Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R042CY745TX
Limestone Canyon Bottomland
Accessed: 04/20/2024
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.
Associated sites
| F042CY020TX |
Limestone Mountain (North Aspect) 20-26" PZ Limestone Mountain (North Aspect) is on steep north facing slopes mostly above 2,286 m in elevation. Soils are mostly shallow to limestone bedrock and clayey. The reference plant community is a mixed conifer forest. |
|---|---|
| F042CY021TX |
Limestone Mountain (South Aspect) 20-26" PZ The Limestone Mountain (South Aspect) occurs on mountain slopes and ridgetops, at elevations generally above 2,286 m. Aspects are predominantly south facing or neutral. Soils are mostly shallow to limestone bedrock, gravelly, and loamy. The reference plant community is a ponderosa pine savanna. |
| R042CY102NM |
Shallow Limestone Shallow Limestone occurs on limestone hills with 10 to 50 percent slope gradient. Soils are shallow to limestone bedrock. HCPC is mixed prairie grassland with scattered forbs, shrubs, and trees. |
| R042CY109NM |
Loamy Loamy is a flood plain, stream terrace, arroyo, or basin floor with nongravelly or cobbly soils. HCPC is mixed prairie grassland with scattered shrubs, forbs, and trees. |
| R042CY115NM |
Breaks Breaks are escarpments with slopes ranging 40-95 percent gradient. Soils are shallow to bedrock. HCPC is a mountain shrubland with few scattered trees. |
Similar sites
| R042CY109NM |
Loamy Loamy is a flood plain, stream terrace, arroyo, or basin floor with nongravelly or cobbly soils. HCPC is mixed prairie grassland with scattered shrubs, forbs, and trees. |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
Not specified |
Physiographic features
The site occurs on nearly level mountain canyons and drainageways that are occasionally to frequently flooded. Runoff is negligible on 0 to 1 percent slopes and low on slopes over 1 percent. Elevation ranges from 5000 to 6400 feet. The site is occasionally to frequently flooded.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Canyon
(2) Drainageway |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | Occasional to frequent |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 5,000 – 6,400 ft |
| Slope | 3% |
| Water table depth | 72 in |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The climate of the area is "semi-arid continental."
The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 16 inches. Variations of 5 inches, more or less, are not uncommon. Seventy-five percent of the precipitation falls from April to October. Most of the summer precipitation comes in the form of high intensity-short duration thunderstorms.
Temperatures are characterized by distinct seasonal changes and large annual and diurnal temperature changes. The average annual temperature is about 50 degrees F with extremes of -29 degrees F in the winter and 103 degrees F in the summer.
The average frost-free season is 130 to 160 days. The last killing frost falling in early May and the first killing frost in early October.
Both temperature and precipitation favor warm-season perennial species. However, about 40 percent of the annual precipitation falls at a time favorable to cool-season plant growth. The soils of this site can store water from winter and early spring moisture for use by cool-season species. This allows the cool-season species to occupy an important component of this site. Strong wind from the west and southwest that blow from February to June can rapidly dry the soil profile during a critical period for cool-season plant growth.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site using 50% probability for freeze-free and frost-free seasons using 28.5 degrees F and 32.5 degrees F respectively.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 173 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 187 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
Soil features
The site consists of very deep and well drained soils that formed in gravelly alluvium derived mostly from limestone. Permeability is moderately rapid. Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown gravelly sandy loam. Riverwash consists of areas of cobbles and gravels in the main stream channel. These areas typically have little to no vegetation and undergo repeated high intensity flash flooding.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
limestone
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow |
| Soil depth | 16 – 62 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | Not specified |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 20% |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
25% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
1 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
Not specified |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.6 – 7.3 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
10% |
Ecological dynamics
The reference plant community for this site is a riparian woodland that consists of mixed hardwoods, pines, shrubs, and both mid and tall grasses. The vegetation of this site occurs on the banks of a streambed and its first terrace or active floodplain. The riverwash, or streambed, is a component of the map unit but it is not correlated with an ecological site because it lacks stable vegetation. However, vegetation does begin to establish once alluvial deposits begin to stabilize.
Vegetation within this site is a dynamic complex of discontinuous plant communities responding to numerous environment controls such as watershed area, terrace shape and width, nature and relative position of depositional features such as terraces, gravel bars, frequency and amount of runoff, alluvial fragment size, depth of bedrock, and presence of perennial water sources. With the exception of perennial springs in some locations, canyon bottomlands are dry most of the year. They are subject to flash floods during the summer rainy season. It may be reasonable to assume that during pre-settlement times, plant communities along arroyos existed as a shifting mosaic.
The most significant natural disturbance that has historically and currently is still shaping the plant communities is flash floods. The severity of these floods and their effects vary. Generally, there is very little fire activity in this riparian zone due to high moisture levels (NPS 2005). The natural breaks present in wetter, rockier canyon bottoms limit the extent of fires when they do move in from neighboring communities (NPS 2005).
Many types of wildlife utilize this site currently and most likely did so in the past. Mule deer is probably the most frequently seen native grazer/browser utilizing this site.
The following diagram suggests general pathways that the vegetation on this site might follow. There are other plant communities and states not shown on the diagram. This information is intended to show what might happen in a given set of circumstances; it does not mean that this would happen the same way in every instance. Local professional guidance should always be sought before pursuing a treatment scenario.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Woodland State
The Trees-Shrubs/Tallgrass Community is characterized by several plant community potentials resulting from different plant environments. Narrow canyon bottoms will have limited daily sunlight and will typically have a high canopy cover percentages of trees such as bigtooth maple, chinkapin oak, alligator juniper, and ponderosa pine. Shade tolerant grasses will coexist. As the bottomland widens, tree canopy cover decreases and shade intolerant grasses increase. Scouring flash floods and small wildfires will maintain a discontinuous mosaic of plant communities. Annual production ranges from 2450 to 5250 pounds per acre. The Trees-Shrubs/Mid-Shortgrass Community is characterized by a herbaceous component that consists mostly of unpalatable mid and shortgrasses such as hairy grama and perennial threeawns. Tallgrasses such as yellow indiangrass, big bluestem, and littlebluestem will be subdominants. In some areas, shrubs such as sotol and catclaw mimosa will increase.
Community 1.1
Trees-Shrubs/Tallgrass Community
Figure 4. 1.1 Bigtooth maple with few grasses
Figure 5. 1.1 Bigtooth maple, chinkapin oak, pine muhly and
Figure 6. 1.1 Stream with Jamaica sawgrass and mixed shrubs
Figure 7. 1.1 Little bluestem/muhly with oak, juniper, and p
This site is characterized by several plant community potentials resulting from different plant environments. Narrow canyon bottoms will have limited daily sunlight and will typically have a high canopy cover percentages of trees such as bigtooth maple, chinkapin oak, alligator juniper, and ponderosa pine. Shade tolerant grasses will coexist. As the bottomland widens, tree canopy cover decreases and shade intolerant grasses increase such as littlebluestem, big bluestem, yellow indiangrass, bull muhly, pine muhly, and sideoats grama. Common shrubs include sotol, desert ceanothus, cliff fendlerbush, Mexican orange, apache plume, skunkbush sumac, and New Mexico agave. Grass-likes such as Jamaica sawgrass and bottlebrush sedge grow along the banks of perennial streams or areas with a very shallow groundwater depth. Scouring flash floods and small wildfires will maintain a discontinuous mosaic of plant communities.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 800 | 1000 | 1200 |
| Shrub/Vine | 600 | 800 | 1000 |
| Forb | 50 | 100 | 150 |
| Total | 2450 | 3900 | 5350 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM4325, Trees-Shrubs/Tallgrass Community. Mixture of oaks, junipers, and pines with tallgrasses such as big bluestem, little bluestem, and indiangrass..
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Community 1.2
Trees-Shrubs/Mid-Shortgrass Community
This plant community phase is characterized by a herbaceous component that consists mostly of unpalatable mid and shortgrasses such as hairy grama and perennial threeawns. Tall grasses such as yellow indiangrass, big bluestem, and littlebluestem will be subdominants. In some areas, shrubs such as sotol and catclaw mimosa will increase.
Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 800 | 1000 | 1200 |
| Shrub/Vine | 600 | 800 | 1000 |
| Forb | 50 | 100 | 150 |
| Total | 2450 | 3900 | 5350 |
Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NM4326, Trees-Shrubs/Mid/Shortgrass Community. Mixture of oaks, junipers, and pines with shortgrasses such as hairy grama and threeawn species..
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Heavy continuous grazing by domestic cattle will shift the grass dominance from the palatable tall grasses to the less palatable mid and shortgrasses such as perennial threeawn and hairy grama. Overutilization by goats can potentially limit the reproduction of maples, Texas madrone, mountain mahogany, and other palatable browse.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
The Trees-Shrubs/Mid-Shortgrass Community can be restored back to the Trees-Shrubs/Tallgrass Community with Prescribed grazing or no grazing which will allow the tallgrasses to recover.
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
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 | Warm-season Tallgrasses | 400–600 | ||||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 100–300 | – | ||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 100–300 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 100–300 | – | ||
| Indiangrass | SONU2 | Sorghastrum nutans | 100–300 | – | ||
| 2 | Midgrasses | 210–300 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 50–100 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 50–100 | – | ||
| pine muhly | MUDU | Muhlenbergia dubia | 50–100 | – | ||
| New Mexico muhly | MUPA2 | Muhlenbergia pauciflora | 50–100 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 30–60 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 30–60 | – | ||
| curlyleaf muhly | MUSE | Muhlenbergia setifolia | 25–50 | – | ||
| 3 | Shortgrasses | 30–60 | ||||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 15–30 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 15–30 | – | ||
| western panicgrass | DIACF | Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum | 15–30 | – | ||
| hairy woollygrass | ERPI5 | Erioneuron pilosum | 15–30 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 15–30 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 15–30 | – | ||
| 4 | Cool-season grasses | 120–180 | ||||
| New Mexico feathergrass | HENE5 | Hesperostipa neomexicana | 25–50 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 15–30 | – | ||
| pinyon ricegrass | PIFI | Piptochaetium fimbriatum | 15–30 | – | ||
| Arizona fescue | FEAR2 | Festuca arizonica | 10–25 | – | ||
| threeflower melicgrass | MENI | Melica nitens | 10–25 | – | ||
| 5 | Grasslikes | 40–60 | ||||
| bottlebrush sedge | CAHY4 | Carex hystericina | 20–40 | – | ||
| Jamaica swamp sawgrass | CLMAJ | Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense | 20–40 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 6 | Shrubs | 420–700 | ||||
| desert ceanothus | CEGR | Ceanothus greggii | 35–75 | – | ||
| alderleaf mountain mahogany | CEMO2 | Cercocarpus montanus | 35–75 | – | ||
| Mexican orange | CHDU | Choisya dumosa | 35–75 | – | ||
| damianita | CHME3 | Chrysactinia mexicana | 35–75 | – | ||
| javelina bush | COER5 | Condalia ericoides | 35–75 | – | ||
| Apache plume | FAPA | Fallugia paradoxa | 35–75 | – | ||
| cliff fendlerbush | FERU | Fendlera rupicola | 35–75 | – | ||
| eggleaf silktassel | GAOV | Garrya ovata | 35–75 | – | ||
| western white honeysuckle | LOAL | Lonicera albiflora | 35–75 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 35–75 | – | ||
| pungent oak | QUPU | Quercus pungens | 35–75 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 35–75 | – | ||
| evergreen sumac | RHVI3 | Rhus virens | 35–75 | – | ||
| arroyo willow | SALA6 | Salix lasiolepis | 35–75 | – | ||
| 7 | Fibrous/Succulents | 150–250 | ||||
| green sotol | DALE2 | Dasylirion leiophyllum | 35–100 | – | ||
| Texas sacahuista | NOTE | Nolina texana | 25–75 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 25–75 | – | ||
| slimfoot century plant | AGGR4 | Agave gracilipes | 25–75 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPAN6 | Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana | 25–75 | – | ||
| 8 | Vines | 30–50 | ||||
| bluebill | CLPIP | Clematis pitcheri var. pitcheri | 15–30 | – | ||
| canyon grape | VIAR2 | Vitis arizonica | 15–30 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 9 | Trees | 1000–3000 | ||||
| bigtooth maple | ACGR3 | Acer grandidentatum | 100–500 | – | ||
| ponderosa pine | PIPO | Pinus ponderosa | 100–500 | – | ||
| gray oak | QUGR3 | Quercus grisea | 100–500 | – | ||
| chinquapin oak | QUMU | Quercus muehlenbergii | 100–500 | – | ||
| twoneedle pinyon | PIED | Pinus edulis | 100–400 | – | ||
| alligator juniper | JUDE2 | Juniperus deppeana | 100–400 | – | ||
| little walnut | JUMI | Juglans microcarpa | 75–150 | – | ||
| common hoptree | PTTR | Ptelea trifoliata | 75–150 | – | ||
| black cherry | PRSE2 | Prunus serotina | 75–150 | – | ||
| Texas madrone | ARXA80 | Arbutus xalapensis | 75–150 | – | ||
| velvet ash | FRVE2 | Fraxinus velutina | 75–150 | – | ||
| Pinchot's juniper | JUPI | Juniperus pinchotii | 25–100 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain juniper | JUSC2 | Juniperus scopulorum | 15–75 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 15–75 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir | PSMEG | Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca | 15–75 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 10 | Perennials | 50–150 | ||||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 10–25 | – | ||
| golden columbine | AQCH | Aquilegia chrysantha | 5–15 | – | ||
| butterfly milkweed | ASTU | Asclepias tuberosa | 5–15 | – | ||
| greeneyes | BERLA | Berlandiera | 5–15 | – | ||
| Mexican cancer-root | COALM | Conopholis alpina var. mexicana | 5–15 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 5–15 | – | ||
| needleleaf bluet | HOACA2 | Houstonia acerosa var. acerosa | 3–15 | – | ||
| menodora | MENOD | Menodora | 5–15 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 5–15 | – | ||
| polygala | POLYG | Polygala | 3–15 | – | ||
| noseburn | TRAGI | Tragia | 3–15 | – | ||
| 11 | Annuals | 3–10 | ||||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 3–10 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Some portions of the site can be suited for conservative livestock grazing. Riparian areas, however, can be very sensitive to overutilization. A reduction in herbaceous composition can make the site more susceptible erosion especially when flash floods occur.
Mule deer are one of the most common animals seen in this site. Nocturnal mammals such as skunks and raccoons can also be found here. Long-ear sunfish can be seen in some of the springs in the park, as well as in McKittrick Canyon. The stream through McKittrick Canyon is also home to a small population of rainbow trout. Although amphibians are rare in the desert, the Rio Grande leopard frog can occasionally be encountered near spring fed pools in McKittrick Canyon, or at Manzanita and Smith Springs. Rocky canyons are home to ringtails, rock squirrels, and a variety of reptiles including rock and black-tailed rattlesnakes, mountain patchnose snakes, and tree lizards (NPS).
Plant Preference by Animal Kind:
These preferences are somewhat general in nature as the preferences for plants is dependent upon grazing experience, time of year, availability of choices, and total forage supply.
Legend: P=Preferred D=Desirable U=Undesirable N=Not Consumed T=Toxic X=Used, but not degree of utilization unknown
Preferred – Percentage of plant in animal diet is greater than it occurs on the land
Desirable – Percentage of plant in animal diet is similar to the percentage composition on the land
Undesirable – Percentage of plant in animal diet is less than it occurs on the land
Not Consumed – Plant would not be eaten under normal conditions. Only consumed when other forages not available.
Toxic – Rare occurrence in diet and, if consumed in any tangible amounts results in death or severe illness in animal
Hydrological functions
The site is located in both a surface water run-in and runoff position. Depth to groundwater effects species composition.
Recreational uses
The site can be used for hiking.
Wood products
None.
Other products
None.
Other information
None.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented here has been developed from NRCS clipping, composition, plant cover, soils data and ecological interpretations gained by field observation.
Contributors
Michael Margo
Michael Margo, RMS, NRCS, Marfa, Texas
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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