Physiographic features

This site occurs on high, wind swept mountain slopes and plateaus. Slopes range from 2 to 75 percent, but slope gradients of 4 to 30 percent are most typical. Elevations are 7500 to 9500 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

The climate associated with this site is semiarid and characterized by cold, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 14 to over 20 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 41 to 44 degrees F. The average growing season is about 40 to 90 days.

Nevada’s climate is predominantly arid, with large daily ranges of temperature, infrequent severe storms, heavy snowfall in the higher mountains, and great location variations with elevation. Three basic geographical factors largely influence Nevada’s climate: continentality, latitude, and elevation. Continentality is the most important factor. The strong continental effect is expressed in the form of both dryness and large temperature variations. Nevada lies on the eastern, lee side of the Sierra Nevada Range, a massive mountain barrier that markedly influences the climate of the State. The prevailing winds are from the west, and as the warm moist air from the Pacific Ocean ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Range, the air cools, condensation occurs and most of the moisture falls as precipitation. As the air descends the eastern slope, it is warmed by compression, and very little precipitation occurs. The effects of this mountain barrier are felt not only in the West but throughout the state, with the result that the lowlands of Nevada are largely desert or steppes. The temperature regime is also affected by the blocking of the inland-moving maritime air. Nevada sheltered from maritime winds, has a continental climate with well-developed seasons and the terrain responds quickly to changes in solar heating.
Nevada lies within the mid-latitude belt of prevailing westerly winds which occur most of the year. These winds bring frequent changes in weather during the late fall, winter and spring months, when most of the precipitation occurs. To the south of the mid-latitude westerlies, lies a zone of high pressure in subtropical latitudes, with a center over the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, this high-pressure belt shifts northward over the latitudes of Nevada, blocking storms from the ocean. The resulting weather is mostly clear and dry during the summer and early fall, with scattered thundershowers. The eastern portion of the state receives significant summer thunderstorms generated from monsoonal moisture pushed up from the Gulf of California, known as the North American monsoon. The monsoon system peaks in August and by October the monsoon high over the Western U.S. begins to weaken and the precipitation retreats southward towards the tropics (NOAA 2004).

Average annual precipitation is 16 to over 20 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 41 to 44 degrees F. The average growing season is about 50 to 70 days.

Mean annual precipitaion at the Bear Creek, Nevada SNOTEL station (170501020301) is 37.69 inches.

monthly mean precipitation is:
January 3.84; February 3.75; March 4.38; April 4.9;
May 3.99; June 2.82; July .95; August 1.66;
September 1.22; October 2.12;
November 3.67; December 4.38.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Influencing water features

There are no influencing water features associated with this site.

Soil features

The soils associated with this site are shallow and well drained. The soil surface has high amounts of gravels or cobbles. Many soils have a thin clayey horizon (argillic horizon) just above bedrock. Lack of soil depth and high volumes of coarse fragments in the soil profile result in a very low available water capacity. The soils have a thin mollic epipedon. The soil moisture regime is aridic bordering on xeric and the soil temperature regime is frigid. Runoff is high to very high. The soil series associated with this site include: Cleavage, Hutchley, and Poisoncreek.

A representative soil series is Poisoncreek, a loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid, shallow Aridic Argixerolls. A mollic epipedon occurs from the soil surface to 15 cm and an argillic horizon occurs from 8 to 15 cm.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site has limited value for livestock grazing, due to the low forage production and steep slopes. Idaho fescue provides important forage for many types of domestic livestock. The foliage cures well and is preferred by livestock in late fall and winter. Canby's and Sandbergs bluegrass is a widespread forage grasses. They are one of the earliest grasses in the spring and is sought by domestic livestock and several wildlife species. The bluegrasses are palatable species, but its production is closely tied to weather conditions. It produces little forage in drought years, making it a less dependable food source than other perennial bunchgrasses. Domestic sheep and to a much lesser degree cattle consume low sagebrush, particularly during the spring, fall and winter. Douglas’ rabbitbrush is tolerant of grazing and may be “rejuvenated” by foliage removal. Douglas’ rabbitbrush commonly increases on degraded rangelands as more palatable species are removed.

Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.

Wildlife Interpretations:
Low sagebrush is considered a valuable browse plant during the spring, fall and winter months. In some areas it is of little value in winter due to heavy snow. Mule deer utilize and sometimes prefer low sagebrush, particularly in winter and early spring. Sagebrush-grassland communities provide critical sage-grouse breeding and nesting habitats. Meadows surrounded by sagebrush may be used as feeding and strutting grounds. Sagebrush is a crucial component of their diet year-round, and sage-grouse select sagebrush almost exclusively for cover. Sage-grouse prefer mountain big sagebrush and Wyoming big sagebrush communities to basin big sagebrush communities. Douglas’ rabbitbrush provides an important source of browse for wildlife, particularly in the late fall and early winter after more palatable species have been depleted. Wild ungulates show varying preference for Douglas’ rabbitbrush depending on season, locality, and subspecies. Mature or partially mature plants are generally preferred to green, immature ones. Douglas’ rabbitbrush provides important cover for pronghorn fawns. In parts of the Great Basin, plants regrew rapidly after they were nearly completely consumed by spring-browsing black-tailed jackrabbits. Idaho fescue provides important forge for several wildlife species. It is reported to be good forage for pronghorn, and deer in ranges of northern Nevada. The bluegrasses are desirable for pronghorn antelope and mule deer in the spring and preferable in the spring, summer, and fall for elk and desirable as part of their winter range.

Hydrological functions

Runoff is high to very high. Permeability is very slow to moderate.

Recreational uses

Aesthetic value is derived from the diverse floral and faunal composition and the colorful flowering of wild flowers and shrubs during the spring and early summer. This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study. This site is used for camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.

Other products

Douglas’ rabbitbrush can be a source of rubber and possibly valuable resins.

Other information

Low sagebrush can be successfully transplanted or seeded in restoration.

Type locality

Other references

Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/).

USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov).

Contributors

BH/SW/CP
T Stringham (UNR under contract with BLM)

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 4/10/2025