Valley Bench 8-12 PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A 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 has a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Grasses provide the most annual production with shrubs secondary. The state has a diversity of cool and warm season species such as western wheatgrass, blue grama, and needleandthread, with Wyoming big sagebrush scattered throughout.
Resilience management
The reference state is the most resilient to disturbance. A mix of grass and shrubs provide a diversity of root systems which maximized ecological processes such as decomposition, mineralization, and soil aggregation. This in turn maximizes water infiltration and protection from erosion.
Submodel
State 2
Degraded
Resilience management
This state has limited resilience to disturbance. Erosion is active with new gullies evident. Long-duration drought may affect and kill the sagebrush as well.
Submodel
State 3
Degraded Bare Ground
Resilience management
Water and wind erosion is a very large concern in this state.
Submodel
Mechanism
The major long-term driver is repetitive, high utilization grazing of grass species while not allowing for regrowth and recovery for multiple years. This type of management eventually decreases health and vigor of grasses, fine fuel and the site's ability to carry fire. Big sagebrush gains a competitive advantage due to deep root systems and natural grazing defenses. Eventually the bare soil forms a crust due to low aggregate stability and a high percentage of bare ground. This makes it difficult for recruits to germinate.
Mechanism
The major long-term driver is repetitive defoliation with high utilization during the growing season allowing for no rest and recovery of palatable species, causing death of grass and forb species. This in turn causes greater soil loss and erosion on the site. This coupled with a wholesale mechanical treatment of shrubs will denude the site and create feedback loops where ecological processes are poorly functioning. .
Mechanism
Short-term sagebrush treatment, coupled with range seeding, and a period of grazing rest for stand establishment. Shrub removal should not be wholesale but in a mosaic of patchiness as sagebrush is an important species for the health of the site.
It is also best to implement long-term grazing management strategies where indicator plant species are seldom defoliated during the critical growth period and have an opportunity to colonize and restore ecosystem health.
Mechanism
A brush control event followed by repetitive defoliation at high utilization rates without rest or recovery, thereby inhibiting the germination of new plant species. New seedlings will not be allowed to germinate, produce roots and shoots and colonize the area. Drought following treatment will exacerbate the feedbacks which lead toward degredation.
Mechanism
The plants, soil, and microbial community needs to be re-established. This will be a long-term, expensive endeavor.
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.