Basalt Hill 7-12 PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The reference state will have a gradient of plant communities based on abiotic factors. North facing slopes will have shrubs such as big sagebrush and stunted pinon and juniper. South facing slopes will favor grasses. Those areas high in CaCo3 will favor winterfat. Indian ricegrass may be the most abundant plant species spanning all gradients. Blue grama, squirreltail, and western wheatgrass will be spread across the site as well.
Resilience management
The reference state is the most resilient to management. It provides the most cover which protects the soil surface from erosion, captures additional moisture, aids in infiltration, and helps decrease moisture loss. There are a variety of plants and root systems which can take advantage of high intensity precipitation events as well as moisture deep in the cracks and fissures of the bedrock.
Submodel
Description
This site has mostly lost its grass component. It becomes shrub dominant, either by Greene's rabbitbrush or fourwing saltbush where the site is warmer and drier or big sagebrush where the site grades toward cooler and wetter. Some blue grama, threeawn, and ring muhly will persist.
Resilience management
The degraded state is the least resilient to disturbance. Range health has suffered as plants, roots, litter, organic matter, and aggregate stability have been lowered. This degradation has increased soil erosion and has lowered water capture and retention.
Mechanism
The principal driver is a long-term grazing strategy where palatable plants are repetitively grazed and browsed at high utilization limiting growing opportunities. As plant mortality increases, feedbacks related to increased bare ground and soil loss eventually cause this site to cross a threshold. Drought exacerbates the situation and can quickly trigger a state shift, especially if coupled with high utilization and repetitive defoliation.
Mechanism
The soil must slowly be restored and this requires stabilizing agents such as cover, root systems, organic matter, and aggregate stability. Grazing management with monitoring and adaptive management can be part of the process. A set-back to the shrubs, such as fire on big sagebrush may also be part of the process.
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.