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Ecological site F039XA135AZ

Basalt Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, QUGA)

Last updated: 9/05/2019
Accessed: 12/30/2024

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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): 039X–Mogollon Transition North

AZ 39.1 Mogollon Plateau Coniferous Forests

Elevations range from 7000 to 12,500 feet and precipitation averages 20 to 35 inches per year. Vegetation includes ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Arizona walnut, sycamore, Douglas fir, blue spruce, Arizona fescue, sheep fescue, mountain muhly, muttongrass, junegrass, pine dropseed, and dryland sedges. The soil temperature regime ranges from mesic to frigid and the soil moisture regime ranges from typic ustic to udic ustic. This unit occurs within the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province and is characterized by a sequence of flat to gently dipping sedimentary rocks eroded into plateaus, valleys and deep canyons. Sedimentary rock classes dominate the plateau with volcanic fields occurring for the most part near its margin.

Associated sites

F039XA132AZ	Cinder Upland 17-22" p.z. (QUGA, PIPO)
F039XA133AZ	Basalt Upland 17-22" p.z. (PIPO)
F039XA136AZ	Cinder Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, QUGA)

F039XA132AZ

Cinder Upland 17-22" p.z. (QUGA, PIPO)

F039XA133AZ

Basalt Upland 17-22" p.z. (PIPO)

F039XA136AZ

Cinder Hills 17-22" p.z. (PIPO, QUGA)

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Pinus ponderosa (2) Quercus gambelii
Shrub	(1) Robinia neomexicana
Herbaceous	(1) Muhlenbergia montana (2) Blepharoneuron tricholepis

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on basalt hills. It does not benefit from run-in moisture from adjacent areas.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Hill
Elevation	6,000 – 8,000 ft
Slope	8 – 30%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

About 40% of the moisture in this Common Resource Area (CRA), or Land Resource Unit (LRU) comes as rain from June to September. The remainder comes from October to May as snow or light rain. Extreme temperatures of 97 and -37 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded. Some moisture is usually received every month.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	168 days
Freeze-free period (average)	120 days
Precipitation total (average)	22 in

Bar

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Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

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Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

The soils characterizing this site are shallow to basalt bedrock and are non-effervescent. The surface soil has a minimum depth of 1 to 3 inches. The subsoil and underlying layers has a slow permeability and is well drained. This site cannot absorb and hold all the moisture the climate supplies. Coarse fragments average 15 to 35 percent.
Taxonomic units mapped on this site include: from SSA-637 Yavapai County Western Part MU's DaF & MdF-Dandrea; SSA-675 San Carlos IR area MU 32-Ess; SSA-695 Kaibab NF area MU 2-Cabezon.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Colluvium – basalt
Surface texture	(1) Very stony loam (2) Very cobbly loam
Family particle size	(1) Clayey
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Slow
Soil depth	40 – 60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	15 – 35%
Surface fragment cover >3"	10 – 22%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	5 – 7 in
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	5.6 – 7.8
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	15 – 35%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	10 – 17%

Ecological dynamics

The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The historical climax plant community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as grazing, fire, or drought.

Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air-dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.

NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity Index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity Index, compare the production (air-dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum shown for the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Ponderosa Pine Dominant. Ponderosa Pine dominates this site with and understory of herbaceous species. There are a few, isolated mature stands of gambel oak.

2. Shrub dominant with thick immature stands of gambel oak and other shrubs. There is a decrease in herbaceous cover.

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Historic Climax Plant Community

State 1
Ponderosa Pine Dominant. Ponderosa Pine dominates this site with and understory of herbaceous species. There are a few, isolated mature stands of gambel oak.

Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community

The understory plant community on this site is dominated by a variety of warm and cool season grasses. Small trees and shrubs make up about on quarter of the understory. This plant community is for southerly facing slopes. The northerly slopes have a larger percentage composition of ponderosa pine.

Figure 4. 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	300	310	320
Tree	105	110	115
Forb	15	18	20
Shrub/Vine	0	2	4
Total	420	440	459

Figure 5. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3911, 39.1 17-22" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs during the summer rainy season..

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	5	10	10	10	20	20	20	5	0	0

State 2
Shrub dominant with thick immature stands of gambel oak and other shrubs. There is a decrease in herbaceous cover.

Transition T1
State 1 to 2

A severe crown burning fire will take out the ponderosa pines and cause the area to re-sprout into a dense stand of immature gambel oak. As of now the drivers that determine restoration to reference state are not understood for this ecological site.

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Cool Season Grasses			300–320
	mountain muhly	MUMO	Muhlenbergia montana	90–110	–
	pine dropseed	BLTR	Blepharoneuron tricholepis	85–95	–
	squirreltail	ELELE	Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides	50–70	–
	Ross' sedge	CARO5	Carex rossii	25–35	–
	Arizona fescue	FEAR2	Festuca arizonica	15–20	–
	muttongrass	POFE	Poa fendleriana	5–15	–
2	Warm Season Grasses			15–25
	blue grama	BOGR2	Bouteloua gracilis	8–13	–
	little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	8–13	–
Forb
3	Forbs			15–25
	thistle	CIRSI	Cirsium	1–5	–
	redroot buckwheat	ERRA3	Eriogonum racemosum	1–5	–
	iris	IRIS	Iris	1–5	–
	vetch	VICIA	Vicia	1–5	–
	ragwort	SENEC	Senecio	0–3	–
Shrub/Vine
4	Shrubs			0–120
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	10–75	–
	New Mexico locust	RONE	Robinia neomexicana	0–20	–
	Fendler's ceanothus	CEFE	Ceanothus fendleri	0–10	–
Tree
5	Trees			105–115
	ponderosa pine	PIPO	Pinus ponderosa	20–60	–
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	25–50	–
	alligator juniper	JUDE2	Juniperus deppeana	25–50	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Much of this site can be grazed by livestock, but some areas may be too steep to effectively graze. Suitability for grazing by livestock is good before canopy exceeds 50%. Cattle, sheep, goats and horses can use this site in summer and early fall. Management considerations include use of Prescribed Grazing, water developments and reseeding grass following harvest operations for forage and to reduce erosion, grazing should not damage young trees.
Site factors affecting wildlife:
Water: Frequently found in scattered natural wetlands and springs.
Cover: good for most species.
Food: Good potential except where grazing is unmanaged.
Other: Snowfall causes shifts in wildlife populations.

Recreational uses

Winters are cold, however, relatively mild spring, fall and summer months are attractive to recreationists.

Activities include hunting, cross-country riding, photography, hiking, rock collecting, and wildlife observation.

Wood products

Under development.

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: Coconino County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T21N R5E S18
General legal description	Coconino County, Garland Prairie, AZ 7 1/2' quad; NE1/4, NE1/4, Section 18, T21N, R5E; Camp Navajo (Navajo Depot)

Contributors

Karlynn Huling
Larry D. Ellicott

Approval

Scott Woodall, 9/05/2019

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
Approved by
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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