State 1
Reference

This is a productive grass-dominant sub-irrigated meadow. This state evolved with grazing by herbivores such as bison and elk and is well suited for grazing by wildlife and livestock. It can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing that allows for adequate recovery periods following each grazing event.

Community 1.1
Dominant Grass Meadow

Figure 8. Reference community phase in the foreground

Principle dominant plants are alkali sacaton, alkali wildrye, and alkali cordgrass. Grasses of secondary importance are western wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, and inland saltgrass. Key forbs and shrubs include American licorice, scarlet globemallow, greasewood and rubber rabbitbrush. Forbs are sparse. The reference community phase is about 90% grasses and grass-likes, 5% forbs, and 5% shrubs. This plant community phase is stable and productive. Litter is properly distributed with very little movement off-site and natural plant mortality is low. This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function, and biological integrity.

Community 1.2
Decreased Alkali Sacaton, and Increased Saltgrass

Figure 11. Decreased alkali sacaton, increased inland saltgrass

This community phase is characterized by increased inland saltgrass with some rubber rabbitbrush in disturbed areas; along with decreased Alkali Sacaton and other more palatable species. This is an at risk community phase where ecological drivers are moving the site toward a threshold. Inland saltgrass has increased, and with its dense root system dominates the community.Species such as povertyweed, baltic rush, and a noxious weed, tall whitetop has increased in composition Alkali sacaton, alkali cordgrass, western wheatgrass, and alkali wildrye have been significantly reduced. Forbs are still present in reduced amounts. Greasewood is increasing while fourwing saltbush decreases in abundance. This plant community is at risk of losing key warm and cool season grasses, palatable forbs, and shrubs. The plants within this community have decreased in frequency and production. Less litter can be expected, however the soil remains stable. As inland saltgrass becomes more dominant, the site becomes less resilient and is susceptible to a trigger event such as drought. Bare patches are starting to develop.

Resilience management. Improving diversity and density of plant cover.

Community 1.3
High Litter and Low Plant Density

Plant composition is similar to the reference community phase, however individual species production and density will be lower. Much of the nutrients are tied up in excessive litter. The semiarid environment and the absence of animal traffic to break down litter slow nutrient cycling. Above ground litter also limits sunlight from reaching plant crowns. Many plants, especially bunchgrasses die off. Thick litter and the absence of grazing animals (animal impact) or fire reduce seed germination and establishment. In advanced stages, plant mortality can increase and erosion may eventually occur if bare ground increases. Once this happens it will require increased energy input in terms of practice cost and management to return to the reference community phase..This phase may also provide safe areas for invasive weed encroachment.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Dominant Grass Meadow

Decreased Alkali Sacaton, and Increased Saltgrass

Repetitive defoliation with high utilization of preferred grazing species such as alkali sacaton will cause a shift to undesirable species such as inland saltgrass, povertyweed and baltic rush will increase.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Dominant Grass Meadow

High Litter and Low Plant Density

Continued non-use for many years coupled with absence of fire will move this plant community to the Increased Plant Litter, Low Plant Density community phase.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Decreased Alkali Sacaton, and Increased Saltgrass

Dominant Grass Meadow

Grazing management that allows for tillering, and seed during critical growing periods for both warm and cool season plants will allow the desirable, more vigorous meadow grasses to out-compete the inland saltgrass.

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1

High Litter and Low Plant Density

Dominant Grass Meadow

Grazing management with low to moderate stocking rates that allows appropriate rest and recovery, will stimulate tillering and reproduction. Long term monitoring and varying of seasonality of grazing are an important part of the grazing strategy.

State 2
Degraded

Community 2.1
Bare Ground and Annuals Increasing

Multiple species have been reduced and lost. There is still a remnant of alkali sacaton as the most abundant plant species along with mat muhly, povertyweed, seepweed and greasewood. There is a low frequency of cool season grasses. The greasewood is browsed but not hedged. Bare ground has increased throughout the area with accumulations of salts evident. Compared to the reference community phase, production, perennial species diversity, and frequency has been significantly reduced. Litter amounts are low due to the loss of perennial production. Bare patches are large and erosion is a concern. Water and nutrient cycles are impaired. Annuals such as kochia, lambsquarters, Russian thistle, tansy mustard, and pepperweed may have invaded the community. Rubber rabbitbrush will exist where the soil has been disturbed. Multiple community phases are possible depending on various other management scenarios. Annual production ranges from 50-250-400 lbs per acre.

State 3
Irrigation Influenced

Excessive influence of water to this site through direct irrigation, runoff from adjacent cropland or increased stream/river overflow. This increase in water changes the soil and plant community.

Community 3.1
Irrigation Influenced

While saturation is occurring annually, over multiple years, species shift in composition from alkali sacaton dominant to more water tolerant species such as rushes and sedges. Foxtail barley, wild iris, poverty weed, and alkali muhly may increase in abundance when specific conditions are met. Invasive perennials that could be present are Swainsonpea, Russian knapweed, and whitetop. Total annual production ranges from 100 to 500 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre. Once the water is removed after years of irrigation, surface soils will have excessive accumulations of salt. Once the irrigation has stopped baltic rush will hang on without an elevated water table and/or irrigation for well over 2-3 decades. This site can also further degrade to bare ground, annuals, and noxious weeds.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Reference

Degraded

Long-term, repetitive defoliation with high utilization of plant species will decrease vigor and mortality of the most palatable species such as alkali sacaton while undesirable species become more prevalent. Production, perennial species diversity, and cover has been significantly reduced. Degrading feedbacks that are associated with bare ground and annuals have greatly increased.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Multiple years of excessive irrigation runoff from adjacent crop fields. This excessive irrigation decreases tall warm season grasses such as alkali sacaton and increases species such as rushes and sedges that can withstand extra water.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Degraded

Reference

A well-managed, appropriately stocked livestock grazing rotation with tactical recovery periods will help reclaim this site. Local expertise suggests high density stocking with quick rotations (5-7 days) can reclaim the site from a bare ground, noxious weed community to one which produces 2500 lbs/ac in the reference community phase. .

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Once the irrigation has stopped flowing annually the site dries out and has to contend with extra accumulated salts in the surface soil. Over a long period of time using cattle in a well-managed grazing situation with appropriate/adequate restoration periods this site can be restored to reference.