Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R064XY047NE
Very Shallow
Last updated: 7/19/2024
Accessed: 11/24/2024
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 Very Shallow ecological site occurs throughout MLRA 64. It is located on terrace remnants, knolls, and ridges on upper slopes of undulating or rolling uplands. Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent and the soil surface texture is loam. The soil formed in 4 to 10 inches of gravelly alluvium. The site is considered a run-off site and does not receive additional moisture from run-in or overflow. This site is typically very droughty due to the amount of rock in the soil profile.
Vegetation in the Reference State (1.0) consists primarily of cool-season needlegrasses, little bluestem, grama, upland sedges, and a variety of perennial forbs, shrub, and half-shrub species.
Associated sites
| R064XY037NE |
Thin Upland The Thin Upland ecological site can be found on lower landscape positions down slope of the Very Shallow site. |
|---|---|
| R064XY050NE |
Thin Breaks The Thin Breaks ecological site can be found adjacent to the Very Shallow site. |
| R064XY040NE |
Shallow The Shallow ecological site can be found adjacent to or intermingled with the Very Shallow site. |
| R064XY039NE |
Shallow Clay The Shallow Clay ecological site can be found adjacent to or intermingled with the Very Shallow site. |
Similar sites
| R064XY040NE |
Shallow The Shallow ecological site will occur on similar landscapes positions and slopes. Soils will be greater than 10 inches deep. The plant community will have less needle and thread, more bluestems, and higher forage production than the Very Shallow site. |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Hesperostipa comata |
Physiographic features
The Very Shallow ecological site occurs on nearly level to steeply sloping uplands.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Upland
> Stream terrace
(2) Knoll (3) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Runoff class | Very low to medium |
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 884 – 1,524 m |
| Slope | 0 – 60% |
| 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 20 inches per year. The normal average annual temperature is about 47 °F. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from about 21 °F (Wood, SD) to about 25 °F (Hemingford, NE). July is the warmest month with average temperatures ranging from about 70 °F (Keeline 3 W, WY: 1953–1986) to about 76 °F (Wood, SD). The range of normal average monthly temperatures between the coldest and warmest months is about 55 °F. This large annual range attests to the continental nature of the climate of this area. Wind speeds 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) | 92-120 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 119-139 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 406-483 mm |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 87-122 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 110-149 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 381-508 mm |
| Frost-free period (average) | 107 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 130 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 432 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) HARRISON 20 SSE [USW00094077], Harrison, NE
-
(2) ALLIANCE 1WNW [USC00250130], Alliance, NE
-
(3) HARRISON [USC00253615], Harrison, NE
-
(4) HEMINGFORD [USC00253755], Hemingford, NE
-
(5) INTERIOR 3 NE [USC00394184], Interior, SD
-
(6) MARTIN [USC00395281], Martin, SD
-
(7) WOOD [USC00399442], Wood, SD
-
(8) LUSK 2 SW [USC00485830], Lusk, WY
-
(9) TORRINGTON 29N [USC00488997], Jay Em, WY
-
(10) CHADRON 3NE [USC00251578], Chadron, NE
Influencing water features
No riparian or wetland features are directly associated with the Very Shallow ecological site.
Wetland description
Not Applicable.
Soil features
The common features of soils in this site is the 4 to 10-inch gravelly loam surface layer. Slopes range from 0 to 60 percent. Subsoils are gravelly sand to gravelly clay loam texture. The soils in this site are well-drained and formed in late Pleistocene terraces, terrace remnants, or alluvium. The soils have a moderate infiltration rate. 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. Subsurface soil layers are restrictive to water movement and root penetration.
Major soils correlated to the Very Shallow ecological site: Dix, Nihill, Schamber, and Vivian.
These soils are mainly susceptible to water erosion. The hazard of water erosion increases on slopes greater than about 15 percent. Low available water capacity caused by the shallow rooting depth strongly influences the soil-water-plant relationship.
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
–
metamorphic and sedimentary rock
(2) Outwash – igneous and metamorphic rock |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly loam (2) Very gravelly |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained to excessively drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate to moderately rapid |
| Depth to restrictive layer | 13 – 25 cm |
| Soil depth | 13 – 25 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 0 – 25% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 0 – 10% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
2.54 – 7.62 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 15% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 4 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
6.1 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
20 – 70% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
6 – 65% |
Ecological dynamics
The Very Shallow ecological site developed under Northern Great Plains climatic conditions, light to 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) and/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 Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama Plant Community (1.1). Species such as threadleaf sedge and blue grama will initially increase. Needlegrass, plains muhly, western wheatgrass, little bluestem, and sideoats grama will decrease in frequency and production and later disappear. Heavy continuous grazing causes blue grama and/or threadleaf sedge to dominate. Bluebunch wheatgrass will occur on this site in the western portion of the MLRA. It will also decrease in frequency and production as grazing pressure increases.
In some areas, shrubs will be common on the Very Shallow ecological site. They occur when this site is on steep slopes or adjacent to rock outcrops. Shrubs species may include skunkbush sumac and alderleaf mountain mahogany. Rocky Mountain juniper and ponderosa pine may also occur in minor amounts.
Interpretations are primarily based on the Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama 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
State 1 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 Very Shallow ecological site prior to European settlement. This site, in the Reference State, is dominated by a mix of cool-season needlegrass, warm-season bunch- and shortgrasses, and sedge. On steep slopes and areas with rock outcrops, alderleaf mountain mahogany and sumac may occur. Rocky Mountain juniper and ponderosa pine may also occur in minor amounts. Heavy grazing will cause the plant community to transition to a community dominated by the upland sedges and warm-season shortgrasses. Erosion of the surface horizon is a potential outcome with heavy grazing. In pre-European settlement times the primary disturbances included grazing by large ungulates and small mammals, and drought. Favorable growing conditions occurred during the spring and the warm months of June through August. Today a similar state can be found in areas where proper livestock use has occurred.
Community 1.1
Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama
Interpretations are based primarily on the Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama Plant Community (1.1). This plant community is also considered to be the Reference Plant Community. This community evolved with grazing by large herbivores and occasional prairie fire and can be found on areas that are properly managed with prescribed grazing that allows for proper utilization, changes in season of use, and adequate recovery periods following each grazing event. The potential vegetation is about 75 percent grasses or grass-like plants, 15 percent forbs, and 10 percent shrubs and trees. An even mix of both cool- and warm-season grasses or grass-likes dominates this plant community. The major grasses or grass-likes include needle and thread, western wheatgrass, threadleaf sedge, little bluestem, and both sideoats and blue grama. Other grasses occurring on the site include thickspike wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, plains muhly, and prairie Junegrass. The significant forbs include gayfeather, purple coneflower, prairie clover, and cutleaf ironplant. Significant shrubs are fringed sagewort, rose, skunkbush sumac, and yucca. This plant community is well adapted to the Northern Great Plains climatic conditions. Individual species can vary greatly in production depending upon growing conditions (timing and amount of precipitation and temperature). Community dynamics, nutrient and water cycles, and energy flow are functioning at the potential of the site. Plant litter is properly distributed with some movement offsite and natural plant mortality is low. The diversity in plant species allows for high tolerance to 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 | 370 | 717 | 947 |
| Forb | 39 | 90 | 140 |
| Shrub/Vine | 39 | 67 | 95 |
| Tree | – | 22 | 50 |
| Total | 448 | 896 | 1232 |
Figure 9. 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 |
Community 1.2
Blue Grama/Sedge
This plant community can develop from continuous season-long grazing, or annual, spring seasonal grazing, or heavy grazing in combination with drought. Shortgrasses and sedges increase to dominate the site and annual production decreases dramatically. Lack of litter and short plant heights result in higher soil temperatures, poor water infiltration rates, and high evaporation, which gives blue grama a competitive advantage over cool-season midgrasses. Blue grama and threadleaf sedge are the dominant grass/grass-like species. Other grasses may include western wheatgrass, needle and thread, little bluestem, prairie Junegrass, and threeawn. Significant forbs include green sagewort, cutleaf ironplant, rush skeletonweed, false hairy goldenaster, pussytoes, Hood’s phlox, and scarlet globemallow. The significant shrubs include broom snakeweed, cactus, and fringed sagewort. This plant community is relatively stable. The competitive advantage of blue grama and threadleaf sedge prevents other species from establishing. This plant community is less productive than the Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama Plant Community (1.1). Runoff has increased and infiltration has decreased. Soil erosion does not increase appreciably.
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 | 291 | 435 | 572 |
| Forb | 22 | 56 | 90 |
| Shrub/Vine | 22 | 55 | 90 |
| Tree | – | 15 | 34 |
| Total | 335 | 561 | 786 |
Figure 11. 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 |
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Continuous season-long grazing, continuous seasonal grazing, or heavy grazing in combination with drought will convert this plant community to the Blue Grama/Sedge Plant Community (1.2).
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Prescribed grazing that includes proper stocking rates, change in season of use, and adequate time for plant recovery following grazing and a return to normal precipitation patterns following drought will convert this plant community to the Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama Plant Community (1.1).
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Grazing |
|---|
Additional community tables
Table 7. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Cool-Season Bunchgrasses | 90–179 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 90–179 | – | ||
| porcupinegrass | HESP11 | Hesperostipa spartea | 0–45 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid- Warm-Season Grasses | 179–359 | ||||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 90–179 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 90–135 | – | ||
| plains muhly | MUCU3 | Muhlenbergia cuspidata | 18–45 | – | ||
| 3 | Short Warm-Season Grasses | 90–269 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 45–179 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 45–90 | – | ||
| 4 | Rhizomatous Wheatgrass | 45–90 | ||||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 45–90 | – | ||
| thickspike wheatgrass | ELLAL | Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus | 0–45 | – | ||
| 5 | Other Native Grasses | 9–45 | ||||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 9–45 | – | ||
| prairie sandreed | CALO | Calamovilfa longifolia | 0–45 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–45 | – | ||
| bluebunch wheatgrass | PSSP6 | Pseudoroegneria spicata | 0–45 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–18 | – | ||
| Sandberg bluegrass | POSE | Poa secunda | 9–18 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–18 | – | ||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 0–9 | – | ||
| 6 | Grass-Likes | 45–135 | ||||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 45–135 | – | ||
| sedge | CAREX | Carex | 0–18 | – | ||
| 7 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses | – | ||||
| cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | – | – | ||
| field brome | BRAR5 | Bromus arvensis | – | – | ||
| crested wheatgrass | AGCR | Agropyron cristatum | – | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 8 | Forbs | 45–135 | ||||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 9–45 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 9–36 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–27 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 9–27 | – | ||
| stemless four-nerve daisy | TEACA2 | Tetraneuris acaulis var. acaulis | 9–27 | – | ||
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 9–27 | – | ||
| upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 9–27 | – | ||
| blacksamson echinacea | ECAN2 | Echinacea angustifolia | 9–27 | – | ||
| purple prairie clover | DAPU5 | Dalea purpurea | 9–27 | – | ||
| pussytoes | ANTEN | Antennaria | 9–18 | – | ||
| rush skeletonplant | LYJU | Lygodesmia juncea | 0–18 | – | ||
| scarlet beeblossom | GACO5 | Gaura coccinea | 0–18 | – | ||
| scarlet globemallow | SPCO | Sphaeralcea coccinea | 0–18 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 9–18 | – | ||
| old man's whiskers | GETR | Geum triflorum | 0–18 | – | ||
| spiny phlox | PHHO | Phlox hoodii | 9–18 | – | ||
| Indian breadroot | PEDIO2 | Pediomelum | 0–18 | – | ||
| field sagewort | ARCA12 | Artemisia campestris | 0–18 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–18 | – | ||
| cutleaf anemone | PUPAM | Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida | 0–18 | – | ||
| ragwort | PACKE | Packera | 0–9 | – | ||
| sandwort | ARENA | Arenaria | 0–9 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–9 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 0–9 | – | ||
| onion | ALLIU | Allium | 0–9 | – | ||
| deathcamas | ZIGAD | Zigadenus | 0–9 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–9 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 9 | Shrubs | 45–90 | ||||
| alderleaf mountain mahogany | CEMO2 | Cercocarpus montanus | 0–72 | – | ||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 9–27 | – | ||
| rose | ROSA5 | Rosa | 9–27 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–27 | – | ||
| soapweed yucca | YUGL | Yucca glauca | 9–27 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–27 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–18 | – | ||
| plains pricklypear | OPPO | Opuntia polyacantha | 0–18 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–9 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–9 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 10 | Trees | 0–45 | ||||
| Rocky Mountain juniper | JUSC2 | Juniperus scopulorum | 0–27 | – | ||
| ponderosa pine | PIPO | Pinus ponderosa | 0–27 | – | ||
Table 8. Community 1.2 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Cool-Season Bunchgrasses | 0–28 | ||||
| needle and thread | HECOC8 | Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata | 0–28 | – | ||
| porcupinegrass | HESP11 | Hesperostipa spartea | 0–6 | – | ||
| 2 | Mid- Warm-Season Grasses | 11–56 | ||||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 0–45 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 6–45 | – | ||
| plains muhly | MUCU3 | Muhlenbergia cuspidata | 0–6 | – | ||
| 3 | Short Warm-Season Grasses | 140–224 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 112–224 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 28–84 | – | ||
| 4 | Rhizomatous Wheatgrass | 6–28 | ||||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 6–28 | – | ||
| thickspike wheatgrass | ELLAL | Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus | 0–11 | – | ||
| 5 | Other Native Grasses | 11–56 | ||||
| threeawn | ARIST | Aristida | 6–28 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–28 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–17 | – | ||
| Sandberg bluegrass | POSE | Poa secunda | 6–17 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–17 | – | ||
| bluebunch wheatgrass | PSSP6 | Pseudoroegneria spicata | 0–11 | – | ||
| prairie sandreed | CALO | Calamovilfa longifolia | 0–6 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–6 | – | ||
| 6 | Grass-Likes | 112–196 | ||||
| threadleaf sedge | CAFI | Carex filifolia | 112–196 | – | ||
| sedge | CAREX | Carex | 0–84 | – | ||
| 7 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses | 0–56 | ||||
| cheatgrass | BRTE | Bromus tectorum | 0–56 | – | ||
| field brome | BRAR5 | Bromus arvensis | 0–28 | – | ||
| crested wheatgrass | AGCR | Agropyron cristatum | 0–28 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 8 | Forbs | 28–84 | ||||
| field sagewort | ARCA12 | Artemisia campestris | 0–45 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 6–34 | – | ||
| dotted blazing star | LIPU | Liatris punctata | 6–28 | – | ||
| white heath aster | SYER | Symphyotrichum ericoides | 6–28 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 6–28 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–17 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 6–17 | – | ||
| pussytoes | ANTEN | Antennaria | 6–17 | – | ||
| rush skeletonplant | LYJU | Lygodesmia juncea | 0–17 | – | ||
| scarlet globemallow | SPCO | Sphaeralcea coccinea | 6–17 | – | ||
| spiny phlox | PHHO | Phlox hoodii | 6–17 | – | ||
| stemless four-nerve daisy | TEACA2 | Tetraneuris acaulis var. acaulis | 0–11 | – | ||
| deathcamas | ZIGAD | Zigadenus | 6–11 | – | ||
| ragwort | PACKE | Packera | 6–11 | – | ||
| scarlet beeblossom | GACO5 | Gaura coccinea | 0–11 | – | ||
| upright prairie coneflower | RACO3 | Ratibida columnifera | 0–11 | – | ||
| old man's whiskers | GETR | Geum triflorum | 0–11 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–11 | – | ||
| cutleaf anemone | PUPAM | Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida | 0–11 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 0–6 | – | ||
| sandwort | ARENA | Arenaria | 0–6 | – | ||
| beardtongue | PENST | Penstemon | 0–6 | – | ||
| onion | ALLIU | Allium | 0–6 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–6 | – | ||
| blacksamson echinacea | ECAN2 | Echinacea angustifolia | – | – | ||
| purple prairie clover | DAPU5 | Dalea purpurea | – | – | ||
| Indian breadroot | PEDIO2 | Pediomelum | – | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 9 | Shrubs | 28–84 | ||||
| prairie sagewort | ARFR4 | Artemisia frigida | 11–45 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 6–45 | – | ||
| soapweed yucca | YUGL | Yucca glauca | 11–45 | – | ||
| plains pricklypear | OPPO | Opuntia polyacantha | 6–28 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–28 | – | ||
| alderleaf mountain mahogany | CEMO2 | Cercocarpus montanus | 0–28 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–17 | – | ||
| rose | ROSA5 | Rosa | 6–17 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–6 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | – | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 10 | Trees | 0–28 | ||||
| Rocky Mountain juniper | JUSC2 | Juniperus scopulorum | 0–17 | – | ||
| ponderosa pine | PIPO | Pinus ponderosa | 0–17 | – | ||
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 Very Shallow ecological site provides upland grassland cover with an associated forb, shrub, and tree component. It was typically part of an expansive grassland landscape that included combinations of Badlands, Thin Breaks, Clayey, Claypan, Dense Clay, Loamy, Saline, Sandy, Overflow, Subirrigated, and Terrace ecological sites. This 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 include free-ranging American bison, grizzly bear, gray wolf, black-footed ferret, mountain plover, Rocky Mountain locust, and swift fox.
The majority of the Very Shallow 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 and field brome have impacted the biological integrity of the site for some grassland birds. Changes in historic fire regime and domestic grazing have impacted the forb/shrub/grass percentages.
Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama (1.1): The predominance of grasses in this community favors herbivores. Insects, such as pollinators, play a role in maintaining the forb community and provide a forage base for grassland birds and other species. The plant structural diversity provides habitat for a wide array of migratory and resident birds. Grasshopper sparrow, chestnut-collared longspur, Sprague’s pipit, horned lark, lark bunting, 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- 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 habitat for herptiles such as the spade foot toad, gopher snake, milk snake, and prairie rattlesnake.
Blue Grama/Sedge (1.2): Resulting from continuous season-long grazing the warm-season grass component has been substantially reduced and a shift to a short statured plant community occurs. Both forb and shrub diversity and abundance are substantially increased.
The predominance of short grass and bare spots makes this site ideal for shortgrass-nesting bird species. The increase of grass-like species, forbs, and shrubs causes an increase in insect populations such as pollinators. Grasshopper sparrow, horned lark, lark bunting, 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 provides adequate nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including voles, mice, spotted ground squirrel, and white- and black-tailed jackrabbit. Predators utilizing this plant community include coyote, American badger, red fox, and long-tailed weasel. This plant community provides habitat for herptiles such as the spade foot toad, gopher snake, milk snake, short-horned lizard, and prairie rattlesnake.
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: Needle and Thread-Little Bluestem-Grama (1.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 800
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.22
Plant Community: Blue Grama/Sedge (1.2)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 500
* Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): 0.14
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 herbage production on this site. The site is dominated by soils in hydrologic group B. Infiltration varies from rapid to very rapid and runoff varies from very low to medium depending upon 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 exception would be where shortgrasses form a dense sod and dominate the site. Areas with less than 50 percent ground cover 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, Wade Anderson, range professional and rancher, and Kent Cooley, area resource soil scientist, 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 3 August 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 3 August 2018).
Soil Survey Staff. 2018. Web Soil Survey. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx (accessed 3 August 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 30 May 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 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov (accessed 1 June 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. PLANTS database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC. http://plants.usda.gov (accessed 7 August 2018).
Contributors
Stan C. Boltz
Rick L. Peterson
Approval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 7/19/2024
Acknowledgments
This ecological site was reviewed and approved at the Provisional Level by David Kraft, Regional ESS, Salina, KS on 1/10/2019.
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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 | 01/05/2010 |
| Approved by | Suzanne Mayne-Kinney |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None on slopes of about 15% or less, slight to none and discontinuous on slopes greater than 15%. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None on slopes of about 15% or less; barely visible and discontinuous with numerous debris dams on slopes greater than 15%. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Few pedastalled plants typically on steeper slopes. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
5 to 25 percent is typical. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None should be present. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Small size litter classes will generally move short distances, some medium size class litter will move very short distances. Litter debris dams are occasionally present. -
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 3 or greater. Surface organic matter adheres to the soil surface. Soil surface fragments will typically retain structure for 1 minute or longer when dipped in distilled water. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
A-horizon should be 1 to 3 inches thick with light to dark brownish gray colors, but not typically mollic. Structure should typically be weak fine granular at least in the upper A-horizon. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Combination of shallow and deep rooted species (mid rhizomatous and tufted perennial cool- and warm-season grasses) with fine and coarse roots positively influences infiltration. Infiltration is typically high due to gravelly nature of soils. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None – very shallow to gravel, but no platy structure will 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:
Mid warm-season grasses > Short warm-season grasses >Sub-dominant:
Mid cool-season bunchgrasses > Grass-likes = Forbs >Other:
Mid cool-season rhizomatous grasses = shrubsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Very little evidence of decadence or mortality. Bunch grasses have strong, healthy centers and shrubs are vigorous. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover is typically 20 to 40 percent, with the depth roughly 0.25 inches or less. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Total annual production ranges from 500 to 1,200 pounds/acre, with the reference value being 900 pounds/acre (air-dry 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:
State and local noxious weeds. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Species exhibit somewhat lower vigor than what would normally be expected for these species on other ecological sites. The droughty nature of the soils of this site causes plant stress even in typical precipitation patterns. Do not rate based solely on seed production.
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