Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site R041XB213AZ

Sandy Wash 8-12" p.z.

Accessed: 12/03/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 041X / Ecological site R041XB213AZ

USC

Metric

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.

Click to explore map

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): 041X–Madrean Archipelago

AZ 41.2 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Desert Shrubs

Elevations range from 2600 to 4000 feet and precipitation ranges from 8 to 12 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, palo verde, catclaw acacia, soaptree yucca, creosotebush, whitethorn, staghorn cholla, desert saltbush, Mormon tea, burroweed, snakeweed, tobosa, black grama, threeawns, bush muhly, dropseed, and burrograss. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.

Associated sites

R041XB207AZ	Limy Slopes 8-12" p.z.
R041XB208AZ	Limy Upland 8-12" p.z.
R041XB210AZ	Loamy Upland 8-12" p.z.
R041XB215AZ	Sandy Loam Upland 8-12" p.z.

Similar sites

R040XA115AZ	Sandy Wash 10"-13" p.z.
R041XC316AZ	Sandy Wash 12-16" p.z.

R040XA115AZ

Sandy Wash 10"-13" p.z.

R041XC316AZ

Sandy Wash 12-16" p.z.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Prosopis (2) Acacia greggii
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	Not specified

Download full description

Physiographic features

This site occurs in the lowest elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on floodplains, low stream terraces, in canyons and on alluvial fans. It benefits on a regular basis from extra moisture received as over-bank flooding of channels and as runoff from adjacent upland areas. It does not benefit from shallow water tables.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Flood plain (2) Stream terrace (3) Canyon
Flooding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	Occasional to frequent
Ponding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours)
Ponding frequency	None to rare
Elevation	2,600 – 4,000 ft
Slope	3%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

Precipitation ranges from 8-12 inches annually. More than half falls during Jul-Sep in brief, but often heavy, thunderstorms. The rest of the moisture comes as light rain or snow that falls slowly for a day or more, but rarely lasts more than a day. May and June are normally the driest months. Humidity is generally very low.

Temperatures are mild throughout most of the year. Freezing temperatures are common at night Dec-Feb; brief 0 F may be observed some nights. During June, July & August, some days may exceed 100 F.

In years of average or greater winter precipitation, annual grasses and forbs occur abundantly in the interspaces.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	240 days
Freeze-free period (average)	0 days
Precipitation total (average)	0 in

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

These are very young soils on gravelly and sandy alluvium of mixed origin. They are deep and well drained. Surface textures range from gravelly sand to loamy fine sand. Sub-soils are sandy loam and loamy sands with various amounts of gravel and/or cobbles. Although course textures make for low available water holding capacities, plant-soil moisture relationships are very good due to extra moisture the site receives. Soil surfaces, outside of channel areas, are light colored.

Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-662 Safford area MU's AlB AmA AnA ApB & AtA Anthony, AtA Gila, AuA AvA AvB AwA & AzA Arizo, Br & Bt Brazito, Cm & Co Comoro, Cn Comoro Mottled Variant, Gv Gravelly alluvial land, and Ma & Mr Maricopa; SSA-664 San Simon area MU's 1 Anthony and 2 Arizo; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 3 Maricopa and 65 Queencreek; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU's 2 Maricopa and 3 Arizo family; SSA-675 San Carlos IR area MU's 4 & 5 Anthony, 60 Queencreek & Brazito.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Gravelly sandy loam (2) Gravelly loamy fine sand (3) Very gravelly loamy sand
Family particle size	(1) Sandy
Drainage class	Somewhat excessively drained to well drained
Permeability class	Rapid to moderately rapid
Soil depth	60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	5 – 35%
Surface fragment cover >3"	10%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	2.4 – 6 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	5%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	2
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	7.4 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	45%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	10%

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 fire, grazing, 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 amount shown for each group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If the 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.
The potential plant community on this site is a diverse mixture of native perennial grasses, shrubs, vines, trees and annual forbs and grasses. Smaller drainage-ways are dominated by desert trees like mesquite, desert willow and catclaw acacia. Larger washes and canyons will have a higher percentage of broadleaf trees like ash, walnut and netleaf hackberry.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 4. State and Transition, Sandy Wash 8-12" pz.

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 1
Historic Climax Plant Community

Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community

The potential plant community of this site is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, forbs, vines, trees and shrubs. Annual forbs and grasses of both the warm and cool seasons are well represented in the plant community. The major grass, forb and shrub species on the site are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Tree canopy cover ranges from 10 to 20% in the potential plant community. With continuous heavy grazing, palatable mid-grasses decline and species such as Rothrock grama and annuals increase. With severe deterioration, woody species increase to dominate the plant community. Mesquite, with lesser amounts of catclaw acacia and desert willow, form the over-story and burroweed, jimmyweed and snakeweed dominates the under-story. Active channel areas are dominated by shrubs like burrobrush and desert broom. The site is very susceptible to gully, channel and bank erosion, especially where it has deteriorated to shrubby conditions and where depleted watershed areas are contributing larger than normal amounts of runoff. The lowering of the base level of the axial stream of a watershed will eventually cause channeling of the site. Deeply channeled areas will no longer flood the stream terraces of this site. Due to deep, course textured soils and extra moisture received as flooding, trees grow to maximum size on the site. This site can produce effective herbaceous covers with tree canopies up to 20%.

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	410	1000	1500
Tree	300	500	800
Forb	40	100	550
Shrub/Vine	75	200	300
Total	825	1800	3150

Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4121, 41.2 7-12" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the late winter to early spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the May through June drought, 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	5	5	10	0	0	25	30	15	5	5	0

State 2
Understory exotics

Community 2.1
Understory exotics

This state exists where exotic perennial and annual grasses and forbs have invaded from adjacent areas to become dominant in the under-story. These species include bermuda grass, red brome, foxtail barley, barnyard grass, London rocket, filaree, tumbleweed, Sahara mustard and malva. These species usually have little effect on the over-story tree and large shrub component of the plant community. They do, however, greatly limit the diversity of native grasses and forbs.

State 3
Eroded

Community 3.1
Eroded

This state occurs where poor condition watersheds yield excessive amounts of runoff causing erosion of the channel areas. As channels deepen, the low stream terraces no longer receive extra water from flooding and stream-bank erosion enlarges the area of river-wash. Down-cutting of major stream systems can contribute to this situation in areas where sandy bottoms are tributary to the main stream. The woody component of the plant community usually remains intact but the herbaceous component becomes dominated by half-shrubs and annuals. Poor condition watersheds can also destabilize the sandy bottom site by adding more sediment than the system can handle, causing channels to move and cut through new areas on the floodplain.

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	Dominant mid grasses			300–600
	sideoats grama	BOCU	Bouteloua curtipendula	100–300	–
	green sprangletop	LEDU	Leptochloa dubia	25–200	–
	big sacaton	SPWR2	Sporobolus wrightii	0–200	–
	plains bristlegrass	SEVU2	Setaria vulpiseta	15–100	–
	spike dropseed	SPCO4	Sporobolus contractus	25–100	–
	cane bluestem	BOBA3	Bothriochloa barbinodis	5–100	–
2	Suffrutescent grasses			50–300
	bush muhly	MUPO2	Muhlenbergia porteri	50–200	–
	Arizona cottontop	DICA8	Digitaria californica	15–150	–
	Santa Rita threeawn	ARCAG	Aristida californica var. glabrata	0–50	–
3	Miscellaneous grasses			50–100
	spidergrass	ARTE3	Aristida ternipes	20–50	–
	spidergrass	ARTEG	Aristida ternipes var. gentilis	10–50	–
	tanglehead	HECO10	Heteropogon contortus	0–50	–
	deergrass	MURI2	Muhlenbergia rigens	0–50	–
	whiplash pappusgrass	PAVA2	Pappophorum vaginatum	0–50	–
	sand dropseed	SPCR	Sporobolus cryptandrus	0–25	–
	squirreltail	ELELE	Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides	5–25	–
	black grama	BOER4	Bouteloua eriopoda	0–25	–
	blue grama	BOGR2	Bouteloua gracilis	0–25	–
	hairy grama	BOHI2	Bouteloua hirsuta	0–25	–
	Rothrock's grama	BORO2	Bouteloua rothrockii	0–25	–
	Parish's threeawn	ARPUP5	Aristida purpurea var. parishii	0–25	–
	Orcutt's threeawn	ARSCO	Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana	0–25	–
	vine mesquite	PAOB	Panicum obtusum	0–25	–
	purple threeawn	ARPU9	Aristida purpurea	0–15	–
	plains lovegrass	ERIN	Eragrostis intermedia	0–15	–
	alkali sacaton	SPAI	Sporobolus airoides	0–15	–
	mesa dropseed	SPFL2	Sporobolus flexuosus	0–10	–
	poverty threeawn	ARDI5	Aristida divaricata	0–10	–
	Fendler threeawn	ARPUL	Aristida purpurea var. longiseta	0–5	–
	blue threeawn	ARPUN	Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi	0–5	–
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	0–5	–
	low woollygrass	DAPU7	Dasyochloa pulchella	0–5	–
	nineawn pappusgrass	ENDE	Enneapogon desvauxii	0–5	–
	bulb panicgrass	PABU	Panicum bulbosum	0–5	–
	knotgrass	PADI6	Paspalum distichum	0–5	–
4	Annual grasses			10–400
	prairie threeawn	AROL	Aristida oligantha	1–100	–
	Parry's grama	BOPA2	Bouteloua parryi	0–100	–
	feather fingergrass	CHVI4	Chloris virgata	1–100	–
	tapertip cupgrass	ERACA	Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata	0–50	–
	mucronate sprangeltop	LEPAB	Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata	0–50	–
	Mexican panicgrass	PAHI5	Panicum hirticaule	0–50	–
	sixweeks fescue	VUOC	Vulpia octoflora	1–50	–
	Arizona brome	BRAR4	Bromus arizonicus	0–50	–
	needle grama	BOAR	Bouteloua aristidoides	1–50	–
	Bigelow's bluegrass	POBI	Poa bigelovii	0–25	–
	Arizona signalgrass	URAR	Urochloa arizonica	0–25	–
	Arizona barley	HOAR	Hordeum arizonicum	0–25	–
	Mexican sprangletop	LEFUU	Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia	0–25	–
	desert lovegrass	ERPEM	Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima	0–25	–
	sixweeks threeawn	ARAD	Aristida adscensionis	0–20	–
	sixweeks grama	BOBA2	Bouteloua barbata	0–10	–
	tufted lovegrass	ERPEP2	Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea	0–10	–
	sweet tanglehead	HEME	Heteropogon melanocarpus	0–10	–
	Mexican lovegrass	ERME	Eragrostis mexicana	0–10	–
	delicate muhly	MUFR	Muhlenbergia fragilis	0–10	–
	littleseed muhly	MUMI	Muhlenbergia microsperma	0–10	–
	witchgrass	PACA6	Panicum capillare	0–10	–
Forb
5	Perennial forbs			20–100
	weakleaf bur ragweed	AMCO3	Ambrosia confertiflora	1–35	–
	redstar	IPCO3	Ipomoea coccinea	0–30	–
	canaigre dock	RUHY	Rumex hymenosepalus	5–30	–
	Lemmon's ragwort	SELE8	Senecio lemmonii	1–25	–
	desert globemallow	SPAM2	Sphaeralcea ambigua	1–25	–
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–25	–
	brownplume wirelettuce	STPA4	Stephanomeria pauciflora	1–25	–
	Trans-Pecos thimblehead	HYWI	Hymenothrix wislizeni	1–25	–
	scarlet spiderling	BOCO	Boerhavia coccinea	1–25	–
	climbing wartclub	BOSC	Boerhavia scandens	1–25	–
	Thurber's cotton	GOTH	Gossypium thurberi	0–25	–
	fingerleaf gourd	CUDI	Cucurbita digitata	1–15	–
	coyote gourd	CUPA	Cucurbita palmata	0–15	–
	brownfoot	ACWR5	Acourtia wrightii	0–15	–
	Gila manroot	MAGI	Marah gilensis	0–15	–
	lacy tansyaster	MAPI	Machaeranthera pinnatifida	1–15	–
	desert tobacco	NIOB	Nicotiana obtusifolia	0–10	–
	variableleaf bushbean	MAGI2	Macroptilium gibbosifolium	0–10	–
	Parry's beardtongue	PEPA24	Penstemon parryi	0–10	–
	mesquite mistletoe	PHCA8	Phoradendron californicum	1–10	–
	hairy fournwort	TENE	Tetramerium nervosum	0–10	–
	perennial rockcress	ARPE2	Arabis perennans	0–10	–
	Arizona foldwing	DIRE4	Dicliptera resupinata	0–10	–
	spreading fleabane	ERDI4	Erigeron divergens	0–10	–
	fringed twinevine	FUCYC	Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides	0–10	–
	southwestern mock vervain	GLGO	Glandularia gooddingii	0–10	–
	small matweed	GUDE	Guilleminea densa	0–5	–
	Lewis flax	LILE3	Linum lewisii	0–5	–
	Wright's deervetch	LOWR	Lotus wrightii	0–5	–
	Coulter's lyrepod	LYCO4	Lyrocarpa coulteri	0–5	–
	roving sailor	MAAN9	Maurandella antirrhiniflora	0–5	–
	wild dwarf morning-glory	EVAR	Evolvulus arizonicus	0–5	–
	Cooley's bundleflower	DECO2	Desmanthus cooleyi	0–5	–
	Missouri gourd	CUFO	Cucurbita foetidissima	0–5	–
	desert marigold	BAMU	Baileya multiradiata	0–5	–
	Arizona wrightwort	CAAR7	Carlowrightia arizonica	0–5	–
	skeletonweed	CHAET	Chaetadelpha	0–5	–
	rose heath	CHER2	Chaetopappa ericoides	0–5	–
	whitemouth dayflower	COER	Commelina erecta	0–5	–
	trailing windmills	ALIN	Allionia incarnata	0–5	–
	tarragon	ARDR4	Artemisia dracunculus	0–5	–
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	0–5	–
	American vetch	VIAM	Vicia americana	0–5	–
	Louisiana vetch	VILU	Vicia ludoviciana	0–5	–
	slimleaf bean	PHAN3	Phaseolus angustissimus	0–5	–
	Wright's cudweed	PSCAC2	Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens	0–5	–
	Colorado Desert mistletoe	PHMA18	Phoradendron macrophyllum	0–5	–
	tufted evening primrose	OECA10	Oenothera caespitosa	0–5	–
	sweet four o'clock	MILO2	Mirabilis longiflora	0–5	–
	Coulter's wrinklefruit	TECO	Tetraclea coulteri	0–5	–
	ragged nettlespurge	JAMA	Jatropha macrorhiza	0–2	–
	velvetseed milkwort	POOB	Polygala obscura	0–2	–
	shrubby purslane	POSU3	Portulaca suffrutescens	0–2	–
	ivyleaf groundcherry	PHHE4	Physalis hederifolia	0–2	–
	jewels of Opar	TAPA2	Talinum paniculatum	0–2	–
	New Mexico fanpetals	SINE	Sida neomexicana	0–2	–
	silverleaf nightshade	SOEL	Solanum elaeagnifolium	0–2	–
	twinleaf senna	SEBA3	Senna bauhinioides	0–2	–
	New Mexico silverbush	ARNE2	Argythamnia neomexicana	0–2	–
	Palmer's Indian mallow	ABPA	Abutilon palmeri	0–2	–
	dwarf desertpeony	ACNA2	Acourtia nana	0–2	–
	lyreleaf greeneyes	BELY	Berlandiera lyrata	0–2	–
	Watson's dutchman's pipe	ARWA	Aristolochia watsonii	0–2	–
	desert larkspur	DEPA	Delphinium parishii	0–2	–
6	Annual forbs			20–450
	carelessweed	AMPA	Amaranthus palmeri	1–100	–
	bristly fiddleneck	AMTE3	Amsinckia tessellata	1–100	–
	western tansymustard	DEPI	Descurainia pinnata	1–50	–
	goosefoot	CHENO	Chenopodium	1–50	–
	longleaf false goldeneye	HELOA2	Heliomeris longifolia var. annua	1–50	–
	longleaf false goldeneye	HELOL	Heliomeris longifolia var. longifolia	0–50	–
	camphorweed	HESU3	Heterotheca subaxillaris	0–50	–
	Thurber's morning-glory	IPTH	Ipomoea thurberi	0–50	–
	sensitive partridge pea	CHNI2	Chamaecrista nictitans	1–35	–
	Coulter's spiderling	BOCO2	Boerhavia coulteri	1–35	–
	sorrel buckwheat	ERPO4	Eriogonum polycladon	1–30	–
	wheelscale saltbush	ATEL	Atriplex elegans	0–25	–
	fewflower beggarticks	BILE	Bidens leptocephala	1–25	–
	slender goldenweed	MAGR10	Machaeranthera gracilis	1–25	–
	tanseyleaf tansyaster	MATA2	Machaeranthera tanacetifolia	1–25	–
	phacelia	PHACE	Phacelia	1–25	–
	shaggyfruit pepperweed	LELA	Lepidium lasiocarpum	1–20	–
	intermediate pepperweed	LEVIM	Lepidium virginicum var. medium	1–20	–
	hoary bowlesia	BOIN3	Bowlesia incana	0–20	–
	New Mexico thistle	CINE	Cirsium neomexicanum	1–20	–
	cryptantha	CRYPT	Cryptantha	1–20	–
	common sunflower	HEAN3	Helianthus annuus	0–20	–
	woolly tidestromia	TILA2	Tidestromia lanuginosa	0–20	–
	crestrib morning-glory	IPCO2	Ipomoea costellata	0–15	–
	New Mexico copperleaf	ACNE	Acalypha neomexicana	1–15	–
	American wild carrot	DAPU3	Daucus pusillus	1–10	–
	California poppy	ESCAM	Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana	0–10	–
	horseweed	CONYZ	Conyza	0–10	–
	Florida pellitory	PAFL3	Parietaria floridana	0–10	–
	whitestem blazingstar	MEAL6	Mentzelia albicaulis	0–10	–
	sweet four o'clock	MILO2	Mirabilis longiflora	0–10	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	0–10	–
	Arizona popcornflower	PLAR	Plagiobothrys arizonicus	0–10	–
	woolly plantain	PLPA2	Plantago patagonica	1–10	–
	purslane	PORTU	Portulaca	0–10	–
	chia	SACO6	Salvia columbariae	0–10	–
	sawtooth sage	SASU7	Salvia subincisa	0–10	–
	ragwort	SENEC	Senecio	0–10	–
	streamside bur cucumber	SIAM	Sicyos ampelophyllus	0–10	–
	sleepy silene	SIAN2	Silene antirrhina	1–10	–
	climbing arrowheads	SIGR	Sicyosperma gracile	0–10	–
	cutleaf bur cucumber	SILA	Sicyos laciniatus	0–10	–
	combseed	PECTO	Pectocarya	0–10	–
	manybristle chinchweed	PEPA2	Pectis papposa	0–5	–
	golden crownbeard	VEEN	Verbesina encelioides	0–5	–
	sand fringepod	THCU	Thysanocarpus curvipes	0–5	–
	spreading fanpetals	SIAB	Sida abutifolia	0–5	–
	desert unicorn-plant	PRAL4	Proboscidea althaeifolia	0–5	–
	doubleclaw	PRPA2	Proboscidea parviflora	0–5	–
	New Mexico plumeseed	RANE	Rafinesquia neomexicana	0–5	–
	desert Indianwheat	PLOV	Plantago ovata	0–5	–
	minerslettuce	MONTI	Montia	0–5	–
	Nuttall's povertyweed	MONU	Monolepis nuttalliana	0–5	–
	green carpetweed	MOVE	Mollugo verticillata	0–5	–
	Mexican passionflower	PAME2	Passiflora mexicana	0–5	–
	Arizona lupine	LUAR4	Lupinus arizonicus	0–5	–
	Coulter's lupine	LUSP2	Lupinus sparsiflorus	0–5	–
	cutleaf cyclanthera	CYDI	Cyclanthera dissecta	0–5	–
	Palmer's spectaclepod	DICA31	Dimorphocarpa candicans	0–5	–
	wedgeleaf draba	DRCU	Draba cuneifolia	0–5	–
	sanddune wallflower	ERCA14	Erysimum capitatum	0–5	–
	lobed tickseed	COAU	Coreopsis auriculata	0–5	–
	scrambled eggs	COAU2	Corydalis aurea	0–5	–
	spurge	EUPHO	Euphorbia	1–5	–
	beeblossom	GAURA	Gaura	0–5	–
	Arizona poppy	KAGR	Kallstroemia grandiflora	0–5	–
	warty caltrop	KAPA	Kallstroemia parviflora	0–5	–
	Gordon's bladderpod	LEGO	Lesquerella gordonii	0–5	–
	southwestern pricklypoppy	ARPL3	Argemone pleiacantha	0–5	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	0–5	–
	star gilia	GIST	Gilia stellata	0–2	–
	blanketflower	GAILL	Gaillardia	0–2	–
	Texas stork's bill	ERTE13	Erodium texanum	0–2	–
	fringed redmaids	CACI2	Calandrinia ciliata	0–2	–
	Fendler's desertdandelion	MAFE	Malacothrix fendleri	0–2	–
	foothill deervetch	LOHU2	Lotus humistratus	0–2	–
	coastal bird's-foot trefoil	LOSAB	Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus	0–2	–
	desert evening primrose	OEPR	Oenothera primiveris	0–2	–
	rough cocklebur	XAST	Xanthium strumarium	0–2	–
Shrub/Vine
7	Riverwash shrubs			25–150
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNAL	Ericameria nauseosa ssp. consimilis var. leiosperma	0–100	–
	singlewhorl burrobrush	HYMO	Hymenoclea monogyra	1–100	–
	clasping milkweed	ASAM	Asclepias amplexicaulis	3–38	–
	fingerleaf gourd	CUDI	Cucurbita digitata	3–38	–
	Missouri gourd	CUFO	Cucurbita foetidissima	3–38	–
	coyote gourd	CUPA	Cucurbita palmata	3–38	–
	pricklyburr	DAIN2	Datura inoxia	3–38	–
	Gila manroot	MAGI	Marah gilensis	3–38	–
	doubleclaw	PRPA2	Proboscidea parviflora	3–38	–
	ambrosia leaf bur ragweed	AMAM2	Ambrosia ambrosioides	0–25	–
	desertbroom	BASA2	Baccharis sarothroides	1–20	–
	mule-fat	BASA4	Baccharis salicifolia	0–20	–
	burroweed	ISTE2	Isocoma tenuisecta	1–20	–
	sweetbush	BEJU	Bebbia juncea	0–15	–
8	Miscellaneous shrubs			50–150
	fringed twinevine	FUCYC	Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides	1–25	–
	desert-thorn	LYCIU	Lycium	1–25	–
	whitethorn acacia	ACCO2	Acacia constricta	0–25	–
	lotebush	ZIOB	Ziziphus obtusifolia	1–25	–
	littleleaf sumac	RHMI3	Rhus microphylla	0–25	–
	Thurber's desert honeysuckle	ANTH2	Anisacanthus thurberi	0–20	–
	fourwing saltbush	ATCA2	Atriplex canescens	0–20	–
	Drummond's clematis	CLDR	Clematis drummondii	1–20	–
	Apache plume	FAPA	Fallugia paradoxa	0–20	–
	desert olive	FOSH	Forestiera shrevei	0–15	–
	knifeleaf condalia	COSP3	Condalia spathulata	0–15	–
	Warnock's snakewood	COWA	Condalia warnockii	0–15	–
	Coulter's brickellbush	BRCO	Brickellia coulteri	0–15	–
	fairyduster	CAER	Calliandra eriophylla	0–10	–
	Kearney's snakewood	COWAK	Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana	0–10	–
	shortleaf baccharis	BABR	Baccharis brachyphylla	0–10	–
	California brickellbush	BRCA3	Brickellia californica	0–10	–
	longleaf jointfir	EPTR	Ephedra trifurca	0–10	–
	bastardsage	ERWR	Eriogonum wrightii	0–10	–
	Texas mulberry	MOMI	Morus microphylla	0–10	–
	sacahuista	NOMI	Nolina microcarpa	0–10	–
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–10	–
	threadleaf ragwort	SEFLF	Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus	0–10	–
	canyon grape	VIAR2	Vitis arizonica	0–10	–
	soaptree yucca	YUEL	Yucca elata	1–10	–
	Thurber's sandpaper plant	PETH4	Petalonyx thurberi	0–5	–
	Parish's goldeneye	VIPA14	Viguiera parishii	0–5	–
	banana yucca	YUBA	Yucca baccata	0–5	–
	American threefold	TRCA8	Trixis californica	0–5	–
	cactus apple	OPEN3	Opuntia engelmannii	0–5	–
	Schott's yellowhood	NISC	Nissolia schottii	0–5	–
	catclaw mimosa	MIACB	Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera	0–5	–
	velvetpod mimosa	MIDY	Mimosa dysocarpa	0–5	–
	sorrelvine	CITR2	Cissus trifoliata	0–5	–
	yerba de pasmo	BAPT	Baccharis pteronioides	0–5	–
	Wright's beebrush	ALWR	Aloysia wrightii	0–5	–
	common sotol	DAWH2	Dasylirion wheeleri	0–2	–
	Palmer's century plant	AGPA3	Agave palmeri	0–2	–
	candy barrelcactus	FEWI	Ferocactus wislizeni	0–2	–
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–2	–
Tree
9	Dominant trees			300–800
	mesquite	PROSO	Prosopis	200–500	–
	catclaw acacia	ACGR	Acacia greggii	50–200	–
	blue paloverde	PAFL6	Parkinsonia florida	0–100	–
	Jerusalem thorn	PAAC3	Parkinsonia aculeata	0–50	–
	netleaf hackberry	CELAR	Celtis laevigata var. reticulata	0–50	–
	desert willow	CHLI2	Chilopsis linearis	0–50	–
	velvet ash	FRVE2	Fraxinus velutina	0–25	–
	Arizona walnut	JUMA	Juglans major	0–25	–
	western soapberry	SASAD	Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii	0–25	–
	American black elderberry	SANIC4	Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis	0–20	–
	Arizona sycamore	PLWR2	Platanus wrightii	0–15	–
	narrowleaf willow	SAEX	Salix exigua	0–15	–
	Fremont cottonwood	POFR2	Populus fremontii	0–10	–
	oneseed juniper	JUMO	Juniperus monosperma	0–10	–

Interpretations

Animal community

This site produces a wide variety of good quality forage and is usable at any season by all classes of cattle. It usually occurs as small inclusions within large areas of upland range sites. Having a good variety of forage species, shade, and occasional water, this site will be overused in the summer growing season before proper use is made of adjacent upland areas. For this reason, grazing systems must be used to allow recovery of herbaceous forage species on this site. The site produces a good variety of valuable browse for spring and fall use.

Occurring as occasional wooded strips through large areas of open uplands, this site is a haven for wildlife, especially in the heat of the summer season. Water is available occasionally in the spring and again in the summer. Water developments are very important for wildlife species using this site.

Hydrological functions

These sandy floodplains are extremely important for ground-water recharge in upland basins. Deep, very coarse textured soils allow water to percolate to great depths after runoff from large storms.

Recreational uses

Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, bird-watching, camping, photography and picknicing.

Wood products

Mesquite and catclaw acacia furnish limited fuel-wood and posts. The importance of large trees on this site for wildlife should limit the fuel-wood uses to deadwood and driftwood.

Other products

Sand, magnetite.

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)	Wilma Renken, Dan Robinett, Larry Humphrey
Contact for lead author	USDA-NRCS Tucson MLRA Soil Survey
Date	12/12/2012
Approved by	Byron Lambeth
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None
Presence of water flow patterns:
Sandy stream channels braid through the site and occupy 35% of the area. Channel depth ranges from 6-12 inches and floodplain areas receive extra water as overbank flow in moderate and large run-off events.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are common on all longer lived grasses and sub-shrubs and are from 1-3 inches in height. Pedestals are common on large shrubs and range from 6-12 inches high (from rodent activity, erosion and sedimentation). Terracettes are uncommon on the site.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground from a point cover transect (300 pts) run on site was 41%. Gravel cover was 6% and basal cover of live perennial plants was 1%. Bare areas (outside braided channels), often masked by annuals, are 3-4’ in diameter, generally connected.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Both fine and coarse litter size classes are staying in place. In channels, all litter size classes are moving except large woody debris which catches in low growing tree branches.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Values from a soil slake test average 1.7. Soils are very sandy. There is no difference between areas without canopy and shrub canopy areas.
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
A horizon is 8 inches thick, single-grained. Colors are 7.5 YR 6/4 dry and 7.5 YR 4/4 moist.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Trees and large shrubs are well distributed on site (20-30% canopy cover), sub-shrubs scattered across site (0-3% canopy cover), perennial grasses show a general association with trees and shrubs with scattered plants across site (10-12% canopy cover), annual grasses and forbs fluctuate with weather patterns. General hydrologic functioning: the perennial grasses slow/reduce the energy of surface run-off and promote infiltration; trees and shrubs deter surface water flow without slowing its energy.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None present.
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:
Dom.Mid-Grasses = Trees >>

Sub-dominant:
Suffrutescent Grasses >Misc.Per.Grasses > Riverwash Shrubs = Misc. Shrubs > Annuals

Other:

Additional:
Annual grasses and forbs fluctuate within ranking based on seasonal precipitation.
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Mortality due to drought (2009 and very dry winter spring of 2011) is high on perennial grasses and sub-shrubs.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
From the pace frequency transect (300 pts.) litter cover was 50% on this date.
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
825 lbs/ac. in a below average year; 1800 lbs/ac. in an average year; 3150 lbs/ac. in an above average year.
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:
Mesquite is native to site and has not increased in size or density. From transects mesquite canopy is 11% and density is 80 plants/ac. Catclaw acacia has 11% canopy on this site. Other invasive/non-native species: Enneapogon cenchroides (softfeather pappusgrass), Bermuda, mustard, foxtail.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Slightly impaired by drought on perennial grass and sub-shrub species.

Download reference sheet

Search

Natural ResourcesConservation Service