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Ecological site R036XB008NM

Meadow

Last updated: 12/20/2024
Accessed: 12/21/2024

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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.

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Figure 1. Mapped extent

Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 036X–Southwestern Plateaus, Mesas, and Foothills

R036XB008NM – Meadow is an ecological site that on stream terrace, valley floors and alluvial flats positions in MLRA 36 (Southwestern Plateaus Mesas and Foothills). The southern portion MLRA 36 is illustrated yellow color on the map where this site occurs. The site concept was established in the Southwestern Plateaus. Mesas, and Foothills – Warm Semiarid Mesas and Plateaus LRU (Land Resource Area). This LRU has 10 to 16 inches of precipitation and has a mesic temperature regime. Lower part of MLRA 36 is dominated by summer precipitation for monsoons, unlike the upper part of MLRA 36 which is almost an equal split.

Classification relationships

NRCS & BLM:
Major Land Resource Area 36, Southwestern Plateaus Mesas and Foothills (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006).

USFS:
313Bd Chaco Basin High Desert Shrubland and 313Be San Juan Basin North subsections < 313B Navaho Canyonlands Section < 313 Colorado Plateau Semi-Desert (Cleland, et al., 2007).

315Ha Central Rio Grande Intermontane, and 315Hb North Central Rio Grande Intermontane subsections <315H Central Rio Grande Intermontane Section < 315 Southwest Plateau and Plains Dry Steppe and Shrub (Cleland, et al., 2007).

315Ad Chupadera High Plains Grassland subsections <315A Pecos Valley Section < 315 Southwest Plateau and Plains Dry Steppe and Shrub (Cleland, et al., 2007).

331Jb San Luis Hills and 331Jd Southern San Luis Grasslands subsections <331J Northern Rio Grande Basin Section < 331 Great Plains- Palouse Dry Steppe (Cleland, et al., 2007).

M313Bd Manzano Mountains Woodland subsection < Sacramento-Monzano Mountains Section < M313 Arizona-New Mexico Mountains Semi-Desert - Open Woodland - Coniferous Forest - Alpine Meadow

M331Fg Sangre de Cristo Mountains Woodland and M331Fh Sangre de Cristo Mountains Coniferous Forest subsection < M331F Southern Parks and Rocky Mountain Range Section< M331 Southern Rocky Mountain Steppe - Open Woodland - Coniferous Forest - Alpine Meadow

M331Gk Brazos Uplift and M331Gm Jemez and San Pedro Mountains Coniferous Forest subsections < M331G South Central Highlands Section < M331 Southern Rocky Mountain Steppe - Open Woodland - Coniferous Forest - Alpine Meadow

EPA:
21d Foothill Shrublands and 21f Sedimentary Mid-Elevation Forests < 21 Southern Rockies < 6.2 Western Cordillera < 6 Northwestern Forested Mountains (Griffith, 2006).

20c Semiarid Benchlands and Canyonlands < 20 Colorado Plateaus < 10.1 Cold Deserts < 10 North American Deserts (Griffith, 2006).

22m Albuquerque Basin, 22i San Juan/Chaco Tablelands and Mesas, 22h North Central New Mexico Valleys and Mesas, 22f Taos Plateau, and 22g Rio Grande Floodplain, < 22 Arizona/New Mexico Plateau < 10.1 Cold Deserts < 10 North American Deserts (Griffith, 2006).

USGS:
Colorado Plateau Province (Navajo and Datil Section) Southern Rocky Mountains
Basin and Range (Mexican Highland and Sacramento Section)

Ecological site concept

The 36XB ecological site was drafted from the existing R036XB008NM – Meadow range site MLRA 36XB (NRCS, 2003). This site is commonly located on on stream terrace, valley floors and alluvial flats positions. The soils are deep, somewhat poorly to poorly drained. The seasonal water table fluctuates between 12 and 40 inches for most of the growing season. The surface layers are silty clay loam, clay loam, loam, and gravelly loam. The substratum is stratified loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, very gravelly sand, and gravelly sand. It has an aridic ustic/ustic arid moisture regime and mesic temperature regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 10 to 16 inches.

Associated sites

F036XA005NM	Riverine Riparian Site has a water table at 12-36” Landforms are V-shaped valleys, U-shaped valleys and overflow Stream (channel).
R036XB002NM	Clayey Clayey - Slopes are 0-15%; Soils are moderately deep to deep; soil surface loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, and silty clay over clayey subsoil with textures of clay loam, clay to silty clay loam or silty clay. Landforms are stream terraces, valley floors, fan remnants, alluvial fans, dipslopes on cuestas, mesas, hills, and valley floors.
R036XB006NM	Loamy Slopes 1-15%; soils are very shallow to shallow and skeletal and not skeletal; soil surface are loam, stony to very stony loam, very cobbly loam, fine sandy loam, very cobbly fine sandy loam, stony silt loam, stony silty clay loam, and cobbly silty clay loam; Parent materials are basalt influences but can have sometimes influence from sandstone and/or shale. Landforms nearly level to gently sloping mesas, lava plateaus, lava flows, lava flows on valley floors, and ridges.
R036XB010NM	Salty Bottomland Water table 42-72” in depth; soils are deep, high in sodium, soils are gravelly to skeletal (15-35% rock fragments). Surface textures are loam, fine sandy loam, clay loam and silty clay loam with a subsoil of clay or clay loam. Landform is floodplain.
R036XB011NM	Sandy Slopes are 1-15%; soils are deep to very deep; Surface textures are loamy sand, gravelly loamy sand, loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam and sandy loam with sandy subsoil. Landforms are nearly level to gently sloping landscapes on dunes, fan remnant and alluvial fans.
R036XB017NM	Swale This site is enhanced by runoff during periods of high runoff (intermittent). The water table depth is greater than 6 ft. Soils are deep to very deep soils that have surface textures of loams, silt loams to clays with loamy subsoil. Landforms are broad valley bottoms, floodplains, and in depressions.

Similar sites

R036XB138NM	Marshy Water table 0-12” in depth; soils are deep; with soil textures from sandy loam to loamy sand with loamy subsoil. Landform stream and marsh on abandon channels on floodplains of valley floors with intermittent streams.
R036XB009NM	Salt Meadow Water table 36-72” in depth; slopes are 1-5%; soils are deep, Surface textures are loam, fine sandy loam, clay loam, silty clay loam with a subsoil of clay or clay loam. Landform is nearly level to gently sloping floodplains. This site is dependent on sub-irrigation and overflow for its moist condition. This site is affected by sodium.
R036XB017NM	Swale This site is enhanced by runoff during periods of high runoff (intermittent). The water table depth is greater than 6 ft. Soils are deep to very deep soils that have surface textures of loams, silt loams to clays with loamy subsoil. Landforms are broad valley bottoms, floodplains, and in depressions.
F036XA005NM	Riverine Riparian Site has a water table at 12-36” Landforms are V-shaped valleys, U-shaped valleys and Overflow Stream (channel).

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	Not specified

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Physiographic features

This sub-irrigated site is usually in a stream terrace, valley floors and alluvial flats positions. It may occur adjacent to streams, springs, and seeps. Sometimes it is locally known as a cienaga or vega. Slopes are relatively level to 5 percent. Elevation ranges from 6,500 to 7,500 feet above sea level.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Stream terrace (2) Valley floor (3) Alluvial flat
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	Rare to frequent
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	6,500 – 7,600 ft
Slope	5%
Water table depth	24 – 72 in

Climatic features

This site has a semi-arid continental climate. There are distinct seasonal temperature variations. Mean annual precipitation varies from 10 to 16 inches. The overall climate is characterized by cold dry winters in which winter moisture is less than summer. Wide yearly and seasonal fluctuations are common for this climatic zone which can range from 5 to 25 inches. Of this, approximately 25-35% falls as snow, and 65-75% falls as rain between April 1 and November 1. The growing season is April through September. As much as half or more of the annual precipitation can be expected to come during the period of July through September. August is typically the wettest month of the year. The driest period is usually from November to April; and February is normally the driest month. During July, August, and September, 4 to 6 inches of precipitation influence the presence and production of warm-season plants. Fall and spring moisture is conducive to the growth of cool-season herbaceous plants and maximum shrub growth. Growth usually begins in March and ends with plant maturity and seed dissemination when the moisture deficiency and warmer temperatures occur in early June. There is also a period of growth in the fall. Summer precipitation is characterized by brief thunderstorms, normally occurring in the afternoon and evening. Winter moisture usually occurs as snow, which seldom lies on the ground for more than a few days. The average annual total snowfall is 29.1 inches. The snow depth usually ranges from 0 to 1 inches during the winter months. The highest snowfall record is 57.1 inches during the 1993-1994 winter. The frost- free period typically ranges from 110 to 145 days and the freeze free period is from 140 to 170 days. The last spring freeze is the middle of April to the first week of May. The first fall freeze is the middle of October to the first week of November. Mean daily annual air temperature is about 29ºF to 69ºF, averaging about 37ºF for the winter and 67ºF in the summer. The coldest winter temperature recorded was -20ºF on January 6, 1971 and the warmest winter temperature recorded was 70ºF on February 28, 1965. The coldest summer temperature recorded was 26ºF on June 1, 1980. The hottest day on record is 100ºF on July 9, 2003 and June 21, 1968. Data taken from Western Regional Climate Center (2017) for El Rito, New Mexico Climate Station.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	126 days
Freeze-free period (average)	145 days
Precipitation total (average)	13 in

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 4. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 5. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) EL RITO [USC00292820], El Rito, NM
(2) NAVAJO DAM [USC00296061], Navajo Dam, NM
(3) SANTA FE 2 [USC00298085], Santa Fe, NM
(4) CUBA [USC00292241], Cuba, NM
(5) COCHITI DAM [USC00291982], Pena Blanca, NM
(6) ABIQUIU DAM [USC00290041], Gallina, NM
(7) LYBROOK [USC00295290], Dulce, NM

Soil features

The soils are deep, somewhat poorly to poorly drained. The seasonal water table fluctuates between 12 and 40 inches for most of the growing season. The surface layers are silty clay loam, clay loam, loam, and gravelly loam. The substratum is stratified loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, very gravelly sand, and gravelly sand. Permeability is moderate to slow.

This ecological site is associated with the map units and soil components in the soil surveys listed below. Future updates to this soil survey may affect these associations. For up-to-date associations between soil components and this ecological site, refer to NASIS. Associations between ecological sites and soil components are maintained in NASIS via the ecological site ID.

This site is found in NM692, NM670, NM630 and NM678 soil survey. This ecological site has been correlated to the following soils with the listed particle control sections:

Fine-Loamy:
Bluewater
Caruso Variant
Poganeab

Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal

Loveland

Fine:
Knifehill

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Silty clay loam (2) Clay loam (3) Loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Slow to moderate
Soil depth	20 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	10%
Surface fragment cover >3"	5%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	4.3 – 8.2 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	15%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	4 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	1
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	6.6 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	15%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	5%

Ecological dynamics

MLRA 36 occurs on the higher elevation portion of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a physiographic province which exists throughout eastern Utah, western Colorado, western New Mexico and northern Arizona. It is characterized by uplifted plateaus, canyons and eroded features. The Colorado Plateau lies south of the Uintah Mountains, north of the Mogollon transition area, west of the Rocky Mountains, and east of the central Utah highlands. The higher elevation portion of the Colorado Plateau which is represented by MLRA 36 is characterize by broken topography, and lack of perennial water sources. This area has a long history of past prehistoric human use for years. MLRA 36 shows archaeological evidence indicating that pinyon-juniper woodlands where modified by prehistoric humans and not pristine and thus where altered at the time of European settlement (Cartledge & Propper, 1993). This area also included natural influences of herbivory, fire, and climate. This area rarely served as habitat for large herds of native herbivores or large frequent historic fires due to the broken topography. This site is extremely variable and plant community composition will vary with the water fluctuations on this site.

The lower part MLRA 36 developed under climatic conditions that include hot, dry summers with summer rains showers and little to no snow with the mild winter temperatures. This area has climatic fluctuations and prolonged droughts are common occurrences. Between an above average year and a drought year. Forbs are the most dynamic component of this community and can vary up to 4 fold (Passey et.al. 1982). The precipitation and climate of MLRA 36 are conducive to producing Pinyon/juniper, and sagebrush complexes with high productive sites in the bottoms of the canyons. Predominant species on the Colorado Plateau are Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis), mountain big sagebrush (A. tridentata var. vaseyana), and black sagebrush (A. nova), basin big sagebrush (A. tridentata var. tridentata), Utah juniper (Juniperus utahensis), one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), and two-needle pinyon (Pinus edulis). One-seed juniper has the capability to discontinue active growth when moisture is limited but can resume growth when moisture availability improves. This growth pattern may represent an important adaptation allowing them to survive on very arid sites. It is possible that small trees may be killed by drought; mature one-seed junipers are resilient to drought, especially in comparison to two-needle pinyon (Johnsen, 1962).

The productivity and composition of this plant community would have been quite stable, although varying with the climate because it would have been affected by runoff from streams originating at higher elevations in adjacent mountains. The water table usually persisted throughout the year, causing poorly-aerated soils. The water table is fed by spring snow melt, groundwater and monsoonal rains. Following very wet winters, the melting snow pack would have caused a high and widespread surge of flooding. Wet meadows are areas where it floods frequently or has a shallow water table with some wetland properties. Wet Meadows are a small portion of the landscape footprint. Less than 1% of the landscape in the southwest are characterized as wetlands and wet meadows is just one of several wetland types that occur (Ramstead, 2012). This site is important part of the landscape as it often serves as habitat for plants, birds and other wildlife.

Wet meadows in the southwest are one of the most altered ecosystem types by humans. They are used for livestock and wildlife grazing, many locations have small dams with ponds or stock tanks. In irrigated meadows, roads are commonly built through or adjacent to them, they are prone to invasive species and can be impacted by wildfires in the surrounding upland areas. (Ramstead et al., 2012)

Meadows with tufted hairgrass as a major component are very sensitive to water table fluctuations. A study in Oregon showed that when the water table is lowered it favored increases in Kentucky bluegrass and perennial forbs in the species composition. While increase in the water table favored sedges and rush establishment. (Walsh, 1995) In the mountain west, Kentucky bluegrass is well adapted to the meadow with seasonally high water tables and midsummer drought. Kentucky bluegrass has become dominated on many meadows which once had a larger component of tufted hairgrass. (Uchytil, 1993)

Records of fire with wet meadows are lower elevations are rare to non-existent. The communities listed do not include wet meadows for fire regimes. In general, Intermountain riparian communities have been found to have a fire interval of 20 to 370 years (USDA, 2012a). While southwestern desert grasslands have a fire interval of 10-833 years (USDA, 2012b). Another source states that meadows have a fire return interval of 30 to 60 years (Landfire, 2007). The second source covers 2 ecological sites. It covers the upper precipitation end of wet meadow, and mountain meadows ecological site from an adjacent MLRA (48A). This site is not described in the fire regime literature that is available at this time. The data available is for general vegetation types in the United States: no specific data for wet meadows on Colorado Plateau is available at this time.

Variability in climate, soils, aspect and complex biological processes will cause the plant communities to differ. These factors contributing to annual production variability include wildlife use, drought, and insects. Factors contributing to special variability include soil texture, depth, rock fragments, slope, aspect, and micro-topography. The species lists are representative and not a complete list of all occurring or potentially occurring species on this site. The species lists are not intended to cover the full range of conditions, species and responses of the site. The State & Transition model depicted for this site is based on available research, field observations and interpretations by experts and could change as knowledge increases. As more data is collected, some of these plant communities may be revised or removed, and new ones may be added. The following diagram does not necessarily depict all the transitions and states that this site may exhibit, but it does show some of the most common plant communities.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 6. STM

Figure 7. Legend

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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

State 1
Reference

Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the vegetation produced on this site comes from plants producing forage suitable for grazing or browsing. Due to the high availability of soil moisture, which results in early green up and high productivity, this site is subject to deterioration by overgrazing and trampling. Deterioration is indicated by a decrease in western wheatgrass, tufted hairgrass, brome spp., and bluegrass with an increase in mat muhly, sedges, rushes, and forbs.

Community 1.1
Grass Meadow

The vegetative aspect on this site is grassland characterized by short and mid-grasses. Some trees and shrubs are scattered about the site, usually on the fringes where the water table is lower. Sedges and rushes are conspicuous. Annual and perennial forbs are present in small amounts. *Seeps and springs.

Figure 8. 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)
Grass/Grasslike	1320	1980	2640
Forb	120	180	240
Tree	60	90	120
Total	1500	2250	3000

Table 6. Soil surface cover

Tree basal cover	1-5%
Shrub/vine/liana basal cover	1-10%
Grass/grasslike basal cover	25-35%
Forb basal cover	5-15%
Non-vascular plants	0%
Biological crusts	0%
Litter	45-55%
Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3"	0%
Surface fragments >3"	0%
Bedrock	0%
Water	0%
Bare ground	5-15%

Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM0008, R036XB008NM Meadow HCPC. R036XB008NM Meadow HCPC Sub-irrigated short/mid-grassland with a minor component of trees, shrubs and forbs. Sedges and rushes are conspicuous..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	3	5	10	10	25	30	12	5	0	0

Community 1.2
Grass and Mixed Shrubs

This plant community is a result of time without disturbance, mainly from fire, and prolonged drought. Herbaceous cinquefoil and wood’s rose will increase as the site gets drier. As this site deteriorates due to improper grazing slender wheatgrass and forbs decrease while Kentucky bluegrass, western wheatgrass, rushes increase. Foxtail barley, povertyweed, and cheatgrass are most likely to invade this site.

Community 1.3
Foxtail and Mixed Shrubs

Upland shrubs will increase on this site as it gets drier. Rubber rabbitbrush and big sagebrush may increase, if present near the site. Foxtail may replace wetter species if the grazing pressure is great and there has been a prolonged drought.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This pathway happens when disturbance such as fire does not occurs within the historical fire regime interval for the site. Improper continuous grazing of perennial grasses will speed up this pathway. Improper grazing will cause Baltic rush, and to increase and Nebraska sedge, and tufted hairgrass to decrease. Also, prolonged drought with decreased water tables will progress along this pathway.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This pathway is caused by naturally occurring fires and/or insect herbivory removes the shrubs. It reverts the system back to a grassland phase. Proper grazing practices which allow for recover of tufted hairgrass, Nebraska sedge, and other grass species will also help this pathway. Also, wetter climatic cycles will help to decrease shrubs as the shrubs that would occur here naturally don’t like to be in areas of standing water for extended periods of time.

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.1

This pathway is caused by naturally occurring fires and/or insect herbivory removes the shrubs and possible trees if they have encroached on this site. It reverts the system back to a grassland phase. These events tend to favor grass establishment. Also, brush management and proper grazing can benefit this pathway.

State 2
Current Potential

The current potential state is similar in structure and function to the reference state, however invasive and non-natives species are present in all community phases. The current potential state is generally dominated by perennial grasses. Kentucky bluegrass can become a dominant in this plant community. The current potential state is less resilient than the reference state due to the presence of non-native/invasive species in the plant community. Annual herbaceous weedy plants have increased, but occur in small patches. Invasive species present can include knapweeds, Canada thistle, and curly dock.

Community 2.1
Grass Meadow

This plant community is comprised of tufted hairgrass, sedges, and rushes with few scattered deciduous shrubs. Kentucky bluegrass may be found in this phase. Abundance, and production of herbaceous plants and forb production are dependent on the timing of precipitation, and can vary widely between years. Nonnative invasive species, such as thistles, knotweeds, dandelion, and povertyweed are present but in insignificant amounts.

Community 2.2
Grasses and Mixed Shrubs

This plant community is a result of time without disturbance, mainly from fire and prolonged drought. Western wheatgrass and rubber rabbitbrush will have increased in abundance and basin wildrye will have decreased. Nonnative invasive species, such as thistles, knotweeds, dandelion, and povertyweed are present but in insignificant amounts.

Community 2.3
Foxtail and Mixed Shrubs

Foxtail and Baltic rush dominates the plant community. Also, rubber rabbitbrush has increased. Foxtail may replace the other perennial if the grazing pressure is great and there has been a prolonged drought. Nonnative invasive species, such as thistles, knotweeds, dandelion, and povertyweed are present but in insignificant amounts.

Pathway 2.2B
Community 2.2 to 2.1

This pathway happens when fire does not occur within the historical fire regime interval for the site. Improper continuous grazing of perennial grasses will speed up this pathway. Improper grazing will cause, foxtail, and rubber rabbitbrush to increase and basin wild rye to decrease. Also, prolonged drought with decreased water tables will progress along this pathway.

State 3
Altered

This state results from seeding introduced perennial grasses. Some of the potential grass found may include the following: meadow foxtail, orchardgrass, meadow barley, timothy and smooth brome. Native perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs may be included in the seed mix. This state behave similar community dynamics to the current potential state community. Other vegetation treatments may be necessary to get to this state, they include mowing, disking, prescribed burning and other techniques which manipulate the plant community. The seeded state could persist for long periods of time with proper management. Native grasses and forbs may reestablish over time from nearby seed sources.

Community 3.1
Grass Dominated

This community is dominated by seeded plants. Shrubs has little to no production in this phase. This site has high production due to the seed grass production. This production typically is higher than the current potential or reference state. This site usually has low species diversity.

Community 3.2
Grass and Shrubs

This community consists shrubs with grasses. Nonnative invasive species, such as thistles, knotweeds, dandelion, and povertyweed are present but in insignificant amounts.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

The native understory in the reference state has been invade by non-native species. Plant may include thistles, knotweeds, dandelion, and povertyweed. Some invasive plants can become established in undisturbed and healthy native plant communities. Possible events that can cause this transition include improper domestic livestock, severe surface disturbances, fire, and/or extended droughts.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

This transition is triggered by management decisions and actions. This transition, to a state that has been seeded with introduced perennial grasses. High energy inputs are needed for this transition. Brush will need to be removed with vegetation treatment techniques (I.e. chemical, mechanical, or fire) and introduced species that are adapted to the area and adapted to management needs have been seeded and become established. Water diversion maybe used to enhance or alter this site hydrological regime.

Additional community tables

Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1				450–900
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	450–900	–
2				113–225
	mountain brome	BRMA4	Bromus marginatus	113–225	–
3				113–225
	muttongrass	POFE	Poa fendleriana	113–225	–
4				113–225
	slender wheatgrass	ELTR7	Elymus trachycaulus	113–225	–
5				225–450
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	225–450	–
	rush	JUNCU	Juncus	225–450	–
6				225–675
	giant sandreed	CAGI3	Calamovilfa gigantea	225–675	–
7				68–113
	Graminoid (grass or grass-like)	2GRAM	Graminoid (grass or grass-like)	68–113	–
Forb
8				68–113
	clover	TRIFO	Trifolium	68–113	–
9				68–113
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	68–113	–
	silverweed cinquefoil	ARAN7	Argentina anserina	68–113	–
	gentian	GENTI	Gentiana	68–113	–
	American licorice	GLLE3	Glycyrrhiza lepidota	68–113	–
	goldenbanner	THERM	Thermopsis	68–113	–
Shrub/Vine
10				0–113
	gentian	GENTI	Gentiana	68–113	–
	Shrub, deciduous	2SD	Shrub, deciduous	0–113	–
	desert willow	CHILO	Chilopsis	0–113	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Habitat for Wildlife:
This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by raccoon, golden-mantled ground squirrel, meadow vole, meadowlark, blackbirds, garter snake, and leopard frog. Migrating waterfowl and wading birds use streams and wetlands associated with these sites. Mule deer and elk will move out of adjacent habitats in late winter to feed on early green forage.

Hydrological functions

The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover
conditions and hydrologic soil groups.

Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series-----------------Hydrologic Group
Bluewater-------------------------D
Knifehill-------------------------C

Recreational uses

No Data

Wood products

This site has no significant potential for wood product production.

Other products

Grazing:
Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the vegetation produced on this site comes from plants producing forage suitable for grazing or browsing. Due to the high availability of soil moisture, which results in early green up and high productivity, this site is subject to deterioration by overgrazing and trampling. Deterioration is indicated by a decrease in western wheatgrass, tufted hairgrass, brome spp., and bluegrass with an increase in mat muhly, sedges, rushes, and forbs. A planned grazing system with periodic deferment is best to maintain the desirable balance between plant species and a high productivity.

Other information

Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month

Similarity Index---------------------Ac/AUM
100 - 76----------------------------0.9 – 1.2
75 – 51----------------------------1.1 – 1.8
50 – 26----------------------------1.6 – 4.8
25 – 0-----------------------------4.8+

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the New Mexico and Arizona Plateaus and Mesas 36 Major Land Resource Area of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: McKinley & Sandoval
Characteristic Soils are:

Bluewater, Caruso, Poganeab

Type locality

Location 1: Rio Arriba County, NM

Other references

Cartledge, T. R., and J. G. Propper. 1993. Pinon-Juniper Ecosystems through Time: Information and Insights from the Past. In Gen. Tech. RM-236 - Managing Pinon-Juniper Ecosystems for Sustainability and Social Needs.

Cleland, D.T.; Freeouf, J.A.; Keys, J.E., Jr.; Nowacki, G.J.; Carpenter, C; McNab, W.H. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous United States.[1:3,500,000], Sloan, A.M., cartog. Gen. Tech. Report WO-76. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

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Contributors

Don Sylvester
Elizabeth Wright
John Tunberg
Michael Carpinelli
Suzanne Mayne Kinney

Approval

Kirt Walstad, 12/20/2024

Acknowledgments

Project Staff:

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, Ecological Site Specialist, NRCS MLRA, Grand Junction Colorado SSO
Chuck Peacock, MLRA Soil Survey Leader, NRCS MLRA Grand Junction Colorado SSO
Alan Stuebe, MLRA Soil Survey Leader, NRCS MLRA Alamosa Colorado SSO Program Support:
Brenda Simpson, NRCS NM State Rangeland Management Specialist, Albuquerque, NM
Scott Woodhall, NRCS MLRA Ecological Site Specialist-QA Phoenix, AZ
Eva Muller, Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Regional Soil Survey Office, Bozeman, MT
Rick Strait, NM State Soil Scientist, Albuquerque, NM
Steve Kadas, CO State Resource Conservationist, Albuquerque, NM

--Site Development and Testing Plan--:

Future work to validate and further refine the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is necessary. This will include field activities to collect low-, medium-, and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data.

Additional information and data is required to refine the Plant Production and Annual Production tables for this ecological site. The extent of MLRA 36 must be further investigated.

Field testing of the information contained in this Provisional ESD is required. As this ESD is moved to the Approved ESD level, reviews from the technical team, quality control, quality assurance, and peers will be conducted.

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	12/21/2024
Approved by	Kirt Walstad
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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