Shallow Foothill

Description

Following is the narrative for the reference state and reference plant community. This plant community may not represent every possibility, but probably represents the most prevalent and repeatable plant community. The plant composition table has been developed from the best available knowledge at the time of this revision. As more data is collected, this plant community may be revised, and new ones may be added. This plant community should not necessarily be thought of as “Desired Plant Communities”. According to the USDA NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, Desired Plant Communities will be determined by the decision-makers and will meet minimum quality criteria established by the NRCS. The main purpose for including any description of a plant community here is to capture the current knowledge and experience at the time of this revision.

Characteristics and indicators. The Reference State is characterized by three distinct plant community phases. The Reference Plant Community, Increased Litter/Decadence Plant Community, and the At-Risk Plant Community represent the state. Warm season mid/tall grasses with scatted distributions of woody plants give the site a grassland/ shrubland/ savanna appearance on the landscape. The plant communities, and the various successional states between them, represent the natural range of variability due to the disturbance regimes applicable to the site.

Submodel