Bottomland
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This state includes vine-mesquite, western wheatgrass, and alkali sacaton
Submodel
Description
Mismanagement of grazing on this site will cause a decrease of the more palatable grasses and forbs such as vine-mesquite, western wheatgrass, and alkali sacaton, and a subsequent increase in grasses, forbs, and shrubs with low grazing value and much lower forage production potential such as mat muhly, New Mexico thistle, and cholla cactus. Continued severe mismanagement can lead to reduced ground cover. It will also increase gully erosion which will channel runoff that would nomally spread over the entire site. This further lowers productivity, and extensive structural erosion control measures may be needed to restore productivity on these severely deteriorated sites.
Characteristics and indicators
increase in grasses, forbs, and shrubs with low grazing value and much lower forage production potential such as mat muhly, New Mexico thistle, and cholla cactus.
Resilience management
Because of the inherent high productivity of bottomland range sites, they could respond very well to grazing management which includes deferment from grazing during the growing season of the desirable forage plants. This site also lends itself well to management as a separate unit fenced to separate it from surrounding uplands.
Mechanism
Season-long grazing providing little rest and recovery for preferred grazed plants during critical growing periods, coupled with high utilization.
Mechanism
Legacy Statement:
"Restoration pathway resulting from the implementation of prescribed grazing."
It should be noted that prescribed grazing alone will not necessarily repair gullies. Erosion control measures might also be required.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Grazing Management Plan - Applied |
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.