Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R043BP813MT
Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland Group
Last updated: 3/01/2024
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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 receives additional water
• This site occurs on low terraces adjacent to flood plains of perennial or intermittent streams (though not in the floodplain), near springs and seeps, or other areas having a permanent or perched water table.
• Moisture Regime: ustic
• Temperature Regime: frigid to cry
• Elevation Range: 3900-6750ft
• Area of rugged mountain, hills, plateaus, and valleys of the Central Rocky Mountains in Southwest Montana
• Soils are
o Saline or saline-sodic (EC>7 or SAR>12 in surface 18cm)
o Moderately deep, deep, or very deep
o Typically less than 5% stone and boulder cover (<10% max)
• Seasonal high water table within 40" (~100cm) of soil surface.
• Dominant Cover: rangeland (grass dominated)
• Slope: 0-5%
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
R043BP814MT |
Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland Group The Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland shares landscape position with the Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland. These neighboring sites can intermix and be hard to separate. The Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland has a water table and similar hydrology as the Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland. |
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R043BP807MT |
Saline Sodic Grassland Group The Saline-Sodic Grassland is often upslope to the Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland. These two sites have plant species overlap however the Saline-Sodic Grassland does not have a water table. |
R043BP808MT |
Saline Sodic Sagebrush Shrubland Group The Saline Sagebrush Shrubland is often upslope to the Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland. These two sites have plant species overlap however the Saline Shrubland does not have a water table. |
Similar sites
R043BP814MT |
Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland Group The Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland shares landscape position with the Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland. These neighboring sites can intermix on the landscape and they share many common plant species so they be hard to separate. The Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland has a water table and similar hydrology as the Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland. These plant communities share similar State and Transition Models. |
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R043BP807MT |
Saline Sodic Grassland Group The Saline-Sodic Grassland and Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland have plant species overlap however the Saline-Sodic Grassland does not have a water table and often produces less annual biomass. |
R043BP808MT |
Saline Sodic Sagebrush Shrubland Group The Saline Sagebrush Shrubland and Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland have plant species overlap however the Saline Shrubland does not have a water table and often produces less annual biomass. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Leymus cinereus |
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