Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R030XB134NV
QUARTZITE OUTWASH
Last updated: 2/26/2025
Accessed: 03/15/2025
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.
Ecological site concept
Please refer to group concept R030XB186CA to view the provisional
group STM.
Associated sites
| R030XA058NV |
LIMY 5-7 P.Z. |
|---|---|
| R030XA071NV |
COBBLY LOAM 5-7 P.Z. |
| R030XA093NV |
QUARTZITE FAN 5-7 P.Z. |
| R030XB108NV |
GRAVELLY INSET FAN 7-9 P.Z. |
Similar sites
| R030XB133NV |
GRAVELLY INSET FAN 5-7 P.Z. MESP2 & PSFR codominant shrubs with AMDU2 |
|---|---|
| R030XB051NV |
UPLAND WASH MUPO2 major grass; on higher landscapes |
| R030XB108NV |
GRAVELLY INSET FAN 7-9 P.Z. CORA dominant shrub |
| R030XA093NV |
QUARTZITE FAN 5-7 P.Z. CORA-AMDU2 codominant shrubs; does not occur in drainageways |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Ambrosia dumosa |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Pleuraphis rigida |
Physiographic features
This site typically occurs on stream terraces or on concave areas receiving periodic runoff from higher landscapes. Slopes range from 2 to 8 percent. Elevations are 3000 to 5800 feet.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Stream terrace
|
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) |
| Flooding frequency | Rare to occasional |
| Elevation | 3,000 – 5,800 ft |
| Slope | 2 – 8% |
| 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 5 to 7 inches. Mean annual air temperature 57 to 61 degrees F. The average growing season is about 200 to 250 days.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 250 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | |
| Precipitation total (average) | 7 in |
Figure 1. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
This site is intermittenly flooded.
Soil features
The soils associated with this site are very deep and somewhat excessively drained. They are formed in alluvium, from quartzite with minor amounts of limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone. Available water capacity is very low. These soils typically have over 50 percent rock fragments (by volume) within the soil profile. Rock fragments cover at least 50 percent of the surface soil. These soils have very low runoff and moderately rapid permeability. The soils have a calcic horizon from 29 to 35 inches. Soil series correlated to this site include Niavi.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
quartzite
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Extremely cobbly fine sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Somewhat excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 72 – 84 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 35 – 40% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 30 – 42% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
1.6 – 1.7 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
1 – 12% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
4 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
12 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.9 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
48 – 63% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
11 – 30% |
Ecological dynamics
As ecological condition deteriorates the perennial grasses decrease. Opportunistic perennial species such as white bursage, wirelettuce and desert trumpet increase. Non-native species likely to invade this site include red brome, schismus, and red-stem filaree. White burrobush is the primary perennial pioneer species.
Desert communities are usually unaffected by fire because of low fuel loads, although a year of exceptionally heavy winter rains can generate fuels by producing a heavy stand of annual forbs and grasses. When fires do occur, the effect on the ecosystem may be extreme due to the harsh environment and the slow rate of recovery. White bursage and creosotebush possess limited sprouting ability, thus, can be killed by fire. White bursage, however, can rapidly re-establish from seed. Fire damage to big galleta varies, depending on whether plants are dormant when burned. If plants are dry, damage may be severe because the live center may be burned out. Big galleta may resprout from rhizomes.
Management for this site would be to protect it from excessive disturbance and maintain existing plant cover. Close roads and trails no longer being used and revegetate using native species indigenous to this site.
Species indigenous to this site are recommended for any revegetation efforts. White bursage is valuable for erosion control and cover restoration. Big galleta has moderate potential for erosion control and long-term revegetation and low potential for short-term revegetation projects. Big galleta is somewhat effective at holding blowing sand because of its isolated, clumped growth form.
Transplanting seedlings is more effective than direct seeding. Planting in late fall or early spring allows for acclimation to summer conditions. Transplants that are dormant during the hot, dry season are best maintained that way rather than attempting to force them to break dormancy and undergo new vegetative growth out of season. Supplemental irrigation is recommended for the first growing season, especially if winter rainfall has been sparse. Summer annuals and non-native plants should be removed from around the transplanted shrubs to reduce competition for water. Protection from rodents is also recommended.
State and transition model
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State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
The reference state is representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. It is maintained by periodic flooding in response to heavy rainfall events and has increased available moisture and nutrients. Fire is rare in this system. This ecological site experiences seasonal flooding and is important for redistributing moisture and nutrients throughout the landscape. Timing of disturbances combined with weather events determines plant community dynamics.
Community 1.1
Reference Plant Community
The historic site potential is characterized by a fairly dense grassland dominated by big galleta with several shrubby species from Mojave Creosotebush throughout. Pockets of cryptogamic crust have developed between the surface rock and vegetation. This site is stable in this condition. The representative natural plant community is Mojave Mixed Steppe or Big Galleta Series. This community is dominated by big galleta. Potential vegetative composition is about 70% grasses, 10% forbs, and 20% shrubs. The following table lists the major plant species and percentages by weight, air dry, of the total plant community that each contributes in an average production year. Fluctuations in species composition and relative production may change from year to year dependent upon abnormal precipitation or other climatic factors.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrub/Vine | 47 | 97 | 188 |
| Forb | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 50 | 100 | 200 |
Table 6. Ground cover
| Tree foliar cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 15-20% |
| Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 0% |
| Forb foliar cover | 2-3% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 0% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 0% |
Table 7. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 7-10% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 0% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0% |
| Litter | 1-2% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 0% |
Table 8. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | – | – | 1-3% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 1-2% | – | – |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 3-5% | – | – |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 3-5% | – | – |
| >4.5 <= 13 | – | – | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | – | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Community 1.2
Plant Community 1.2
This plant community is characteristic of a post-disturbance plant community phase. Initially, it is heavily dominated by herbaceous vegetation and short-lived perennials. Sprouting shrubs quickly recover and provide a favorable environment for establishment of shrub seedlings. This plant community is ‘at-risk’ of invasion by non-natives. Non-native species are able to take advantage of increased availability of critical resources following disturbances.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Drought, wildfire, disease or insect attack or other event which reduces vegetation cover
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Absence from disturbance and natural regeneration over time.
State 2
Representative Plant Community
The Representative Plant Community is characterized by the presence of non-native species in the understory. A biotic threshold is crossed with the introduction of non-natives that are difficult to remove from the system and have they potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variation. Non-native annuals will persist once introduced into the plant community, due to their annual growth form, abundant seed production and long term seed viability. Non-native annuals such as red brome and cheatgrass are potential invaders on this ecological site. These non-native annuals are highly flammable and promote wildfires where fires historically have been infrequent.
Community 2.1
Plant Community Phase 2.1
Species composition is similar to the reference plant community. Ecological processes have not been compromised at this time, however, ecological resilience is reduced by the presence of non-natives. This plant community phase will respond differently following disturbance, when compared to the reference plant community. Management focused on decreasing the amount of anthropogenic disturbance is important for maintaining the health of perennial native species that protect the site against erosion.
Community 2.2
Plant Community Phase 2.2
This plant community is characteristic of a post-disturbance plant community. It is dominated by herbaceous vegetation, which may or may not be non-native, woody perennials are increasing. Nevada ephedra, desert almond and desert willow commonly sprout from rhizomes following disturbance. Sprouting species provide favorable sites for germination of species such as brittlebush, ratany, and bursage which reproduce sexually and are prolific seed producers. This plant community is ‘at-risk’ of increased erosion due to reduction of deep rooted perennials and increased non-native annuals.
State 3
Eroded State
This state is characterized by reduced cover of woody perennials. Bare ground is increasing, leading to increased erosion, decreased infiltration and loosening of the soil surface causing channeling. An abiotic threshold has been crossed preventing the natural repair of this plant community. Feedbacks keeping this state stable include reduced perennial vegetative cover causing increased runoff and decreased infiltration preventing the establishment of desirable perennial vegetation.
Community 3.1
Plant Community Phase 3.1
This plant community is characteristic of a short disturbance return interval. Long-lived woody perennials are decreasing. The ability of this site to dissipate energy during large flow events is severely reduced contributing to ecological damage downstream.
Community 3.2
Plant Community Phase 3.2
This plant community is characterized by the loss of long-lived woody perennials. Ecological processes have been altered including connectivity within the watershed, ground water recharge and habitat quality. Soil and soil nutrients are being redistributed down stream, leading to down cutting and channel widening.
Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2
Seasonal flooding, drought, wildfire, disease, insect attack or other mechanism which reduces vegetation cover.
Pathway 3.2a
Community 3.2 to 3.1
Absence from disturbance and natural regeneration over time, allow some perennials to return to the system increasing stability.
Transition T1
State 1 to 2
Introduction of non-native species 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 T2
State 2 to 3
Large scale reoccurring disturbance, natural or anthropogenic.
Restoration pathway R3
State 3 to 2
Ecological processes can be restored to the site, but non-natives remain. Possible restoration techniques include stabilizing the site by reestablishing native perennials and the use of artificial rip-rap to dissipate energy and reestablish the flood plain.
Additional community tables
Table 9. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 1 | Shrubs | 47–188 | ||||
| California broomsage | LESQ | Lepidospartum squamatum | 40–160 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 3–14 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 2–4 | – | ||
| burrobrush | HYSA | Hymenoclea salsola | 1–4 | – | ||
| desertsenna | SEAR8 | Senna armata | 1–2 | – | ||
| burrobush | AMDU2 | Ambrosia dumosa | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 2 | Annual forbs | 3–12 | ||||
| flatspine bur ragweed | AMAC2 | Ambrosia acanthicarpa | 1–2 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 1–2 | – | ||
| pincushion flower | CHFR | Chaenactis fremontii | 1–2 | – | ||
| common pussypaws | CIMO4 | Cistanthe monandra | 0–1 | – | ||
| Bigelow's tickseed | COBI | Coreopsis bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–1 | – | ||
| pygmy poppy | ESMI | Eschscholzia minutiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–1 | – | ||
| Booth's evening primrose | CABO7 | Camissonia boothii | 0–1 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suitable for livestock grazing. Big galleta is considered a valuable forage plant for cattle and domestic sheep. Its coarse, rigid culms make it relatively resistant to heavy grazing and trampling. Desert needlegrass produces considerable basal foliage and is good forage while young. Young desert needlegrass is palatable to all classes of livestock. Mature herbage is moderately grazed by horses and cattle but rarely grazed by sheep. Indian ricegrass is highly palatable to all classes of livestock in both green and cured condition. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. White bursage is of intermediate forage value. It is fair to good forage for horses and fair to poor for cattle and sheep. However, because there is often little other forage where white bursage grows, it is often highly valuable to browsing animals and is sensitive to browsing. Mojave buckwheat has a browse rating of fair to poor for cattle. Creosotebush is unpalatable to livestock. Consumption of creosotebush may be fatal to sheep. Encelia and white brittlebush have no forage value for domestic livestock. Range ratany is an important forage species for all classes of livestock. Palatability of range ratany is rated fair to good for cattle and sheep. Anderson wolfberry is sometimes used as forage by livestock and feral burros. Cattle will graze the stems of spiny menodora in the spring before the stems become woody and spiny. Spiny menodora has lower palatability than the other shrubs but is consumed during early spring before spines mature.
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:
White bursage is an important browse species for wildlife. Creosotebush is unpalatable to most browsing wildlife. Virgin River encelia is important to the desert tortoise as a source of succulent forage in periods of low moisture. Encelia is a browse species of desert mule deer and desert bighorn sheep. White brittlebush is a browse species of desert mule deer and desert bighorn sheep. Range ratany is an important forage species for deer. Mule deer browse range ratany year-long with seasonal peaks. Mule deer peak use is from February to April and from August to October. Elk will graze the stems of spiny menodora in the spring before the stems become woody and spiny. Desert bighorn sheep and feral horses and burros will graze desert needlegrass. Indian ricegrass is eaten by pronghorn in moderate amounts whenever available. In Nevada, it is consumed by desert bighorns. A number of heteromyid rodents inhabiting desert rangelands show preference for seed of Indian ricegrass. Indian ricegrass is an important component of jackrabbit diets in spring and summer. In Nevada, Indian ricegrass may even dominate jackrabbit diets during the spring through early summer months. Indian ricegrass seed provides food for many species of birds. Doves, for example, eat large amounts of shattered Indian ricegrass seed lying on the ground.
Hydrological functions
Runoff is very low and permeability is moderately rapid. This site is intermittently flooded. Hydrologic soil group is B.
Other products
Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native Americans. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source. White bursage is a host for sandfood, a parasitic plant. Sandfood was a valuable food supply for Native Americans. Creosotebush has been highly valued for its medicinal properties by Native Americans. It has been used to treat at least 14 illnesses. Twigs and leaves may be boiled as tea, steamed, pounded into a powder, pressed into a poultice, or heated into an infusion. The stems of brittle bush exude a clear resin used by the Indians as glue and chewing gum. Native Americans used white burrobrush twigs and stems in several remedies. The twigs or leaves are mixed with all-thorn twigs, boiled, and the tea taken to treat skin rashes. The tea was used to relieve pain in the lungs and trachea, and to reduce swelling. Additionally, they use white burrobrush as a remedy for rheumatism. Native Americans used the fleshy berries of Anderson wolfberry either fresh or boiled and then dried them for later use.
Other information
Big galleta's clumped growth form stabilizes blowing sand. Desert needlegrass may be used for groundcover in areas of light disturbance, but it is susceptible to excessive trampling. White bursage may be used to revegetate disturbed sites in southwestern deserts. Once established, creosotebush may improve sites for annuals that grow under its canopy by trapping fine soil, organic matter, and symbiont propagules. It may also increase water infiltration and storage. Anderson wolfberry is also used as an ornamental valued chiefly for its showy red berries.
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Nye County, NV | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T17S R53E S18 |
| General legal description | Major drainageway, west side of Mount Schader, about 20 miles northeast of Pahrump, Nye County, Nevada. This site also occurs in southwestern Nye County. |
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
GKB
Approval
Sarah Quistberg, 2/26/2025
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) | |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | |
| Date | 02/27/2025 |
| Approved by | Sarah Quistberg |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
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:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
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:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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