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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R044AP803MT
Saline-Sodic Grassland Group
Last updated: 9/07/2023
Accessed: 08/17/2024
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): 044A–Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 044A–Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys
This MLRA includes the northern portion of the Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys Province of the Rocky Mountain System. The mountain valleys are deeply dissected and are typically bordered by mountains trending north to south. The nearly level broad flood plains are bordered by gently to strongly sloping terraces and alluvial fans. The surrounding mountains and in some areas the valleys experienced glaciation. The average precipitation is 12 to 16 inches generally, though can vary widely. The dominant soil orders are Inceptisols, Mollisols and Andisols. The valleys support coniferous forests, shrublands and grasslands.
Description of MLRAs can be found in: United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.
Available electronically at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcs142p2_053624#handbook
Ecological site concept
• Site does not receive any additional water
• Site not located in a flood plain
• Dominant Cover: Grassland; thickspike wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, saltgrass, slender wheatgrass, Nuttall's alkaligrass, basin wildrye. Average production is 1800 dry pounds per acre.
• Soils are
o Soil saline or sodic (EC > 7 or SAR > 12 within surface 18cm)
o Not limy (Soil is not strongly or violently effervescent (CaCO3 > 14%) in surface mineral 18cm) – can have calcium carbonates in the subsurface.
o Moderately deep, deep or very deep
o Not ashy or medial textural family
o Typically less than 15% stone and boulder surface area (<15% max)
• Soil surface texture loam, silty clay loam, silt loam in surface mineral 4”
• Parent material is alluvium, lacustrine deposits
• Drainage class is well drained; no flooding frequency
• Site Landform: lake plains, terraces, alluvial fans
• Moisture Regime: ustic/xeric
• Temperature Regime: frigid
• Elevation Range: 2600-3300 ft
• Slope: 2-5%
Associated sites
R044AP804MT |
Saline-Sodic Shrubland Group This associated ecological site is in slightly drier site conditions to this ecological site. |
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R044AP807MT |
Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland Group This associated ecological site is in areas with subirrigated hydrology in associated to this ecological site. |
Similar sites
R044AP804MT |
Saline-Sodic Shrubland Group This ecological site is similar in its saline and /or sodic soil and conditions to this ecological site. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Distichlis spicata |
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