Physiographic features

This site occurs on concave mountain slopes. Slopes typically range from 30 to 90 percent slope. Elevations range from 8,000 feet to 11,150 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

The primary air masses affecting the Spring Mountains are cold maritime polar air from the Gulf of Alaska and warmer, moist maritime subtropical air from lower latitudes. Occasionally there are invasions of cold continental polar air from northern Canada or the Rocky Mountains. Precipitation in the area results primarily from the passage of cyclones with associated fronts during fall, winter and spring; from closed cyclones in late winter and spring; and from the flow of moist tropical air from the southeast to the southwest quadrant in the summer.

The mean annual precipitation is about 18 to 24 inches and mean annual air temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F., and the frost-free season is 50 to 90 days.

Snow Course, Spring Mountains, Nevada. Average snow depth and snow water equivalent from 1971 to 2000 at March 1 and April 1 of each year.

Kyle Canyon. (Elevation 8200 feet.) March 1: 36 inch snow depth, 10.9 inches of water equivalent. April: 31 inch snow depth, 11.7 inches of water equivalent.

Rainbow Canyon #2 (Elevation 8100 feet) March 1: 44 inch snow depth, 13.8 inches of water equivalent. April 1: 46 inch snow depth, 16.7 inches of water equivalent.

Lee Canyon #2. (Elevation 9000 feet) March 1: 35 inch snow depth, 10.6 inches of water equivalent. April 1: 31 inch snow depth, 11.1 inches of water equivalent.

Lee Canyon #3. (Elevation 8500 feet) March 1: 28 inch snow depth, 8.5 inches of water equivalent. April 1: 24 inch snow depth, 9.1 inches of water equivalent.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Influencing water features

This site will received additional moisture from snowmelt through the spring months.

Soil features

The soils associated with this site are deep to very deep. The soils have developed from avalanche deposits. The soil profile is modified with high amounts of rock fragments. The soils are usually moist in late winter and spring, and periodically moist in the upper profile following summer thunderstorms.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site has limited value for livestock grazing, due to steep slopes. Grazing management should be keyed to perennial grasses or palatable shrubs production. Most classes of domestic livestock use quaking aspen. Livestock utilization of quaking aspen communities varies with species composition of the understory and relative age of the quaking aspen stand. Young stands generally provide the most browse. Quaking aspen crowns can grow out of reach of large ungulates in 6 to 8 years. Although many animals browse quaking aspen year-round, it is especially valuable during fall and winter, when protein levels are high relative to other browse species. Domestic sheep and cattle browse the leaves and twigs. Domestic sheep browse quaking aspen more heavily than cattle. Heavy livestock browsing can adversely impact quaking aspen growth and regeneration. Stands dominated by white fir seldom produce enough forage for domestic livestock grazing except on harvested or open forest sites, or where grasses and sedges dominate the understory. Because they contain resins, terpenes, and other substances that make the foliage irritating to the digestive tract, most conifers are not particularly palatable to grazing animals. White fir may be slightly palatable to goats. Wax current is fair to poor browse for livestock. Domestic livestock rarely utilize common juniper. The foliage may be poisonous to domestic goats. Fringed brome is a good source of forage on western forest ranges. Fringed brome is browsed by livestock and is considered one of the best range grasses. Fringed brome is an important forage species for livestock, throughout the summer months. Slender wheatgrass is grazed by all classes of livestock.
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:
Quaking aspen is palatable to all browsing wildlife species. Elk browse quaking aspen year-round in much of the West, feeding on bark, branch apices, and sprouts. In some areas, elk use it mainly in winter. Quaking aspen is important forage for mule deer. Deer consume the leaves, buds, twigs, bark, and sprouts. New growth on burns or clearcuts is especially palatable to deer. Deer in many areas use quaking aspen year-round, although in some areas, deer winter below the aspen zone. Quaking aspen provides food for porcupine in winter and spring. Beaver consume the leaves, bark, twigs, and all diameters of quaking aspen branches. They use quaking aspen stems for constructing dams and lodges. Quaking aspen communities provide important feeding and nesting sites for a diverse array of birds. Quaking aspen is host to a variety of insects that are food for woodpeckers and sapsuckers. Many bird species utilize quaking aspen communities of only a particular seral stage. Through most of its range, ruffed grouse depends on quaking aspen for foraging, courting, breeding, and nesting sites. It uses quaking aspen communities of all ages. Favorable ruffed grouse habitat includes quaking aspen stands of at least three different size classes. Young stands provide important brood habitat, and 10- to 25-year-old stands are favored overwintering and breeding areas. Quaking aspen leaves and buds are readily available in abundant quantities in stands greater than 25 years of age, and such older stands are used for foraging. White fir provides abundant browse and cover for large and small wildlife species. Deer, elk, and bear often use white fir habitats as either summer or winter range. Mule deer generally eat small amounts of white fir during the spring, fall, and winter, and sometimes larger amounts during the summer. Mule deer are especially fond of succulent, new white fir growth in the spring. Spring browsing of white fir by deer can be particularly heavy when small white firs are the only green food available; all of the current or previous year's growth may be consumed. White fir needles are an important part of the diet of blue grouse. White fir seeds are eaten by several species of small mammals and birds including grouse, chipmunks, and mice. Wax currant provides food and cover for wildlife. It is only fair to poor browse for deer, but it is important on ranges where little else is available. Wild ungulates generally eat only trace amounts of common juniper. Deer typically browse common juniper during the winter or early spring. Common juniper can be important winter mule deer food. Fringed brome is a good source of forage on western forest ranges. Fringed brome is an important forage species for deer throughout the summer months.
Slender wheatgrass is grazed by sage grouse, deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn, various rodents, and all classes of livestock. The seeds are eaten by various seed predators. Slender wheatgrass provides hiding and thermal cover for songbirds, upland game birds, waterfowl, and small mammals.

Hydrological functions

Runoff is very high. Permeability is moderately rapid.

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

Other products

White fir is a valuable ornamental tree. It is often used for ornamental plantings in rural and urban landscapes in northern US cities, because it is attractive and frost-hardy. White fir is used extensively in the Christmas tree industry. White fir needles were used to make tea by Native Americans. The fruit of wax currant is used for making jam, jelly, or pie. Some western Indian tribes used currants for making pemmican. Wax currant is cultivated as an ornamental.

Other information

Quaking aspens are used to stabilize soil and watersheds. The trees produce abundant litter that contains more nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and calcium than leaf litter of most other hardwoods. The litter decays rapidly, forming nutrient-rich humus that may amount to 25 tons per acre (oven-dry basis). The humus reduces runoff and aids in percolation and recharge of ground water. Slender wheatgrass is widely used for revegetating disturbed lands. Slender wheatgrass is a short-lived perennial with good seedling vigor. It germinates and establishes quickly when seeded making it a good choice for quick cover on disturbed sites. It persists long enough for other, slower developing species to establish. It is especially valuable for use in saline soils. It has been used for rehabilitating mine spoils, livestock ranges, and wildlife habitat and watershed areas.

Type locality

Other references

Clokey, I. 1951. Flora of the Charleston Mountains clark County, Nevada. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles.

Fire Effects Information System [Online]http://www.fs.fed.us/feis

Glenne, G. and D. Johnson. 2002. Guide to Species of Concern in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada. USFS, Las Vegas, NV.

Lanner, R.M. 1984. Trees of the Great Basin. University of Nevada Press, Reno NV.

Nachlinger, J. and G. Reese. 1996. Plant Community Classification of the Spring mountains National Recreation Area, Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada. The Nature Conservancy. Reno, Nevada.

Contributors

TJW

Approval

Sarah Quistberg, 2/25/2025