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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F027XY082NV
Very Steep Shallow Loam
Last updated: 6/03/2024
Accessed: 08/17/2024
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): 027X–Fallon-Lovelock Area
Physiography
Found in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus this area is characterized by isolated uplifted fault block mountain ranges trending north to south that are separated by broad, hydrologically closed basins. The entire area occurs in the rain-shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains and is influenced by Pleistocene Lake Lahontan which reached its most recent high stand about 12,000 years ago. There is substantial evidence suggesting the western Great Basin has been the site of pluvial-interpluvial cycles for at least the past two million years.
The mountains and valleys are dissected by the Humboldt, Truckee, Carson, and Walker Rivers and their tributaries, all of which terminate within MLRA 27. Extensive playas can be found throughout this area and are the result of drying of ancient Lake Lahontan. Elevation generally ranges from 3,300 to 5,900 feet (1,005 to 1,800 meters) in valleys, but on some mountain peaks it is more than 7,870 feet (2,400 meters).
Geology
Landforms and soils of this MLRA have been heavily influenced by fluctuating lake level over the last 40,000 years. There is a level line evident on the higher slopes marking the former extent of glacial Lake Lahontan. Almost half of this area has surface deposits of alluvial valley fill influenced by lacustrine sediment. The rest has andesite and basalt rocks of different ages. Mesozoic and Tertiary intrusives are concentrated along the western border of the area, and Lower Volcanic Rocks (17 to 43 million years old) are common on the eastern side of the area. Also, some scattered outcrops of Mesozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks are in the mountains within the interior of this MLRA.
Climate
The average annual precipitation is 5 to 10 inches (125 to 255 millimeters) in most of the area but is as much as 19 inches (485 millimeters) on high mountain slopes. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. The amount of precipitation is very low from summer to midautumn. The precipitation in winter occurs mainly as snow. The average annual temperature is 43 to 54 degrees F (6 to 12 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 155 days and ranges from 110 to 195 days, decreasing in length with elevation.
Water
The amount of precipitation is very low, and water for irrigation is obtained principally from diversions on the four large rivers in the area and from water stored in the Lahontan, Rye Patch, and Weber Reservoirs. Pyramid Lake and Walker Lakes are terminal lakes for the Truckee and Walker Rivers, respectively. Much of the annual flow of both rivers is diverted for irrigation, causing lake levels to fall and levels of dissolved salts to increase causing problems for the native Lahontan cutthroat trout.
Soils
The dominant soil orders are Aridisols and Entisols. The soils in the area are predominantly mesic temperature regime, and aridic moisture regime, and have a mixed mineralogy. They are generally well drained, loamy or sandy, commonly skeletal, and shallow to very deep. Accumulation of salts, tufa deposits, and eolian sediments with soluble salts over lacustrine deposits influence most of the soils in the basin landforms of this MLRA. Soils on bedrock-controlled landforms are typically comprised of volcanic or tuffaceous sedimentary colluvium over residuum.
Biological Resources
This area supports extensive areas of salt-desert shrub vegetation. Shadscale and Bailey’s greasewood are widespread, occurring both individually and together. Grasses are generally sparse, although Indian ricegrass is prominent, especially on the sandy soils. Fourwing saltbush, winterfat, spiny hopsage, wolfberry, ephedra, dalea, and bud sagebrush are common shrubs. Basin wildrye, creeping wildrye, alkali sacaton, saltgrass, black greasewood, rubber rabbitbrush, and big saltbush are important plants on saline bottom lands and terraces. A few marsh areas support cattail, bulrushes, sedges, and rushes. Big sagebrush, along with scattered Utah juniper and singleleaf pinyon, is associated with Thurber needlegrass, desert needlegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and squirreltail on the higher elevation piedmont slopes and mountains.
LRU notes
Topography/geomorphology: This LRU is characterized by the highest elevations of D27. It includes the Stillwater, Clan Alpine and Humboldt mountain ranges. Aspect is an important driving factor in this LRU. Vegetation patterns and resulting soil patterns on the landscape are heavily influenced by north-south aspects. The area is dominated by bedrock-controlled landforms. Slopes are greater than 15 percent, with a median value of 35 percent. Elevations are greater than 1800 meters (5900 feet).
Soils: Soils formed in residuum and colluvium derived from volcanic, granitic or mixed parent material. Soil temperature ranges from mesic to cryic but is dominantly frigid. Soil moisture regimes are aridic bordering on xeric or xeric.
Climate: This LRU is cooler and has slightly more effective precipitation than the rest of D27. Mean annual air temperature is less than 9.83°F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 250 to 410 millimeters (10 to 16 inches). Frost free days are less than 150 annually.
Biological characteristics: Characteristic vegetation includes low sagebrush (Artemisia arbusula spp. arbuscula), mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. vaseyana), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) and bluebunch wheatgrass* (Pseudoroegeria spicata).
*Bluebunch wheatgrass is not a component of ESCs from D27. It is not uncommon for ES from D23 or D24 to be used where bluebunch is found (or soils are considered to have to potential to support bluebunch). Future work should investigate this further, possibly resulting in revising MLRA lines.
Ecological site concept
The soils formed in residuum and/or colluvium from volcanic parent material on all aspects on hills and mountainsides. The soil is characterized by an ochric epipedon and no argillic horizon (lacks clay accumulation). The site was formerly know under the name: Pinus monophylla-Juniperus osteosperma/Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana/Achnatherum thurberianum.
Associated sites
R027XY027NV |
BARREN GRAVELLY SLOPE 4-8 P.Z. Site occurs on shallow soil, but does not have trees in the plant community. |
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R024XY023NV |
NORTH SLOPE 14+ P.Z. Occurs on deeper soil. |
Similar sites
R024XY028NV |
SOUTH SLOPE 8-12 P.Z. Occurs on deeper soils. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Pinus monophylla |
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Shrub |
(1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana |
Herbaceous |
(1) Achnatherum thurberianum |
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