State 1
Alkali Sacaton/Basin Wildrye/Greasewood Plant Community

Community 1.1
Alkali Sacaton/Basin Wildrye/Greasewood Plant Community

The interpretive plant community for this site is the Historic Climax Plant Community. This state evolved with grazing by large herbivores, periodic fires, supplemental moisture, and saline and/or alkali soils. Potential vegetation is about 70% grasses or grass-like plants, 10% forbs and 20% woody plants. Saline tolerant grasses dominate the state. The major grasses include alkali sacaton, basin wildrye, rhizomatous wheatgrasses, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Woody plants are greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush. 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 1200 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 700 lbs. /acre in unfavorable years to about 1600 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). Transitions or pathways leading to other plant communities are as follows: • Moderate, continuous season-long grazing will convert this plant community to the Alkali Sacaton/Inland Saltgrass/Greasewood Plant Community. Prolonged drought will exacerbate this transition.

State 2
Alkali Sacaton/Inland Saltgrass/Greasewood Plant Community

Community 2.1
Alkali Sacaton/Inland Saltgrass/Greasewood Plant Community

Historically, this plant community evolved under moderate grazing by large ungulates and low fire frequency. Currently, this site is normally found under a moderate, season-long grazing regime and in the absence of fire or brush control. Prolonged drought can also play an important role and will exacerbate these conditions. Saline and flood tolerant perennial plants make up the dominant species in this plant community. Dominant grasses include alkali sacaton, inland saltgrass, rhizomatous wheatgrasses, blue grama, and mat muhly. Forbs commonly found in this plant community include wild onion, pursh seepweed, smooth goldaster, and povertyweed. Greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush comprises the majority of the woody species and make up less than 25% of the annual production. When compared to the Historical Climax Plant Community, basin wildrye and rhizomatous wheatgrasses have decreased. Annual weedy plants have increased, but occur in small patches. Inland saltgrass, greasewood, and rubber rabbitbrush have increased. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 880 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 500 lbs. /acre in unfavorable years to about 1100 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. 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 with brush management or wildfire will convert this plant community to the Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community. • Frequent and severe grazing with the occasional overflow and no fire will convert this plant community to the Mixed Shrub/Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community. • 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/Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community

Community 3.1
Mixed Shrub/Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community

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 short grass sod and includes a mosaic shrub overstory. Greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush are the primary overstory species in this plant community. Shrubs comprise less than 25% of the annual production. The dominant grasses are inland saltgrass, mat muhly, and blue grama. Noxious weeds such as Russian knapweed, leafy spurge, or Canada thistle may invade the site. Plant diversity is moderate to poor. When compared to the Historic Climax Plant Community, the tall and medium grasses are absent. 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. Areas of bare ground may have increased in patches and total production has decreased. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 480 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 300 lbs. /acre in unfavorable years to about 600 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 mostly not functional as plant diversity is poor, especially 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 and can cause rills, channels and gully erosion. 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 gullies may be establishing where rills have concentrated. The watershed may or may not be 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, 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 and no fire will convert this plant community to the Dense Shrub/Bare Ground Sod Plant Community. Prolonged drought will exacerbate this transition.

State 4
Dense Shrub/Bare Ground Plant Community

Community 4.1
Dense Shrub/Bare Ground Plant Community

This plant community evolved under frequent and severe grazing with the absence of fire and an interruption in overflow or an extended period of drought. 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. Shrubs make up greater than 25% of the total annual production. When compared with the Mixed Shrub/Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community, the annual production is similar as the shrub production compensates for the decline in the herbaceous production. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 450 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 350 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 has 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. The soil of this state is not well protected as erosion has accelerated because of increased bare ground. Water flow patterns and pedestalling are obvious. Infiltration is reduced and runoff has increased. Rill channels may be noticeable in the interspaces and gullies may be establishing where rills have concentrated. 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 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. • Prescribed grazing or possibly long-term prescribed grazing will return this plant community Mixed Shrub/Inland Saltgrass Plant Community.

State 5
Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community

Community 5.1
Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community

This plant community is the result of long-term improper grazing use plus fire or some form of brush management. This state is dominated by inland saltgrass sod. Intermittent areas of bare ground have increased and extend between the patches of sod. When compared to the Historic Climax Plant Community, the tall and medium grasses are absent. Short warm season grasses are dominant and weedy annuals are common. Noxious weeds, such as Russian knapweed, are present if a seed source is available. The total annual production (air-dry weight) of this state is about 280 pounds per acre, but it can range from about 100 lbs. /acre in unfavorable years to about 350 lbs. /acre in above average years. This sod 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 not functional and plant diversity is extremely low. 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 can cause rill channels and gully erosion. Water flow patterns are obvious in the bare ground areas and pedestalling is apparent along the sod edges. Rill channels are noticeable in the interspaces and gullies may be establishing where rills have concentrated. The watershed is not normally 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, etc.) followed by prescribed grazing and reseeding native species, will return this plant community to near Historic Climax Plant Community condition. • Frequent and severe grazing with the occasional overflows and no fire will convert this state to the Mixed Shrub/Inland Saltgrass Sod Plant Community.