Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R058AC054MT
Claypan (Cp) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z.
Last updated: 6/14/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
Associated sites
| R058AC040MT |
Silty (Si) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R058AC041MT |
Clayey (Cy) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. |
| R058AC050MT |
Saline Upland (SU) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. |
| R058AC053MT |
Dense Clay (DC) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R058AC050MT |
Saline Upland (SU) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. The Saline Upland site differs by being affected by soluble salts(i.e., electroconductivity will be higher), resulting in a plant community having mainly salt tolerant plants. |
|---|---|
| R058AC053MT |
Dense Clay (DC) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. The Dense Clay site has non-granular heavy clays that have a very thin surface layer. |
| R058AC052MT |
Shale (Sh) RRU 58A-C 11-14" p.z. The Shale site soils are usually shallow with very little soil development evident. This site is extremely sparse and low-producing. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Pascopyrum smithii |
Physiographic features
This ecological site occurs on nearly level to strongly sloping sedimentary plains, terraces and fans.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Plain
(2) Fan (3) Terrace |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 686 – 1,372 m |
| Slope | 0 – 15% |
| Water table depth | 152 cm |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 58AC in Montana is considered to have a continental climate characterized by cold winters, hot summers, low humidity, light rainfall, and much sunshine. Extremes in temperature are typical. The climate is the result of this MLRA’s location in the geographic center of North America. There are few natural barriers on the northern Great Plains and the winds move freely across the plains and account for rapid changes in temperature. Seasonal precipitation is often limiting for plant growth. Annual fluctuations in species composition and total production are typical depending on the amount and timing of rainfall.
Temperatures can be very extreme in this part of Montana. Summer daytime temperatures are typically quite warm, generally averaging in the mid to upper 80º’s F for July and August. Summertime temperatures will typically reach in the 100º’s F at some point during the summer, and can reach 90º F any month between May and September. Conversely, winter temperatures can be cold, averaging in the mid teens to mid 20º’s F for December and January. There will typically be several days of below zero temperatures each winter. It is not uncommon for temperatures to reach 30–40º F below zero, or even colder, most any winter.
Spring can be windy throughout this MLRA, with winds averaging over 10 mph about 15 percent of the time. Speeds of 50 mph or stronger can occasionally occur as a weather system crosses this part of Montana.
The majority of the rangeland in MLRA 58AC is within the 11 to 14 inch Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) range. During an average year, 70 to 75 percent of the annual precipitation falls between April and September, which are the primary growing season months.
Snowfall is not heavy in the area, averaging 28 total inches in the Yellowstone Valley. Heavy snowfall occurs infrequently, usually late in the winter or early spring. Snow cover is typically 1 to 3 inches.
The frost-free (32º F.) season averages about 105 to 145 days each year in the uplands, to nearly 170 days along the Yellowstone River Valley.
For local climate station information, refer to http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/state.pl?state=mt.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 135 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 155 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 356 mm |
Influencing water features
Soil features
These soils are over 20 inches deep and have a surface texture that can vary from fine sandy loam to clay loam. Within 2–8 inches of the surface is a hard to extremely hard clayey argillic horizon having strong columnar or prismatic structure. Salt and lime accumulations are often evident in the lower part of the B horizon. Root penetration is restricted by the argillic horizon, with the roots becoming flattened and tending to follow cracking in the subsoil.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Clay loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Soil depth | 51 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 0 – 5% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
12.7 – 20.32 cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 13 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
6.6 – 8.4 |
Ecological dynamics
The following are descriptions of several plant communities that may occupy this site.
State and transition model
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View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Plant Community 1: Tall and Medium Grasses/ Forbs/ Shrubs (HCPC)
Community 1.1
Plant Community 1: Tall and Medium Grasses/ Forbs/ Shrubs (HCPC)
Figure 2. 58AC Claypan 11-14" MAP Plant Community 1
The physical aspect of this site in the Historical Climax (HCPC) is that of a moderately sparse grassland and shrub land that is dominated by cool season grasses with shrubs distributed throughout. Approximately 70–80% of the annual production is from grasses and sedges, 1–5% from forbs, and 2–10% is from shrubs and half-shrubs. The canopy cover of shrubs is 1 to 10%. This is the interpretive plant community and is considered to be the Historic Climax Plant Community (HCPC) for this site. This plant community contains a diversity of tall and medium height, cool season grasses (green needlegrass, western or thickspike wheatgrass, and bluebunch wheatgrass), and short grasses (blue grama, Sandberg bluegrass). There are numerous forbs that occur in smaller percentages. Shrubs and half-shrubs such as Nuttall’s saltbush and winterfat are common. Wyoming big sagebrush is also often a common component of this community. This plant community is well adapted to the Northern Great Plains climatic conditions. The diversity in plant species and presence of tall, deep-rooted perennial grasses allows for drought tolerance. Plants on this site have strong, healthy root systems that allow production to increase significantly with favorable moisture conditions. Abundant plant litter is available for soil building and moisture retention. This plant community provides for soil stability and a functioning hydrologic cycle.
Figure 3. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 751 | 863 | 1009 |
| Shrub/Vine | 112 | 151 | 168 |
| Forb | 34 | 50 | 56 |
| Total | 897 | 1064 | 1233 |
Table 6. Ground cover
| Tree foliar cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 1-10% |
| Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 40-60% |
| Forb foliar cover | 1-5% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 0% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 0% |
Table 7. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-5% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 3-10% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 20-30% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 0-5% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 15-30% |
Table 8. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (m) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.15 | – | – | – | – |
| >0.15 <= 0.3 | – | 1-10% | – | 1-5% |
| >0.3 <= 0.6 | – | – | 40-60% | – |
| >0.6 <= 1.4 | – | – | – | – |
| >1.4 <= 4 | – | – | – | – |
| >4 <= 12 | – | – | – | – |
| >12 <= 24 | – | – | – | – |
| >24 <= 37 | – | – | – | – |
| >37 | – | – | – | – |
State 2
Plant Community 2: Medium and Short Grasses/ Forbs/ Shrubs
Community 2.1
Plant Community 2: Medium and Short Grasses/ Forbs/ Shrubs
This community occurs due to minor climate shifts or slight variations in soils and/or topography or disturbance, including non-prescribed grazing. Dominants include Wyoming big sagebrush and increaser grasses such as western or thickspike wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass and blue grama. The medium and tall grasses such as green needlegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass will still be present, sometimes in relatively large amounts. The desirable shrubs/half-shrubs such as Nuttall’s saltbush and winterfat will be somewhat less prevalent. Palatable and nutritious forbs will begin to be replaced by less desirable and more aggressive species such as scarlet globemallow. Grass biomass production and litter become reduced on Community 2 as the taller grasses become less prevalent, increasing evaporation and reducing moisture retention. Additional open space in the community can result in undesirable invader species. These plant communities provide for moderate soil stability.
State 3
Plant Community 3: Shrubs and Half shrubs/ Short Grasses/ Cactus
Community 3.1
Plant Community 3: Shrubs and Half shrubs/ Short Grasses/ Cactus
This is a disturbance induced community, with dominants including Wyoming big sagebrush, or greasewood in some situations. Short grasses such as Sandberg bluegrass and blue grama become more prevalent. Western or thickspike wheatgrass will still be relatively abundant. Bluebunch wheatgrass and green needlegrass will still be present, but in much smaller amounts. Palatable forbs will be mostly absent. Fringed sagewort and plains pricklypear will tend to become more abundant. Barren pans may become more apparent as a part of this community.
State 4
Plant Community 4: Shrubs and Half Shrubs/ Annuals/ Short Grasses/ Cactus
Community 4.1
Plant Community 4: Shrubs and Half Shrubs/ Annuals/ Short Grasses/ Cactus
If heavy disturbance continues, plant community 3 can deteriorate to one primarily composed of shrubs and half-shrubs (Wyoming big sagebrush / greasewood, fringed sagewort and broom snakeweed), short grasses (Sandberg bluegrass, blue grama), annual grasses (cheatgrass or Japanese brome, six weeks fescue), annual forbs (pepperweed, fanweed), and plains pricklypear. There will still be some of the mid-seral species such as western or thickspike wheatgrass present. The taller grasses will occur only rarely, often underneath the shrub canopy or mixed in with the cactus. Palatable forbs will be mostly absent. Weedy forbs (e.g., thistles, desert alyssum, and curlycup gumweed) are likely to invade. Plant Communities 3 and 4 are much less productive than Plant Communities 1 or 2, and have lost many of the attributes of a healthy rangeland. The loss of deep perennial root systems reduces total available moisture for plant growth. Reduction of plant litter will result in higher surface soil temperatures and increased evaporation losses. Annual species are often aggressive and competitive with seedlings of perennial plants. This community can respond positively to improved grazing management but it will take additional inputs to move it towards a community similar in production and composition to that of Plant Community 1 or 2. The landscape features often associated with this ecological site as well as the droughty nature of the soils severely limits the use of most common structural improvement practices.
Additional community tables
Table 9. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Native grasses | 717–925 | ||||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 179–493 | – | ||
| tufted wheatgrass | ELMA7 | Elymus macrourus | 179–493 | – | ||
| green needlegrass | NAVI4 | Nassella viridula | 135–370 | – | ||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 1–123 | – | ||
| plains reedgrass | CAMO | Calamagrostis montanensis | 1–123 | – | ||
| Sandberg bluegrass | POSE | Poa secunda | 1–123 | – | ||
| bluebunch wheatgrass | PSSP6 | Pseudoroegneria spicata | 45–123 | – | ||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 1–123 | – | ||
| Montana wheatgrass | ELAL7 | Elymus albicans | 1–62 | – | ||
| 2 | Native grasses and sedges | 1–123 | ||||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 1–62 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 1–62 | – | ||
| needleleaf sedge | CADU6 | Carex duriuscula | 1–62 | – | ||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 1–62 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 1–62 | – | ||
| 3 | Native grasses | 1–3 | ||||
| foxtail barley | HOJU | Hordeum jubatum | 1–3 | – | ||
| tumblegrass | SCPA | Schedonnardus paniculatus | 1–3 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 4 | Native forbs | 9–62 | ||||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 1–62 | – | ||
| common yarrow | ACMI2 | Achillea millefolium | 1–62 | – | ||
| onion | ALLIU | Allium | 1–62 | – | ||
| bastard toadflax | COUM | Comandra umbellata | 1–62 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 1–62 | – | ||
| desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 1–62 | – | ||
| leafy wildparsley | MUDI | Musineon divaricatum | 1–62 | – | ||
| spiny phlox | PHHO | Phlox hoodii | 1–62 | – | ||
| scarlet globemallow | SPCO | Sphaeralcea coccinea | 1–62 | – | ||
| stemless four-nerve daisy | TEACA2 | Tetraneuris acaulis var. acaulis | 1–62 | – | ||
| prairie thermopsis | THRH | Thermopsis rhombifolia | 1–62 | – | ||
| 5 | Native forbs (toxic properties) | 1–2 | ||||
| twogrooved milkvetch | ASBI2 | Astragalus bisulcatus | 1–2 | – | ||
| deathcamas | ZIGAD | Zigadenus | 1–2 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 6 | Native shrubs and half-shrubs | 45–185 | ||||
| shadscale saltbush | ATCO | Atriplex confertifolia | 1–123 | – | ||
| Nuttall's saltbush | ATNU2 | Atriplex nuttallii | 1–62 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAN5 | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa | 1–62 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 1–62 | – | ||
| greasewood | SAVE4 | Sarcobatus vermiculatus | 1–62 | – | ||
| Shrub, broadleaf | 2SB | Shrub, broadleaf | 1–62 | – | ||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 9–62 | – | ||
| Wyoming big sagebrush | ARTRW8 | Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis | 1–62 | – | ||
| 7 | Native shrubs and half-shrubs | 1–3 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–3 | – | ||
| plains pricklypear | OPPO | Opuntia polyacantha | 1–3 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Livestock Grazing Interpretations:
Managed livestock grazing is suitable on this site as it has the potential to produce high quality forage. However, forage production can be severely limited by the soil properties. Management objectives should include maintenance or improvement of the plant community. Shorter grazing periods and adequate re-growth after grazing are recommended for plant maintenance and recovery. Heavy stocking and season-long use of this site can be detrimental and will alter the plant community composition and production over time.
Whenever Plant Community 2 (medium and short grasses and shrubs) occurs, grazing management strategies need to be implemented to avoid further deterioration. This community is still stable, productive, and healthy provided it receives proper management. This community will respond fairly quickly to improved grazing management, including increased growing season rest of key forage plants. Grazing management alone can usually move this community back towards the potential community.
Plant Communities 3 and 4 have substantially reduced forage production, and a high percentage of aggressive, non-palatable species. Once these plant communities become established, it will be much more difficult to restore the site to a community that resembles the potential with grazing management alone. Additional growing season rest is often necessary for re-establishment of the desired species and to restore the stability and health of the site. Practices such as range seeding or mechanical treatment are generally not recommended on this site.
Wildlife Interpretations:
The ClayPan ecological site occurs over large acreages on the Northern Great Plains. Conversion of ClayPan sites to cropland has caused habitat fragmentation in some areas, which may contribute to the decline of some “area sensitive” wildlife species, particularly such ground-nesting birds as the grasshopper sparrow. This site is home to a diverse native wildlife complex. Historically, huge herds of migratory bison and pronghorn as well as large numbers of sage grouse were probably the dominant “game” species in addition to a wide variety of ground-nesting songbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds, small mammals and mammalian predators. In the past, vast prairie dog towns provided habitat for such species as the black-footed ferret, burrowing owl, mountain plover and ferruginous hawk and swift fox. Invasive plant species such as leafy spurge, Canada thistle and several knapweeds are contributing to a loss of biodiversity within this ecological site. Wildlife water requirements are provided by shallow snowmelt and rainfall ponds on heavy clay pan spots, springs and seeps, intermittent and perennial streams and, in modern times, numerous artificial ponds and livestock pipelines. These areas are locally important for northern leopard frogs, tiger salamanders and a number of toad species, all of which feed on a variety of insects. Grazing, fire, drought cycles and insect population fluctuations create a shifting mosaic of wildlife habitats across this site.
Plant Community 1: Tall Grasses/ Forbs/ Shrubs (HCPC):
Invertebrate diversity, including pollinator insects, is fairly high given the variety of forbs and shrubs in this community. Representative reptiles include the prairie rattlesnake, bull snake and sagebrush lizard. Common amphibians are Woodhouse’s toad, tiger salamanders and the western chorus frog. The higher percentage of bare ground, and correspondingly lower litter coverage, reduce the value of this site for ground-nesting birds compared to more productive communities in silty and sandy ecological sites. However, ground nesting bird habitat is still quite good when large acreages of this community occur in solid blocks. Sage grouse use this fairly open plant community for lek sites and for feeding on sagebrush, succulent forbs and insects. Common songbird species include lark buntings, Brewer’s sparrows and vesper sparrows. Small mammals are mainly seed-eating species such as deer mice and olive-backed pocket mice. The high proportion of cool season grasses on this site provides nutritious early to mid-season forage for grazers and mixed feeders such as bison and elk. Pronghorn also utilize these grasses as well as Nuttall’s saltbush, winterfat and big sagebrush, especially fall through spring.
Plant Community 2: Medium and Short Grasses / Forbs/ Shrubs:
The decline of green needlegrass and bluebunch wheatgrass cover reduces structural habitat diversity for small mammals and songbirds. A decrease in litter and residual vegetation adversely affects ground-nesting birds. The increase in big sagebrush cover may improve sage grouse nesting habitat and winter habitat value for sage grouse and pronghorn. Other sagebrush-grassland obligates, such as Brewer’s sparrows and sage thrashers, also may benefit from an increase in big sagebrush cover.
Plant Community 3: Shrubs and Half-shrubs / Short Grasses / Cactus:
Insect diversity suffers from the loss
of desirable forbs and ground cover. Amphibian habitat is degraded as the ground temperature rises and soil moisture is increasingly limited. When big sagebrush dominates the cover, sage grouse and pronghorn winter habitat and breeding season habitat for Brewer’s sparrows and the sage thrasher may be fairly good. However, the loss of herbaceous cover reduces habitat value for a variety of ground-nesting birds. Lark buntings and vesper sparrows will use greasewood cover for breeding habitat.
Plant Community 4: Shrubs & Half-Shrubs / Annuals/ Short Grasses / Cactus:
Insects may be very abundant during population highs (i.e., grasshoppers) but diversity is low, especially of pollinators. Amphibian habitat is very degraded; ephemeral pools evaporate rapidly and the soil surface is very dry and hot during summer. Ground nesting bird habitat value is poor because of the lack of litter cover and residual plant cover in early spring.
Sage grouse and Brewer’s sparrows may be fairly abundant in the heavier sagebrush cover but probably suffer heavy losses while nesting on the poorly protected ground surface. Mountain plovers prefer to nest in this community type if a somewhat pebbly surface is present. Mule deer and pronghorn may utilize sagebrush and fringed sagewort during winter in this community.
Hydrological functions
The runoff potential for this site is very high depending on slope and ground over/health. Runoff curve numbers generally range from 84 to 93. The soils associated with this ecological site are generally
in Hydrologic Soil Group D. The infiltration rates for these soils will normally be very slow.
Other information
The following is an example of how to calculate the recommended stocking rate. This example does not use production estimates from this specific ecological site. You will need to adjust the annual production values and run the calculations using total annual production values from the ecological sites encountered on each individual ranch/pasture. Before making specific recommendations, an on-site evaluation must be made.
Example of total annual production amounts by type of year:
Favorable years = 2200 lbs/acre
Normal years = 1480 lbs/acre
Unfavorable years = 1200 lbs/acre
It is recommended that on slopes of 30% or less, stocking rate should be derived from the total annual production pounds minus 500 pounds for residual dry matter and 25% harvest efficiency. On slopes over 30%, stocking rate is derived from total annual production pounds minus 800 pounds for residual dry matter and 25% harvest efficiency. Refer to the NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook for a list of Animal Unit Equivalents.
Sample Calculations using Favorable Year production amounts:
< 30% slopes: AUM/AC = [(2200-500)(0.25)]/915 lbs/month for one AU = 0.46 AUM/AC
AC/AUM = (1.0 AU)/(0.46AUM/AC) = 2.2 AC/AUM
> 30% slopes: AUM/AC = [(2200-800)(0.25)]/915 lbs/month for one AU = 0.38 AUM/AC
AC/AUM = (1.0 AU)/(0.38 AUM/AC) = 2.6 AC/AUM
NOTE: 915 lbs/month for one Animal Unit is used as the baseline for maintenance requirements. This equates to 30 lbs/day of air-dry forage (1200 lb cow at 2.5% of body weight).
Supporting information
Contributors
MJR, REL, RSN POH
RSN
Approval
Kirt Walstad, 6/14/2023
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
| Author(s)/participant(s) | Loretta Metz |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | |
| Date | 04/06/2005 |
| Approved by | Kirt Walstad |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills should not be evident in the reference state. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are generally not evident in the reference state. Following heavy thunderstorms, short (less than 3 feet), sinuous flow patterns may be apparent. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Wind and water erosion should not be evident in the reference state. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground is less than 30% in the reference state. In HCPC, bare ground should not exceed 18%. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Gully erosion is not evident in the reference state. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Small, isolated depositional areas (less than 10x10 feet) may be evident in the reference state following periods of prolonged drought. Under normal climatic conditions, these should not be evident. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Litter movement varies by size and depth of litter. In the reference state, litter should be coarse perennial grass leaves, anywhere from 1.5 inches up to 4 inches in length, plus small shrub leaves and minimal forb litter. Litter will not move more than a couple of inches from where it originated. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Stability values of 3-4 in plant interspaces. Stability values of 4-5 under plant canopies and at plant bases. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Granular surface structure of <2 inch depth; subangular blocky to columnar structure from approximately 2-8 inches in depth; brown to dark brown color. Organic matter approximately 1-3%. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Deep-rooted native perennial grasses optimize infiltration and runoff. Grasses should be spaced approximately 3 to 6 feet apart in the reference state. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
No compaction layer present in reference state. Do not mistake the naturally occurring clay pan in the soil profile for a compaction layer. -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
cool season, mid-height, native perennial bunchgrasses >> native perennial and annual forbs > native shrubs.Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Plant mortality is very low; decadence is minimal except in prolonged periods of drought. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
800 - 1100 #/acre. -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
plains pricklypear, broom snakeweed, cheatgrass, Japanese brome, curlycup gumweed, Wyoming big sagebrush, greasewood, pepperweed, fanweed, blue grama (in amounts greater than 250 pounds/acre, or canopy cover values greater than 25%), fringed sagewort, cudweed sagewort. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
This is not impaired in the reference state.
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