, and State-and-Transition Theory in a Western Juniper Dominated Ecosystem. PhD Dissertation. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
USDA, NRCS.2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov.). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
USDA, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information Database. 2004. www.fs.fed.us/database.
USDI Bureau of Land Management, US Geological Survey; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agricultural Research Service; Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health. Technical Reference 1734-6; Version 4-2005.

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 9/23/2020