Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R043BP811MT
Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland Group
Last updated: 3/01/2024
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 043B–Central Rocky Mountains
The Central Rocky Mountains (MLRA 43B) of Montana occupy some 28,850 square miles and exist primarily in Central and SW portions of the state. The climate is extremely variable with precipitation lows of 9 to 100 inches per year and frost free days of less than 30 to over 110 days. The geology of the region is also highly variable. The combination of variable climate and geology create a complex relationship of plant communities. MLRA 43B elevations typically exist between 6000 and 12,799ft at Granite Peak (the highest point in Montana).
The Continental Divide runs through this MLRA effectively splitting its watershed to contribute to either the Missouri River to the East and the Columbia River to the West.
Ecological site concept
• Site does not receive any additional water
• Soils are
o Generally not saline or saline-sodic (limited extent)
o Shallow depth (less than 50cm (20 in) to bedrock, lithic, or paralithic root restrictive layer
o Typically less than 5% stone and boulder cover (<15% max)
o Not strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4”
• Soil surface texture ranges from sandy loam to clay loam in surface mineral 4”
• Area of rugged mountain, hills, plateaus, and valleys of the Central Rocky Mountains in Southwest Montana.
• Site Landform: hillslopes, buttes, escarpment
• Moisture Regime: Ustic to Udic
• Temperature Regime: frigid to cryic
• Dominant Cover: rangeland - Sagebrush dominated
• Elevation Range: 4100-10000ft
• Slope: 0-80% (typically less than 45%)
Site Development and Testing Plan
This Provisional Ecological Site Description was developed to meet the criteria as defined in Soil Survey National Instruction part 306 (430-306-NI, April 2015) as interpreted by Regional Ecological Site Specialist. Information in this description are first approximations based on broad groupings of soil properties and vegetation characteristics associated with those groupings. Although this description has been through the quality control and quality assurance review process it has not been certified for use in conservation planning.
Associated sites
EX043B18H036 |
Droughty 15-19 inches precipitation zone Cryic Beaverhead Mountains The Droughty Site of LRU 18 Climate Subset D (15-19 |
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EX043B18I036 |
Droughty 19-24 inches precipitation zone Cryic Beaverhead Mountains The Droughty Site of LRU 18 Climate Subset E (19-24 |
R043BP810MT |
Shallow Grassland Group The Shallow Grassland shares landscape position and hydrological processes with the Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland. |
R043BP812MT |
Shallow Shrubland Group The Shallow Shrubland shares landscape position and hydrological processes with the Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland. |
Similar sites
EX043B18H038 |
Droughty Steep 15-19 inches precipitation zone Cryic Beaverhead Mountains Droughty Steep Site produces a similar plant community however does not have a root restrictive layer which allows for greater production and a slightly more resilient plant community |
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EX043B18I038 |
Droughty Steep 19-24 inches precipitation zone Cryic Beaverhead Mountains Droughty Steep Site produces a similar plant community however does not have a root restrictive layer which allows for greater production and a slightly more resilient plant community |
R043BP810MT |
Shallow Grassland Group The Shallow Grassland shares landscape position and hydrological processes with the Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland. The Shallow Grassland expresses a higher amount of big sagebrush. The Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland shares a State and Transition model |
R043BP812MT |
Shallow Shrubland Group The Shallow Shrubland shares landscape position and hydrological processes with the Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland. The Shallow Shrubland expresses a higher amount of deciduous shrubs. The Shallow Shrubland shares a State and Transition model |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Juniperus scopulorum |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Artemisia tridentata |
Herbaceous |
(1) Pseudoroegneria spicata |
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