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Ecological site R047XA416UT

Mountain Loamy Bottom (basin big sagebrush)

Last updated: 2/05/2025
Accessed: 04/08/2025

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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): 047X–Wasatch and Uinta Mountains

MLRA 47 occurs in Utah (86 percent), Wyoming (8 percent), Colorado (4 percent), and Idaho (2 percent). It encompasses approximately 23,825 square miles (61,740 square kilometers). The northern half of this area is in the Middle Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System. The southern half is in the High Plateaus of the Utah Section of the Colorado Plateaus Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. Parts of the western edge of this MLRA are in the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. The MLRA includes the Wasatch Mountains, which trend north and south, and the Uinta Mountains, which trend east and west. The steeply sloping, precipitous Wasatch Mountains have narrow crests and deep valleys. Active faulting and erosion are a dominant force in controlling the geomorphology of the area. The Uinta Mountains have a broad, gently arching, elongated shape. Structurally, they consist of a broadly folded anticline that has an erosion-resistant quartzite core. The Wasatch and Uinta Mountains have an elevation of 4,900 to about 13,500 feet (1,495 to 4,115 meters).
The mountains in this area are primarily fault blocks that have been tilted up. Alluvial fans at the base of the mountains are recharge zones for the basin fill aquifers. An ancient shoreline of historic Bonneville Lake is evident on the footslopes along the western edge of the area. Rocks exposed in the mountains are mostly Mesozoic and Paleozoic sediments, but Precambrian rocks are exposed in the Uinta Mountains. The Uinta Mountains are one of the few ranges in the United States that are oriented west to east. The southern Wasatch Mountains consist of Tertiary volcanic rocks occurring as extrusive lava and intrusive crystalline rocks.
The average precipitation is from 8 to 16 inches (203 to 406 mm) in the valleys and can range up to 73 inches (1854 mm) in the mountains. In the northern and western portions of the MLRA, peak precipitation occurs in the winter months. The southern and eastern portions have a greater incidence of high-intensity summer thunderstorms; hence, a significant amount of precipitation occurs during the summer months. The average annual temperature is 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 15 C). The freeze-free period averages 140 days and ranges from 60 to 220 days, generally decreasing in length with elevation.
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, and Mollisols. The lower elevations are dominated by a frigid temperature regime, while the higher elevations experience cryic temperature regimes. Mesic temperature regimes come in on the lower elevations and south facing slopes in the southern portion of this MLRA. The soil moisture regime is typically xeric in the northern part of the MLRA, but grades to ustic in the extreme eastern and southern parts. The minerology is generally mixed and the soils are very shallow to very deep, generally well drained, and loamy or loamy-skeletal.

LRU notes

Major Land Resource Unit 47A is located in the northern half of the Middle Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System. This MLRA includes the Wasatch Mountains which tend to run north and south. These steeply sloping, precipitous mountains have narrow crests and deep valleys. They are primarily fault blocks that have been tilted up. The alluvial fans located at the base of these mountains are important recharge zones for valley aquifers.

Ecological site concept

The characteristic soils for this site formed in alluvium derived from limestone, sandstone, shale and quartzite. They are deep to very deep and hold between 4.4 and 7.3 inches of water in the upper 40 inches of soil. Surface textures are loams, and rock fragments may be present on the soil surface. Rock fragments may also be present throughout the soil profile, but usually constitute less than 35 percent of the total soil volume. These soils can be somewhat poorly to moderately well-drained and have moderately slow to moderately rapid permeability. The soil moisture regime is xeric and the soil temperature regime is frigid.

Associated sites

R047XA002UT	Semi-moist Streambank (narrowleaf cottonwood) Sites often occur adjacent to each other.

R047XA002UT

Semi-moist Streambank (narrowleaf cottonwood)

Sites often occur adjacent to each other.

Similar sites

R047XA016UT	Loamy Bottom (basin wildrye)

R047XA016UT

Loamy Bottom (basin wildrye)

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata
Herbaceous	(1) Leymus cinereus

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on stream terraces, flood plains and alluvial fans at elevations between 5,100 and 8,300 feet. It may have a high water table that fluctuates between 18 and 42 inches below the surface throughout the year. However, this site does not require a high water table and in many locations the water table is greater than 60 inches below the soil surface throughout the year. Flooding may happen occaisionally but flood duration is usually brief. Slopes typically range from 0 to 8 percent and runoff is low to medium on this site.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Stream terrace (2) Flood plain (3) Alluvial fan
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days)
Flooding frequency	None to occasional
Elevation	5,100 – 8,300 ft
Slope	8%
Water table depth	18 in

Climatic features

The climate of this site is characterized by cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Annual precipitation is typically between 16 and 24 inches with 60 to 70 percent coming during the plant dormant period (October to March). This cool-season moisture is the most dependable supply of water for plant growth. Higher evapotranspiration rates and less-intense, less-frequent storms during the summer months reduce the amount of moisture available to plants through July and August.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	109 days
Freeze-free period (average)	137 days
Precipitation total (average)	24 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

Table 4. Representative soil features

Surface texture	(1) Loam (2) Gravelly fine sandy loam (3) Cobbly loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to moderately well drained
Permeability class	Moderately slow to moderately rapid
Soil depth	60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	23%
Surface fragment cover >3"	8%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	4.4 – 7.3 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	15%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	5
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	6.6 – 7.8
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	26%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	10%

Ecological dynamics

This site was historically dominated by basin big sagebrush and a diverse perennial understory, including basin wildrye, western wheatgrass, and slender wheatgrass. The high production of herbaceous material on this site has produced a fertile soil high in organic matter, thus reinforcing high plant production. The historic fire return interval is presumed to be about 50 to 100 years (Fryer and Luensmann 2012). Native grasses would have dominated for several years following fire, with sprouting shrubs increasing in the community. Sagebrush will most commonly re-establish and in the community within 10 years after the fire and increase steadily for 10 to 20 years until it dominates the overstory. In addition to fire, drought, snow mold or aroga moths may cause sagebrush to decrease in the community.
Today this site often burns less frequently due to fire suppression efforts and/or reduced fine fuel loads. In addition, improper livestock grazing can cause native grasses and forbs to lose vigor or disappear from the community completely. This occurs when livestock are allowed to graze native grasses below the height of their growing points (apical meristems) during the active growing season. Since basin wildrye has relatively high growing points, it can be easily removed from the community by improper grazing.

When the ecological processes are altered due to improper grazing, prolonged drought, altered fire regime, invasive species dominance, or other disturbances, alternative states can occur that differ from the historic reference state in both plant community structure and ecological function. Cheatgrass and annual forbs can establish on this site, and juniper can also be seen to increase on the site with lack of fire. As the plant community shifts from perennial grass dominance to annual and/or woody dominance, it is likely that the soil fertility of the site will become altered and the overall production potential of the site reduced due to a change in the organic matter inputs from the plant community.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 3. State-and-Transition Model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

2. Invaded State

3. Depleted Understory State

4. Seeded Range

T1a	-	Establishment and persistence of non-native species
T2a	-	Improper grazing, prolonged drought
T2b	-	seeding non-native perennial grass species.
T3a	-	seeding non-native perennial grass species.

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

1.2. Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

1.1a	-	big sagebrush is removed by fire, aroga moth, snow mold, or other natural disturbance
1.2a	-	over time as basin big sagebrush slowly regains co-dominance with perennial grasses

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

2.2. Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

2.3. At-risk: Basin big sagebrush / reduced perennial grass

2.1a	-	big sagebrush is removed by fire, aroga moth, snow mold, or other natural disturbances
2.1b	-	excessive grazing during the growing period
2.2a	-	Time
2.3a	-	reducing grazing during the growing season

State 3 submodel, plant communities

3.1. Basin big sagebrush / limited understory

3.2. Basin big sagebrush / annual understory

3.1a	-	Livestock trampling, mechanical treatment, or other disturbances
3.2b	-	Time with no disturbance to the sagebrush cover (increasing cover)

State 4 submodel, plant communities

4.1. Introduced Grasses

4.2. Introduced Grasses with Natives

4.1a	-	natural re-establishment of native species following a rangeland seeding
4.2b	-	removal of native species in favor of introduced perennial grass species

State 1
Reference State

The Reference State contains plant communities presumed to occur prior to the introduction of non-native plants, livestock grazing, and other modern disturbances. The ecological processes represented in the Reference State are presumed to represent the conditions affecting soil-formation, and ultimately site potential. Basin big sagebrush and native perennial grasses drive many of the ecological processes in this state. The relative dominance of sagebrush to perennial grasses depends on time since fire, aroga moth, extended drought, and possibly other factors that are yet to be documented.

Community 1.1
Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

The Reference Plant Community Phase is dominated by basin big sagebrush and basin wildrye, with rubber rabbitbrush and western or slender wheatgrass also common in the plant community. This plant community is presumed to be the plant community that historically occupied this site for the majority of time prior to European settlement, thus contributing to soil development and overall potential of the site as it is today. Production by air-dry weight is 25 to 60 percent perennial native grasses, 5 to 15 percent forbs, and 40 to 65 percent shrubs.

Figure 4. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	700	850	1000
Grass/Grasslike	600	750	900
Forb	100	200	300
Total	1400	1800	2200

Community 1.2
Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

This phase occurs when the reference plant community loses most or all of the sagebrush due to fire, snow mold, aroga moth, or any other natural process. Sprouting shrubs, such as rabbitbrush may be present in this phase immediately following sagebrush removal. However, perennial grass species dominate and drive most of the ecological processes in this phase. Forbs may increase in the plant community following fire. Production by air-dry weight is 60 to 85 percent perennial native grasses, 5 to 25 percent forbs, and 5 to 35 percent shrubs.

Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 6. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	1000	1200	1400
Forb	100	300	500
Shrub/Vine	100	300	500
Total	1200	1800	2400

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This pathway occurs when big sagebrush is removed by fire, aroga moth, snow mold, or other natural disturbance. Perennial grasses gain dominate the structure and processes of the site.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This pathway occurs over time as basin big sagebrush slowly regains co-dominance with perennial grasses. Sprouting shrubs may still be present in the overstory, but they do not dominate.

State 2
Invaded State

The Invaded State is similar to the Reference State in ecological structure and process, however, the introduction of invasive species and altered disturbance regimes reduce the overall resilience of this state. As a result, an at-risk plant community with reduced perennial grass dominance and sagebrush super-dominance is included in this state.

Community 2.1
Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

Figure 6. Phase 2.1

This plant community phase is very similar to the Reference Plant Community Phase. It is dominated by basin big sagebrush and basin wildrye, with rubber rabbitbrush and western or slender wheatgrass also common in the plant community. However, this phase also allow for non-native species to be present. As a result, the overall resilience of this phase following disturbance is reduced, with a greater likelihood of further alteration and degradation than the reference plant community. Production by air-dry weight is 25 to 60 percent perennial native grasses, 5 to 15 percent forbs, and 40 to 65 percent shrubs.

Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 7. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	700	850	1000
Grass/Grasslike	600	750	900
Forb	100	200	300
Total	1400	1800	2200

Community 2.2
Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

Figure 8. Phase 2.2

Figure 9. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 8. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	1000	1200	1400
Forb	100	300	500
Shrub/Vine	100	300	500
Total	1200	1800	2400

Community 2.3
At-risk: Basin big sagebrush / reduced perennial grass

Figure 10. Phase 2.3

This plant community phase is at-risk of losing the perennial grass component in the understory. Either a repeated removal of grass biomass, or the lack of removal of woody biomass (or some combination of the two), is causing the perennial grass species to lose vigor. Once perennial grasses can no longer perpetuate themselves in the community, this phase will transition to State 3. Production by air-dry weight is 10 to 20 percent perennial grasses, 5 to 15 percent forbs and annual grasses, and 65 to 75 percent shrubs.

Figure 11. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 9. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	800	1000	1200
Grass/Grasslike	200	300	400
Forb	100	200	300
Total	1100	1500	1900

Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

This pathway occurs when big sagebrush is removed by fire, aroga moth, snow mold, or other natural disturbances. Perennial grasses dominate the structure and processes of the site.

Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.1 to 2.3

Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

At-risk: Basin big sagebrush / reduced perennial grass

This pathway occurs when perennial grasses are reduced in the understory due to excessive grazing during the growing period. Perennial grasses are losing their ability to propagate themselves, and non-native species may co-dominate the understory.

Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

Basin big sagebrush / perennial grass

This pathway occurs over time as basin big sagebrush slowly regains co-dominance with perennial grasses. Sprouting shrubs may still be present in the overstory, but they do not dominate.

Pathway 2.3a
Community 2.3 to 2.2

At-risk: Basin big sagebrush / reduced perennial grass

Perennial grass / sprouting shrub

This pathway occurs when perennial grasses are allowed to recover in the community and regain co-dominance with shrubs. This may be best achieved by reducing grazing during the growing season of perennial grasses, and may also require targeted browsing or shrub thinning to reduce shrub dominance.

State 3
Depleted Understory State

The depleted understory state is dominated by sagebrush, and is characterized by a lack of perennial grasses in the community. The understory may be sparse, or dominated by annual grasses and forbs. Native perennial grasses are unable to regain dominance in the community without significant human inputs.

Community 3.1
Basin big sagebrush / limited understory

Perennial grasses have been lost from the understory. Basin big sagebrush continues to increase beyond the natural fire return interval, in part due to lack of fine fuels to carry a fire. Production by air-dry weight is 5 to 15 percent forbs and annual grasses, and 85 to 95 percent shrubs.

Figure 12. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 10. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	800	1000	1200
Forb	100	200	300
Grass/Grasslike	5	100	200
Total	905	1300	1700

Community 3.2
Basin big sagebrush / annual understory

Perennial grasses have been lost from the understory. Annuals (particularly cheatgrass) and weak perennials dominate the understory. Production by air-dry weight is 15 to 25 percent forbs and annual grasses, and 75 to 85 percent shrubs.

Figure 13. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 11. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	800	1000	1200
Grass/Grasslike	100	300	500
Forb	100	200	300
Total	1000	1500	2000

Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Livestock trampling, mechanical treatment, or other disturbances reduces sagebrush cover and makes germination sites available for invasive annual species, particularly cheatgrass and annual forbs.

Pathway 3.2b
Community 3.2 to 3.1

This pathway occurs when basin big sagebrush is not reduced by any means, and therefore increases in the community while anuuals decrease.

State 4
Seeded Range

The Seeded Range State is the result of vegetation removal, and successful establishment of non-native perennial grasses, such as smooth brome or crested wheatgrass. Intermediate wheatgrass can also be established on this site. This site can be seeded with a high probability of success due to the general soil fertility and relatively high rainfall. It is also common to see native species establish in the community shortly after seeding. Over time, it is expected that seeded range may transition to a native-dominated state (State 2), but this is yet to be sufficiently documented.

Community 4.1
Introduced Grasses

Figure 14. Phase 4.1

This phase represents a rangeland seeding. Crested wheatgrass, smooth brome, and intermediate wheatgrass have been documented in rangeland seedings on this site.

Figure 15. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 12. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	1000	1200	1400
Forb	0	200	400
Shrub/Vine	0	200	400
Total	1000	1600	2200

Community 4.2
Introduced Grasses with Natives

Figure 16. Phase 4.2

This phase represents a rangeland seeding with native species re-establishing in the community. The soil fertility and annual precipitation of this site make natural re-establishment more likely on this site than similar settings in drier parts of the MLRA. Production is 45 to 65 percent perennial introduced grasses, 2 to 10 percent perennial native grasses, 5 to 20 percent forbs, and 20 to 40 percent shrubs.

Figure 17. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 13. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Shrub/Vine	800	1000	1200
Grass/Grasslike	800	1000	1200
Forb	100	200	300
Total	1700	2200	2700

Pathway 4.1a
Community 4.1 to 4.2

Introduced Grasses

Introduced Grasses with Natives

This pathway is the result of natural re-establishment of native species following a rangeland seeding. This may occur rapidly, within years following a seeding, or more slowly over decades--depending on the conditions at the time of the seeding and in subsequent years.

Pathway 4.2b
Community 4.2 to 4.1

Introduced Grasses with Natives

Introduced Grasses

This pathway represents the removal of native species in favor of introduced perennial grass species.

Transition T1a
State 1 to 2

Establishment and persistence of non-native species results in a transition from the reference state to the invaded state.

Transition T2a
State 2 to 3

This transition occurs when perennial grasses are reduced by improper grazing to the point that they can no longer self-propagate. Few remnant plants may still persist under shrubs, but reestablishment and dominance by perennial grasses will not occur following a fire, or with the removal of livestock grazing.

Transition T2b
State 2 to 4

This transition occurs when existing vegetation is removed and replaced by seeding non-native perennial grass species.

Transition T3a
State 3 to 4

This transition occurs when existing vegetation is removed and replaced by seeding non-native perennial grass species.

Additional community tables

Table 14. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			500–900
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–100	0–5
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–100	0–5
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–100	0–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–50	0–2
	mountain brome	BRMA4	Bromus marginatus	0–50	0–2
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–50	0–2
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			100–300
Grass/Grasslike
2	Dominant Grasses			400–800
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
1	Sub-dominant grasses			100–300
Forb
2	Forbs			100–300

Table 15. Community 1.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Sub-dominant grasses			50–400
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–200	0–10
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–200	0–10
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	basin big sagebrush	ARTRT	Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata	0–150	0–7
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–100	0–5
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–100	0–5
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–70	0–4
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	mountain brome	BRMA4	Bromus marginatus	0–50	0–2
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–50	0–2
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			0–300
Grass/Grasslike
2	Dominant Grasses			700–1100
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–100	0–5
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–100	1–5
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–100	1–5
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–100	0–5
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–75	0–4
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–75	0–4
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
1	Sub-dominant grasses			150–500
Forb
2	Forbs			100–500

Table 16. Community 2.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			500–900
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–100	0–5
	smooth brome	BRIN2	Bromus inermis	0–100	0–5
	cheatgrass	BRTE	Bromus tectorum	5–100	1–5
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–100	0–5
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–100	0–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	intermediate wheatgrass	THIN6	Thinopyrum intermedium	0–50	0–2
	bulbous bluegrass	POBU	Poa bulbosa	0–50	0–2
	Kentucky bluegrass	POPR	Poa pratensis	0–50	0–2
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–50	0–2
	mountain brome	BRMA4	Bromus marginatus	0–50	0–2
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–50	0–2
	crested wheatgrass	AGCR	Agropyron cristatum	0–50	0–2
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			100–300
Grass/Grasslike
2	Dominant Grasses			400–800
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	common mullein	VETH	Verbascum thapsus	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–20	0–1
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–20	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–20	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Grasses			100–300
Forb
2	Forbs			100–300

Table 17. Community 2.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Sub-dominant grasses			50–400
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–200	0–10
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–200	0–10
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	basin big sagebrush	ARTRT	Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata	0–150	0–7
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–100	0–5
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–100	0–5
	cheatgrass	BRTE	Bromus tectorum	0–100	0–5
	smooth brome	BRIN2	Bromus inermis	0–100	0–5
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–70	0–4
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	intermediate wheatgrass	THIN6	Thinopyrum intermedium	0–50	0–2
	mountain brome	BRMA4	Bromus marginatus	0–50	0–2
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–50	0–2
	bulbous bluegrass	POBU	Poa bulbosa	0–50	0–2
	Kentucky bluegrass	POPR	Poa pratensis	0–50	0–2
	crested wheatgrass	AGCR	Agropyron cristatum	0–50	0–2
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			0–300
Grass/Grasslike
2	Dominant Grasses			700–1100
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–100	0–5
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–100	1–5
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–100	0–5
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–100	1–5
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–75	0–4
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–75	0–4
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–50	0–2
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–30	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1
1	Sub-dominant grasses			150–500
Forb
2	Forbs			100–500

Table 18. Community 2.3 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			600–1200
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	slender wheatgrass	ELTR7	Elymus trachycaulus	50–150	2–6
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	50–150	2–6
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–100	0–5
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	cheatgrass	BRTE	Bromus tectorum	5–100	1–5
	smooth brome	BRIN2	Bromus inermis	0–100	0–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	intermediate wheatgrass	THIN6	Thinopyrum intermedium	0–50	0–2
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	0–50	0–2
	crested wheatgrass	AGCR	Agropyron cristatum	0–50	0–2
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–30	0–1
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
	mountain brome	BRMA4	Bromus marginatus	0–20	0–1
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–20	0–1
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–20	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			100–300
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	common mullein	VETH	Verbascum thapsus	0–50	0–2
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–20	0–1
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–20	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–20	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1
Grass/Grasslike
1	Grasses			200–400
Forb
2	Forbs			100–300

Table 19. Community 3.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			600–1200
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	cheatgrass	BRTE	Bromus tectorum	5–100	1–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	bulbous bluegrass	POBU	Poa bulbosa	0–50	0–2
	Kentucky bluegrass	POPR	Poa pratensis	0–30	0–1
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–30	0–1
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
	slender wheatgrass	ELTR7	Elymus trachycaulus	0–15	0–1
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	0–15	0–1
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–5	0–1
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	0–5	0–1
	intermediate wheatgrass	THIN6	Thinopyrum intermedium	0–5	0–1
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–5	0–1
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–5	0–1
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–5	0–1
	crested wheatgrass	AGCR	Agropyron cristatum	0–5	0–1
	smooth brome	BRIN2	Bromus inermis	0–5	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			100–300
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	common mullein	VETH	Verbascum thapsus	0–50	0–2
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–20	0–1
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–20	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–20	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1
Grass/Grasslike
1	Grasses			5–200
Forb
2	Forbs			100–300

Table 20. Community 3.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			600–1200
	cheatgrass	BRTE	Bromus tectorum	100–400	5–20
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	bulbous bluegrass	POBU	Poa bulbosa	0–100	0–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–50	0–2
	Kentucky bluegrass	POPR	Poa pratensis	0–30	0–1
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
	slender wheatgrass	ELTR7	Elymus trachycaulus	0–15	0–1
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	0–15	0–1
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–5	0–1
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	0–5	0–1
	intermediate wheatgrass	THIN6	Thinopyrum intermedium	0–5	0–1
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–5	0–1
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–5	0–1
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–5	0–1
	crested wheatgrass	AGCR	Agropyron cristatum	0–5	0–1
	smooth brome	BRIN2	Bromus inermis	0–5	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			100–300
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	common mullein	VETH	Verbascum thapsus	0–50	0–2
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–20	0–1
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–20	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–20	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1
Grass/Grasslike
1	Grasses			100–500
Forb
2	Forbs			100–300

Table 21. Community 4.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
0	Grasses			1000–1400
Shrub/Vine
1	Shrubs			0–400
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
Forb
2	Forbs			0–400
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	common mullein	VETH	Verbascum thapsus	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–20	0–1
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–20	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–20	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1

Table 22. Community 4.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			600–1200
	Utah serviceberry	AMUT	Amelanchier utahensis	0–150	0–7
	mountain snowberry	SYOR2	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	0–100	0–5
	cheatgrass	BRTE	Bromus tectorum	5–100	1–5
	Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	0–50	0–3
	Gambel oak	QUGA	Quercus gambelii	0–50	0–2
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–50	0–2
	wax currant	RICE	Ribes cereum	0–50	0–2
	bulbous bluegrass	POBU	Poa bulbosa	0–50	0–2
	Kentucky bluegrass	POPR	Poa pratensis	0–30	0–1
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–30	0–1
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	0–30	0–1
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–30	0–1
	chokecherry	PRVI	Prunus virginiana	0–30	0–1
	slender wheatgrass	ELTR7	Elymus trachycaulus	0–15	0–1
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	0–15	0–1
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	0–5	0–1
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	0–5	0–1
	intermediate wheatgrass	THIN6	Thinopyrum intermedium	0–5	0–1
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	0–5	0–1
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	0–5	0–1
	Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	0–5	0–1
	crested wheatgrass	AGCR	Agropyron cristatum	0–5	0–1
	smooth brome	BRIN2	Bromus inermis	0–5	0–1
1	Sub-dominant Shrubs			100–300
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	10–60	1–3
	nodding plumeless thistle	CANU4	Carduus nutans	0–50	0–2
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	10–50	1–2
	Canada thistle	CIAR4	Cirsium arvense	0–50	0–2
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–50	0–2
	common mullein	VETH	Verbascum thapsus	0–50	0–2
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	0–30	0–1
	gypsyflower	CYOF	Cynoglossum officinale	0–30	0–1
	gilia	GILIA	Gilia	0–30	0–1
	povertyweed	IVAX	Iva axillaris	0–30	0–1
	Nevada pea	LALA3	Lathyrus lanszwertii	0–30	0–1
	silverleaf milkvetch	ASAR4	Astragalus argophyllus	0–30	0–1
	whitetop	CADR	Cardaria draba	0–30	0–1
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–30	0–1
	pale agoseris	AGGL	Agoseris glauca	0–30	0–1
	desertparsley	LOMAT	Lomatium	0–30	0–1
	curveseed butterwort	CETE5	Ceratocephala testiculata	0–30	0–1
	beardtongue	PENST	Penstemon	0–30	0–1
	longleaf phlox	PHLO2	Phlox longifolia	0–30	0–1
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–30	0–1
	prickly lettuce	LASE	Lactuca serriola	0–20	0–1
	sweetclover	MEOF	Melilotus officinalis	0–20	0–1
	alfalfa	MESA	Medicago sativa	0–20	0–1
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	0–10	0–1
Grass/Grasslike
1	Grasses			5–200
Forb
2	Forbs			100–300

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Information presented here has been derived from NRCS clipping data and other inventory data. Field observations from range trained personnel were also used.

Other references

Fryer, J. L., & Luensmann, P. S. 2012. Fire regimes of the conterminous United States. Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, Montana, USA.

Contributors

Jamin Johanson

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 2/05/2025

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	02/06/2025
Approved by	Kendra Moseley
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production