Major Land Resource Area 044B

Central Rocky Mountain Valleys

Accessed: 12/21/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 044B

Key publications

Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin

Next steps

1

Select an ecological site

Select an ecological site using the list, keys, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page.
2

Explore the ecological site description

Next, learn more about the selected ecological site and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.

Ecological site list

Ecological site map

Basemap

Topo

Road

Aerial

Hybrid

Full screen

Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.

Ecological site keys

Key to the Keys

I. Ecological Site Groups rather than more specific Ecological Site Descriptions. ... Key 2 – 44B PES Groupings Key

II. Ecological Site Descriptions rather than the more broad-based and general descriptions of Ecological Site Groups.

A. LRU 1 Subset A, Lower precipitation 9-14 inch zone ... Key 3 – MRLA 44B Key LRU 01 Subset A

B. LRU 1 Subset B, higher precipitation

1 LRU 1 Subset B, higher precipitation 15-19 inch zone ... Key 4 – MLRA 44B Key LRU 01 Subset B

2 LRU 1 Subset C, higher precipitation 20-24 inch zone ... Key 5 – LRU 01 Subset C

44B PES Groupings Key

A Rangeland Groups

1 Significant additional water influences community.

i. Soils are associated with a stream or live water and are in a riparian or lowland situation. ... R044BP801MT – Bottomland

ii. Not in a riparian situation, but has a water table present.

a. Soil saline or sodic (EC > 7 or SAR > 12 within surface 18cm)

1) Community is Grass and grasslike dominated, water table within rooting depth of herbaceous species, limiting woody vegetation (less than 100 cm from the ground surface for part of the growing season). ... R044BP813MT – Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Grassland

2) Community is shrub dominated, water table within rooting depth of herbaceous species, limiting woody vegetation (greater than 100 cm from the ground surface for part of the growing season). ... R044BP814MT – Subirrigated Saline-Sodic Shrubland

b. Soils are not saline or sodic

2 Not water controlled - upland

i Soils influenced by chemistry within the upper soil profile.

a. Soil saline or sodic (EC > 7 or SAR > 12 within surface 18cm)

1) Dominated by grasses and grasslike species - Grassland ... R044BP807MT – Saline-Sodic Grassland

2) Dominated by shrubs ... R044BP808MT – Saline-Sodic Sagebrush Shrubland

b. Soil is strongly or violently effervescent (CaCO3 > 14%) in surface mineral 18cm – Limy

1) Dominated by grasses and grasslike species - Grassland ... R044BP804MT – Limy Grassland

2) Dominated by shrubs

a) Sagebrush is the dominant shrub - Sagebrush Shrubland ... R044BP805MT – Limy Sagebrush Shrubland

b) All other shrubs - Shrubland ... R044BP806MT – Limy Shrubland

ii Soils not influence by chemistry

A) Soils are shallow (less than 20 inches to a restrictive layer, root limiting layer, or bedrock)

1) Dominated by grasses and grasslike species - Grassland ... R044BP810MT – Shallow Grassland

2) Dominated by shrubs

a) Sagebrush is the dominant shrub - Sagebrush Shrubland ... R044BP811MT – Shallow Sagebrush Shrubland

b) All other shrubs - Shrubland ... R044BP812MT – Shallow Shrubland

B) Soils are not shallow

A) Soils contain a high amount (greater than 35%) rock fragments on the soil surface.

a) Dominated by grasses and grasslike species - Grassland ... R044BP802MT – Rubbly Grassland

b) Sagebrush is the dominant shrub - Sagebrush Shrubland ... R044BP803MT – Rubbly Sagebrush Shrubland

B) Soils do not contain a high amount of rock fragments on the soil surface.

a) Dominated by grasses and grasslike species - Grassland ... R044BP818MT – Upland Grassland

b) Dominated by shrubs

(1) Sagebrush is the dominant shrub - Sagebrush Shrubland ... R044BP819MT – Upland Sagebrush Shrubland

(2) All other shrubs - Shrubland ... R044BP820MT – Upland Shrubland

B Forestland Groups

1 Deciduous dominated community, dominantly Aspen - Aspen Woodland ... F044BP908MT – Upland Aspen Woodland

2 All other Forest Types

a Warmer temperatures, generally related to lower elevations, south and west aspects - Warm Woodland

i Soils are shallow (less than 20 inches to a restrictive layer, root limiting layer, or bedrock) ... F044BP904MT – Shallow Warm Woodland

ii Soils are not shallow

1) Soil is strongly or violently effervescent (CaCO3 > 14%) in surface mineral 18cm – Limy ... F044BP913MT – Limy Warm Woodland

2) Soils are not strong to violently effervescent ... F044BP911MT – Upland Warm Woodland

b Cooler temperatures with higher elevations

i Coldest and highest elevation, just below timberline or on north and east aspects -Cold Woodland

1) Additional moisture available, meadows or snow-catch areas - Cold-Moist Woodland ... F044BP906MT – Subirrigated Cold Woodland

2) No additional moisture - Cold Woodland

a) Soil is strongly or violently effervescent (CaCO3 > 14%) in surface mineral 18cm – Limy ... F044BP902MT – Shallow Cold Woodland

b) Soil is not strongly or violently effervescent ... F044BP909MT – Upland Cold Woodland

ii Cool temperatures, mid-elevation range, and variable aspect.

A) Additional moisture available, meadows or snow-catch areas - Cool-Moist Woodland ... F044BP907MT – Subirrigated Cool Woodland

B) No additional moisture - Cool Woodland

a) Soils are shallow (less than 20 inches to a restrictive layer, root limiting layer, or bedrock) ... F044BP903MT – Shallow Cool Woodland

b) Soils are not shallow

(1) Soil is strongly or violently effervescent (CaCO3 > 14%) in surface mineral 18cm – Limy ... F044BP912MT – Limy Cool Woodland

(2) Soil is not strongly or violently effervescent

(a) Soils contain a high amount (greater than 35%) rock fragments on the soil surface. ... F044BP901MT – Rubbly Cool Woodland

(b) Soils do not have a high amount of rock fragments on the surface. ... F044BP910MT – Upland Cool Woodland

MRLA 44B Key LRU 01 Subset A

I. Site receives additional effective moisture.

A. Soil Saline (EC>4 within surface 4") and water table 24-40" from ground surface; salt tolerant plants dominate site -- Saline Subirrigated (SSb)

B. Soil Not Saline

1 Seasonal high water table ≥ 40" from ground surface; site regularly receives more than normal soil moisture from run-in and stream overflow -- Overflow (Ov) ... EX044B01A060 – Overflow (Ov) LRU 01 Subset A

2 Seasonal high water table < 40" from ground surface

i. Soil Organic (Organic surface > 8 inches thick) -- Wet Meadow, Organic (WMO)

ii. Soil Not Organic

a. Site located in Floodplain

1) Seasonal high water table < 24"

a) Seasonal high water table <12" -- Riparian Wet Meadow (RWM)

b) Seasonal high water table 12" to 24" -- Riparian Meadow (RM) ... EX044B01Y080 – Riparian Meadow (RM) LRU 01 Subset Y

2) Seasonal high water table 24" to 40" -- Riparian Subirrigated (RSb) ... EX044B01Y081 – Riparian Subirrigated (RSb) LRU 01 Subset Y

b. Site not located in Floodplain

1) Seasonal high water table < 24"

a) Seasonal high water table <12" -- Wet Meadow (WM)

b) Seasonal high water table 12" to 24" -- Meadow (M)

2) Seasonal high water table 24" to 40" -- Subirrigated

II. Site does not receive additional effective moisture

A. Soil Saline or Saline-Sodic within surface 20" or soils with natric or relic natric horizons

1 No columnar structure; site dominated by salt tolerant plants -- Saline Upland (SU) ... EX044B01A093 – Saline Upland (SU) LRU 01 Subset A

2 Columnar structure present, abrupt root or water restrictive clay layer present within 8" of soil surface

i. Less than 4" of soil surface over clay layer (evidence of columnar structure) -- Thin Claypan (TCp) ... EX044B01A165 – Thin Claypan (TCp) LRU 01 Subset A

ii. Soil has 4" to 8" of surface over clay layer (evidence of columnar structure) -- Claypan (Cp) ... EX044B01A006 – Claypan (Cp) LRU 01 Subset A

B. Soil NOT Saline or Saline-Sodi

1 Soil Shallow (10"-20" deep to bedrock, lithic, or paralithic root restrictive layer)

i. Soil is strongly or violently effervescent (calcareous) in surface mineral 4"; lime concentrations often increase with depth

a. Soil skeletal (≥35% rock fragment in the 10-20" layer) -- Shallow Limy Droughty (SwLyDr) ... EX044B01A135 – Shallow Limy Droughty (SwLyDr) LRU 01 Subset A

b. Soil NOT skeletal (<35% rock fragment in 10-20" layer) -- Shallow Limy (SwLy) ... EX044B01A132 – Shallow Limy (SwLy) LRU 01 Subset A

ii. Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent in surface mineral 4"

a. Soil Skeletal (≥35% rock fragments in 10-20" layer) -- Shallow Droughty (SwDr) ... EX044B01A138 – Shallow Droughty (SwDr) LRU 01 Subset A

b. Soil NOT skeletal (<35% rock fragments in 10-20" layer)

1) Soil clay content ≤ 32% in surface mineral 4" (soil ribbon ≤ 2") -- Shallow Loamy (SwLo) ... EX044B01A136 – Shallow Loamy (SwLo) LRU 01 Subset A

2) Soil clay content >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon >2") ... EX044B01A131 – Shallow Clay (SwC) LRU 01 Subset A

2 Soils moderately deep, deep, or very deep (≥ 20" deep to bedrock, lithic, or paralithic root restrictive layer

i. Soil skeletal (≥35% rock fragment in the 10-20" layer)

a. Soil Sandy-Skeletal

1) Soil sandy-skeletal within 10" of soil surface -- Gravelly (Gr) ... EX044B01A020 – Gravelly (Gr) LRU 01 Subset A

2) Soil sandy-skeletal within 10-20" of soil surface

a) Soil strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4" -- Shallow to Gravel, Limy (SwGrLy) ... EX044B01A137 – Shallow to Gravel Limy (SwGrLy) LRU 01 Subset A

b) Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4" -- Shallow to Gravel (SwGr) ... EX044B01A134 – Shallow to Gravel (SwGr) LRU 01 Subset A

b. Soil loamy-skeletal or clayey-skeletal

1) Soil strongly or violently effervescent within top 4" -- Limy Droughty (LyDr) ... EX044B01A031 – Limy Droughty (LyDr) LRU 01 Subset A

2) Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4"

a) Slope < 15% -- Droughty (Dr) ... EX044B01A036 – Droughty (Dr) LRU 01 Subset A

b) Slope ≥ 15% -- Droughty Steep (DrStp) ... EX044B01A038 – Droughty Steep (DrStp) LRU 01 Subset A

ii. Soil NOT skeletal (<35% rock fragment in 10-20" layer)

a. Soil strongly or violently effervescent in surface mineral 4" -- Limy (Ly) ... EX044B01A030 – Limy (Ly) LRU 01 Subset A

b. Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent in surface mineral 4"

1) Soil Sand or Loamy Sand texture within surface mineral 4" -- Sands (Sa)

2) Soil NOT sand or loamy sand texture

a) Slope < 15%

(1) Soil Coarse sandy loam to fine sandy loam texture within surface mineral 4" -- Sandy (Sy) ... EX044B01A110 – Sandy (Sy) LRU 01 Subset A

(2) Soil texture NOT sandy loam to fine sandy loam

(a) Soil Clay content >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon ≥ 2")

(1) Clay content >32%-45% within surface mineral 4" -- Clayey (Cy) ... EX044B01A001 – Clayey (Cy) LRU 01 Subset A

(2) Clay >45% within surface mineral 2" -- Dense Clay Nonsodic (DCX)

(b) Soil Clay content ≤32% in surface mineral 4"

(1) Any Argillic horizon in surface 20" with >32% clay (ribbon ≥2") -- Loamy Argillic (LoA)

(2) Argillic horizon, if present in surface 20", has ≤ 32% clay (ribbon <2") -- Loamy (Lo) ... EX044B01A032 – Loamy (Lo) LRU 01 Subset A

b) Slope ≥ 15%

(1) Mollic epipedon present

(a) Clay content is >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon ≥ 2") -- Clayey Steep (CyStp)

(b) Clay content is ≤ 32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon < 2") -- Loamy Steep (LoStp) ... EX044B01A040 – Loamy Steep (LoStp) LRU 01 Subset A

(2) Mollic epipedon NOT present

(a) Coarse sandy loam to fine sandy loame texture -- Thin Sandy (TSy)

(b) Soils NOT sandy loam or fine sandy loam

(1) Clay content is ≤ 32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon < 2") -- Thin Loamy (TLo)

(2) Clay content is >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon ≥ 2") -- Thin Clayey (TCy)

MLRA 44B Key LRU 01 Subset B

I. Site receives additional effective moisture.

A. Soil Saline (EC>4 within surface 4") and water table 24-40" from ground surface; salt tolerant plants dominate site -- Saline Subirrigated (SSb)

B. Soil Not Saline

1 Seasonal high water table ≥ 40" from ground surface; site regularly receives more than normal soil moisture from run-in and stream overflow ... EX044B01B060 – Overflow (Ov) LRU 01 Subset B

2 Seasonal high water table < 40" from ground surface

i. Soil Organic (Organic surface > 8 inches thick) -- Wet Meadow, Organic (WMO)

ii. Soil Not Organic

a. Site located in Floodplain

1) Seasonal high water table < 24"

a) Seasonal high water table <12" -- Riparian Wet Meadow (RWM)

b) Seasonal high water table 12" to 24" ... EX044B01Y080 – Riparian Meadow (RM) LRU 01 Subset Y

2) Seasonal high water table 24" to 40" ... EX044B01Y081 – Riparian Subirrigated (RSb) LRU 01 Subset Y

b. Site not located in Floodplain

1) Seasonal high water table < 24"

a) Seasonal high water table <12" -- Wet Meadow (WM)

b) Seasonal high water table 12" to 24" -- Meadow (M)

2) Seasonal high water table ≥24"

a) Seasonal high water table >40" ... EX044B01Y200 – Stream Terrace LRU 44B-Y

b) Seasonal high water table 24" to 40" -- Subirrigated (Sb)

II. Site does not receive additional effective moisture

A. Soil Saline or Saline-Sodic within surface 20" or soils with natric or relic natric horizons

1 No columnar structure; site dominated by salt tolerant plants -- Saline Upland

2 Columnar structure present, abrupt root or water restrictive clay layer present within 8" of soil surface

i. Less than 4" of soil surface over clay layer (evidence of columnar structure) -- Thin Claypan

ii. Soil has 4" to 8" of surface over clay layer (evidence of columnar structure) -- Claypan

B. Soil NOT Saline or Saline-Sodic

1 Soil Shallow (10"-20" deep to bedrock, lithic, or paralithic root restrictive layer)

i. Soil is strongly or violently effervescent (calcareous) in surface mineral 4"; lime concentrations often increase with depth

c. Soil skeletal (<35% rock fragment in 10-20" layer) -- Shallow Limy Droughty (SwLyDr)

b. Soil NOT skeletal (<35% rock fragment in 10-20" layer) -- Shallow Limy (SwLy)

ii. Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent in surface mineral 4"

a. Soil Skeletal (≥35% rock fragments in 10-20" layer) ... EX044B01B138 – Shallow Droughty (SwDr) LRU 01 Subset B

b. Soil NOT skeletal (<35% rock fragments in 10-20" layer)

1) Soil clay content ≤ 32% in surface mineral 4" (soil ribbon ≤ 2") ... EX044B01B136 – Shallow Loamy (SwLo) LRU 01 Subset B

2) Soil clay content >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon >2") ... EX044B01B131 – Shallow Clay (SwC) LRU 01 Subset B

2 Soils moderately deep, deep, or very deep (≥ 20" deep to bedrock, lithic, or paralithic root restrictive layer

i. Soil skeletal (≥35% rock fragment in the 10-20" layer)

a. Soil Sandy-Skeletal

1) Soil sandy-skeletal within 10" of soil surface -- Gravelly (Gr)

2) Soil sandy-skeletal within 10-20" of soil surface

a) Soil strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4" -- Shallow to Gravel, Limy (SwGrLy)

b) Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4" -- Shallow to Gravel (SwGr)

b. Soil loamy-skeletal or clayey-skeletal

1) Soil strongly or violently effervescent within top 4" ... EX044B01B031 – Limy Droughty (LyDr) LRU 01 Subset B

2) Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent within surface mineral 4"

a) Slope < 15% ... EX044B01B036 – Droughty (Dr) LRU 01 Subset B

b) Slope ≥ 15% ... EX044B01B038 – Droughty Steep (DrStp) LRU 01 Subset B

ii. Soil NOT skeletal (<35% rock fragment in 10-20" layer)

a. Soil strongly or violently effervescent in surface mineral 4" ... EX044B01B030 – Limy (Ly) LRU 01 Subset B

b. Soil NOT strongly or violently effervescent in surface mineral 4" -- Sands (Sa)

1) Soil Sand or Loamy Sand texture within surface mineral 4"

2) Soil NOT sand or loamy sand texture

a) Slope < 15%

(1) Soil Coarse sandy loam to fine sandy loam texture within surface mineral 4" -- Sandy (Sy)

(2) Soil texture NOT sandy loam to fine sandy loam

(a) Soil Clay content >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon ≥ 2")

(1) Clay content >32%-45% within surface mineral 4" -- Clayey (Cy)

(2) Clay >45% within surface mineral 2" -- Dense Clay Nonsodic (DCX)

(b) Soil Clay content ≤32% in surface mineral 4" - Loamy Argillic (LoA)

(1) Any Argillic horizon in surface 20" with >32% clay (ribbon ≥2")

(2) Argillic horizon, if present in surface 20", has ≤ 32% clay (ribbon <2") ... EX044B01B032 – Loamy (Lo) LRU 01 Subset B

b) Slope ≥ 15%

(1) Mollic epipedon present

(a) Clay content is >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon ≥ 2") -- Clayey Steep (CyStp)

(b) Clay content is ≤ 32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon < 2") ... EX044B01B040 – Loamy Steep (LoStp) LRU 01 Subset B

(2) Mollic epipedon NOT present

(a) Coarse sandy loam to fine sandy loame texture -- Thin Sandy (TSy)

(b) Soils NOT sandy loam or fine sandy loam

(1) Clay content is ≤ 32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon < 2")-- Thin Loamy (TLo)

(2) Clay content is >32% in surface mineral 4" (ribbon ≥ 2") -- Thin Clayey (TCy)

LRU 01 Subset C

I. Not included in any other Key, Is in higher precipitation zones and is less than 35% clay and greater than 18% Clay, No argillic horizon, and less than 15% slope. ... EX044B01C032 – Loamy (Lo) 15-19" PZ Frigid

Download all keys

Ecological site photos

Print Options

Sections

General information
Keys

Font

Arial
Times New Roman

Other

Two-column format

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.

Search

Major Land Resource Area 044B

Central Rocky Mountain Valleys

Accessed: 12/21/2024

Key publications

Next steps

Select an ecological site

Explore the ecological site description

Ecological site list

Ecological site map

Basemap

Find me

Find point

Full screen

Ecological site keys

Ecological site photos

Print Options

Sections

Font

Other

Ecological sites

Major Land Resource Areas