State 1
Inland Saltgrass/ Basin Wildrye/ Alkali Sacaton

Community 1.1
Inland Saltgrass/ Basin Wildrye/ Alkali Sacaton

The interpretive plant community for this site is the Historic Climax Plant Community. This state evolved with grazing by large herbivores and periodic fires. Potential vegetation is about 75% grasses or grass-like plants, 10% forbs and 15% woody plants. Tall and medium grasses, which can tolerate saline and/or alkali conditions and occasional overflows, dominate this plant community. The major grasses include inland saltgrass, basin wildrye, alkali sacaton, and rhizomatous wheatgrasses, Woody plants include primarily greasewood and Gardner’s saltbush, but rubber rabbitbrush and basin big sagebrush can also occur. A variety of forbs also occurs in this state and plant diversity is high (see Plant Composition Table). The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 900 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 500 lbs./acre in unfavorable years to about 1200 lbs./acre in above average years. This state is stable and well adapted to the Northern Intermountain Desertic Basins climatic conditions. The diversity in plant species allows for high drought resistance. This is a sustainable plant community (site/soil stability, watershed function, and biologic integrity). Typically, relic rills and gullies are visible but are now stable. No recent accelerated erosion should be occurring in this state. Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Moderate, continuous season-long grazing will convert this plant community to the Inland Saltgrass/Rhizomatous Wheatgrasses/Greasewood Plant community. Prolonged drought will exacerbate this transition.

State 2
Inland Saltgrass/ Rhizomatous Wheatgrasses/ Greasewood

Community 2.1
Inland Saltgrass/ Rhizomatous Wheatgrasses/ Greasewood

This plant community evolved under moderate grazing by domestic livestock and low fire frequency. Saline tolerant grasses make up the majority of the understory. The dominant grasses include rhizomatous wheatgrasses, bottlebrush squirreltail, inland saltgrass, alkali bluegrass, blue grama, and alkali sacaton. Forbs commonly found in this plant community include wild onion, pursh seepweed, smooth woodyaster, and povertyweed. Greasewood and Gardner’s saltbush may comprise as much as 20% of the total annual production. When compared to the Historical Climax Plant Community, basin wildrye, Indian ricegrass, and alkali sacaton have decreased. Inland Saltgrass, blue grama, greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush have increased. Total production is less as the tall and mid-grasses have been reduced. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 700 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 450 lbs./acre in unfavorable years to about 1000 lbs./acre in above average years. This state is stable and protected from excessive erosion. The herbaceous component is mostly intact and plant vigor and replacement capabilities are sufficient. Only minimal occurrences of water flow patterns and litter movement is evident. Incidence of pedestalling is minimal. Soils are mostly stable and the surface shows minimum soil loss. Typically, relic rills and gullies are visible but are now stable. The watershed is functioning and the biotic community is intact. Transitional pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Prescribed grazing or possibly long-term prescribed grazing will result in a plant community very similar to the Historic Climax Plant Community, except that greasewood will persist without a return to a normal fire regime or some form of brush control. • Frequent and severe grazing and no fire with the occasional overflow will convert this plant community to the Mixed Shrub/Short Grass Sod Plant Community. • Encroachment and no fire will convert this plant community to the Alkali Sacaton/Saltcedar and/or Russian Olive Plant Community. • Frequent and Severe grazing plus encroachment will convert this plant community to a Dense Saltcedar and/or Russian Olive Stand/Annuals Plant Community. Invasion of saltcedar or Russian olive should be considered serious and should be controlled. • Frequent and severe grazing with no overflow and no fire will convert this plant community to the Dense Shrub/Bare Ground Plant Community. Prolonged drought will exacerbate this transition.

State 3
Mixed Shrub/ Short Grass Sod

Community 3.1
Mixed Shrub/ Short Grass Sod

This plant community is the result of frequent and severe grazing with periodic overflows and no fire or brush control. This plant community is dominated by a dense sod of inland saltgrass, blue grama and alkali bluegrass and includes a mosaic shrub overstory. Greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush are the dominant overstory shrubs in this plant community. Shrubs comprise less than 25% of the annual production and are kept in check by the herbaceous sod understory. When compared to the Historic Climax Plant Community, the tall and medium grasses are absent or greatly reduced. Short warm season grasses are dominant and weedy annuals are common. Shrubs will have increased as a percentage of the total production, but will not dominate as the sod prevents a homogeneous shrub cover. Noxious weeds such as Russian knapweed are present, if a seed source is available. Total production is less as the tall and mid grasses have been removed. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 600 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 350 lbs./acre in unfavorable years to about 800 lbs./acre in above average years. The sod component of this plant community is extremely resistant to change and continued frequent and severe grazing or the removal of grazing does not seem to affect the plant composition or structure of the plant community. The biotic integrity of this state is minimally functional as plant diversity is moderate to poor especially among the herbaceous species. However, the vegetative structure may still be partially intact as the shrub component is still within a reasonable percentage of the total composition. This sod bound plant community is very resistant to water infiltration. While this sod protects the site itself, excessive runoff increases erosion on bare ground areas and worsens the channelization already present. Water flow patterns are obvious in the bare ground areas and shrubs and sod patches are pedestalled. Rill channels are noticeable in the interspaces and lateral gullies will increase. The watershed is not minimally functioning, as runoff is excessive and erosional processes are accelerated. Transitional pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Grazing land mechanical treatment (chiseling and seeding, etc.) and brush management followed by prescribed grazing and if necessary seeding will return this plant community to near Historic Climax Plant Community. • Frequent and severe grazing with no overflow will convert this plant community to the Dense Shrub/Bare Ground Sod Plant Community. Prolonged drought will exacerbate this transition. • Frequent and Severe grazing plus encroachment will convert this plant community to a Dense Saltcedar and/or Russian Olive Stand/Annuals Plant Community. Invasion of saltcedar or Russian olive should be consider serious and should be controlled.

State 4
Dense Shrub/ Bare Ground

Community 4.1
Dense Shrub/ Bare Ground

This plant community evolved under frequent and severe grazing plus a decrease in the number of periodic overflow events and the absence of fire. Drought will exacerbate this transition. Greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush are the dominant species of this plant community. Tall and medium grasses have been eliminated. The interspaces between shrubs have expanded leaving the amount of bare ground more prevalent and more soil surface exposed to erosive elements. The annual grasses and forbs, such as cheatgrass, foxtail barley, kochia, halogeton, and Russian thistle, make up the dominant understory along with noxious weeds such as Russian knapweed. Total annual production is mostly from shrubs and these weedy annuals. When compared to the HCPC the total production has been reduced but the increase in shrubs offsets some of the loss in the herbaceous production. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 400 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 300 lbs./acre in unfavorable years to about 600 lbs./acre in above average years. This plant community is resistant to change as the stand becomes more decadent. These areas may actually be more resistant to fire as less fine fuels are available and the bare ground between the shrubs is increased. Continued frequent and severe grazing or the removal of grazing does not seem to affect the plant composition or structure of the plant community. Annual grasses, weedy species and bare ground compromise the biotic integrity. Plant diversity is poor and the potential for native grasses to reproduce is absent. The shift in the vegetative structure and function is extreme and the biotic integrity is lost. Soil erosion is accelerated because of increased bare ground. Water flow patterns and pedestalling are obvious. Infiltration is reduced and runoff is increased. Rill channels may be noticeable in the interspaces and lateral gullies are numerous. Transitional pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Brush management, followed by prescribed grazing and seeding if necessary, will return this plant community at or near the HCPC. If prescribed fire is used as a means to reduce or remove the shrubs, sufficient fine fuels will need to be present. This may require deferment from grazing prior to treatment. Since both greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush are difficult to remove or control, repeated treatments or a combination of treatments may be necessary. Post management is critical to ensure success. This can range from two or more years of rest to partial growing season deferment, depending on the condition of the understory at the time of treatment and the growing conditions following treatment. In the case of an intense wildfire that occurs when desirable plants are not completely dormant, the length of time required to reach the HCPC may be increased and seeding of natives is recommended.

State 5
Alkali Sacaton/Saltcedar and/ or Russian Olive

Community 5.1
Alkali Sacaton/Saltcedar and/ or Russian Olive

This plant community occurs where saltcedar and/or Russian olive encroaches into the site and becomes established. This occurs with or without grazing and is the result of conditions conducive to the colonization of these to plants. An increase in bare ground is likely to increase the potential for colonization. However, areas that have been deferred or removed from grazing and had a healthy stand of alkali sacaton can be infested. Saline tolerant perennial plants make up the dominant understory species in this plant community. The dominant grasses include alkali sacaton, inland saltgrass, rhizomatous wheatgrasses, and blue grama. Forbs commonly found in this plant community include wild onion, pursh seepweed, smooth woodyaster, and povertyweed. Saltcedar and/or Russian olive comprise the majority of the woody species and usually make up greater than 35% of the annual production. Invasion of saltcedar or Russian olive should be considered serious and should be controlled. When compared to the Historical Climax Plant Community, basin wildrye has decreased. Inland Saltgrass has increased and saltcedar and/or Russian olive have invaded. Total production has been reduced but is similar to the Inland Saltgrass/Rhizomatous Wheatgrasses/Greasewood Plant community. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 600 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 400 lbs./acre in unfavorable years to about 900 lbs./acre in above average years. This plant community is mostly resistant to change, but species composition can be altered through long-term overgrazing and further encroachment of saltcedar and Russian olive. The herbaceous component is stable and plant vigor and replacement capabilities are sufficient. The biotic community is not intact due to the encroachment of these invasive species. Plant diversity is moderate. Soils are mostly stabilized. Only minimal occurrences of water flow patterns and litter movement is evident. Incidence of pedestalling is minimal. Soils are mostly stable and the surface shows minimum soil loss. The watershed may or may not be functional. Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Frequent and severe grazing plus Encroachment will convert the plant community to the Dense Saltcedar and/or Russian Olive Stand/Annuals Plant Community. • Grazing land mechanical treatment, brush management, and prescribed grazing may convert this plant community to the Historic Climax Plant Community, but recovery is mostly impractical as removal of salt cedar and/or Russian olive is expensive and total removal is typically not obtainable. Salt cedar and Russian olive will still probably persist as suppression and containment of this plant is optimal. Any methods of control should be followed by revegetation to reduce regeneration of this plant and other weedy species.

State 6
Dense Saltcedar and/ or Russian Olive Stand/ Annuals

Community 6.1
Dense Saltcedar and/ or Russian Olive Stand/ Annuals

This plant community evolved under frequent and severe grazing and encroachment of saltcedar and/or Russian olive. Saltcedar and/or Russian olive dominate this plant community. Most of the tall and medium grasses are eliminated and an understory of weedy herbaceous plants is prevalent. The interspaces between woody plants have expanded leaving the amount of bare ground more typical and more soil surface exposed to erosive elements or invaders. The weedy plants, such as kochia, halogeton, Russian knapweed, and Russian thistle, make up the dominant understory. Total annual production is mostly from shrubs and these weedy plants. Saltcedar and/or Russian olive make up greater than 35% of the total annual production. When compared with the HCPC, the annual production is less due to the removal of the perennial grass and amount of bare ground. The increase in woody species, however, compensates for some of this loss. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 450 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 300 lbs./acre in unfavorable years to about 600 lbs./acre in above average years. This plant community is resistant to change as the stand becomes denser. These areas may actually be more resistant to fire as less fine fuels are available and the bare ground between the shrubs is increased. Continued frequent and severe grazing or the removal of grazing does not seem to affect the plant composition or structure of the plant community. Saltcedar, Russian olive, annual grasses, weedy species and bare ground compromise the biotic integrity. Plant diversity is poor and the potential for native grasses to reproduce is absent. The shift in the vegetative structure and function is extreme and the biotic integrity is lost. The soil of this state is not protected as erosion has accelerated because of increased bare ground. Water flow patterns and pedestalling are obvious. Infiltration is reduced and runoff is increased. Rill channels may be noticeable in the interspaces and gullies may be establishing where rills have concentrated. The watershed is not functional due to excessive runoff, erosion and bare ground. Transitional pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Brush management and prescribed grazing will result in an Alkali Sacaton/Saltcedar and/or Russian Olive Plant Community. Controlling both Saltcedar and Russian olive is a priority if these species have invaded. Any methods of control should be followed by revegetation to reduce regeneration of these two species and other weedy plants. • Grazing land mechanical treatment, brush management, and prescribed grazing may convert this plant community to the Historic Climax Plant Community, but recovery is mostly impractical as removal of salt cedar and/or Russian olive is both expensive and total removal is typically not obtainable. Salt cedar and Russian olive will still probably persist as suppression and containment of this plant is optimal. Any methods of control should be followed by revegetation to reduce regeneration of this plant and other weedy species.