Proper grazing management in combination with rangeland seeding, grazing land mechanical treatment, and timely moisture (management intensive and costly)
The Reference state evolved under the combined influences of climatic conditions, periodic fire activity, grazing by large herbivores, and impacts from small mammals and insects. The Reference state is the plant community in which interpretations are primarily based and is used as a reference in order to understand the original potential of the site. The plant communities and various successional stages represent the natural range of variability. The Reference state for this ecological site consists of two communities.
Submodel
1.1. Eastern Cottonwood, Silver Sagebrush, Snowberry, Basin Wildrye, and Green Needlegrass
1.2. Eastern Cottonwood, Silver Sagebrush, Snowberry, and Western Wheatgrass
The dynamics of the Sod Bound state are driven by long-term drought, improper grazing management such as continuous season-long or year-long grazing, or a combination of these factors. The Sod Bound state for this ecological site consists of one community.
Submodel
2.1. Eastern Cottonwood, Snowberry, and Smooth Brome
The Invaded state occurs when invasive plant species invade native plant communities and displace the native species. The Invaded state for this ecological site consists of one community.
Submodel
3.1. Eastern Cottonwood, Snowberry, and Cheatgrass
Prolonged drought, improper grazing practices such as continuous season-long or year-long grazing, or a combination of these factors weaken the resilience of the Reference state and drive its transition to the Sod Bound state. The Reference state transitions to the Sod Bound state when mid-statured grasses are greatly reduced and non-native, invasive species such as smooth brome are introduced and dominate the plant community.
Sod-forming species such as smooth brome can resist displacement by other species. A reduction in livestock grazing pressure alone may not be sufficient to reduce the cover of smooth brome in the Sod Bound state and mechanical treatments may be necessary. Therefore, returning the Sod Bound state to the Reference state can require considerable cost, energy, and time.
The Sod Bound state transitions to the Invaded state when non-native grasses, noxious weeds, and other invasive plants invade the Sod Bound state. Exotic plant species dominate the site in terms of cover and production. Site resilience has been substantially reduced.
Model keys
Briefcase
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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.
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
