State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Plant Community

Figure 6. 1.1

The Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Community (1.1) is well adapted to Cool Central Desertic Basins and Plateaus climatic conditions. The diversity in plant species allows for drought tolerance, and natural plant mortality is very low. These plants have strong, healthy root systems that allow production to increase significantly with favorable moisture conditions. Abundant plant litter is available for soil building and moisture retention. Plant litter is properly distributed with very little movement off-site. Biological soil crusts play an important role in protecting the soil surface as well as carbon, nutrient, and water cycles, particularly moss and lichen under the sagebrush canopy and cyanobacteria in the interspaces. This plant community provides for soil stability and a properly functioning hydrologic cycle. The soils associated with this site are fertile and hold moderately large amounts of soil moisture, providing a very favorable soil-water-plant relationship. Plant community phases can occur in large contiguous blocks or in a small to large mosaic pattern, but typically this plant community is maintained within a larger mosaic at the landscape level with the other plant communities phases identified in the Reference State. This community can occur over time without disturbance (i.e. “natural succession”), or it can be accelerated with moderate herbaceous grazing pressure. Wyoming big sagebrush is dominant with sagebrush foliar cover ranging from 15% to 25%. At this level of sagebrush cover in this precipitation zone, there is competition between the shrub over-story and the herbaceous understory. (Winward, 2007) A Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Community with a degraded understory is an “at-risk” community. There are generally few canopy gaps, and most basal gaps are moderate (3-6 feet). Rock cover on the soil surface is low. Most plant interspaces have canopy or litter cover. Production of grasses is much lower than in the Bunchgrass Community (1.3) and slightly lower than in the Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community (1.2).

Community 1.2
Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community

Figure 9. 1.2

The Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community (1.2) is well adapted to Cool Central Desertic Basins and Plateaus climatic conditions. The diversity in plant species allows for drought tolerance, and natural plant mortality is very low. These plants have strong, healthy root systems that allow production to increase significantly with favorable moisture conditions. Abundant plant litter is available for soil building and moisture retention. Plant litter is properly distributed with very little movement off-site. This plant community provides for soil stability and a properly functioning hydrologic cycle. The soils associated with this site are fertile and hold moderately large amounts of soil moisture, providing a very favorable soil-water-plant relationship. Plant community phases can occur in large contiguous blocks or in a small to large mosaic pattern, but typically this plant community is maintained within a larger mosaic at the landscape level with the other plant communities phases identified in the Reference State. This community can occur after a sagebrush thinning event, such as drought, insects, or disease, or it can take longer to occur after a stand replacing event. Mid-stature bunchgrasses co-dominate with Wyoming big sagebrush, with sagebrush cover ranging from 5% to 15%. At this sagebrush canopy level in this precipitation zone, there is little if any competition between the shrub overstory and the herbaceous understory. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that the understory receives more benefit from the sage over-story than negative effects. (Winward, 2007) There are generally few canopy gaps, and most basal gaps are generally (3-6 feet). Rock cover on the soil surface is low to moderate. Many plant interspaces have canopy or litter cover. Production of grasses is slightly less than in the Bunchgrass Community (1.3), but shrub production is higher. Mechanical and chemical treatment of shrubs have replaced natural sagebrush killing events in many cases. However, chemical treatments impact non-target species, particularly broad-leafed species (forbs and shrubs) differently than natural events such as drought or fire. Fire tends to result in a short-term increase in forbs, but chemical treatments with 2,4-D can result in a short-term or long-term reduction in forb density and diversity. Chemical treatment of sagebrush with tebuthiuron can have impacts on the understory, depending on application rate.

Community 1.3
Bunchgrass Community

Figure 12. 1.3

The Bunchgrass Community (1.3) is dominated by mid-stature cool-season bunchgrasses mixed with a minor component of forbs and shrubs. Wyoming big sagebrush along with several other shrubs are present as a part of this community, but they are a minor component with 0 to 5% foliar cover. Sprouting shrubs such as green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) may appear more visible and dominant with reduced sagebrush cover, but they are not dominant compared to the herbaceous component. The Bunchgrass Community (1.3) generally occurs immediately following a stand replacing sagebrush killing event such as drought, insects, browse, or fire. Chemical, mechanical, and biological control can be effective tools to achieve this plant community.

Pathway 1.1-1.2
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Plant Community

Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community

The trigger for a community shift from the Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Community (1.1) to the Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community (1.2) is a sagebrush thinning event, such as drought, insects, disease, chemical, mechanical or biological control of sagebrush that favors the existing herbaceous vegetation while only removing a portion of the sagebrush canopy so that 5-15% sagebrush cover remains. Indicators include the increase in density and vigor of mid-stature bunchgrasses to the point that they co-dominate species composition by weight with Wyoming big sagebrush.

Pathway 1.1-1.3
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Plant Community

Bunchgrass Community

The trigger for a community shift from the Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Community (1.1) to the Bunchgrass Community (1.3) is a stand replacing sagebrush killing event, such as fire, drought, insects, disease, chemical, mechanical or biological control of sagebrush that favors the existing herbaceous vegetation and removes sagebrush canopy to <5%. Indicators include the increase in density and vigor of mid-stature bunchgrasses to the point that they dominate species composition by weight.

Pathway 1.2-1.1
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community

Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Plant Community

The trigger for a community shift from the Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community (1.2) to the Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Community (1.1) is natural succession, or lack of disturbance over time. Indicators include an increase in shrub cover and decline in overall under-story.

Pathway 1.2-1.3
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community

Bunchgrass Community

The trigger for a community shift from the Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community (1.2) to the Bunchgrass Community (1.3) is a sagebrush killing event, such as fire, drought, chemical, mechanical or biological control of sagebrush that favors the existing herbaceous vegetation. Indicators include an increase in density and vigor of mid-stature bunchgrasses to the point that they dominate species composition by weight.

Pathway 1.3-1.2
Community 1.3 to 1.2

Bunchgrass Community

Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community

The trigger for a community shift from the Bunchgrass Community (1.3) to the Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Community (1.2) is natural succession, or lack of disturbance over time. Indicators include an increase in shrub cover and decline in overall under-story. Natural succession results in sagebrush cover increasing in response to annual climatic differences and a certain amount of herbivory. Succession can be accelerated with proper herbaceous grazing (fully stocked, according to suggested stocking rate numbers, and a system that varies the time and timing of grazing to provide for periodic deferment during the critical growth period) and natural events such as drought/wet cycles.

State 2
Grazing Resistant State

Community 2.1
Big Sagebrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass- Bluegrass Plant Community

Figure 15. 2.1

The Big Sagebrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass-Bluegrass Plant Community (2.1) is characterized by an herbaceous component dominated by Sandberg bluegrass, rhizomatous wheatgrass and/or mat forbs, with limited mid-stature bunchgrasses. Once these key species becomes scarce, it is unlikely to have sufficient reproductive capability (seed source, tillering, or resprouting) to recover dominance in a reasonable time frame without extra energy being added to the system. The plant community is highly resilient to changes in composition, due to the dominance and competition of established bluegrass, rhizomatous wheatgrass, and/or mat forbs. However, the community can shift back to the Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Community (1.3) over time with fire and/or brush control and/or deferment. This community is shrub dominated. Sagebrush canopy may be as high as 25 percent or higher. The dominant shrub is Wyoming big sagebrush. The Big Sagebrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass-Sandberg Bluegrass-Mat Forb Community occurs if the herbaceous component has been degraded. Areas that catch and retain snow are more likely to have higher shrub cover. Range Health Indicators: Production is considerably lower than in Reference State (1), leading to lower soil organic matter content and therefore lower soil stability than in the Reference State. Ground cover is still high. Infiltration is lower than in the Reference State and the water cycle has reduced function due to decreased soil organic matter.

State 3
Eroded State

Community 3.1
Big Sagebrush/Bare Ground Community

Herbaceous canopy cover in the Big Sagebrush/Bare Ground Community (3.1) is significantly reduced. Annual production is approximately half of the Bunchgrass Plant Community (1.1). Perennial grass species (e.g., Indian ricegrass and needleandthread, bluebunch wheatgrass) may exist only in patches and are typically low in vigor. This community tends to be dominated by big sagebrush (>25% cover) and bare ground in large patches in the interspaces of the shrub canopy. The majority of annual production is from big sagebrush so this site provides very little value for grazing. The Big Sagebrush/Bare Ground Community (3.1) rarely produces sufficient quantity of fine fuels necessary to carry a fire. Therefore, fire no longer influences community dynamics. The Big Sagebrush/Bare Ground Community (3.1) differs from other communities, because it is characterized by sparse plant cover and soil surface erosion. Sparse vegetation creates low levels of foliar and basal cover. This, in turn, leads to low litter production, which is combined with reduced ability to retain litter on site. Soil is exposed to wind and water erosion in the plant interspaces. These factors combine to create a decrease in soil organic matter. Reduced litter cover, combined with reduced herbaceous cover, results in higher soil temperature, poor water infiltration rates, and high evaporation, thus favoring species which are more adapted to drier conditions. Soil fertility is reduced, soil compaction is increased, and resistance to soil surface erosion has declined compared to the other states. This community has lost most, if not all, of the attributes of a functioning, healthy rangeland, including good infiltration, minimal erosion and runoff, nutrient cycling, and energy flow.

State 4
Disturbed State

This state contains one community, the Big Sagebrush/Bare Ground Community (3.1). It is characterized by sparse herbaceous plant cover dominated by big sagebrush and bare ground. Communities in the Eroded State (3) have crossed a threshold (T1-3 or T2-3) because of soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and/or degradation of soil properties. Soil erosion affects the hydrology, soil chemistry, soil microorganisms, and soil physics to the point where intensive restoration is required to restore the site to another state or community. Simply changing grazing management may not create sufficient change to restore the site within a reasonable period. It will require a considerable input of energy to move the site back to the Reference State (1). The Eroded State (3) is at high risk of weed invasion due to the high percentage of bare ground. Many invasive species are adapted to low soil fertility, high soil temperatures and low soil moisture content. This puts the community at risk of transitioning to the Disturbed State (4).

Community 4.1
Big Sagebrush/Rabbitbrush Community

The Big Sagebrush/Rabbitbrush Community (4.1) has had the disturbance regime accelerated or altered in the past, but no recent sagebrush killing events. Wyoming big sagebrush and green rabbitbrush are co-dominant with a sparse understory. This community is found in areas of historical disturbance (i.e. homesteads, gravel pits, emigrant trails) where the disturbances that caused the initial dominance of rabbitbrush have ceased

Community 4.2
Rabbitbrush/Bare Ground/Annuals Community

The Rabbitbrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass Community (4.2) is often in a perpetual state of disturbance. The disturbance regime of the site has been accelerated often with the addition of ground disturbing activities (i.e. gravel pits, pasture corners where livestock are gathered, continual sagebrush removal techniques, and/or consecutive fires. Seeding may be used to restore functional structural groups, but rabbitbrush is likely to continue as a dominant shrub into the foreseeable future with no restoration pathway identified at this time due to irreversible changes to soil dynamic properties (structure, organic matter, infiltration, bulk density, and/or water holding capacity).

Pathway 4.2-4.1
Community 4.2 to 4.1

The trigger for a community shift from the Rabbitbrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass Community (4.2) to the Big Sagebrush/Rabbitbrush Community (4.1) is time without sagebrush killing disturbances. This shift can be accelerated with high utilization levels by grazers, particularly during the critical growth period.

State 5
Highly Disturbed State

Community 5.1
Annuals/Bare Ground Community

The Annuals/Bare Ground Community (5.1) occurs after severe disturbance, most often physical soil disturbance that removes all topsoil, but it can also occur as a transition from the Eroded State (3) after severe drought, flooding, pests, or disease kills sagebrush, leaving the site with no perennial vegetation. Populations of annual and/or invasive weeds reach critical levels and impact the ecological processes on the site until restoration of the site occurs. As part of succession, all sites that are severely disturbed will go through this plant community as part of the restoration process.

Community 5.2
Reclaimed Community

This plant community is highly variable based on weather conditions during restoration activities, the management practices used to implement the restoration, the seed mix, and how soil was stockpiled during the disturbance

Pathway 5.1-5.2
Community 5.1 to 5.2

The trigger for a community shift from the Annuals/Bare Ground Community (5.1) to the Reclaimed Community (5.2) is a variety of reclamation and restoration techniques that include seedbed preparation, seeding, and often post-planting weed control. Weather is the largest determining factor in determining time and success, but the process can be accelerated with Best Management Practices for site restoration (http://www.uwyo.edu/wrrc/ ).

Transition T1-2
State 1 to 2

The driver for transition from the Reference State to the Grazing Resistant State (T1-2) is continuous spring grazing and/or long-term drought. Continuous spring grazing and/or extended drought can lead to a decline in palatable mid-stature bunchgrasses. Indian ricegrass, a short-lived perennial that requires more frequent seed production to provide an adequate seedbank, and bluebunch wheatgrass, a long-lived perennial that has elevated growth points, are typically the first species to decline (Natural Resources Conservation Service). Bottlebrush squirreltail will also decline with grazing pressure and lack of disturbances that kill sagebrush. Needleandthread is more grazing tolerant, but will eventually decline in plant density and vigor. As bunchgrasses diminish or die during periods of stress, low- stature bunchgrasses and rhizomatous grasses gain a competitive advantage, creating a shift in species composition towards less productive, shorter species. While bare ground may not change significantly, the pattern of bare ground will shift to larger gaps in the canopy and fewer herbaceous plants between shrubs. Many of the remaining desirable bunchgrasses will be only found in the understory of the sagebrush canopy. Once mid-stature bunchgrasses species become scarce, it is unlikely that they have sufficient reproductive capability (seed source, tillering, or re-sprouting) to recover dominance in a reasonable time frame without extra energy being added to the system. When the understory vegetation has been degraded to this point, the transition to the Grazing Resistant State (2) can occur from either the Bunchgrass/Big Sagebrush Plant Community (1.2) or the Big Sagebrush/Bunchgrass Plant Community (1.1). The transition is not dependent on the increase of woody canopy cover, but rather on the lack of mid-stature bunchgrasses in the canopy interspaces. Management should focus on grazing management strategies that will prevent further degradation. This can be achieved through a grazing management scheme that varies the season of use to provide periodic deferment during the critical growth period (roughly May-June). Forage quantity and/or quality in the Grazing Resistant State (2) may be substantially reduced compared to the Reference State, and will dramatically fluctuate in dry vs. wet years.

Transition T1-3
State 1 to 3

The driver for transition from the Reference State to the Eroded State (T1-3) is continuous high intensity early season grazing. Drought can accelerate this transition. Indicators of this transition include significant decline in plant canopy cover or total annual aboveground biomass production below 200 pounds per acre. The primary indicator of this transition is the loss of understory, which creates open spots with bare soil between the sagebrush canopy. Soil erosion causes decreased soil fertility and infiltration, triggering the transition to the Eroded State. Several other key factors signal the approach of a threshhold: an increase in soil physical crusting, a decrease in soil surface aggregate stability, and/or evidence of erosion, including water flow patterns, development of pedestals, and litter movement.

Transition T1-4
State 1 to 4

The driver for transition from the Reference State to the Disturbed State (T1-4) is an increase in the disturbance cycle (i.e. grazing, drought, fire, mechanical, chemical or biological treatments), often in combination with grazing management that does not provide periodic deferment during the critical growth period. The transition can occur if multiple soil disturbing activities occur over a relatively short time period. This could be high intensity/high frequency grazing, machinery, and/or multiple sagebrush treatments. Indicators include an increase in rabbitbrush to dominant levels in the plant community due to ground disturbance that could be either natural (i.e. water movement) or manmade (i.e. high density/high frequency stocking, mechanical treatments or heavy equipment operations). If introduced to the site, invasive species, such as cheatgrass, may be present. To prevent this transition, the site will require proper reclamation after disturbance using the most current science and technology available to restore native vegetation and prevent invasive dominance. In cases where topsoil loss occurs, it may be unavoidable to prevent this transition. Long-term stress conditions for native species (e.g., improper grazing management, drought, and fire) will alter plant community composition and production over time and may hasten the transition. The resulting lower biomass production, reduced litter, and increased bare ground in this community can promote invasion of undesirable species such as, plains pricklypear.

Transition T1-5
State 1 to 5

The driver for transition from the Reference State to the Highly Disturbed State (T1-5) is a topsoil removing event with mechanical equipment. Examples include construction sites, oil and gas activity, and borrow areas

Restoration pathway R2-1
State 2 to 1

The drivers for this restoration pathway are reduction of woody species and restoration of native herbaceous species by mechanical or chemical treatment of sagebrush, and grazing rest or deferment. If some mid stature bunchgrasses remain under the sage canopy, proper grazing management can move the site back to the Reference State (1) combined with a mechanical or chemical sagebrush treatment. Most probable restoration pathway is from Big Sagebrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass Community (2.1) to the Bunchgrass Community (1.3). This could take multiple generations of management or could be accelerated with rest or deferment combined with successive wet springs conducive to seed germination and seedling establishment. (Derner, Schuman, Follett, & Vance, 2014).

Transition T2-3
State 2 to 3

The driver for transition from the Grazing Resistant State to the Eroded State (T2-3) is continuous high intensity early season grazing from the Big Sagebrush/Rhizomatous Wheatgrass Community (2-1). Examples include calving pastures and small acreage horse pastures where rotational grazing is not employed, but stocking densities are high. Extended drought periods accelerate this transition. Indicators include very old sagebrush stands with very little understory between the sagebrush canopy. Bare ground patch sizes are very large and comprise the majority of the interspaces between sagebrush plants.

Transition T2-4
State 2 to 4

The driver for transition from the Grazing Resistant State to the Disturbed State (T2-4) is an increase in the disturbance cycle (i.e. grazing, drought, fire, mechanical, chemical, biological treatments) combined with continuous high intensity grazing. Examples include calving pastures and small acreage horse pastures where rotational grazing is not employed combined with sagebrush treatment (mechanical, chemical, or biological). High stocking densities are soil disturbing, and adding sagebrush treatment(s) to this regime result in a an increase in the disturbance cycle. Removal of shrubs without proper grazing management can lead to an increase in bare ground and erosion of the upper soil horizon, and the site can degrade to the Disturbed State (4). Consequences of this transition are decreased soil fertility or even soil erosion, soil crusting, and decrease of soil surface aggregate stability. Indicators of the Disturbed state are a shift in shrub dominance away from sagebrush and toward sprouting shrubs such as green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus).

Transition T2-5
State 2 to 5

The driver for transition from the Grazing Resistant to the Highly Disturbed State (T2-5) is a topsoil removing event with mechanical equipment. Examples include construction sites, oil and gas activity, and borrow areas.

Restoration pathway R3-1
State 3 to 1

The Eroded State (3) has lost soil or vegetation attributes to the point that recovery to the Reference State (1) will require a combination of grazing management (changing season of use to allow frequent rest or deferment during the critical growth period) and chemical, biological or mechanical treatments, and reseeding. Seeding may be cost prohibitive as a restoration practice used alone. With reduced organic matter and loss of soil, soil amendments and/or mulch may be needed for restoration success. Restoration has occurred by mowing without re-seeding, but the grazing regime in this instance is low stocking density and winter only use.

Restoration pathway R3-2
State 3 to 2

Restoration from the Eroded State (3) to the Grazing Resistant State (2) is possible with mechanical, biological and chemical treatments and temporary rest or deferment post-treatment. Due to loss of soil fertility, structure, and organic matter, reference community plants are slow to repopulate the site. Success of this restoration is highly dependent upon climatic factors, and may require successive wet years. This restoration pathway is often unintentionally achieved when the goal is the Reference State (1) because post-treatment management is not sustained in a manner that allows frequent critical growth period rest and/or use levels and recovery periods are not adequate to sustain mid-stature bunchgrasses.

Transition T3-4
State 3 to 4

The driver for this transition is a sagebrush killing event with continuous high intensity early season grazing. The event could be severe drought, flooding, insects, disease, or a sagebrush treatment such as mechanical (including heavy equipment/construction or a mowing/chaining/harrow type sage treatment), chemical (including 2,4-D or tebuthiron), or biological (including browse and/or insects). Fire is not usually possible due to lack of understory fuels to carry the fire. In fact, the Eroded State (3) is characterized by monotypic decadent sagebrush stands because they are fireproof.

Transition T3-5
State 3 to 5

The driver for transition from the Reference State to the Highly Disturbed State (T1-5) is a topsoil removing event with mechanical equipment, but it can also occur after severe drought, flooding, pests, or disease kills sagebrush, leaving the site with no perennial vegetation. Examples include construction sites, oil and gas activity, and borrow areas. Evidence of climate as a cause for this transition has been documented after the 2012 drought (Clause & Randall, 2015).

Transition T4-5
State 4 to 5

The driver for transition from the Disturbed State to the Highly Disturbed State (T4-5) is a topsoil removing event with mechanical equipment. Examples include construction sites, oil and gas activity, and borrow areas.

Restoration pathway R5-1
State 5 to 1

The Highly Disturbed State (5) can be restored to the Reference State (1) if appropriate seedbed preparation and seed mixes are used, and weather conditions are conducive to seedling establishment. Weather is the largest determining factor in determining time and success, but the process can be accelerated with Best Management Practices for site restoration (http://www.uwyo.edu/wrrc/ ). There is low potential for recovery without significant inputs of energy and resources if topsoil has been removed. Seeding is needed to restore functional structural groups, and proper seedbed preparation is key to restoring ecological processes on the site.

Restoration pathway R5-2
State 5 to 2

The Highly Disturbed State (5) is often restored to the Grazing Resistant State (2) unintentionally when inappropriate seed mixes are used and post-seeding grazing management does not provide adequate and periodic critical growth period rest. Weather is the largest determining factor in determining time and success, but the process can be accelerated with Best Management Practices for site restoration (http://www.uwyo.edu/wrrc/ ). There is low potential for recovery without significant inputs of energy and resources if topsoil has been removed. Seed mixes that mimic an adjacent “reference area” rather than the site potential as described in the Reference State (1) will often result in a plant community resembling the Grazing Resistant State (2) due to past and post-seeding grazing management of the area.

Restoration pathway R5-3
State 5 to 3

The Highly Disturbed State (5) can transition the Eroded State (3) if disturbed areas result in total topsoil removal and are abandoned and climate is favorable for seedling establishment. Wyoming big sagebrush will eventually colonize the site, but because soil conditions are severely altered, little to no under-story can be found. An example of this transition can be found on abandoned oil and gas wells that are 30+ years old where topsoil was not stockpiled and re-spread on the site after proper contouring and ripping, and either no seeding was done or the planting was a failure. If topsoil was not physically removed, and there is a viable seedbank in the soil, recovery is possible without re-seeding as long as adequate rest from herbivory is provided to allow seedling establishment. Rest from herbivory is recommended during dry years to prevent further soil loss as well as in wet years to allow seedling establishment.

Restoration pathway R5-4
State 5 to 4

The Highly Disturbed State (5) can transition the Disturbed State (4) if disturbed areas result in only partial topsoil removal, leaving rootstock available for sprouting species such as rabbitbrush. This is common for gravel pits and areas disturbed as stockpile areas where soil is placed on the area for any amount of time, and then removed with equipment that scrapes some of the soil surface during the removal process.