Choppy Sands
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Restoration pathway R2 More details
- Transition T3 More details
- Restoration pathway R3 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The State narrative is under development.
Submodel
Description
The State narrative is under development.
Submodel
Mechanism
Heavy, continuous grazing and/or continuous seasonal (spring) grazing may cause further deterioration resulting in a shift to the Sedge/Forb Plant Community.
Mechanism
Long term prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods following each grazing event and proper stocking over long periods of time move this plant community toward the Needleandthread/Sedge Plant Community. Eventually the plant community may return to the Reference Plant Community or associated successional plant community stages assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source is available. This process may take greater than 20 years.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Excessive defoliation (i.e., areas of heavy animal concentration) or cropped go-back land with continuous grazing will convert the plant community to the Annual/Pioneer Perennial Plant Community.
Mechanism
Long-term prescribed grazing and removal of disturbance, including adequate rest periods, will move this community through the successional stages, and may eventually lead to a plant community resembling the Sand Bluestem/Prairie Sandreed Plant Community or associated successional plant communities assuming an adequate seed/vegetative source exists. This process will likely take a long period of time (50+ years).
Range seeding followed with prescribed grazing can be used to convert this plant community to one that may resemble the Rference Plant Community.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
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.