Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R064XY011NE
Sandy 14-17" PZ
Last updated: 7/19/2024
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 064X–Mixed Sandy and Silty Tableland and Badlands
The Mixed Sandy and Silty Tableland and Badlands (MLRA 64) is shared almost equally between South Dakota (42 percent) and Nebraska (41 percent). A small portion is in Wyoming (17 percent). The MLRA consists of 11,895 square miles. The towns of Kadoka and Pine Ridge, South Dakota; Chadron and Alliance, Nebraska; and Lusk, Wyoming, are all within the boundaries of this MLRA.
The following areas of special interest are in this MLRA: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; parts of the Oglala and Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, which are in the Nebraska National Forest; and nearly all of Badlands National Park. The Badlands are internationally renowned for their Oligocene vertebrate fossils.
The northern section of the MLRA consists of old plateaus and terraces that have been deeply eroded by wind, water, and time. The southern section consists of nearly level to broad intervalley remnants of smooth fluvial plains. These two sections are separated by the Pine Ridge escarpment. Elevations gradually increase from 2,950 to 5,073 feet from east to west. The main drainageway through Badlands National Park is the White River. The headwaters of both the White and Niobrara Rivers are in MLRA 64. The Pine Ridge escarpment is at the northernmost extent of the Ogallala Aquifer.
Tertiary continental sediments consisting of sandstone, siltstone, and claystone underlie most of the area. Many of the bedrock units in the southern third of the MLRA are covered by loess. Soils range from shallow to very deep and from generally well drained to excessively drained. They are loamy or sandy. The Badlands consist of stream-laid layers of silt, clay, and sand mixed with layers of volcanic ash.
Average annual precipitation for the area is 14 to 20 inches. Most of the rainfall occurs as frontal storms in the spring and early summer. This area supports a mixture of short-, mid-, and tall-statured warm- and cool-season grasses. On the Pine Ridge Escarpment, these plants grow in association with ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, western snowberry, skunkbush sumac, common chokecherry, and rose. Wyoming big sagebrush grows in minor amounts in the drier, far western portion of the MLRA; however, small remnant stands can be found in the eastern portion of the Oglala National Grassland in Nebraska.
Sixty percent of the MLRA is grassland, 11 percent of which is under Federal management. Twenty-two percent of the area is used as cropland, and 4 percent is forested. Major resource concerns include wind erosion, water erosion, and surface water quality (USDA-NRCS, 2006, Ag Handbook 296).
For development of ecological sites, MLRA 64 is divided into two precipitation zones (PZ): 14 to 17 inches per year and 17 to 20 inches per year. The wetter zone extends from the western end of the Pine Ridge Escarpment near Lusk, Wyoming, eastward along the escarpment through Nebraska and into the Big Badlands area of South Dakota. The drier zone extends from Wyoming eastward to Alliance and Oshkosh, Nebraska, south of the Pine Ridge Escarpment. MLRA 64 stops at the western edge of the Nebraska Sand Hills (MLRA 65).
A unique geologic area known as the Hartville Uplift is in the far southwest corner of the 14 to 17 inch precipitation zone. The Hartville Uplift is an elongated, north-northwest-oriented, broad domal arch of Laramide age (70-50 million years ago). It extends approximately 45 miles between Guernsey and Lusk, Wyoming, and is 15 miles wide at its widest point. Erosion has exposed a core of granite and Precambrian metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks (Steele et al., 2018). In addition to the ecological sites in the 14 to 17 inch precipitation zone of MLRA 64, three unique ecological site descriptions were developed to describe the soils and plant community dynamics in the Hartville Uplift.
Classification relationships
USDA Land Resource Region G—Western Great Plains Range and Irrigated Region:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 64—Mixed Sandy and Silty Tableland and Badlands
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Level IV Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States:
High Plains—25:
Pine Ridge Escarpment—25a.
Flat to Rolling Plains—25d.
Pine Bluffs and Hills—25f.
Sandy and Silty Tablelands—25g.
Northwestern Great Plains—43:
White River Badlands—43h.
Keya Paha Tablelands—43i.
USDA Forest Service
Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of Conterminous United States:
Great Plains and Palouse Dry Steppe Province—331:
Western Great Plains Section—331F:
Subsections:
Shale Scablands—331Fb.
White River Badlands—331Fh.
Pine Ridge Escarpment—331Fj.
High Plains—331Fk.
Hartville Uplift—331Fm.
Western Nebraska Sandy and Silty Tablelands—331Fn.
Keye Paha Tablelands—331Ft.
Powder River Basin Section—331G:
Subsection: Powder River Basin—331Ge.
Ecological site concept
The Sandy 14-17” PZ ecological site occurs throughout the drier portion of MLRA 64. It is located on upland landscapes and does not receive additional moisture from runoff or overflow. Typical slope ranges from 0 to 30 percent. Soils are deep, (greater than 20 inches) with surface textures ranging from loamy sand to very fine sandy loam. Subsurface textures range from sand to very fine sandy loam.
Vegetation in the Reference Plant Community consists of a mix of cool- and warm-season grasses. Dominant grasses include prairie sandreed, needle and thread, little bluestem, western wheatgrass, and blue grama. Forbs are common and diverse. Shrubs include leadplant, rose, and sand sagebrush. In the Wyoming portion of the MLRA, silver sagebrush and green rabbitbrush will be the most common shrubs. Wyoming big sagebrush does not commonly occur on this site in MLRA 64. The Sandy 14-17” PZ site is susceptible to invasion of non-native, cool-season grasses, especially annual bromes.
Associated sites
| R064XY012NE |
Sands The Sands ecological site can be located adjacent to the Sandy 14-17” PZ site. |
|---|---|
| R064XY029NE |
Sandy Lowland The Sandy Lowland ecological site can be found along drainageways adjacent to the Sandy 14-17” PZ site. |
Similar sites
| R064XY032NE |
Sandy 17-20" PZ The Sandy 17-20“ PZ ecological site will occur on similar landscapes, have more sand and little bluestem, and will have higher forage production. |
|---|---|
| R064XY029NE |
Sandy Lowland The Sandy Lowland ecological site will be found on lower landscape positions adjacent to drainageways. There will be more switchgrass, possible trees, and higher forage production. |
| R064XY012NE |
Sands The Sands ecological site will be found on rolling landscapes and will have more sand bluestem. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Calamovilfa longifolia |
Physiographic features
This site occurs on nearly level to steeply sloping hillslopes, terraces and alluvial fans.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Stream terrace (3) Alluvial fan |
|---|---|
| Runoff class | Negligible to low |
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 884 – 1,524 m |
| Slope | 0 – 30% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
MLRA 64 has a continental climate consisting of cold winters and hot summers, low humidity, light rainfall, and ample sunshine. Extremes in temperature are common in some years. The climate results from MLRA 64 being near the geographic center of North America. There are few natural barriers on the Northern Great Plains. Air masses move freely across the plains and account for rapid changes in temperature.
Average annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 17 inches per year. The normal average annual temperature is about 46 °F. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from about 24 °F (Lusk 2 SW, WY) to about 26 °F (Hemingford, NE). July is the warmest month with average temperatures ranging from about 69 °F (Lusk 2 SW, WY) to about 73 °F (Hemingford, NE). The range of normal average monthly temperatures between the coldest and warmest months is about 50 °F. This large annual range attests to the continental nature of the climate of this area. Wind speeds are estimated to average about 11 miles per hour annually, ranging from about 13 miles per hour during the spring to about 10 miles per hour during the summer. Daytime winds are generally stronger than nighttime winds. Occasionally, strong storms bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 50 miles per hour.
Growth of cool-season plants begins in early to mid-March, slowing or ceasing in late June. Warm-season plants begin growth about mid-May and continue to early or mid-September. Cool-season plants may green-up in September and October if adequate soil moisture is present.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 85-121 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 106-131 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 381-406 mm |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 62-123 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 93-139 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 381-432 mm |
| Frost-free period (average) | 98 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 120 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 406 mm |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) LUSK 2 SW [USC00485830], Lusk, WY
-
(2) TORRINGTON 29N [USC00488997], Jay Em, WY
-
(3) ALLIANCE 1WNW [USC00250130], Alliance, NE
-
(4) AGATE 3 E [USC00250030], Harrison, NE
-
(5) HAY SPRINGS 12 S [USC00253715], Hay Springs, NE
-
(6) HEMINGFORD [USC00253755], Hemingford, NE
Influencing water features
No riparian areas or wetland features are directly associated with the Sandy 14-17" PZ ecological site.
Wetland description
Not Applicable.
Soil features
The soils in the Sandy 14-17” PZ ecological site are well-drained to somewhat excessively- drained, and formed in eolian sand, alluvium, colluvium, or residuum. They are derived primarily from sandstone or eolian deposits and occur on slopes of 0 to 30 percent. The fine sand to very fine sandy loam surface layer is 3 to 22 inches thick. Subsoil textures in this site are sand to very fine sandy loam. This site should show slight to no evidence of rills, wind-scoured areas, or pedestalled plants. Water flow paths are broken, irregular in appearance, or discontinuous with numerous debris dams or vegetative barriers. The soil surface is stable and intact.
Major soils correlated to the Sandy 14-17” PZ site: Busher, Dailey, Jayem, Phiferson, Sarben, and Vetal.
These soils are susceptible to wind and water erosion. The hazard of water erosion increases on slopes greater than about 15 percent. Loss of 50 percent or more of the surface layer of the soils on this site can result in a shift in species composition or production.
More information regarding the soil is available in soil survey reports. Contact the local USDA Service Center for details specific to your area of interest, or go online to access USDA’s Web Soil Survey.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
calcareous sandstone
(2) Eolian sands – sandstone (3) Residuum – sandstone and siltstone |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Loamy very fine sand (2) Fine sandy loam (3) Very fine sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Sandy |
| Drainage class | Well drained to somewhat excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate to rapid |
| Soil depth | 51 – 203 cm |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
7.62 – 17.78 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 10% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
5.6 – 8.4 |
Ecological dynamics
The Sandy 14-17” PZ ecological site developed under Northern Great Plains climatic conditions; light to severe grazing by bison and other large herbivores; sporadic, natural or human-caused wildfire (often of light intensities); and other biotic and abiotic factors that typically influence soil and site development. Changes occur in the plant communities due to short-term weather variations, effects of native and exotic plant and animal species, and management actions. Although the following plant community descriptions are typical of the transitions between communities, severe disturbances, such as periods of well below average precipitation and the introduction of non-native cool-season grasses, can cause significant shifts in plant communities and species composition.
Continuous season-long grazing (during the typical growing season of May through October) or repeated seasonal grazing (e.g., every spring, every summer) without adequate recovery periods following each grazing occurrence causes this site to depart from the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and thread-Bluestem Plant Community (1.1). Species such as sand dropseed, needle and thread, and blue grama will increase, while prairie sandreed, little bluestem, and sand bluestem will decrease.
Interpretations are primarily based on the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Bluestem Plant Community. It has been determined by study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, and areas under long-term rotational grazing regimes. Trends in plant community dynamics ranging from heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal use pastures, and historical accounts also have been used. Plant communities, states, transitional pathways, and thresholds have been determined through similar studies and experience.
The following state-and-transition diagram illustrates the common plant communities on the site and the transition pathways between communities. The ecological processes are discussed in more detail in the plant community descriptions following the diagram.
State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
Ecosystem states
States 1, 5 and 2 (additional transitions)
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
The Reference State represents the best estimate of the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics in this ecological site prior to European settlement. This Sandy 14-17” PZ ecological site in the Reference State (1.0), will be dominated by warm- and cool-season grasses. Grazing or the lack of grazing, fire, and drought are the major drivers between plant communities. Continuous season-long grazing can push this State to a warm-season shortgrass- dominated State (2.0). Invasion of non-native cool-season perennial or annual grasses will result in a transition to the Native/Invaded State (4.0). In the western portion of the 14-17” PZ, the plant community pathways within the Reference State will more likely go from 1.1 to 1.3. In the eastern portion, it will more likely go from 1.1 to 1.2. Even though the average mean annual precipitation in the 14-17” PZ ranges between 16.0 and 16.5 inches, the timing and amount of precipitation is expressed in subtle differences in plant communities on this site. The western portion of the PZ receives approximately 1.4 inches less moisture in May and June than does eastern portion of the PZ. As a result, this site in western-side will express more cool-season mid-grasses and drought-tolerant warm-season shortgrasses. In eastern-side the same site, with slightly more precipitation in May and June, will express more tall- and mid-statured warm- season grasses and less production from cool-season grasses.
Community 1.1
Prairie Sandreed/Needle and Thread-Bluestem
Interpretations are based primarily on the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Bluestem Plant Community. This is also considered to be Reference Plant Community (1.1). This site can be found on areas that are properly managed with grazing, and on areas that receive occasional short periods of rest. The potential vegetation consists of about 85 percent grasses or grass- likes, 10 percent forbs, and 5 percent shrubs. The site is dominated by mid- and tall-grasses. The major grasses are prairie sandreed, needle and thread, little bluestem, and sand bluestem. Other grass and grass-like species occurring on the site are blue grama, western wheatgrass, and threadleaf sedge. Significant forbs include dotted gayfeather, penstemon, and prairie coneflower. Shrubs in this community are rose, sand sagebrush, fringed sagewort and in the far western portion of the MLRA, silver sagebrush and rabbitbrush. This plant community is well adapted to the Northern Great Plains climatic conditions. Community dynamics, nutrient and water cycles, and energy flow are functioning at the potential for the site. Plant litter is properly distributed with some movement off-site and natural plant mortality is low. The high plant diversity allows for high tolerance for drought.
Figure 8. 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 | 1020 | 1560 | 1872 |
| Forb | 84 | 135 | 185 |
| Shrub/Vine | 17 | 99 | 185 |
| Total | 1121 | 1794 | 2242 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE6404, Pine Ridge/Badlands, warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant. Warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 5 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
Community 1.2
Prairie Sandreed/Needle and Thread-Blue Grama
This plant community developed under continuous season-long grazing. The plant community's mid-grass component is reduced, and an understory of short sod-forming grasses is increasing. This plant community can also develop under continuous seasonal grazing. This occurs when grazed at the same time of the growing season, every year. If grazed early, needle and thread will be reduced; whereas if grazed later, little bluestem and sand bluestem will be reduced. The potential vegetation consists of about 90 percent grasses or grass-likes, 5 percent forbs, and 5 percent shrubs. Dominant grasses include prairie sandreed, needle and thread, and blue grama. Other grasses and grass-likes include western wheatgrass, sand dropseed, and threadleaf sedge. Forbs commonly found in this plant community include dotted gayfeather, penstemon, prairie coneflower, white sagebrush, Cuman ragweed, and spiderwort. Shrubs in this community include rose, sand sagebrush, fringed sagewort, and broom snakeweed. When compared to the Reference Plant Community (1.1), sand bluestem and little bluestem have decreased. Prairie sandreed is beginning to decline. Needle and thread, blue grama, and sand dropseed are increasing. Plant diversity is high but on a downward trend. This plant community is not resistant to change, and management changes can easily shift this plant community. Soil erosion is low. The water cycle is functioning, infiltration is high, and runoff is low.
Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 925 | 1365 | 1692 |
| Forb | 73 | 118 | 163 |
| Shrub/Vine | 11 | 86 | 163 |
| Total | 1009 | 1569 | 2018 |
Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE6404, Pine Ridge/Badlands, warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant. Warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 5 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
Community 1.3
Needle and Thread-Blue Grama-Western Wheatgrass
Figure 12. Sandy 14-17" PZ - R064XY011NE - Wyoming
This plant community typically develops, over a period of several years, under continuous seasonal grazing, continuous season-long grazing, or heavy grazing during extended periods of drought. This plant community is more likely to occur in the western portion of the 14- 17” precipitation zone where May and June precipitation is less than that on the eastern side of the zone. It is dominated by more drought-tolerant warm-season shortgrasses and cool-season bunchgrasses. The potential vegetation is about 80 percent grasses or grass-likes, 10 percent forbs, and 10 percent shrubs. The dominant grasses and grass-likes are blue grama, needle and thread, and threadleaf sedge. Other perennial grasses present include sand dropseed, and some rhizomatous wheatgrass. Significant forbs include Cuman ragweed, slimflower scurfpea, and white sagebrush. Compared to the Reference Plant Community (1.1), blue grama, needle and thread, and threadleaf sedge have greatly increased. Prairie sandreed is limited to a few scattered colonies on the landscape. Little bluestem and sand bluestem are absent. Fringed sagewort and broom snakeweed are increasing. This plant community is resistant to change. Management changes can take an extended period of time to shift this plant community. Soil erosion is low. The water cycle is functioning, but infiltration is moderate, and runoff has increased.
Figure 13. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 801 | 1091 | 1154 |
| Forb | 73 | 140 | 207 |
| Shrub/Vine | 22 | 114 | 207 |
| Total | 896 | 1345 | 1568 |
Figure 14. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE6403, Pine Ridge/Badlands, cool-season/warm-season co-dominant. Cool-season, warm-season co-dominant.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 5 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Figure 15. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE6404, Pine Ridge/Badlands, warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant. Warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 5 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Continuous seasonal grazing (spring), winter grazing, continuous season-long grazing, or heavy grazing in combination with drought will bring about this pathway. This plant community pathway is more likely to occur in the eastern portion of the 14-17” precipitation zone than on the western portion of the precipitation zone.
Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3
Continuous season-long grazing, or heavy grazing in combination with drought will develop this pathway. This plant community pathway is more likely to occur in the western portion of the 14- 17” precipitation zone where May and June precipitation is less than that on the eastern side of the zone.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Prescribed grazing with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Bluestem Plant Community Plant Community (1.1).
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3
Continuous seasonal grazing (spring or winter grazing), or continuous season-long grazing, or heavy grazing in combination with extended periods of drought will move this plant community (1.2), toward the Needle and Thread-Blue Grama-Western Wheatgrass (1.2) Plant Community.
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1
Long-term prescribed grazing in combination with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Bluestem Plant Community Plant Community (1.1).
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.2
Prescribed grazing with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Blue Grama Plant Community Plant Community (1.2).
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
State 2
Shortgrass Sod State
The Shortgrass State is dominated by shortgrass species and upland sedges. The Shortgrass State is the result of grazing management that did not provide adequate recovery time for mid- and tall-statured warm-season grasses and mid-statured cool-season grasses. The hydrologic function of this state is altered. Runoff is higher and infiltration is lower than the Reference State. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Community 2.1
Blue Grama-Sand Dropseed/Threadleaf Sedge/Fringed Sagewort
This plant community typically develops under continuous season-long grazing over a period of many years. It is made up of short, grazing-tolerant species. The potential vegetation is about 80 percent grasses or grass-likes, 10 percent forbs, and 10 percent shrubs. The dominant species are blue grama, sand dropseed, and threadleaf sedge. Some needle and thread and western wheatgrass may be present in the plant community. Dominant forbs include Cuman ragweed, scurfpea, annual eriogonum, and white sagebrush. Dominant shrubs are fringed sagewort, broom snakeweed, field sagewort (green sagewort), and cactus. Compared to the Reference Plant Community (1.1), blue grama sand dropseed and threadleaf sedge have increased, creating sod-bound conditions. Little bluestem and sand bluestem are absent. Prairie sandreed is limited to a few sparse colonies. Sand and silver sagebrush may also be increasing. This plant community is fairly resistant to change. Soil erosion is low. The water cycle is reduced because of the lack of surface litter. Infiltration is moderate due to soil texture, which can help to reduce runoff, but offsite gully erosion can be a concern. Forage production, species diversity, and ground cover are declining.
Figure 16. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 471 | 807 | 1031 |
| Forb | 45 | 101 | 157 |
| Shrub/Vine | 45 | 101 | 157 |
| Total | 561 | 1009 | 1345 |
Figure 17. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE6404, Pine Ridge/Badlands, warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant. Warm-season dominant, cool-season sub-dominant.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 5 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 23 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
State 3
Early Successional State
The Early Successional State is dominated by weedy annuals and biennials, sand dropseed, threeawn, and field sagewort (green sagewort). This State is the result of heavy disturbance such as frequent and severe defoliation or heavy livestock concentrations coupled with grazing management that does not provide adequate time for recovery. The hydrologic function is also likely to be dramatically altered. Runoff is high and infiltration is low. This State is very resistant to change through grazing management alone.
Community 3.1
Sand Dropseed-Threeawn/Field Sagewort/Annuals and/or Biennials
This plant community develops where the rangeland is grazed year-round, at high stock densities and/or occupation by prairie dogs. The plant composition is made up of annuals with a few species of perennial forbs and grasses that are tolerant to frequent and severe defoliation. Dominant species are sand dropseed, threeawn, and blue grama. Most of the mid-statured grasses have been eliminated or severely reduced. Cheatgrass has invaded the site. Perennial forbs are Cuman ragweed, rush skeleton plant, curlycup gumweed, and false hairy goldenaster. Field sagewort (green sagewort), broom snakeweed, and cactus can be abundant. This plant community is resistant to change due to the lack of perennial species present and the amount of annuals and invaders occupying the site. Soil erosion is high due to the increased bare ground. Infiltration is low, and runoff is high from the lack of litter and viable plant population.
Figure 18. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE6403, Pine Ridge/Badlands, cool-season/warm-season co-dominant. Cool-season, warm-season co-dominant.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 5 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
State 4
Native/Invaded State
The Native/Invaded State has been invaded by cheatgrass, field brome, smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, or crested wheatgrass, but not at the levels to which the plant community is dominated by these species. The majority of species are native to this site, including cool-season mid-grasses, warm-season mid- and tallgrasses, and warm-season shortgrasses. Forbs will be common and diverse, and shrubs will be present in varying amounts. The Native/Invaded State is the result of long-term non-use in combination with above-average precipitation, or through continuous seasonal grazing or continuous season-long grazing. Because of the invasion and persistence of non-native cool-season grasses, this State is unlikely to return to the Reference State (1.0).
Community 4.1
Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Western Wheatgrass- Non-Native Annual and Perennial Cool-Season Grasses
This plant community is the result of invasion of non-native cool-season grasses, long-term non- use, or continuous seasonal grazing or continuous season-long grazing. Non-native species include cheatgrass, field brome, smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and crested wheatgrass. Typically, they do not occur at a level at which they dominate the site in the 14-17 inch precipitation zone. The potential vegetation is about 90 percent grasses or grass-likes, 5 percent forbs, and 5 percent shrubs. Native species will include needle and thread, blue grama, western wheatgrass, threadleaf sedge, sand dropseed, and small areas of prairie sandreed and little bluestem. Forbs commonly found in this plant community include dotted gayfeather, penstemon, prairie coneflower, white sagebrush, Cuman ragweed, and spiderwort. Shrubs in this community include rose, sagebrush, fringed sagewort, and broom snakeweed. This plant community has the potential to transition to a predominantly non-native cool-season grass community, but is not as common in the 14-17” PZ portion of MLRA 64. This plant community is resistant to change due to the present of non-native cool-season grasses. Soil erosion is low to moderate. The water cycle is functioning, but infiltration is moderate and runoff has increased.
State 5
Disturbed State
Any plant community can transition to the Disturbed State. The two separate vegetative plant communities found in this State are highly variable in nature. They are derived through different management scenarios, and are not related successionally. Infiltration, runoff, and soil erosion vary depending upon the vegetation present on the site.
Community 5.1
Go-Back
The Go-back Plant Community can be reached whenever severe mechanical disturbance occurs (e.g., tilled and abandoned cropland). During the early successional stages, the species that mainly dominate are annual grasses and forbs, later replaced by both native and introduced perennials. The vegetation in this plant community can vary greatly, sometimes it is dominated by threeawn, dropseed, annual brome, crested wheatgrass, smooth brome, broom snakeweed, sweetclover, and non-native thistles. Other plants that commonly occur on the site can include western wheatgrass, deathcamas, prickly lettuce, mare’s tail, kochia, squirreltail, foxtail, and annual sunflower. Bare ground is prevalent in the Go-back Community Phase due to the loss of organic matter and lower overall soil health.
Community 5.2
Seeded
The Seeded Plant Community normally includes those areas seeded to pubescent or intermediate wheatgrass, alfalfa, switchgrass, or other forage species. For adapted species, refer to the USDA-NRCS e-FOTG for the appropriate Forage Suitability Group description.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Continuous seasonal grazing will move the Sandy 14-17” PZ ecological site toward the Shortgrass State (2.0). This would be typical of calving/lambing pastures where the unit is continuously utilized during the late winter through spring. This transition will result in decreases in both forage production and plant species diversity. Continuous season-long grazing will also move this plant community toward the Shortgrass State (2.0), as will heavy grazing in combination with extended periods of drought. During this transition, the plant community can have the appearance of a mosaic, with sod and mixed grass communities intermingled. As the plant community becomes dominated by shortgrasses, runoff will increase, and infiltration will decrease.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 3
Frequent and severe defoliation or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, prairie dog towns, and calving pastures will transition the Reference State (1.0) to the Early Successional State (3.0).
Transition T1B
State 1 to 4
Invasion of non-native cool-season grasses, continuous seasonal grazing, or continuous season- long grazing will result in a transition from the Reference State (1.0) to the Native/Invaded State (4.0).
Transition T6A
State 1 to 5
Heavy disturbance including soil erosion, tillage, abandonment of cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0).
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Long-term prescribed grazing in combination with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Reference State (1.0). This transition will not be fast and, in the end, may not meet management objectives.
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
Frequent and severe defoliation or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, prairie dog towns, and calving pastures will cause a transition to the Early Successional State (3.0).
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4
Long-term prescribed grazing in combination with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Native/Invaded State (4.0). Management follows invasion of non-native cool-season grasses, including one or more of the following species: cheatgrass, field brome, smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and crested wheatgrass.
Transition T6A
State 2 to 5
Heavy disturbance including soil erosion, tillage, abandonment of cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0).
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2
Removal of management-induced disturbance followed by long-term prescribed grazing in combination with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Shortgrass State (2.0).
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
Removal of management-induced disturbance followed by long-term prescribed grazing in combination with adequate precipitation and time for recovery from grazing occurrences will move this plant community toward the Native/Invaded State (4.0). Management follows invasion of non- native cool-season grasses, including one or more of the following species: cheatgrass, field brome, smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and crested wheatgrass. Changes due to management may take an extended period of time and may not meet management objectives.
Transition T6A
State 3 to 5
Heavy disturbance including soil erosion, tillage, abandonment of cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0).
Transition T4A
State 4 to 2
Continuous season-long grazing will also move this plant community toward the Shortgrass State 2.0, as will heavy grazing in combination with expended periods of drought. During this transition, the plant community can have the appearance of a mosaic, with sod and mixed grass communities intermingled. As the plant community becomes dominated by shortgrasses, runoff will increase, and infiltration will decrease.
Transition T4B
State 4 to 3
Frequent and severe defoliation or heavy disturbance including livestock feeding areas, prairie dog towns, and calving pastures will result in a transition to the Early Successional State (3.0).
Transition T6A
State 4 to 5
Heavy disturbance including soil erosion, tillage, abandonment of cropland, or seeding to improved pasture species will result in a transition to the Disturbed State (5.0).
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 | Tall & Mid Warm-Season Grasses | 359–807 | ||||
| prairie sandreed | CALO | Calamovilfa longifolia | 359–538 | – | ||
| sand bluestem | ANHA | Andropogon hallii | 90–448 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 90–269 | – | ||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 0–179 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid- Cool-Season Grasses | 448–717 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 179–628 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 90–269 | – | ||
| 3 | Short Warm-Season Grasses | 90–269 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 90–269 | – | ||
| 4 | Other Native Grasses and Grass-likes | 18–269 | ||||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 0–179 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–90 | – | ||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 0–90 | – | ||
| sand lovegrass | ERTR3 | Eragrostis trichodes | 0–90 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–36 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–36 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–36 | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (P) | – | ||||
| crested wheatgrass | AGCR | Agropyron cristatum | – | – | ||
| 6 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (A) | – | ||||
| cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | – | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Forbs | 90–179 | ||||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–36 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 0–36 | – | ||
| upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 0–36 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 0–36 | – | ||
| spiderwort | TRADE | Tradescantia | 0–36 | – | ||
| Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 0–36 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–18 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–18 | – | ||
| stiff sunflower | HEPA19 | Helianthus pauciflorus | 0–18 | – | ||
| tenpetal blazingstar | MEDE2 | Mentzelia decapetala | 0–18 | – | ||
| Texas croton | CRTE4 | Croton texensis | 0–18 | – | ||
| thistle | CIRSI | Cirsium | 0–18 | – | ||
| vervain | VERBE | Verbena | 0–18 | – | ||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 0–18 | – | ||
| field sagewort | ARCA12 | Artemisia campestris | 0–18 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 0–18 | – | ||
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 0–18 | – | ||
| common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 0–18 | – | ||
| rush skeletonplant | LYJU | Lygodesmia juncea | 0–18 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | – | – | ||
| annual buckwheat | ERAN4 | Eriogonum annuum | – | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain beeplant | CLSE | Cleome serrulata | – | – | ||
| curlycup gumweed | GRSQ | Grindelia squarrosa | – | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | Shrubs | 18–179 | ||||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 0–90 | – | ||
| rose | ROSA5 | Rosa | 0–90 | – | ||
| sand sagebrush | ARFI2 | Artemisia filifolia | 0–90 | – | ||
| silver sagebrush | ARCA13 | Artemisia cana | 0–90 | – | ||
| soapweed yucca | YUGL | Yucca glauca | 0–36 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 0–36 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–36 | – | ||
| Wyoming big sagebrush | ARTRW8 | Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis | 0–18 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–18 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | – | – | ||
Table 10. Community 1.2 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall & Mid Warm-Season Grasses | 314–471 | ||||
| prairie sandreed | CALO | Calamovilfa longifolia | 235–471 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 78–314 | – | ||
| sand bluestem | ANHA | Andropogon hallii | 0–235 | – | ||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 0–78 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid Cool-Season Grasses | 392–706 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 235–471 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 78–235 | – | ||
| 3 | Short Warm-Season Grasses | 78–314 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 78–314 | – | ||
| 4 | Other Native Grasses and Grass-likes | 31–157 | ||||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 0–157 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–78 | – | ||
| sand lovegrass | ERTR3 | Eragrostis trichodes | 0–78 | – | ||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 0–78 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–31 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–31 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–31 | – | ||
| sandhill muhly | MUPU2 | Muhlenbergia pungens | – | – | ||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | – | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (P) | 0–78 | ||||
| crested wheatgrass | AGCR | Agropyron cristatum | 0–78 | – | ||
| smooth brome | BRIN2 | Bromus inermis | 0–78 | – | ||
| Kentucky bluegrass | POPR | Poa pratensis | 0–78 | – | ||
| 6 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (A) | 0–78 | ||||
| cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | 0–78 | – | ||
| field brome | BRAR5 | Bromus arvensis | 0–31 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Forbs | 78–157 | ||||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–31 | – | ||
| curlycup gumweed | GRSQ | Grindelia squarrosa | 0–31 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 0–31 | – | ||
| upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 0–31 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 16–31 | – | ||
| spiderwort | TRADE | Tradescantia | 0–31 | – | ||
| Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 16–31 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–16 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–16 | – | ||
| stiff sunflower | HEPA19 | Helianthus pauciflorus | 0–16 | – | ||
| tenpetal blazingstar | MEDE2 | Mentzelia decapetala | 0–16 | – | ||
| Texas croton | CRTE4 | Croton texensis | 0–16 | – | ||
| thistle | CIRSI | Cirsium | 0–16 | – | ||
| vervain | VERBE | Verbena | 0–16 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain beeplant | CLSE | Cleome serrulata | 0–16 | – | ||
| rush skeletonplant | LYJU | Lygodesmia juncea | 0–16 | – | ||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 0–16 | – | ||
| field sagewort | ARCA12 | Artemisia campestris | 0–16 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 0–16 | – | ||
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 0–16 | – | ||
| common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 0–16 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | – | – | ||
| annual buckwheat | ERAN4 | Eriogonum annuum | – | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | Shrubs | 16–157 | ||||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 16–78 | – | ||
| rose | ROSA5 | Rosa | 0–78 | – | ||
| sand sagebrush | ARFI2 | Artemisia filifolia | 0–78 | – | ||
| silver sagebrush | ARCA13 | Artemisia cana | 0–78 | – | ||
| soapweed yucca | YUGL | Yucca glauca | 0–31 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 0–31 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–31 | – | ||
| Wyoming big sagebrush | ARTRW8 | Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis | 0–16 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–16 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–16 | – | ||
Table 11. Community 1.3 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall & Mid Warm-Season Grasses | 135–269 | ||||
| prairie sandreed | CALO | Calamovilfa longifolia | 67–202 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 13–135 | – | ||
| sand bluestem | ANHA | Andropogon hallii | 0–67 | – | ||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 0–27 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid Cool-Season Grasses | 269–673 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 202–605 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 67–202 | – | ||
| 3 | Short Warm-Season Grasses | 135–269 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 135–269 | – | ||
| 4 | Other Native Grasses and Grass-likes | 135–202 | ||||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 0–135 | – | ||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 67–135 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 27–67 | – | ||
| sand lovegrass | ERTR3 | Eragrostis trichodes | 0–67 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–27 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–27 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–27 | – | ||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | – | – | ||
| sandhill muhly | MUPU2 | Muhlenbergia pungens | – | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (P) | 0–67 | ||||
| crested wheatgrass | AGCR | Agropyron cristatum | 0–67 | – | ||
| smooth brome | BRIN2 | Bromus inermis | 0–67 | – | ||
| Kentucky bluegrass | POPR | Poa pratensis | 0–67 | – | ||
| 6 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (A) | 0–67 | ||||
| cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | 0–67 | – | ||
| field brome | BRAR5 | Bromus arvensis | 0–27 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Forbs | 78–202 | ||||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–27 | – | ||
| curlycup gumweed | GRSQ | Grindelia squarrosa | 0–27 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 0–27 | – | ||
| upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 0–27 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 13–27 | – | ||
| spiderwort | TRADE | Tradescantia | 0–27 | – | ||
| field sagewort | ARCA12 | Artemisia campestris | 0–27 | – | ||
| Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 13–27 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 0–13 | – | ||
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 0–13 | – | ||
| stiff sunflower | HEPA19 | Helianthus pauciflorus | 0–13 | – | ||
| tenpetal blazingstar | MEDE2 | Mentzelia decapetala | 0–13 | – | ||
| Texas croton | CRTE4 | Croton texensis | 0–13 | – | ||
| thistle | CIRSI | Cirsium | 0–13 | – | ||
| vervain | VERBE | Verbena | 0–13 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain beeplant | CLSE | Cleome serrulata | 0–13 | – | ||
| rush skeletonplant | LYJU | Lygodesmia juncea | 0–13 | – | ||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 0–13 | – | ||
| common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 0–13 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–13 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–13 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | – | – | ||
| annual buckwheat | ERAN4 | Eriogonum annuum | – | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | Shrubs | 27–202 | ||||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 27–135 | – | ||
| sand sagebrush | ARFI2 | Artemisia filifolia | 0–81 | – | ||
| silver sagebrush | ARCA13 | Artemisia cana | 0–81 | – | ||
| rose | ROSA5 | Rosa | 0–67 | – | ||
| soapweed yucca | YUGL | Yucca glauca | 0–27 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–27 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–27 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 0–27 | – | ||
| Wyoming big sagebrush | ARTRW8 | Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis | 0–13 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–13 | – | ||
Table 12. Community 2.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall & Mid Warm-Season Grasses | 20–151 | ||||
| prairie sandreed | CALO | Calamovilfa longifolia | 10–151 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 0–101 | – | ||
| sand bluestem | ANHA | Andropogon hallii | 10–101 | – | ||
| big bluestem | ANGE | Andropogon gerardii | 0–50 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid Cool-Season Grasses | 50–202 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 20–101 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 10–50 | – | ||
| 3 | Short Warm-Season Grasses | 101–202 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 101–202 | – | ||
| 4 | Other Native Grasses and Grass-likes | 101–202 | ||||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 50–151 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 50–151 | – | ||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 0–50 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–50 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–20 | – | ||
| sandhill muhly | MUPU2 | Muhlenbergia pungens | 0–10 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | – | – | ||
| sand lovegrass | ERTR3 | Eragrostis trichodes | – | – | ||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | – | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (P) | 0–202 | ||||
| crested wheatgrass | AGCR | Agropyron cristatum | 0–101 | – | ||
| smooth brome | BRIN2 | Bromus inermis | 0–101 | – | ||
| 6 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses (A) | 0–101 | ||||
| cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | 0–101 | – | ||
| field brome | BRAR5 | Bromus arvensis | 0–50 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Forbs | 50–151 | ||||
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 0–50 | – | ||
| field sagewort | ARCA12 | Artemisia campestris | 10–50 | – | ||
| rush skeletonplant | LYJU | Lygodesmia juncea | 10–50 | – | ||
| vervain | VERBE | Verbena | 10–50 | – | ||
| Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 0–50 | – | ||
| annual buckwheat | ERAN4 | Eriogonum annuum | 10–50 | – | ||
| tenpetal blazingstar | MEDE2 | Mentzelia decapetala | 0–30 | – | ||
| common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 0–30 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–30 | – | ||
| curlycup gumweed | GRSQ | Grindelia squarrosa | 0–20 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 0–20 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 10–20 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain beeplant | CLSE | Cleome serrulata | 0–20 | – | ||
| Texas croton | CRTE4 | Croton texensis | 0–20 | – | ||
| thistle | CIRSI | Cirsium | 0–20 | – | ||
| stiff sunflower | HEPA19 | Helianthus pauciflorus | 0–10 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| spiderwort | TRADE | Tradescantia | 0–10 | – | ||
| upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 0–10 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 0–10 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–10 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–10 | – | ||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 0–10 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | Shrubs | 50–151 | ||||
| sand sagebrush | ARFI2 | Artemisia filifolia | 0–61 | – | ||
| silver sagebrush | ARCA13 | Artemisia cana | 0–61 | – | ||
| pricklypear | OPUNT | Opuntia | 10–50 | – | ||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 30–50 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 20–50 | – | ||
| soapweed yucca | YUGL | Yucca glauca | 0–20 | – | ||
| Wyoming big sagebrush | ARTRW8 | Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis | 0–20 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNA10 | Ericameria nauseosa | 0–20 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–20 | – | ||
| rose | ROSA5 | Rosa | 0–10 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife Interpretations:
MLRA 64 is in the drier areas of a northern mixed-grass prairie ecosystem in which sagebrush steppes to the west yield to grassland steppes to the east. Prior to European settlement, this MLRA consisted of diverse grassland and shrubland habitats interspersed with varying densities of depressional, instream wetlands and woody riparian corridors. These habitats provided critical life cycle components for many users. Many species of grassland birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians and herds of roaming bison, elk, and pronghorn were among the inhabitants adapted to this semi-arid region. Roaming herbivores, as well as several species of small mammals and insects, were the primary consumers linking the grassland resources to large predators, such as the wolf, mountain lion, and grizzly bear, and to smaller carnivores, such as the coyote, bobcat, fox, and raptors. The prairie dog was once abundant and remains a keystone species within its range. The black-footed ferret, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, mountain plover, and swift fox are associated with prairie dog complexes.
Historically, the northern mixed-grass prairie was a disturbance-driven ecosystem in which fire, herbivory, and climate functioned as the primary disturbance factors, either singly or in combination. Following European settlement, livestock grazing, cropland conversion, elimination of fire, energy development, and other anthropogenic factors influenced species composition and abundance. Introduced and invasive species further affected plant and animal communities. The bison was a historical keystone species but has been extirpated in this area as a free-ranging herbivore. The loss of the bison and the reduction of prairie dog populations and fire as ecological drivers greatly influenced the character of the remaining native plant communities and altered wildlife habitats. Human development reduced habitat quality for area-sensitive species.
Within MLRA 64, the Sandy 14-17” PZ Ecological Site provides upland grassland cover with an associated forb and shrub component. It was typically part of an expansive grassland landscape that included combinations of Badlands, Thin Breaks, Clayey, Claypan, Dense Clay, Loamy, Saline, Sandy, Shallow, Overflow, Subirrigated, and Terrace ESs. This Sands site provided habitat for species requiring unfragmented grassland. Important habitat features and components found commonly or exclusively on this site may include sharp-tailed grouse leks; upland nesting habitat for grassland birds, forbs and insects for brood habitat; and a forage source for small and large herbivores. Many grassland- and shrub steppe-nesting bird populations are declining. Extirpated species in this ES include free-ranging American bison, grizzly bear, gray wolf, black-footed ferret, mountain plover, Rocky Mountain locust, and swift fox.
The majority of this ecological site remains intact and provides increasingly important habitat for grassland- and shrub steppe-nesting birds, small rodents, coyote, and a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Invasive species such as cheatgrass have impacted the biological integrity of the site for some grassland birds. Changes in historic fire regime and domestic grazing have impacted the percentages of forbs, shrubs, and grasses. Herds of roaming bison, elk, and pronghorn were among the inhabitants adapted to this semi-arid region. Roaming herbivores, as well as several small mammal and insect species.
Reference State (1.0): The predominance of grasses plus high diversity of forbs and shrubs in these communities favors grazers and mixed-feeders such as deer and pronghorn. Insects, such as pollinators, play a large role in maintaining the forb community and provide a forage base for grassland birds and other species. The complex plant structural diversity provides habitat for a wide array of migratory and resident birds. Grasshopper sparrow, lark bunting, western meadowlark, and sharp-tailed grouse are common and benefit from the structure and composition this plant community provides. Diverse prey populations are available for grassland raptors such as ferruginous hawk, Swainson’s hawk, golden eagle, and prairie falcon.
The diversity of grasses, forbs, and shrubs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including voles, mice, spotted ground squirrel, white-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbit, and deer. The higher stature of this plant community provides thermal, protective, and escape cover for herbivores and grassland birds. Predators utilizing this plant community include coyote, American badger, red fox, and long-tailed weasel. This plant community provides limited habitat for amphibians, mostly toads (i.e., Great Plains, Woodhouse’s, and plains spade-foot). Prey abundance and shade opportunities may attract multiple reptile species such as gopher snake, milk snake, prairie rattlesnake, and western ornate box turtle to this site. Several species of sand-loving lizards such as the lesser earless lizard, prairie lizard, many-lined skink, and six-lined racerunner utilize this site.
Resulting from continuous season-long grazing, the shift to a community of needle and thread and prairie sandreed occurs. The forb and shrub diversity has not substantially decreased. The shift from the Reference Plant Community (1.1) to the Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Blue Grama Community (1.2), and the Needle and Thread-Blue Grama-Western Wheatgrass Community (1.3), does not result in a significant change to the wildlife community.
Shortgrass State (2.0): Blue grama and upland sedges will dominate. Forb and shrub abundance increases. This increase along with the abundance of Cuman ragweed and dropseed provide a substantial high-quality seed source for small herbivores including voles, mice, and spotted ground squirrels.
A shift to shorter plant structure will favor prairie dog expansion and associate species such as ferruginous hawk, burrowing owl, tiger salamander, and swift fox. Species such as horned lark, long- billed curlew, upland sandpiper, and white-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbit will increase due to the loss of the tall grass component. Reptile species such as gopher snake, milk snake, prairie rattlesnake, western ornate box turtle, lesser earless lizard, prairie lizard, many-lined skink, and six- lined racerunner will continue to utilize this site.
The short stature of these plant communities limits thermal, protective, and escape cover. Predators utilizing this plant community include coyote, American badger, red fox, and long-tailed weasel.
Sand Dropseed-Threeawn/Field Sagewort/Annuals and Biennials (3.1): This plant community develops under severe disturbance or excessive defoliation. This can result from heavy livestock or prairie dog concentration or via crop abandonment (go-back land). The dominant vegetation includes pioneer annual grasses, forbs, invaders, and early successional biennial and perennial species. Plant species from adjacent ecological sites may become minor components of this plant community. The community is susceptible to invasion of cheatgrass or field brome, crested wheatgrass, and other non-native species due to severe soil disturbances and relatively high percentage of bare ground.
The potential for soil erosion is high, impacting offsite aquatic habitats through increased runoff, nutrient, and sediment loads. Reduced surface cover, low plant density and vigor, loss of root biomass, and soil compaction all contribute to decreased wildlife abundance and diversity.
Since secondary succession is highly variable, plant and wildlife species will vary. This plant community provides habitat for generalist or early successional species.
Grazing Interpretations:
The following list suggests annual, initial stocking rates for average growing conditions. These estimates are conservative and should be used only as guidelines in the initial stages of conservation planning. Commonly, the current plant composition does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in this ecological site description). Therefore, a resource inventory is necessary to document plant composition and production. More accurate estimates of carrying capacity should eventually be calculated using the following stocking rate information along with animal preference data and actual stocking records, particularly when grazers other than cattle are involved. In consultation with the land manager, a more intensive grazing management program that results in improved harvest efficiencies and increased carrying capacity may be developed.
The following suggested initial stocking rates are based on 912 lb/acre (air-dry weight) per animal-unit-month (AUM) with a 25 percent harvest efficiency of preferred and desirable forage species (refer to USDA-NRCS, National Range and Pasture Handbook). An AUM is defined as the equivalent amount of forage required by a 1,000-pound cow, with or without calf, for one month.
Plant Community: Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Bluestem (1.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 1,600
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.44
Plant Community: Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Blue Grama (1.2)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 1,400
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.38
Plant Community: Needle and Thread-Blue Grama-Western Wheatgrass (1.3)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 1,200
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.33
Plant Community: Blue Grama-Sand Dropseed/Threadleaf Sedge/Fringed Sagewort (2.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 900
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.25
*Plant Community: Sand Dropseed-Threeawn/Field Sagewort/Annual and Biennials (3.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): Variable
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): Variable
Plant Community: Prairie Sandreed-Needle and Thread-Western Wheatgrass-Non-Native Cool- Season Grasses (4.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 1,400
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.38
Plant Community: All other plant communities identified in this document have variable annual production values and require onsite sampling to determine initial stocking rates.
* Total annual production and stocking rates are highly variable and require onsite sampling.
** Total onsite annual production may contain vegetation deemed undesirable or untargeted by the grazing animal. Therefore, AUM values may have been reduced to reflect only preferred or desirable forage species.
Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the major income-producing industries in the area. Rangeland in this area may provide yearlong forage for livestock. During the dormant period, the forage for livestock likely have insufficient protein to meet livestock requirements. Added protein allows ruminants to better utilize the energy stored in grazed plant materials. A forage quality test (either directly or through fecal sampling) should be used to determine the level of supplementation needed.
Hydrological functions
Water is the principal factor limiting forage production on this site. This site is dominated by soils in hydrologic group B, with localized areas in group A. Infiltration ranges from high to very high. Runoff potential for this site varies from very low to low depending on soil hydrologic group, slope and ground cover. In many cases, areas with greater than 75 percent ground cover have the greatest potential for high infiltration and lower runoff. An example of an exception would be where shortgrasses form a strong sod and dominate the site. Areas where ground cover is less than 50 percent have the greatest potential to have reduced infiltration and higher runoff. Refer to the USDA-NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Part 630, for hydrologic soil groups, runoff quantities, and hydrologic curves.
Recreational uses
This site provides hunting opportunities for upland game species. The wide variety of plants that bloom from spring until fall have aesthetic value that appeals to visitors.
Wood products
No appreciable wood products are present on the site.
Other products
Harvesting the seeds of native plants can provide additional income on this site.
Other information
Revision Notes: “Previously Approved” Provisional
This Provisional ecological site description (ESD) has passed Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) to ensure the it meets the 2014 NESH standards for a Provisional ecological site description.
This ESD is an updated “Previously Approved” ESD that represented a first-generation tier of documentation that, prior to the release of the 2014 National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH), met all requirements as an “Approved” ESD as laid out in the 1997 National Range and Pasture Handbook (NRPH). The document fully described the Reference State and Community Phase in the State-and-Transition model. All other alternative states are at least described in narrative form. The “Previously Approved” ESD has been field-tested for a minimum of five years and is a proven functional document for conservation planning. The “Previously Approved” ESD may not contain all tabular and narrative entries as required in the current “Approved” level of documentation, but it is expected that it will continue refinement toward an “Approved” status.
Site Development and Testing Plan
Future work, as described in an official project plan, is necessary to validate the information in this provisional ecological site description. The plan will include field activities for low-, medium-, and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of the data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. Final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews are required to produce the final document.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented here has been derived from NRCS clipping data and other inventory data. Field observations from range-trained personnel were also used. Those involved in developing this site include: Stan Boltz, range management specialist (RMS), NRCS; Jill Epley, RMS, NRCS; Rick Peterson, RMS, NRCS; David Steffen, RMS, NRCS; Jeff Vander Wilt; RMS, NRCS; Phil Young, soil scientist, NRCS; and George Gamblin, RMS, NRCS.
Other references
Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C.A. Carpenter, and W.H McNab. 2007. Ecological subregions: Sections and subsections of the conterminous United States. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76D. https://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/misc/73326-wo-gtr-76d-cleland2007.pdf (accessed 31 January 2019).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2018. EPA level III and level IV ecoregions of the conterminous United States. https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/level-iii-and-iv-ecoregions- conterminous-united-states (accessed 26 April 2018).
High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. 2018. http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/ (accessed 6 April 2018).
Steele, Ken, M.P. Fisher, and D.D. Steele. 2018. Fort Laramie and the Hartville Uplift. In: Geology of Wyoming. https://www.geowyo.com/fort-laramie--hartville-uplift.html (accessed 14 November 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. Electronic field office technical guide. https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov (accessed 12 April 2018).
Soil Survey Staff. 2018. Official soil series descriptions. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/home/?cid=nrcs142p2_053587 (accessed 12 April 2018).
Soil Survey Staff. 2018. Web Soil Survey. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx (accessed 12 April 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. Agriculture Handbook 296. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_050898.pdf (accessed 17 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2014. National ecological site handbook, 1st Ed. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232 (accessed 27 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2012. National engineering handbook, part 630. Hydrology chapters from e-Directives. https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=21422 (accessed 17 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. Climate data. National Water and Climate Center. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ (accessed 12 April 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1997. National range and pasture handbook, rev. 1, 2003. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1043055.pdf (accessed 7 November 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov (accessed 7 November 2017).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. PLANTS database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC. http://plants.usda.gov (accessed 12 April 2018).
Contributors
Rick L. Peterson
Stan C. Boltz
Approval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 7/19/2024
Acknowledgments
This ecological site was reviewed and approved at the Approved Level by David Kraft, Regional ESS, Salina, KS on 6/06/2019.
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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) | Stan Boltz |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | Stan Boltz, stanley.boltz@sd.usda.gov, 605-352-1236 |
| Date | 03/31/2004 |
| Approved by | Suzanne Mayne-Kinney |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None, or barely visible and discontinuous. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Typically non-existent, but steeper areas may have limited pedastalling of bunchgrasses. No exposed roots should be present. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground less than 10 percent and patches less than 2 inches in diameter. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Active gullies should not be present. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Litter should fall in place. Slight amount of movement of smallest size class litter is possible, but not normal. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil aggregate stability ratings should typically be 5 to 6, normally 6. Surface organic matter adheres to the soil surface. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface structure is typically granular, and mollic (higher organic matter) colors of A-horizon about 5 to 10 inches deep. If conditions are other than this, refer to map unit component descriptions for component on which the site occurs. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Healthy, deep rooted native grasses enhance infiltration and reduce runoff. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
No compaction layer should be present. -
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:
Tall and mid, warm-season grasses >>Sub-dominant:
Mid, cool-season grasses >Other:
Short, warm-season grasses = forbs = shrubsAdditional:
Other grasses occur in other functional groups in minor amounts. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Very little to no evidence of decadence or mortality. Bunch grasses have strong, healthy centers and shrubs are vigorous. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
75 to 85 percent plant litter cover, roughly 0.25 to 0.5 inch depth. Litter cover is in contact with soil surface. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds/acre. Reference value is 1,600 pounds/acre (air-dry weight basis). -
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:
Refer to State and Local Noxious Weed List. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species exhibit high vigor relative to climatic conditions. Do not rate based solely on seed production. Perennial grasses typically have vigorous rhizomes or tillers.
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