Physiographic features

The Saline Bottom site occurs on alluvial flats, lake plains, and Lake terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent, but slope gradients of 0 to 2 percent are most typical. Elevations are 3400 to 5500 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

The climate associated with this site is arid, characterized by cool, moist winters and hot, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 4 to 8 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 49 to 60 degrees F. The average growing season is about 120 to 220 days.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Climate stations used

• (1) FALLON EXP STN [USC00262780], Fallon, NV

• (2) LOVELOCK [USC00264698], Lovelock, NV

Influencing water features

This site is associated with adjacent streams.

Soil features

The soils associated with this site are very deep. Surface soils are less than 10 inches thick and are medium to moderately-fine textured. These soils are calcareous and they are strongly salt and sodium affected in their upper profile with soil reaction and salt and sodium concentrations usually decreasing with depth. The soils are poorly to somewhat-poorly drained and have a seasonally high water table at depths of 24 to 30 inches. Additional moisture is received on this site during the winter and spring months as run-in from higher landscapes or occasional brief overflow from adjacent streams. Wetting of these soils dilutes their salt and sodium concentrations and the degree of salinity and alkalinity fluctuates widely through the year. Permeability is very slow to moderate and available water capacity is low to high. The surface layer of these soils will crust and bake upon drying, inhibiting water infiltration and seedling emergence. Runoff is high to very high and ponding occurs in some areas. Potential for sheet and rill erosion is slight. The soil series associated with this site include Armydrain, Bigmeadow, Brinker, Fernley, Nuyobe, Ocala, Ryepatch, Settlement, and Wabuska.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to basin wildrye production and all other perennial grasses. The early growth and abundant production of basin wildrye make it a valuable source of forage for livestock. It is important forage for cattle and is readily grazed by cattle and horses in early spring and fall. Though coarse-textured during the winter, basin wildrye may be utilized more frequently by livestock and wildlife when snow has covered low shrubs and other grasses. Saltgrass's value as forage depends primarily on the relative availability of other grasses of higher nutritional value and palatability. It can be an especially important late summer grass in arid environments after other forage grasses have deceased. Saltgrass is rated as a fair to good forage species only because it stays green after most other grasses dry. Livestock generally avoid saltgrass due to its coarse foliage. Saltgrass is described as an “increaser” under grazing pressure. Alkali sacaton is a valuable forage species in arid and semiarid regions. Plants are tolerant to moderate grazing and can produce abundant herbage utilized by livestock. Black greasewood is an important winter browse plant for domestic sheep and cattle. It also receives light to moderate use by domestic sheep and cattle during spring and summer months. In general, livestock forage only lightly on this species during the summer, but winter use can be heavy in some locations. Fall use is variable, but flowers are often used by livestock. A few leaves and the more tender stems may also be used.

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:
Basin wildrye provides winter forage for mule deer, though use is often low compared to other native grasses. Basin wildrye provides summer forage for black-tailed jackrabbits. Because basin wildrye remains green throughout early summer, it remains available for small mammal forage for longer time than other grasses. Saltgrass provides cover for a variety of bird species, small mammals, and arthropods and is on occasion used as forage for several big game wildlife species. The western salt desert shrub and grassland communities where alkali sacaton is common support an abundance of mule deer, pronghorn, carnivores, small mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Black greasewood is an important winter browse plant for big game animals. It also receives light to moderate use by mule deer and pronghorn during spring and summer months. Black greasewood is an important source of food for jackrabbits. Wildlife forage only lightly on rubber rabbitbrush during the summer, but winter use can be heavy in some locations. Fall use is variable, but flowers are often used by wildlife. A few leaves and the more tender stems may also be used. The forage value of rubber rabbitbrush varies greatly among subspecies and ecotypes.

Hydrological functions

There are no rills, pedestals and/or terracettes. Water flow patterns are rare to common depending on proximity of site to a well-defined in-flow channel. Moderately fine to fine surface textures result in limited infiltration rates and ponding is of run-in water is common for short period in the late winter or early spring. Concentrations of surface salts and sodium result in chemical crusts which also impedes precipitation infiltration. Water flow patterns are typically short, ending in depressional areas.
Gullies are none to common depending on landform. Where this site occurs on landforms not associated with ephemeral or perennial drainageways, gullies do not occur. Where this site occurs associated with relatively confined drainageways, gullies may be present. Gullies and associated head cuts should be healing and stable. Deep-rooted perennial grasses (basin wildrye and alkali sacaton] slow runoff and increase infiltration. Tall stature and relatively coarse foliage of basin wildrye and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and moisture accumulation on site.

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 is used for camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.

Other products

Basin wildrye was used as bedding for various Native American ceremonies, providing a cool place for dancers to stand. The leaves, seeds and stems of black greasewood are edible.

Other information

Basin wildrye is useful in mine reclamation, fire rehabilitation and stabilizing disturbed areas. Its usefulness in range seeding, however, may be limited by initially weak stand establishment. Given its extensive system of rhizomes and roots which form a dense sod, saltgrass is considered a suitable species for controlling wind and water erosion.
Alkali sacaton is one of the most commonly used species for seeding and stabilizing disturbed lands. Due to alkali sacaton’s salt tolerance, is recommended for native grass seeding on subirrigated saline sites. Black greasewood is useful for stabilizing soil on wind-blown areas. It successfully revegetates processed oil shale and is commonly found on eroded areas and sites too saline for most plant species.

Inventory data references

NASIS soils data was used to update abiotic site ranges.

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

DK/GD

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 6/03/2024