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Conservation Service

Ecological site R021XY104OR

SALINE MEADOW

Accessed: 12/22/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 021X / Ecological site R021XY104OR

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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

R021XY102OR	SODIC FLAT 10+ PZ

R021XY102OR

SODIC FLAT 10+ PZ

Similar sites

R021XY102OR	SODIC FLAT 10+ PZ High alkalinity

R021XY102OR

SODIC FLAT 10+ PZ

High alkalinity

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Sarcobatus vermiculatus (2) Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Herbaceous	(1) Puccinellia nuttalliana (2) Distichlis spicata

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Physiographic features

This site occurs in lake basins and on floodplains.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Basin floor (2) Flood plain
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	None to frequent
Ponding duration	Long (7 to 30 days)
Ponding frequency	None to frequent
Elevation	4,000 – 4,700 ft
Slope	2%
Water table depth	60 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 18 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of October through April. The soil temperature regime is mesic with a mean annual air temperature of about 47 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 110 to -30 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 75 to 125 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from mid-April to July.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	125 days
Freeze-free period (average)	165 days
Precipitation total (average)	18 in

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

The soils of this site are moderately alkaline. The soils are both saline and alkali. The presence of salts and sodium limit the use of these soils. These soils typically have a white and black crusted surface and are known as white and black alkali soils. The soila are very deep to bedrock and have fluctuating water table which is at of near the surface during the spring. Because of the salts, plant avaiable water is dramatically reduced when compared to toerh soils having somewheat pooorly or poorly drained. Texture is variable and ranges from loamy fine sand to silty clay loam in both the suface and subsoil. Runoff is very slow and in most cases the soils pond water. Erosion hazard from water is slight, but wind erosion can be a concern where the suface soil is exposed.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Loamy fine sand (2) Silty clay loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained
Soil depth	60 in

Ecological dynamics

If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Nuttall alkali-grass will decrease in the stand and inland saltgrass will become dominant. With further deterioration, black greasewood and rabbitbrush will increase. Foxtail barley and pepperweed will invade the site.

The typical plant composition of this site results from poor soil drainage and accumulations of salts and sodium. Where small elevational increases occur and drainage is improved, there is an increase in plants less tolerant of salts and sodium.

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. HCPC, PUNU2-DISP

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. HCPC, PUNU2-DISP

State 1
HCPC, PUNU2-DISP

Community 1.1
HCPC, PUNU2-DISP

The potential native plant community is dominated by Nuttall alkali-grass and inland saltgrass with lesser amounts of sedges and bottlebrush squirreltail. Black greasewood and rabbitbrush may occur in the stand. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 90% grasses, 5% forbs and 5% shrubs.

Figure 4. 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	720	898	1070
Shrub/Vine	60	75	90
Forb	40	55	70
Total	820	1028	1230

Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR5501, D21 Low Elev., NA, Meadow/Lakebed/Irr.. 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	15	30	35	10	5	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			500–700
	Nuttall's alkaligrass	PUNU2	Puccinellia nuttalliana	500–700	–
2	Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses			220–370
	saltgrass	DISP	Distichlis spicata	200–300	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	10–50	–
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	10–20	–
Forb
7	Dominant perennial forbs			10–20
	aster	EUCEP2	Eucephalus	10–20	–
10	Other annual forbs			30–50
Shrub/Vine
13	Dominant deciduous (or 1/2 shrubs) shrubs			60–90
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNA10	Ericameria nauseosa	20–30	–
	green rabbitbrush	ERTE18	Ericameria teretifolia	20–30	–
	greasewood	SAVE4	Sarcobatus vermiculatus	20–30	–

Interpretations

Animal community

When located near water, this site provides food and cover for mule deer and quail. Some shorebirds or waterfowl may use this site temporarily while water is ponded.

Hydrological functions

The soils are typically in hydrologic groups C or D, but may range to B.

Other products

This site is suited to livestock grazing in summer and fall when the soil is dry. This site can be damaged if heavily grazed during the winter and spring seasons while the soils are wet.

Other information

The soils in this site typically reflect hydric soil characteristics. Chemical conditions in the soil may make it corrosive to concrete and steel. This site is not well suited for seeding due to the presence of salts and sodium.

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
Contact for lead author	Oregon NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist
Date	08/21/2012
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% black & white alkali spots are devoid of vegetation
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None, slight wind erosion hazard: severe when soil is exposed and dry
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine to moderately coarse - 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 = 3-4
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Very deep, moderately alkaline, somewhat poorly or poorly drained loamy fine sands to silty clay loams: Low OM (<2%)
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
High ground cover (75-85%) and gentle slopes (0-2%) effectively limits rainfall impact and overland flow, infiltration can be limited by excess thatch
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:
Nuttall alkali grass > Inland saltgrass > other forbs > shrubs > sedges = 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: 1500, Normal: 1000, Unfavorable: 700 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. 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