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Ecological site R030XB023CA

Saline Meadow

Last updated: 2/18/2025
Accessed: 03/11/2025

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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): 030X–Mojave Basin and Range

The Mojave Desert Major Land Resource Area (MLRA 30) is found in southern California, southern Nevada, the extreme southwest corner of Utah and northwestern Arizona within the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. The Mojave Desert is a transitional area between hot deserts and cold deserts where close proximity of these desert types exert enough influence on each other to distinguish these desert types from the hot and cold deserts beyond the Mojave. Kottek et. al 2006 defines hot deserts as areas where mean annual air temperatures are above 64 F (18 C) and cold deserts as areas where mean annual air temperatures are below 64 F (18 C). Steep elevation gradients within the Mojave create islands of low elevation hot desert areas surrounded by islands of high elevation cold desert areas.

The Mojave Desert receives less than 10 inches of mean annual precipitation. Mojave Desert low elevation areas are often hyper-arid while high elevation cold deserts are often semi-arid with the majority of the Mojave being an arid climate. Hyper-arid areas receive less than 4 inches of mean annual precipitation and semi-arid areas receive more than 8 inches of precipitation (Salem 1989). The western Mojave receives very little precipitation during the summer months while the eastern Mojave experiences some summer monsoonal activity.

In summary, the Mojave is a land of extremes. Elevation gradients contribute to extremely hot and dry summers and cold moist winters where temperature highs and lows can fluctuate greatly between day and night, from day to day and from winter to summer. Precipitation falls more consistently at higher elevations while lower elevations can experience long intervals without any precipitation. Lower elevations also experience a low frequency of precipitation events so that the majority of annual precipitation may come in only a couple precipitation events during the whole year. Hot desert areas influence cold desert areas by increasing the extreme highs and shortening the length of below freezing events. Cold desert areas influence hot desert areas by increasing the extreme lows and increasing the length of below freezing events. Average precipitation and temperature values contribute little understanding to the extremes which govern wildland plant communities across the Mojave.

Arid Eastern Mojave Land Resource Unit (XB)

LRU notes

The Mojave Desert is currently divided into 4 Land Resource Units (LRUs). This ecological site is within the Arid Eastern Mojave LRU where precipitation is bi-modal, occurring during the winter months and summer months. The Arid Eastern Mojave LRU is designated by the 'XB' symbol within the ecological site ID. This LRU is found across the eastern half of California, much of the mid-elevations of Nevada, the southernmost portions of western Utah, and the mid-elevations of northwestern Arizona. This LRU is essentially equivalent to the Eastern Mojave Basins and Eastern Mojave Low Ranges and Arid Footslopes of EPA Level IV Ecoregions

Elevations range from 1650 to 4000 feet and precipitation is between 4 to 8 inches per year. This LRU is distinguished from the Arid Western Mojave (XA) by the summer precipitation, falling between July and September, which tends to support more warm season plant species. The 'XB' LRU is generally east of the Mojave River and the 117 W meridian (Hereford et. al 2004). Vegetation includes creosote bush, burrobush, Nevada jointfir, ratany, Mojave yucca, Joshua tree, cacti, big galleta grass and several other warm season grasses. At the upper portions of the LRU, plant production and diversity are greater and blackbrush is a common dominant shrub.

Ecological site concept

This ecological site is found within the playa landscape where a water table is close enough to the soil surface to create aquic soil conditions.

This is a group concept and provisional STM that also covers the following ecological sites: R030XY023NV, R030XY022NV, R030XY055NV, R030XY147CA

Associated sites

R030XY024NV	SALINE BOTTOM

R030XY024NV

SALINE BOTTOM

Similar sites

R030XY022NV	WET MEADOW more productive site; JUNCU-CAREX codominant species; SPAI minor species
R030XY024NV	SALINE BOTTOM less productive site; ATLE dominant shrub
R030XY023NV	SALINE MEADOW R030XB023CA is a copy of the R030XY023NV ecological site in order to lose the

R030XY022NV

WET MEADOW

more productive site; JUNCU-CAREX codominant species; SPAI minor species

R030XY024NV

SALINE BOTTOM

less productive site; ATLE dominant shrub

R030XY023NV

SALINE MEADOW

R030XB023CA is a copy of the R030XY023NV ecological site in order to lose the

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Sporobolus airoides (2) Juncus

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on alluvial flats, lake plains, or axial stream floodplains on all exposures. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent, but slope gradients of 0 to 2 percent are most typical. Elevations are 1000 to 5400 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Alluvial flat (2) Flood plain (3) Lake plain
Flooding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	Rare to occasional
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	1,000 – 5,400 ft
Slope	4%
Water table depth	40 – 60 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The climate is hot and arid, with mild winters and very hot summers. Precipitation is greatest in the winter with a lesser secondary peak in summer, typical of the Mojave Desert. Average annual precipitation is 3 to 7 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 55 to 76 degrees F. The average growing season is about 140 to 360 days.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	360 days
Freeze-free period (average)
Precipitation total (average)	5 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

The soils are deep to very deep alluvium from mixed sources. These soils are moderately too strongly alkaline, calcareous throughout and poorly drained. Water table depths range from 27 to 48 inches during the summer months. Permeability is slow to moderate, runoff is very slow and there may be some brief ponding in depression areas. Soil series associated with this ecological site include Land, a fine-silty, mixed superactive, thermic Typic Aquisalid and Paradise, a coarse-loamy, thermic Typic Calciaquoll.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Silty clay loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Slow
Soil depth	52 – 60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	2.21 – 3.98 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	5 – 40%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	8 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	12
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	7.9 – 9
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	19%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	2%

Ecological dynamics

The reference plant community is dominated by alkali sacaton, rush and inland saltgrass. Drought and infrequent wildfire are natural disturbances determining long-term plant community dynamics. Plant community composition is also determined by soil salinity. The soil associated with this site is strongly affected by salt in the upper profile limiting the native vegetation to those able to grow well in salt affected soils.

Inappropriate grazing management will allow shrubs, inland saltgrass and unpalatable rushes and sedges increase while, alkali sacaton and other palatable grasses, sedges and rushes decrease. Forbs such as dock and thistle will increase under continuous disturbance. Willow, saltbush, mesquite, Russian olive and saltcedar readily increase and/or invade this site under drought conditions.

Where severe stream entrenchment occurs, the potential for this site is lost due to the change in soil moisture balance. Stream entrenchment lowers the groundwater level, which is important for maintaining the desirable vegetation composition dominated by graminoides. Deep-rooted shrubs and trees tolerate lower groundwater levels and drought conditions better than relatively shallow rooted forbs and grasses.

Fire Ecology:
Historic fire return intervals of adjacent plant communities (creosotebush scrub) ranged from 35 to >100 years. Alkali sacaton is classified as tolerant of, but not resistant to, fire. Top-killing by fire is probably frequent, and the plants can be killed by severe fire. Rush is fire tolerant when dormant and top-killed by fire during the growing season. It establishes after fire through seed and/or lateral spread by rhizomes. Saltgrass rhizomes occur deep in the soil where they are insulated from the heat of most fires. Saltgrass survives fire by sending up new growth from rhizomes. Sedge is top-killed by fire, with rhizomes protected by insulating soil. The rhizomes of sedge species may be killed by high-severity fires that remove most of the soil organic layer. Reestablishment after fire occurs by seed establishment and/or rhizomatous spread.

Shrubs are uncommon on this site, but provide important habitat and browse for wildlife. Mesquite is top-killed by fire but commonly re-sprouts. Willow also sprouts from the root crown following fire and is among the first species to appear. Saltbush can survive low severity fires. Post-fire regeneration commonly occurs through seed, big saltbush is capable of producing an abundant amount of seed.

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

State 1
Reference State

The reference state is representative of the natural range of variation under pristine conditions. Community phase changes are primarily driven by periodic wildfire and the drought cycle. Interactions between disturbance patterns and weather events determine plant community dynamics. Fire plays a significant role in plant community phase changes due to high production of herbaceous plants. However, the time between fire is highly variable and dependent on site productivity. Periodic flooding can be expected in certain site locations.

Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community

The plant community is dominated by alkali sacaton, rush species, and inland saltgrass. Potential vegetative composition is about 88% grasses, 10% forbs, and 2% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is about 45 to 70 percent. This plant community is representative of a healthy late seral stage.

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	880	1320	2640
Forb	100	150	300
Shrub/Vine	20	30	60
Total	1000	1500	3000

Community 1.2
Plant Community 1.2

This plant community is characterized by increased woody vegetation including mesquite and big saltbush. Drought conditions favor the expansion of shrubs into previously grass dominated sites. Alkali sacaton and Juncus have low tolerance for shade and drought and experience decreased vigor and reproductive capacity. Saltgrass remains stable or increases, due to its tolerance of drought and disturbed conditions.

Community 1.3
Plant Community 1.3

This plant community is characteristic of an early seral plant community. Wildfire resulting from drought removes woody vegetation and temporarily increases understory grass and grass-likes. Native vegetation recovers quickly. Alkali sacaton, Juncus and saltgrass reproduce from rhizomes and are tolerant of wildfire. Historically, ranges with saltgrass regularly experienced wildfire and may increase in cover following fire. This plant community is ‘at-risk’ of invasion by non-native species. Non-natives are able to take advantage of increased availability of critical resources following wildfire or other disturbance.

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Lowering of the water table, long-term drought and/or inadequate rest and recovery.

Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Infrequent wildfire removes existing vegetation.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Wildfire, prolonged drought, disease and/or insect attack.

Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.1

Release from drought leads to recovery on the herbaceous species and time allows for the reestablishment of shrubs.

State 2
Invaded State

The invaded state is characterized by the presence of non-native species. A biotic threshold has been crossed with the introduction of non-native species that cannot be easily removed from the plant community and have the potential to significantly alter natural disturbance regimes from the historic range of variation. Ecological resilience is reduced by the presence of non-natives. In addition to non-native annual grasses this site is also capable of supporting large woody non-natives, such as Russian olive and saltcedar. Russian olive and saltcedar were introduced for horticulture purposes and have been intentionally planted in many areas.

Community 2.1
Plant Community 2.1

This plant community is compositionally similar to the reference plant community with the presence of non-natives. Ecological processes are not compromised at this time, however, ecological resilience is reduced making it more difficult for this plant community to recover following disturbance. Management should focus on maintaining natural ground water levels, slowing the spread of non-natives and reducing surface disturbances.

Community 2.2
Plant Community 2.2

This plant community is characterized by increased woody vegetation, native and non-native. Deep rooted shrubs and trees tolerate lower ground water levels and drought conditions better than shallow rooted forbs and grasses. This plant community phase is considered ‘at-risk’. Saltcedar is a very efficient competitor against native species, especially where salinity levels are increased and water table levels are lower. Management should focus on eliminating saltcedar as soon as it is detected. Methods used to manage the spread of saltcedar including combinations of herbicide, mechanical and biological controls. Saltcedar is capable of extracting water from unsaturated soil horizons (facultative phreatophyte) leading to decreased available ground water and increased salinity of the soil causing long-term impacts on plant community dynamics.

Community 2.3
Plant Community 2.3

This plant community is characterized by sprouting shrubs and recovering native species. Non-natives may increase following wildfire. Dominant native grasses and grass-likes are tolerant of periodic wildfire and may increase in cover. Saltcedar and Russian olive sprout from surviving root crown following fire and may increase in invasability without careful management.

Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Long-term drought conditions favor increased woody vegetation.

Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.1 to 2.3

Wildfire removes existing vegetation.

Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.3

Wildfire removes existing vegetation.

Pathway 2.3a
Community 2.3 to 2.1

Natural regeneration, absence of wildfire and management focused on controlling non-natives.

State 3
Degraded State

This alternative stable state is characterized by reduced groundwater levels and the associated changes in plant community composition and structure. Lowering the water table has many impacts on the plant community including loss of biodiversity, diminished wildlife habitat value, and increased soil salinity. Meadow vegetation will be lost with decreasing ground water levels.

Community 3.1
Plant Community 3.1

This plant community is shrub dominated. Much of the native perennial vegetation has been lost. Plant community experiences changes in the density and rate of spread of vegetation. Chemical and nutrient composition of plant biomass creates a feedback preventing native vegetation from recovering.

Community 3.2
Plant Community 3.2

This plant community is characterized by decreased vegetative cover. Non-native species persist through drought and fire. Extensive inputs of energy and resources is required in order to increase ecosystem services provided by this plant community.

Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Wildfire and/or drought

Pathway 3.2a
Community 3.2 to 3.1

Absence from disturbance and regeneration over time.

Transition T1a
State 1 to 2

Introduction of non-natives due to a combination of factors including: 1) surface disturbance, 2) changes in the kinds of animals and their grazing patterns, 3) drought and/or 4) changes in fire history.

Transition T1b
State 1 to 3

Anthropogenic lowering of the ground water level, caused by intentional draining or road building leading to changes in vegetation composition, pattern and extent.

Transition T2
State 2 to 3

Groundwater lowering caused by non-natives.

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	Primary Perennial Grasses/Grasslikes			780–1350
	alkali sacaton	SPAI	Sporobolus airoides	450–750	–
	rush	JUNCU	Juncus	150–300	–
	saltgrass	DISP	Distichlis spicata	150–225	–
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	30–75	–
2	Secondary Perennial Grasses			75–225
	common reed	PHAU7	Phragmites australis	8–75	–
	alkali cordgrass	SPGR	Spartina gracilis	8–75	–
Forb
3	Perennial			75–225
	Mojave thistle	CIMO	Cirsium mohavense	8–45	–
	marsh elder	IVA	Iva	8–45	–
	dock	RUMEX	Rumex	8–45	–
4	Annual			1–45
Shrub/Vine
5	Primary Shrubs			1–45
	big saltbush	ATLE	Atriplex lentiformis	1–30	–
	mesquite	PROSO	Prosopis	1–30	–
	willow	SALIX	Salix	1–30	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to perennial grass production. 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. Rush is described as a fair to good forage species for cattle. On average, rush’s palatability is considered medium to moderately low. Rush is considered palatable early in the growing season when plants are young and tender, but as stems mature and toughen palatability declines. 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. Sedge provides good to fair forage for domestic grazing.

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:
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. Rush provides food for several wildlife species and waterfowl. Rush is an important cover species for a variety of small birds, upland game birds, birds of prey, and waterfowl. 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. Sedges have a high to moderate resource value for elk and a medium value for mule deer. Elk consume beaked sedge later in the growing season.

Hydrological functions

Runoff is low to very low. Permeability is somewhat poorly drained. Rills and waterflow patterns are none. Deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses slow runoff and increase infiltration. Relatively dense foliar cover of perennial grasses and associated litter break raindrop impact and slow overland flow.

Recreational uses

This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study. This site has potential for upland and big game hunting.

Other information

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. 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.

Supporting information

Other references

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

Hereford, R., R.H. Webb and C. I. Longpre. 2004. Precipitation history of the Mojave Desert region, 1893-2001 (No. 117-03).

Kottek, M., Grieser, J., Beck, C., Rudolf, B., & Rubel, F. (2006). World map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 15(3), 259-263.

Salem, B. B. (1989). Arid zone forestry: a guide for field technicians (No. 20). Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

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

Contributors

HA
Dustin Detweiler

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 2/18/2025

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)	P.Novak-Echenique/E.Hourihan
Contact for lead author	State Rangeland Management Specialist
Date	10/18/2011
Approved by	Kendra Moseley
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None
Presence of water flow patterns:
None
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground 10-20%
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage of grasses and annual & perennial forbs) only expected to move during periods of flooding by adjacent streams. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during peak flooding periods.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values will range from 3 to 6. (To be field tested.)
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is platy or massive. Soil surface colors are light and soils are characterized by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter can range from 1 to 3 percent in the upper 10 inches.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Deep-rooted perennial herbaceous bunchgrasses slow runoff and increase infiltration. Relatively dense foliar cover of perennial grasses and associated litter break raindrop impact and slow overland flow.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None - Platy or massive subsurface layers are not to be interpreted as compaction.
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:
Reference Plant Community: Deep-rooted, warm season, perennial grasses >>

Sub-dominant:
rhizomatous, cool season, perennial grasses and grass-like plants > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses > fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > shrubs.

Other:
Grass-like plants

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Herbaceous plant mortality or decadence uncommon.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Within plant interspaces (± 80%) and depth (1 to 3 in).
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (September thru July) ± 1500 lbs/ac; favorable 3000+ lbs/ac; unfavorable 1000 lbs/ac
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:
Potential invaders include saltcedar and Russian olive.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in most years.

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R030XB023CA

Saline Meadow

Last updated: 2/18/2025 Accessed: 03/11/2025

General information

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

State 2 submodel, plant communities

State 3 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 2/18/2025
Accessed: 03/11/2025