Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R025XY001NV
MOIST FLOODPLAIN
Last updated: 4/24/2024
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 025X–Owyhee High Plateau
The Owyhee High Plateau, MLRA 25, lies within the Intermontane Plateaus physiographic province. The southern half is found in the Great Basin while the northern half is located in the Columbia Plateaus. The southern section of the Owyhee High Plateau is characterized by isolated, uplifted fault-block mountain ranges separated by narrow, aggraded desert plains. This geologically older terrain has been dissected by numerous streams draining to the Humboldt River. The northern section forms the southern boundary of the extensive Columbia Plateau basalt flows. Deep, narrow canyons drain to the Snake River across the broad volcanic plain.
This MLRA is characteristically cooler and wetter than the neighboring MLRAs of the Great Basin. Elevation ranges from 3,000 to 7,550 feet on rolling plateaus and in gently sloping basins. It is more than 9,840 feet on some steep mountains. The average annual precipitation in most of this area is typically 11 to 22 inches. It increases to as much as 49 inches at the higher elevations. Precipitation occurs mainly as snow in winter. The supply of water from precipitation and streamflow is small and unreliable, except along major rivers. Streamflow depends largely on accumulated snow in the mountains.
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols and Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic or frigid temperature regime and an aridic, arid bordering on xeric, or xeric moisture regime. Most of the soils formed in mixed parent material. Volcanic ash and loess mantle the landscape. Surface soil textures are loam and silt loam, and have ashy texture modifiers in some cases. Argillic horizons occur on the more stable landforms.
Ecological site concept
This site is on intermontane basins along flood plains and stream terraces of perennial streams. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent with elevations of 4000 to 6300 feet (1219 to 1920 meters).
The soils associated with this site are very deep, poorly drained and fertile with a seasonal high water table between 6 to 24 inches (15 to 60cm) of the soil surface. Important abiotic factors contributing to the presence of this ecological site include a seasonally high water table and occasional to frequent, long duration, flooding from early spring to summer.
The representative plant community is dominated by creeping wildrye and basin wildrye. Other important perennial species include willows, Nevada bluegrass and various sedge species. Potential vegetative composition is approximately 75 percent grasses, 10 percent forbs and 15 percent shrubs. Approximate cover is 70 to 85 percent.
Associated sites
R025XY003NV |
LOAMY BOTTOM 8-14 P.Z. LECI4 dominant grass; usually a more productive site; soil lacks a seasonal high water table. |
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R025XY006NV |
DRY MEADOW PONE3 and PHAL2 dominant plants; less productive site; seasonal high water table below 50cm. |
R025XY005NV |
WET MEADOW DECE3 dominant grass and willow minor or absent; less productive site. |
Similar sites
R025XY003NV |
LOAMY BOTTOM 8-14 P.Z. LECI4 dominant grass; usually a more productive site; soil lacks a seasonal high water table. |
---|---|
R025XY006NV |
DRY MEADOW PONE3 and PHAL2 dominant plants; less productive site; seasonal high water table below 50cm. |
R025XY005NV |
WET MEADOW DECE3 dominant grass and willow minor or absent; less productive site. |
R025XY079NV |
STREAMBANK PRIVM co-dominant; more productive site; soil moderately well drained with a cryic soil temperature regime. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Salix |
Herbaceous |
(1) Leymus triticoides |
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Ecosystem states
T1 | - | introduction of non-native species |
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T2 | - | road building, water diversions and/or up-stream channelization |