Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA105AZ
Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
Last updated: 5/07/2020
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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.
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): 038X–Mogollon Transition South
AZ 38.1 – Lower Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 3000 to 4500 feet and precipitation averages 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes canotia, one-seed juniper, mesquite, catclaw acacia, jojoba, turbinella oak, ratany, shrubby buckwheat, algerita, skunkbush, tobosa, vine mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, grama species, curly mesquite, desert needlegrass and New Mexico feathergrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This unit occurs within the Transition Zone Physiographic Province and is characterized by canyons and structural troughs or valleys. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock classes occur on rough mountainous terrain in association with less extensive sediment filled valleys exhibiting little integrated drainage.
Classification relationships
This site is similar to TE Site #350 on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
| R038XA104AZ |
Granitic Hills 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XA117AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey |
| R038XA118AZ |
Basalt / Sandstone Hills 12-16" p.z. |
| R038XA133AZ |
Volcanic/Metamorphic Hills 12-16" p.z. |
| R038XA135AZ |
Diabase Hills 12-16" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R040XA107AZ |
Limestone Hills 10"-13" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC307AZ |
Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z. |
| R038XB205AZ |
Limestone Hills 16-20" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Parkinsonia |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Simmondsia chinensis |
| Herbaceous |
(1) aristida |
Physiographic features
This site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. This site occurs in an upland position. It occurs on hill-slopes, ridge-tops and mountains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Mountain slope (3) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 3,100 – 4,600 ft |
| Slope | 15 – 75% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 12 to 16 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the northwest part of the area to 50/50% in the southeast part. Summer rains fall July through September; are from high-intensity, convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from a trace to 10 inches per year and can occur from November through March. Snow seldom persists for more than a day except on north aspects. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 59 to 70 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the high 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April, usually during the night or early morning hours. The actual precipitation, available moisture and temperature vary, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 230 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 285 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are shallow (10 to 20 inches) and dark colored. They are loamy textured, very calcareous and well drained. They have formed in residuum and colluvium from limestone and related conglomerates. Soil surfaces are well covered by light colored gravels, cobbles and/or stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by hard, fractured bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate on moist soils due to porous bedrock. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers. Rock outcrop and can be as high as 20%.
Soils mapped to date on this site include: SSA-675 San Carlos Indian Reservation MU Maybray-570.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Residuum
–
limestone
(2) Colluvium – conglomerate |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Cobbly sandy loam (2) Very gravelly sandy loam (3) Very cobbly sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately rapid to moderate |
| Soil depth | 5 – 20 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 35 – 60% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5 – 20% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
0.4 – 1.4 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
15 – 60% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.8 – 8.6 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
35 – 65% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
10% |
Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of desert trees, shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. This includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) and helped maintain a balance between herbs and shrubs. In the absence of fire for longer periods, shrubby species and cacti can become dominant. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable grasses, half shrubs and suffrutescent forbs. In some situations non-native annuals can dominate the site. These species can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species. Non-native annuals can act to increase the fire frequency of areas of the site near roads and urban areas, where the incidence of man-made fires is high.
State and transition model
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Mixed Shrub-Herbaceous State
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community. North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, cliffrose, desert buckbrush and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees like paloverde and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aristida, tridens). Grasses on cooler aspects include stipa species and sideoats grama.
Dominant plant species
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), tree
-
blue paloverde (Parkinsonia florida), tree
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
Sonoran scrub oak (Quercus turbinella), shrub
-
mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), shrub
-
Arizona cliffrose (Purshia ×subintegra), shrub
-
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), shrub
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
-
tridens (Tridens), grass
-
(Stipa), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Community 1.1
Perennial grasses (5-15% canopy)
Annual grasses/Forbs (5-15% canopy)
Shrubs, succulents (20-30% canopy)
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community. North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, cliffrose, desert buckbrush and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees like paloverde and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aristida, tridens). Grasses on cooler aspects include stipa species and sideoats grama.
Dominant plant species
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), tree
-
paloverde (Parkinsonia), tree
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
Sonoran scrub oak (Quercus turbinella), shrub
-
mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), shrub
-
Arizona cliffrose (Purshia ×subintegra), shrub
-
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), shrub
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
-
tridens (Tridens), grass
-
(Stipa), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Figure 5. 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 | 111 | 300 | 550 |
| Shrub/Vine | 70 | 250 | 445 |
| Forb | 25 | 75 | 150 |
| Tree | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 211 | 650 | 1245 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 1-3% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 20-50% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 35-60% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 5-20% |
| Bedrock | 5-20% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-30% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 1-5% | 1-5% | 1-5% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 5-10% | 1-10% | 2-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 1-10% | 1-5% | 0-5% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 5-10% | 0-2% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 1-5% | 1-5% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-5% | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811, 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
| 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 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Community 1.2
Perennial grasses (1-5% canopy)
Annual grasses/Forbs (10-50% canopy)
Shrubs, succulents (30-40%)
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich native flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community. North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, cliffrose, desert buckbrush and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees like paloverde and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aritida, tridens). Grasses on cooler aspects include stipa species and sideoats grama.
Dominant plant species
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), tree
-
paloverde (Parkinsonia), tree
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
Sonoran scrub oak (Quercus turbinella), shrub
-
mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), shrub
-
Arizona cliffrose (Purshia ×subintegra), shrub
-
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), shrub
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
-
tridens (Tridens), grass
-
(Stipa), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 111 | 300 | 550 |
| Shrub/Vine | 70 | 250 | 445 |
| Forb | 25 | 75 | 150 |
| Tree | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 211 | 650 | 1245 |
Table 9. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 1-3% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 20-50% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 35-60% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 5-20% |
| Bedrock | 5-20% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-30% |
Table 10. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 1-5% | 1-5% | 1-5% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 5-10% | 1-10% | 2-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 1-10% | 1-5% | 0-5% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 5-10% | 0-2% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 1-5% | 1-5% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-5% | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811, 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
| 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 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Pathway
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Increase in time since last burn. Fire interval is 15 to 30 years.
Pathway
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Recent burn. Fire interval is 15 to 30 years.
State 2
Shrub Dominated State
Perennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and fire. Desert shrubs and cacti dominate the plant community. Shrub cover exceeds 30%. Annuals, both native and non-native, dominate the under-story. Fire frequency is reduced but the site can still burn, especially after "El Nino" years produce heavy fuel loads of annual grasses and forbs.
Community 2.1
Shrubs, succulents (40-70% canopy)
Perennial grasses, forbs (1-5% canopy)
Annual grasses, forbs (5-40% canopy
Perennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and fire. Desert shrubs and cacti dominate the plant community. Shrub cover exceeds 30%. Annuals, both native and non-native, dominate the under-story. Fire frequency is reduced but the site can still burn, especially after "El Nino" years produce heavy fuel loads of annual grasses and forbs.
State 3
Shrub Dominated and Eroded State
Shrubs like jojoba, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periord of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes. Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.
Dominant plant species
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta), shrub
-
mesquite (Prosopis), shrub
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), shrub
-
cholla (Cylindropuntia), shrub
-
banana yucca (Yucca baccata), shrub
-
pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
Dominant resource concerns
-
Sheet and rill erosion
-
Compaction
Community 3.1
Shrubs (10-30% canopy)
Perennial grasses, forbs (0-1% canopy)
Annual grasses/forbs (0-25% canopy)
Shrubs like jojoba, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periord of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes. Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.
Dominant plant species
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta), shrub
-
mesquite (Prosopis), shrub
-
ocotillo (Fouquieria), shrub
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), shrub
-
cholla (Cylindropuntia), shrub
-
banana yucca (Yucca baccata), shrub
-
pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
Dominant resource concerns
-
Sheet and rill erosion
-
Compaction
State 4
Exotic Invaded State
Non-native annual grasses and forbs like red brome, cheatgrass, and wild oats can invade and dominate areas of the site. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs. Their presence can increase the fire frequency (of man made fires) especially where roads and urban areas are adjacent to areas of the site. Repeated fires tend to remove fire sensitive species like paloverde, cacti and canotia, and leave fire tolerant species like turbinella oak, mesquite, whitethorn and jojoba.
Dominant plant species
-
red brome (Bromus rubens), grass
-
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass
-
wild oat (Avena fatua), grass
Dominant resource concerns
-
Wildfire hazard from biomass accumulation
Community 4.1
Shrubs (10-30% canopy)
Perennial grasses, forbs (0-1% canopy)
Annual grasses, forbs (0-25% canopy)
Shrubs like jojoba, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periods of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. Extreme rainfall events coupled with; the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes. Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.
Transition 1a
State 1 to 2
Lack of fire for long periods, continuous heavy grazing and drought that reduced fuel loads.
Transition 2a
State 1 to 3
Introduction of seed source of exotic annuals like red brome and wild oats plus increased fire frequency (every 5 to 10 years).
Restoration pathway 1b
State 2 to 1
Unknown, possible herbicide followed by prescribed fire as maintenance.
Restoration pathway 2b
State 3 to 1
Unknown
Additional community tables
Table 11. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant perennial grasses | 100–300 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 50–100 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 10–50 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 10–50 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 1–50 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 20–50 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 1–40 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–30 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–20 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 1–20 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 1–20 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool season grasses | 5–100 | ||||
| New Mexico feathergrass | HENE5 | Hesperostipa neomexicana | 5–50 | – | ||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 0–30 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–20 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| needle and thread | HECO26 | Hesperostipa comata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| 3 | Misc. perennial grasses | 5–100 | ||||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–25 | – | ||
| big galleta | PLRI3 | Pleuraphis rigida | 0–25 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 1–25 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–20 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 1–10 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 1–10 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–5 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–5 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–5 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| southwestern bristlegrass | SESC2 | Setaria scheelei | 0–5 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–2 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–2 | – | ||
| shortleaf woollygrass | ERAV | Erioneuron avenaceum | 0–2 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 0–1 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–1 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 1–50 | ||||
| small fescue | VUMI | Vulpia microstachys | 0–10 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–10 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–10 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–10 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–2 | – | ||
| canyon cupgrass | ERLE7 | Eriochloa lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPE | Eragrostis pectinacea | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–1 | – | ||
| little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–1 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 20–100 | ||||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–10 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLUM2 | Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana | 0–10 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 1–10 | – | ||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–10 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 1–10 | – | ||
| spikemoss | SELAG | Selaginella | 0–10 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 1–10 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–5 | – | ||
| cliffbrake | PELLA | Pellaea | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 1–5 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–5 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 0–5 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–5 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| tarragon | ARDR4 | Artemisia dracunculus | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| Mojave spurge | EUSC6 | Euphorbia schizoloba | 0–2 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–2 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–2 | – | ||
| cloak fern | NOTHO | Notholaena | 0–2 | – | ||
| shrubby deervetch | LORI3 | Lotus rigidus | 0–2 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–2 | – | ||
| rue of the mountains | THTE2 | Thamnosma texana | 0–2 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILUL2 | Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana | 0–1 | – | ||
| turpentinebroom | THMO | Thamnosma montana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert penstemon | PEPS | Penstemon pseudospectabilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–1 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–1 | – | ||
| scurfpea | PSORA2 | Psoralidium | 0–1 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 0–1 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| longflower tube tongue | JULO3 | Justicia longii | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico groundsel | PANE7 | Packera neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Oak Creek ragwort | PAQU8 | Packera quercetorum | 0–1 | – | ||
| toadflax penstemon | PELI2 | Penstemon linarioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| purplenerve springparsley | CYMU2 | Cymopterus multinervatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Gregg's prairie clover | DAGR2 | Dalea greggii | 0–1 | – | ||
| James' prairie clover | DAJA | Dalea jamesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tall mountain larkspur | DESC | Delphinium scaposum | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–1 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 0–1 | – | ||
| wavyleaf Indian paintbrush | CAAPM | Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs | 1–50 | ||||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–10 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–10 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–5 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCA5 | Streptanthus carinatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–5 | – | ||
| desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 0–5 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSA | Lotus salsuginosus | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–5 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| fivewing spiderling | BOIN | Boerhavia intermedia | 0–5 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–5 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–5 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–5 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Thurber's pepperweed | LETH2 | Lepidium thurberi | 0–2 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–2 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–2 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–2 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–2 | – | ||
| purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 0–2 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| creamcups | PLCA5 | Platystemon californicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature lupine | LUBI | Lupinus bicolor | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–1 | – | ||
| miner's lettuce | CLPEP | Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–1 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| sacred thorn-apple | DAWR2 | Datura wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| ivyleaf morning-glory | IPHE | Ipomoea hederacea | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| California goldfields | LACA7 | Lasthenia californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Evergreen shrubs | 10–150 | ||||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–30 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–30 | – | ||
| desert ceanothus | CEGR | Ceanothus greggii | 0–20 | – | ||
| alderleaf mountain mahogany | CEMOM4 | Cercocarpus montanus var. montanus | 0–20 | – | ||
| hairy mountain mahogany | CEMOP | Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus | 0–20 | – | ||
| algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 0–10 | – | ||
| Stansbury cliffrose | PUST | Purshia stansburiana | 0–10 | – | ||
| sugar sumac | RHOV | Rhus ovata | 0–5 | – | ||
| snapdragon penstemon | KEANM | Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| red barberry | MAHA4 | Mahonia haematocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona cliffrose | PUSU2 | Purshia ×subintegra | 0–1 | – | ||
| redberry buckthorn | RHCR | Rhamnus crocea | 0–1 | – | ||
| 8 | Large shrubs | 15–60 | ||||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 1–20 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 5–20 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 1–15 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–10 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 1–5 | – | ||
| Arizona desert-thorn | LYEX | Lycium exsertum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Kearney's snakewood | COWAK | Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana | 0–2 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–2 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| Wright's mock buckthorn | SAWR | Sageretia wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona necklacepod | SOAR3 | Sophora arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–2 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOBC | Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida hopbush | DOVI | Dodonaea viscosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thurber's desert honeysuckle | ANTH2 | Anisacanthus thurberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| California brickellbush | BRCA3 | Brickellia californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert sweet | CHMI2 | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Dominant half shrubs | 35–150 | ||||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 15–50 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 1–50 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–50 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 1–25 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 1–20 | – | ||
| purple sage | SADOM | Salvia dorrii ssp. mearnsii | 0–15 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICA3 | Tiquilia canescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| longleaf phlox | PHLO2 | Phlox longifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| starry bedstraw | GAST | Galium stellatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged rockflower | CRBI2 | Crossosoma bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| shortleaf baccharis | BABR | Baccharis brachyphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sweetbush | BEJU | Bebbia juncea | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 5–60 | ||||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 1–20 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 1–15 | – | ||
| Schott's century plant | AGSC3 | Agave schottii | 0–15 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–10 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–10 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 1–10 | – | ||
| goldenflower century plant | AGCH2 | Agave chrysantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–5 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–2 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| dollarjoint pricklypear | OPCH | Opuntia chlorotica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECBO2 | Echinocereus bonkerae | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona hedgehog cactus | ECCOA | Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| redspine fishhook cactus | ECER2 | Echinomastus erectocentrus | 0–1 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFA | Echinocereus fasciculatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| Leconte's barrel cactus | FECYL | Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei | 0–1 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–1 | – | ||
| teddybear cholla | CYBI9 | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 0–1 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–1 | – | ||
| Whipple cholla | CYWH | Cylindropuntia whipplei | 0–1 | – | ||
| 11 | Increaser half-shrubs | 1–25 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–20 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 0–5 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| narrowleaf goldenbush | ERLI6 | Ericameria linearifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | Trees | 5–100 | ||||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 1–50 | – | ||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 0–15 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–15 | – | ||
| redberry juniper | JUCO11 | Juniperus coahuilensis | 0–10 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–5 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–5 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–5 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing year round, but is not easily traversed by livestock. Livestock grazing use is concentrated on south slopes, canyon bottoms and ridge-tops. North slopes may be little used. Slopes greater than 50% and areas with very cobbly surfaces limit grazing use by cattle. Areas of rock outcrop can form barriers to livestock movement. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water.
The site has good habitat diversity for a great variety of desert wildlife species. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.
Hydrological functions
This site has rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels, cobbles and stones, which act to hold water on the site. The bedrock is very porous. When the soils are dry, it produces little runoff. It produces significant runoff only when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, fossil hunting, photography.
Wood products
Limited harvest of fuel-wood, fence posts and stays from mesquite, juniper, canotia and saguaro.
Other products
There is some native harvest of food plants like pinyon nuts, thistle, prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts and mescal. There is limited harvest of herbs like, terragon, herbaceous sage, mormon tea and dogweed.
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Gila County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T3S R15E S30 |
| General legal description | Links 7VT Ranch (old Bar Flag Ranch) in the dripping Springs mountains on jeep trail to the Manhattan Mine. |
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Approval
Scott Woodall, 5/07/2020
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 | 09/08/2022 |
| Approved by | Scott Woodall |
| 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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