Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R021XY216OR
STONY CLAYPAN 14-20 PZ
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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.
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
R021XY210OR |
LOAMY 14-18 PZ Loamy 14-18" PZ |
---|---|
R021XY214OR |
CLAYPAN 14-18 PZ Claypan 14-18" PZ |
R021XY308OR |
SOUTH SLOPES 14-18 PZ South Slopes 14-18" PZ |
R021XY312OR |
NORTH SLOPES 14-18 PZ North Slopes 14-18" PZ |
Similar sites
R021XY214OR |
CLAYPAN 14-18 PZ Claypan 14-18" PZ (Fewer surface stones) |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
Not specified |
Physiographic features
This site occurs on tablelands, benches and terraces. Slopes range from 1 to 40%. Elevations range from 4000 to 6500 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms |
(1)
Terrace
|
---|---|
Elevation | 4,000 – 6,500 ft |
Slope | 1 – 40% |
Climatic features
The annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 18 inches, most of which occurs in the form of snow during the months of October through April followed by ample spring and fall rainfall. The soil temperature regime is frigid and mesic with the mean annual air temperature ranging from 45 to 47 degrees F. Temperature extremes range from 100 to -30 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from 50 to 110 days. The optimum period for plant growth is from early May to mid-June
Table 3. Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) | 110 days |
---|---|
Freeze-free period (average) | 0 days |
Precipitation total (average) | 18 in |
Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils of this site are very shallow to a claypan, which restricts root penetration. Bedrock or a duripan immediately underlie the claypan. Typically the surface layer is loamy and contains over 35% rock fragments, which are primarily stone size. Permeability is slow. The available water holding capacity is 2 to 4 inches. Runoff is medium to rapid. Erosion hazard by water is moderate.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture |
(1) Fine sandy loam |
---|---|
Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
Permeability class | Slow |
Surface fragment cover >3" | 35% |
Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2 – 4 in |
Ecological dynamics
Surface stones limit plant density and site productivity. As the amount of area covered by stones increases, plant density and productivity decreases.
If the condition of the site deteriorates as a result of overgrazing, Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass will decrease and Sandberg bluegrass and low sage will increase. In the absence of periodic fire, western juniper may invade the site.
State and transition model
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Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
HCPC, FEID-PSSP6/ARAR8
Community 1.1
HCPC, FEID-PSSP6/ARAR8
The potential native plant community is dominated by Idaho fescue with lesser amounts of bluebunch wheatgrass, Canby and Sandberg bluegrass. Low sagebrush is the dominant shrub. A wide variety of forbs occur. Vegetative composition of the community is approximately 70% grasses, 10% forbs and 20% shrubs.
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 | 352 | 536 | 720 |
Shrub/Vine | 112 | 176 | 240 |
Forb | 64 | 104 | 144 |
Tree | 40 | 60 | 80 |
Total | 568 | 876 | 1184 |
Figure 3. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). OR5551, D21 Mid Elev., NA, Good Condtion. 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 | 10 | 40 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 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 | 240–440 | ||||
Idaho fescue | FEID | Festuca idahoensis | 240–440 | – | ||
2 | Sub-dominant deep rooted perennial grasses | 40–120 | ||||
bluebunch wheatgrass | PSSP6 | Pseudoroegneria spicata | 40–120 | – | ||
4 | Sub-dominant shallow rooted perennial grasses | 56–120 | ||||
Sandberg bluegrass | POSE | Poa secunda | 40–80 | – | ||
onespike danthonia | DAUN | Danthonia unispicata | 16–40 | – | ||
5 | Other perennial grasses | 16–40 | ||||
Thurber's needlegrass | ACTH7 | Achnatherum thurberianum | 0–5 | – | ||
smooth brome | BRIN2 | Bromus inermis | 0–5 | – | ||
squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–5 | – | ||
prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–5 | – | ||
Forb
|
||||||
7 | Dominant perennial forbs | 16–40 | ||||
Hooker's balsamroot | BAHO | Balsamorhiza hookeri | 16–40 | – | ||
8 | Sub-dominant perennial forbs | 40–80 | ||||
agoseris | AGOSE | Agoseris | 8–16 | – | ||
onion | ALLIU | Allium | 8–16 | – | ||
buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 8–16 | – | ||
desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 8–16 | – | ||
largehead clover | TRMA3 | Trifolium macrocephalum | 8–16 | – | ||
9 | Other perennial forbs | 8–24 | ||||
milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–5 | – | ||
fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 0–5 | – | ||
lupine | LUPIN | Lupinus | 0–5 | – | ||
ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–5 | – | ||
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
11 | Dominant evergreen shrubs | 80–160 | ||||
little sagebrush | ARAR8 | Artemisia arbuscula | 80–160 | – | ||
12 | Sub-dominant evergreen shrubs | 16–40 | ||||
slender buckwheat | ERMI4 | Eriogonum microthecum | 16–40 | – | ||
15 | Other shrubs | 16–40 | ||||
mountain big sagebrush | ARTRV | Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana | 0–5 | – | ||
antelope bitterbrush | PUTR2 | Purshia tridentata | 0–5 | – | ||
wax currant | RICE | Ribes cereum | 0–5 | – | ||
Tree
|
||||||
16 | Dominant evergreen trees | 40–80 | ||||
western juniper | JUOC | Juniperus occidentalis | 40–80 | – |
Interpretations
Animal community
This site provides food for mule deer in the spring. Pronghorn antelope use this site year-round. The site may serve as strutting grounds for sage grouse.
Hydrological functions
The soils are in hydrologic groups C and D.
Other products
This site is suited to grazing by livestock in late spring, summer and fall under a planned grazing system.
Other information
Surface stones make fence construction, excavations and seeding difficult.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Klamath County, OR | |
---|---|
Township/Range/Section | T39S R14E S15 |
General legal description | Gerber Reservoir road near Noble Reservoir and near DeVaul Lake: T39S, R14E, Sec 15 |
Location 2: Klamath County, OR | |
Township/Range/Section | T38S R12E S25 26 |
General legal description | Just SW of Keno Meadow at edge of Capon Flat: T38S, R12E, Sec 25, 26 |
Location 3: Klamath County, OR | |
Township/Range/Section | T36S R15E S31 |
General legal description | East of Bly 3 miles in Sprague Valley: T36S, R15E, Sec 31 (SE) |
Contributors
BLM
E Ersch
K.Kennedy
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 | 08/22/2012 |
Approved by | Bob Gillaspy |
Approval date | |
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None, moderate sheet & rill erosion hazard -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Some to few in interspaces -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None to some (shallow rooted grasses) -
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, 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 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):
Very shallow (to claypan), well drained (with 35+% surface rock fragments) loams: Low OM (1-2%) -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Significant vegetative (70-80%), rock fragment cover (20-40%, and gentle slopes (1-10%) effectively limit rainfall impact and overland flow; infiltration is slow -
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:
Idaho fescue > Low sagebrush > Sandberg bluegrass > Onespike oatgrass > Bluebunch wheatgrass = dominant forbs > Shrubby buckwheat = other grasses = other shrubs > other forbsSub-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: 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:
Perennial brush species will increase with deterioration of plant community. Western Juniper readily invades 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
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