Physiographic features

This ecological site occurs on moderately steep to steep hills and side slopes. Slopes are mainly between 15% and 45%. This site occurs on all exposures and aspect can be significant. Slight variations in plant community composition and production can result from aspect. Runoff and potential for water erosion can be significant.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

MLRAs 58A and 60B are 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 these MLRA’s, 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.

MLRAs 58AE and 60BE have been divided into two distinct precipitation zones for the purpose of developing ecological site descriptions: 10–14” Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) and 15–19” MAP.


10–14 inch zone:

The majority of the rangeland in these areas falls within the 11 to 13 inch 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 10-14 inch MAP (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

Influencing water features

None

Soil features

These soils are sands, loamy sands, or sandy loams on moderately steep, steep, or hilly landscapes. They are over 20 inches deep to any root limiting feature.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Livestock Grazing Interpretations:

Managed livestock grazing is suitable on this site as it has the potential to produce a moderate amount of high quality forage. Forage production is somewhat limited by steep slopes and the potential for runoff, reducing the effectiveness of the precipitation received for plant growth. The steeper slopes may also limit livestock travel and result in poor grazing distribution, especially in areas away from water. 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) 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 to one more similar to potential if a good seed source of the taller grasses still exists.
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. Brush management and seeding may be necessary to restore desirable native perennial species.
The potential for seeding or using mechanical treatment to improve site health is limited due to steep slopes.

Wildlife Interpretations:

The following is a description of habitat values for the different plant communities that may occupy the site:

Plant Community 1: Tall Grasses/Forbs/Shrubs (HCPC):

The predominance of grasses and diversity of forbs, shrubs and half-shrubs in this community favors grazers and mixed feeders such as bison, pronghorn and elk. Large animal nutrition levels are relatively high year-long with the diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs. South-facing exposures may provide winter habitat for mule deer. The complex plant structural diversity provides habitat for a wide array of small mammals (both seed-eaters, i.e., pocket mouse, and herbivores, i.e. prairie vole) and neotropical migratory birds. Diverse prey populations are available for raptors such as ferruginous hawks and prairie falcons. The mix of grass stature and life forms, along with scattered shrubs and a variety of forbs, provides habitat for many bird species including the sharp-tailed grouse, loggerhead shrike, vesper and lark sparrow, and western meadowlark.

Plant Community 2: Medium and Short Grasses/ Medium Shrubs:

The partial loss of tall, palatable grasses, forbs and shrubs makes this community somewhat less attractive for the variety of wildlife species using the HCPC. A decrease in litter and residual plant cover reduces habitat value for ground-nesting birds and herbivorous small mammals like voles. However, an increase in the proportion of forbs and shrubs still provides food and cover for a variety of breeding birds such as vesper and lark sparrows, loggerhead shrikes and upland sandpipers. Small mammal species composition may shift toward higher proportions of seed-eaters, like deer mice, as litter cover is reduced.

Plant Community 3: Short Grasses/ Medium Shrubs and Half-shrubs:

Wildlife food and cover value is considerably reduced at this successional stage following loss of many desirable plant species and structural habitat diversity. Big game animal cover and browse is largely missing. Breeding bird habitat suffers from a lack of litter and residual plant material as well as structural diversity in all plant canopy layers. Small mammal populations are dominated by the adaptable, seed-eating deer mouse.

Plant Community 4: Short Grasses/ Half-shrubs/ Annuals:

This community has very low habitat value
for most wildlife species because of the lack of plant structural diversity and ground cover.

Hydrological functions

The soils associated with this ecological site are generally in Hydrologic Soil Group B. The infiltration rates for these soils will normally be moderate, to moderately rapid. The runoff potential for this site is low high depending on slope and ground cover/health. Runoff curve numbers generally range
from 65 to 83.

Good hydrologic conditions exist on rangelands if plant cover (grass, litter, and brush canopy) is greater than 70%. Fair conditions exist when cover is between 30 and 70%, and poor conditions exist when cover is less than 30%. Sites in high similarity to HCPC (Plant Communities 1 and 2) generally have enough plant cover and litter to optimize infiltration, minimize runoff and erosion, and have a good hydrologic condition. The deep root systems of the potential vegetation help maintain or increase infiltration rates and reduce runoff.

Sites in low similarity (Plant Communities 3 and 4) are generally considered to be in poor hydrologic condition as the majority of plant cover is from shallow-rooted species such as threadleaf sedge and annual grasses.
Erosion is minor for sites in high similarity. Rills and gullies should not be present. Water flow patterns, if present, will be barely observable. Plant pedestals are essentially non-existent. Plant litter remains in place and is not moved by erosion. Soil surfaces should not be compacted or crusted. Plant cover and litter helps retain soil moisture for use by the plants. Maintaining a healthy stand of perennial vegetation will optimize the amount of precipitation that is received. (Reference: Engineering Field Manual, Chapter 2 and Montana Supplement 4).

Recreational uses

This site provides recreational opportunities for big game and upland bird hunting, and hiking. The forbs have flowers that appeal to photographers. This site provides valuable open space and visual aesthetics.

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).

Contributors

Bob Leinard
JVF, REL, RSN, MJR, SKW, SVF, POH