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Ecological site R069XY012CO

Saline Closed Depression

Last updated: 9/07/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024

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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.

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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): 069X–Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains

MLRA 69 is in the Arkansas Watershed of southeastern (SE) Colorado. It consists of rolling plains, river valleys, and canyonlands. The Arkansas River flows from the Rocky Mountains to Kansas. Tributaries include the Huerfano and Purgatoire Rivers. The MLRA is traversed by Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 50, and includes the cities of Pueblo, La Junta, and Lamar. Other cities include Cañon City, and Walsenburg. Bent's Fort was once a major trading post along the Santa Fe Trail. The majority of land use is rangeland (greater than 75 percent), and 6 percent cropland. The remainder is urban, recreation, etc. Land ownership is mostly private. Federal lands include U.S. Forest Service Comanche National Grassland, Department of Defense Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site and Fort Carson. There is a minor amount of Bureau of Land Management and other federal land. State areas include Pueblo and John Martin reservoirs. Elevations MLRA-wide are 3,700 to 6,400 feet.

The "Dust Bowl" region (1930s) included SE Colorado, which is periodically affected by severe drought. Dust storms may form during drought years, in windy periods. Annual precipitation is 10 to 16 inches. Precipitation occurs mostly during the growing season, often during rapidly developing thunderstorms. Mean annual air temperature (MAAT) is 48 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures may exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Evapotranspiration rates are high. Winter temperatures may be subzero. Snowfall varies from 20 to 40 inches per year. Blizzards can form quickly.

Classification relationships

MLRA 69 is in the Piedmont and Raton Sections of the Great Plains Province. The MLRA is further defined by Land Resource Units (LRUs) A, B, and C. The modal concepts of each LRU can be defined by soil properties and annual precipitation zones (PZ). Other features, such as climate, geology, landforms, and key vegetation, further refine these concepts and are described in the Ecological Site Description (ESD).

LRU A (10 to 12 inches PZ) is 2.4 million acres in the central portion of MLRA 69. There is irrigated cropland in the Arkansas Valley. Precipitation is too limited for dryland crops. Most of LRU A is rangeland, and includes the Comanche National Grassland (FS). This LRU is in portions of Bent, Crowley, Otero, and Pueblo counties. Soil Moisture Regime is Ustic Aridic. The Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT) is 51 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

LRU B (12 to 14 inches PZ) is 4.7 million acres and includes portions of Baca, Bent, Crowley, El Paso, Fremont, Kiowa, Las Animas, Lincoln, Prowers, and Pueblo counties. Most of the LRU is in rangeland. Land uses include irrigated and dry cropland, small acreage and urban ownership. Land east of Interstate 25 remains largely agricultural. Canyonlands are in the southern half and include Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site and the Picket Wire Canyon of the Comanche National Grasslands. Soil moisture regime is Ustic Aridic. The mean annual air temperature is 50 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Saline Closed Depression ecological site, LRUs A and B, was developed from an earlier version of the Saline Plains Swale Ecological Site (2004, revised in 2007). This earlier version of the Saline Plains Swale Site (2004) was based on input from Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) and historical information obtained from the Saline Plains Swale Range Site descriptions (1975, revised 1983). This ESD meets the Provisional requirements of the National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH). This ESD will continue refinement towards an Approved status according to the NESH.

Ecological site concept

The Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site is a run-on site in closed depressions. It has both calcium carbonates and other salts.

Associated sites

R069XY006CO	Loamy Plains The Loamy Plains Ecological Site is commonly adjacent to the Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site in an upland position.
R069XY026CO	Sandy Plains The Sandy Plains Ecological Site is commonly adjacent to the Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site in an upland position.
R069XY047CO	Alkaline Plains The Alkaline Plains Ecological Site is commonly adjacent to the Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site in an upland position.

R069XY006CO

Loamy Plains

The Loamy Plains Ecological Site is commonly adjacent to the Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site in an upland position.

R069XY026CO

Sandy Plains

The Sandy Plains Ecological Site is commonly adjacent to the Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site in an upland position.

R069XY047CO

Alkaline Plains

The Alkaline Plains Ecological Site is commonly adjacent to the Saline Closed Depression Ecological Site in an upland position.

Similar sites

R069XY011CO	Closed Depression The only salt in the Closed Depression Ecological Site is calcium carbonate, reflected in the plant community by a lack of alkali sacaton.

R069XY011CO

Closed Depression

The only salt in the Closed Depression Ecological Site is calcium carbonate, reflected in the plant community by a lack of alkali sacaton.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Atriplex canescens (2) Krascheninnikovia lanata
Herbaceous	(1) Pascopyrum smithii (2) Sporobolus airoides

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on plains.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Closed depression
Runoff class	Negligible
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	Occasional
Elevation	1,341 – 1,768 m
Slope	0 – 1%
Ponding depth	0 – 61 cm
Water table depth	152 cm
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

Approximately 75 percent of the annual precipitation occurs during the growing season from mid-April to late September. Snowfall can vary greatly from year to year and can range from 20 to 40 inches per year. Winds are estimated to average 6 to 7 miles per hour annually. Daytime winds are generally stronger than nighttime winds. Occasional strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 60 miles per hour. The average length of the freeze-free period (28 °F) is 168 days. The average last freeze in the spring is April 22nd, and the average date of first freeze in fall is October 7th. The average length of the frost-free period (32 °F) is 149 days. The last frost in the spring is May 5th, and the average date for first frost in the fall (32 °F), is October 1. July is the hottest month, and January is the coldest. It is not uncommon for temperature to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Summer humidity is low and evaporation is high. The winters are characterized with frequent northerly winds, producing severe cold and temperatures dropping to -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

LRU A, in the Arkansas River Valley, is the hottest and driest portion of the MLRA. Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) is 10 to 12 inches, and Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT) is 51 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. LRU B is the largest extent. MAP is 12 to 14 inches, and MAAT is 50 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	127-134 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	149-161 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	305-356 mm
Frost-free period (actual range)	121-135 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	141-164 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	279-406 mm
Frost-free period (average)	129 days
Freeze-free period (average)	153 days
Precipitation total (average)	330 mm

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) PUEBLO RSVR [USC00056765], Pueblo, CO
(2) EADS [USC00052446], Eads, CO
(3) LA JUNTA 20 S [USC00054726], La Junta, CO
(4) TACONY 13 SE [USC00058157], Boone, CO
(5) CHERAW 1 N [USC00051539], La Junta, CO
(6) ORDWAY 21 N [USC00056136], Ordway, CO
(7) ROCKY FORD 2 SE [USC00057167], Rocky Ford, CO
(8) PUEBLO MEM AP [USW00093058], Pueblo, CO
(9) ORDWAY 2 ENE [USC00056131], Ordway, CO

Soil features

The soils of this site are very deep. They are moderately well drained with very slow or slow permeability. The surface layer thickness ranges from 2 to 6 inches. The soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. The soil temperature regime is mesic. Parent material kind includes clayey alluvium. Parent material originated from mixed sources.
Major soil series correlated to this ecological site include Chromic Haplotorrert.

Revisions to soil surveys are on-going. For the most recent updates, visit the Web Soil Survey, the official site for latest soils information: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium
Surface texture	(1) Silty clay
Drainage class	Moderately well drained
Permeability class	Very slow to slow
Soil depth	152 – 203 cm
Surface fragment cover <=3"	0%
Surface fragment cover >3"	0%
Available water capacity (0-101.6cm)	14.22 – 21.34 cm
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm)	3 – 10%
Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm)	0 – 8 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm)	1 – 20
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm)	7.4 – 9
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0cm)	0%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0cm)	0%

Ecological dynamics

The information in this ESD, including the state-and-transition model (STM), was developed using archeological and historical data, professional experience, and scientific studies. The information is representative of a complex set of plant communities. The plant composition has been determined by study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, seasonal-use pastures, short-duration or time-controlled grazing strategies, and historical accounts.

Not all scenarios or plants are included. Key indicator plants, animals, and ecological processes are described to inform land management decisions.

This region was historically occupied by large grazing animals, such as bison, along with pronghorn and mule deer. Deer and pronghorn are widely distributed throughout the MLRA. This is an important site for livestock grazing, especially cattle.

Drought has historically impacted the vegetation of this region. Changes in species composition vary depending upon the duration and severity of the drought cycle and prior grazing management. Recent drought events have increased mortality of blue grama significantly in some locales, along with other bunchgrasses, such as sand bluestem, little bluestem, needle and thread, Fendler threeawn, and squirreltail. Historic fire frequency (pre-industrial) is estimated at 15 to 20 years (Guyette, 2012), randomly distributed, and started by lightning at various times throughout the growing season. Early human inhabitants were also likely to start fires (deliberate or accidental).

The primary grasses are cool-season mid- rhizomatous grass (western wheatgrass), warm-season mid-bunchgrass (alkali sacaton), and warm-season mid- stoloniferous grass (vine mesquite). Secondary grasses are warm-season short bunchgrass (blue grama) and warm-season short stoloniferous grass (buffalograss). Other grasses include warm-season short and mid-grasses (James galleta, inland saltgrass, and alkali cordgrass); cool-season mid- grasses (Canada wildrye and bottlebrush squirreltail), and Grasslikes (sun sedge). Key forbs include American vetch, purple prairieclover, scarlet globemallow, Cuman ragweed, and wedgeleaf [fogfruit]. Key shrubs include fourwing saltbush and winterfat.

Deterioration of this site due to recurring seasonal herbivory without adequate recovery opportunity following each grazing occurrence will cause vine mesquite, alkali sacaton, and eventually western wheatgrass to decrease in frequency and production. Grasses such as blue grama and buffalograss will increase. Continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunity will eventually cause a shift across an ecological threshold to a blue grama/buffalograss sod-bound state with a remnant amount of alkali sacaton. Heavy, continuous grazing or excessive defoliation will result in a plant community dominated with inland saltgrass, mat muhly, red threeawn, annual invaders, and increased areas of bare ground. Stock water dugouts are occasionally constructed on the site to supply livestock water. This has a minor impact on the overall integrity and ecological functioning of the site and is applicable to any of the plant community phases in the reference state. This is due to the infrequent amount of ponding that occurs on the site. The immediate area of the dugout is affected due to soil disturbance and increased animal impact.

Southeastern Colorado was strongly affected by extended drought conditions in the “Dust Bowl” period of the 1930s, with recurrent drought cycles in the 1950s and 1970s. Extreme to exceptional drought conditions have re-visited the area from 2002 to 2012, with brief interludes of near normal to normal precipitation years. “During periods of drought, high winds give rise to the dust storms which are especially characteristic of the southeastern plains (WRCC, 2022).” Recent drought events have increased mortality of blue grama upwards of 80 percent in some locales. The long-term effects of these latest drought years have yet to be determined.

Growth of native cool-season plants begins about April 15 and continues to mid-June. Native warm-season plants begin growth about May 1 and continue to about August 15. Regrowth of cool-season plants occurs in September and October in most years, depending on moisture. For detailed information, visit the Western Regional Climate Center website at https://wrcc.dri.edu/.

Drier and warmer climatic conditions exist in the central portion of MLRA 69. This area includes the eastern half of Pueblo county, northern Otero, extreme northwestern Bent, western edge of Kiowa, southern edge of Lincoln and all of Crowley County. These conditions are primarily caused by a rain shadow effect from the southern Rocky Mountains. Evapotranspiration rates (atmospheric demand) are higher in this area of MLRA 69. Total annual production is typically lower.

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

1. Reference State

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Pascopyrum smithii- Sporobolus airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton)

1.2. Pascopyrum smithii-Sporobolus-airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton)

1.3. Pascopyrum smithii-Sporobolus airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton) Excessive Litter, Low Plant Denstiy Community

1.4. Bouteloua gracilis-Bouteloua dactyloides (blue grama-buffalograss)

1.1 A	-	Heavy season-long grazing. Drought.
1.1 B	-	Non-use. Lack of fire.
1.2 A	-	Prescribed grazing. Adequate precipitation.
1.2 B	-	Continuous, heavy grazing.
1.3 A	-	Prescribed grazing. Prescribed fire.
1.4 A	-	Prescribed grazing.

State 1
Reference State

This is the reference state for the Saline Closed Depression ecological site within MLRA 69. It is a reflection of all of the natural variability affecting the ecological functioning of the site.

Dominant plant species

fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shrub
winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), shrub
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), grass

Community 1.1
Pascopyrum smithii- Sporobolus airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton)

This community is the interpretive plant community for this site and is considered to be the reference plant community. This community evolved with recurring seasonal herbivory by large herbivores and is well suited for grazing. Historically, fires occurred infrequently. The site developed with run-in water occasionally ponding intermittently during April through August. Ponded conditions most likely occurred one year in five for at least 14 consecutive days during the growing season. This plant community can be found on areas that are grazed and where the grazed plants receive adequate periods of recovery during the growing season. The potential vegetation is about 77 to 88 percent grasses and grass-like plants, 7 to 13 percent forbs and 5 to 10 percent shrubs. This plant community is diverse, stable, and productive. Litter is properly distributed with very little movement off-site and natural plant mortality is low. It is well suited to carbon sequestration, water yield, wildlife use by many species, livestock use, and is aesthetically pleasing. Community dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle, and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is resistant to many disturbances except heavy, continuous grazing, long-term non-use, and tillage. Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 650 to 2100 pounds per acre air-dry weight and averages 1350 pounds.

Dominant plant species

fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shrub
winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), shrub
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), grass

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	555	1249	1995
Forb	101	151	202
Shrub/Vine	73	113	157
Total	729	1513	2354

Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). CO6912, Cool-season dominant, warm-season subdominant, ponded..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	2	13	25	30	20	7	3	0	0	0

Community 1.2
Pascopyrum smithii-Sporobolus-airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton)

This plant community results from recurring heavy, seasonal herbivory and the effects of periodic drought inherent to the site. Total production is reduced along with a decrease in the amount of litter on the soil surface. The relative amounts of western wheatgrass, alkali sacaton, and vine mesquite grass have decreased with corresponding increases in the amounts of blue grama and buffalograss.

Dominant plant species

rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), shrub
fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shrub
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass

Community 1.3
Pascopyrum smithii-Sporobolus airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton) Excessive Litter, Low Plant Denstiy Community

This community phase is characterized by a decreased plant vigor condition resulting from increased grass plant decadence and low plant density. Species composition can be highly variable, but will most likely resemble the vegetation that was present when non-use or rest began. Species production and density will decrease as non-use and reduced fire frequency persists. Much of the nutrients are tied up in excessive litter. The semiarid environment and the absence of animal impact to break down litter slow nutrient cycling. Aboveground litter also limits sunlight from reaching plant crowns. Many plants, especially bunchgrasses die off. Thick litter and absence of grazing or fire reduce seed germination and establishment. In advanced stages, plant mortality can increase and erosion may eventually occur if bare ground increases.

Dominant plant species

fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), shrub
winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), shrub
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass

Community 1.4
Bouteloua gracilis-Bouteloua dactyloides (blue grama-buffalograss)

This plant community represents the unhealthy sod-bound condition that results from blue grama and buffalo grass dominating the site. Alkali sacaton exists in remnant amounts. This community developed with repeated continuous grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events. Vine Mesquite, American vetch, purple prairie clover, fourwing saltbush and winterfat have been removed. Western wheatgrass, alkali cordgrass and sun sedge may persist in trace amounts. Buffalograss and blue grama dominate the community and form a “sod bound” appearance. Saltgrass, Fendler threeawn, sand dropseed, tumblegrass, mat muhly, scratchgrass, hairy goldaster, and plains pricklypear will all increase in varying degrees. In some instances, broom snakeweed will significantly increase. This plant community is resistant to change due to grazing tolerance of buffalo grass and blue grama. A significant amount of production and diversity has been lost when compared to the Reference Plant Community. Loss of cool season grasses, fourwing saltbush and winterfat, and nitrogen fixing forbs have negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced significantly due to the massive shallow root system “root pan”, characteristic of sod bound blue grama and buffalo grass. This results in an increase of ponding duration which increases the amount of bare ground due to the loss of desirable grass and grass-like species. Total annual production, during an average year, ranges from 300 to 1300 pounds per acre air-dry weight and will average 700 pounds.

Dominant plant species

broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), shrub
rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), shrub
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides), grass

Pathway 1.1 A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Recurring heavy, seasonal herbivory and periodic drought are inherent to this site and will cause a shift to the 1.2 Plant Community. This community is characterized by reduced production from western wheatgrass and vine mesquite with a corresponding decreased amount of litter.

Pathway 1.1 B
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Non-use and/or lack of fire will cause a shift from the intrepretive plant community to the Excessive Litter, Low Plant Density Plant Community. These temporary lack of disturbances cause an interruption of the mineral cycle resulting in a build up of excessive litter. Energy flow is also impeded.

Pathway 1.2 A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Return of herbivory with adequate recovery opportunity and normal frequency and amount of precipitation will drive this community phase back toward the interpretive plant community.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.2 B
Community 1.2 to 1.4

Continuous, heavy grazing without adequate recovery opportunity between grazing events will shift this community to the 1.4 community. Biotic integrity has been significantly altered due to the dominance of blue grama and buffalograss. The resulting plant community is in an advance stage of desertification.

Pathway 1.3 A
Community 1.3 to 1.1

The return of herbivory with adequate recovery opportunity and fire shift this community back toward the interpretive plant community.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing
Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.4 A
Community 1.4 to 1.2

Long-term prescribed grazing with adequate recovery opportunity will eventually lead to recovery. This pathway will require greater than 40 years.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Grazing

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (kg/hectare)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	cool season, rhizomatous			454–605
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	454–605	–
2	warm season, mid-height			605–919
	alkali sacaton	SPAI	Sporobolus airoides	381–532	–
	vine mesquite	PAOB	Panicum obtusum	224–381	–
3	warm season, short height			135–258
	blue grama	BOGR2	Bouteloua gracilis	106–202	–
	buffalograss	BODA2	Bouteloua dactyloides	28–78	–
4	warm season, short to mid-height			101–347
	James' galleta	PLJA	Pleuraphis jamesii	78–151	–
	saltgrass	DISP	Distichlis spicata	17–50	–
	alkali cordgrass	SPGR	Spartina gracilis	17–50	–
	silver beardgrass	BOLAT	Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana	0–34	–
	sand dropseed	SPCR	Sporobolus cryptandrus	0–34	–
	tumblegrass	SCPA	Schedonnardus paniculatus	0–17	–
	scratchgrass	MUAS	Muhlenbergia asperifolia	0–17	–
	mat muhly	MURI	Muhlenbergia richardsonis	0–17	–
	ring muhly	MUTO2	Muhlenbergia torreyi	0–17	–
	Fendler threeawn	ARPUL	Aristida purpurea var. longiseta	0–17	–
5	cool season, mid-height			17–56
	Canada wildrye	ELCA4	Elymus canadensis	0–34	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	17–34	–
6	sedges			28–78
	sun sedge	CAINH2	Carex inops ssp. heliophila	28–78	–
7	other native grasses			17–50
	Grass, perennial	2GP	Grass, perennial	17–50	–
Forb
8	cool season forbs			50–106
	American vetch	VIAM	Vicia americana	17–50	–
	purple prairie clover	DAPUP	Dalea purpurea var. purpurea	17–34	–
	scarlet globemallow	SPCO	Sphaeralcea coccinea	17–34	–
9	warm season forbs			0–179
	Cuman ragweed	AMPS	Ambrosia psilostachya	0–34	–
	tarragon	ARDR4	Artemisia dracunculus	0–17	–
	scarlet beeblossom	GACO5	Gaura coccinea	0–17	–
	hairy false goldenaster	HEVI4	Heterotheca villosa	0–17	–
	rush skeletonplant	LYJU	Lygodesmia juncea	0–17	–
	wedgeleaf	PHCU3	Phyla cuneifolia	0–17	–
	oppositeleaf bahia	PIOP	Picradeniopsis oppositifolia	0–17	–
	woolly plantain	PLPA2	Plantago patagonica	0–17	–
	upright prairie coneflower	RACO3	Ratibida columnifera	0–17	–
10	Poisonous forbs			0–45
	woolly locoweed	ASMO7	Astragalus mollissimus	0–17	–
	silky sophora	SONU	Sophora nuttalliana	0–17	–
	poison suckleya	SUSU2	Suckleya suckleyana	0–17	–
11	other native forbs			17–50
	Forb, perennial	2FP	Forb, perennial	17–50	–
Shrub/Vine
12	warm season shrubs			62–157
	fourwing saltbush	ATCA2	Atriplex canescens	50–106	–
	winterfat	KRLA2	Krascheninnikovia lanata	17–50	–
13	other shrubs			0–56
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNAG	Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. glabrata	0–17	–
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–17	–
	plains pricklypear	OPPO	Opuntia polyacantha	0–17	–
14	other native shrubs not listed			17–50
	Shrub (>.5m)	2SHRUB	Shrub (>.5m)	17–50	–

Interpretations

Other products

Site Development & Testing Plan:

General Data (MLRA and Revision Notes, Hierarchical Classification, Ecological Site Concept, Physiographic, Climate, and Water Features, and Soils Data):

- Updated, All “Required” items are complete to Provisional level

Community Phase Data (Ecological Dynamics, STM, Transition & Recovery Pathways, Reference Plant Community, Species Composition List, Annual Production Table):

- Updated. All “Required” items are complete to Provisional level.

NOTE: Annual Production Table and Species Composition List were developed from preliminary soil and vegetative site investigations. This site concept was developed by local range professionals and soil scientists. The site concept will need to be tested and further data collection and analysis is needed to develop this site to the Approved level.

Each Alternative State/Community:

- Complete to Provisional level.

- The CP 1.4 to 1.2 is questionable in the length of time required. This topic needs further discussion.

Site Interpretations (Wildlife, Livestock, Hydrology, Recreational, Wood Products, Other)

- (RESERVED). These sections will be developed for this site to allow advancement to “Approved” level.

- There are no existing NRI or 417 Inventories for this site. More field data collection is needed to support this site concept.

- Extent maps (created in Arcmap) need to be re-visited when the 2017 soils layer updates are loaded, to verify that all Associated Sites have been identified.

Rangeland Health Reference Sheet:

- (DRAFT, April 3, 2012).

- To be developed. (Reserved)

“Future work is needed to to elevate this site description to the "Approved" level.. This will include field activities to collect low and medium intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document.” (NI 430_306 ESI and ESD, April, 2015)

Other information

Relationship to Other Classifications:
NRCS Classification Hierarchy:
Physiographic Divisions of the United States (Fenneman, 1946): Physiographic DivisionPhysiographic ProvincePhysiographic SectionLand Resource RegionMajor Land Resource Area (MLRA)Land Resource Unit (LRU).

USFS Classification Hierarchy:
National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (Cleland et al, 181-200):
DomainDivisionProvinceSectionSubsectionLandtype Association LandtypeLandtype Phase.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

NRI: references to Natural Resource Inventory data
Information presented here has been derived from data collection on private and federal lands using:
• Double Sampling (clipped 2 of 5 plots)*
• Rangeland Health (Pellant et al., 2005)
• Soil Stability (Pellant et al., 2005)
• Line Point Intercept : Foliar canopy, basal cover (Forb, Graminoid, Shrub, subshrub, Lichen, Moss, Rock fragments, bare ground, % Litter) (Herrick et al., 2005)
• Soil pedon descriptions collected on site (Schoeneberger et al., 2012)

*NRCS double-sampling method, CO NRCS Similarity Index Worksheet 528(1).
Additional reconnaissance data collection using numerous ocular estimates and other inventory data; NRCS clipping data for USDA program support; Field observations from experienced range trained personnel. Specific data information is contained in individual landowner/user case files and other files located in county NRCS field offices.

References

Guyette, R.P., M.C. Stambaugh, D.C. Dey, and R. Muzika. 2012. Predicting Fire Frequency with Chemistry and Climate. Ecosystems 15:322–335.

Other references

Data collection for this ecological site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the Upper Arkansas Valley (MLRA 69) of Colorado. The site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: Baca County, Bent County, Crowley County, El Paso County Area, Fremont County Area, Huerfano County Area, Kiowa County, Las Animas County: Parts of Huerfano and Las Animas, Lincoln County, Otero County, Prowers County, and Pueblo Area: Parts of Pueblo and Custer Counties.

30 Year Climatic and Hydrologic Normals (1981-2010) Reports. National Water and climate Center: Portland, OR. August 2015

ACIS-USDA Field Office Climate Data (WETS), period of record 1971-2000 http://agacis.rcc-acis.org (powered by WRCC) Accessed March 2016

Andrews, R. and R. Righter. 1992. Colorado Birds. Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, CO. 442

Armstrong, D.M. 1972. Distribution of mammals in Colorado. Univ. Kansas Museum Natural History Monograph #3. 415.

Butler, LD., J.B. Cropper, R.H. Johnson, A.J. Norman, G.L. Peacock, P.L. Shaver, and K.E. Spaeth. 1997, revised 2003. National Range and Pasture Handbook. National Cartography and Geospatial Center’s Technical Publishing Team: Fort Worth, TX. http://www.glti.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/publications/nrph.html Accessed August 2015

Clark, J., E. Grimm, J. Donovan, S. Fritz, D. Engrstom, and J. Almendinger. 2002. Drought cycles and landscape responses to past Aridity on prairies of the Northern Great Plains, USA. Ecology, 83(3), 595-601.

Cleland, D., P. Avers, W.H. McNab, M. Jensen, R. Bailey, T. King, and W. Russell. 1997. National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units, published in Ecosystem Management: Applications for Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Resources, Yale University Press

Cooperative climatological data summaries. NOAA. Western Regional Climate Center: Reno, NV. Web. http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/climatedata/climsum Accessed August 2015

Egan, Timothy. 2006. The Worst Hard Time. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company: New York, NY.

Fitzgerald, J.P., C.A. Meaney, and D.M. Armstrong. 1994. Mammals of Colorado. Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, CO. 467. Hammerson, G.A. 1986. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. CO Div. Wild. Publication Code DOW-M-I-3-86. 131.

Herrick, Jeffrey E., J.W. Van Zee, K.M. Haystad, L.M. Burkett, and W.G. Witford. 2005. Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems, Volume II. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, N.M.

Kingery, H., Ed. (1998) Colorado Breeding Birds Atlas. Dist. CO Wildlife Heritage Foundation: Denver, CO. 636.

National Water & Climate Center. USDA-NRCS. USDA Pacific Northwest Climate Hub: Portland, OR. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ Accessed March 2016

National Weather Service Co-op Program. 2010. Colorado Climate Center. Colorado State Univ. Web. http://climate.atmos.colostate.edu/dataaccess.php March 2016

Pellant, M., P. Shaver, D.A. Pyke, J.E. Herrick. (2005) Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health, Version 4. BLM National Business Center Printed Materials Distribution Service: Denver, CO.

PLANTS Database. 2015. USDA-NRCS. Web. http://plants.usda.gov/java/ Accessed August 2015. February 2016

PRISM Climate Data. 2015. Prism Climate Group. Oregon State Univ. Corvallis, OR. http://www.prism.oregonstate.edu/ Accessed August 2015.

Rennicke, J. 1990. Colorado Wildlife. Falcon Press, Helena and Billings, MT and CO Div. Wildlife, Denver CO. 138.

Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysockie, E.C. Benham, and Soil Survey Staff. 2012. Field book for describing and sampling soils, Version 3.0. Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center: Lincoln, NE.

The Denver Posse of Westerners. 1999. The Cherokee Trail: Bent’s Old Fort to Fort Bridger. The Denver Posse of Westerners, Inc. Johnson Printing: Boulder, CO

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. September, 1991. Changes in Vegetation and Land Use I eastern Colorado, A Photographic study, 1904-1986.

U.S. Dept. 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. US Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. National Geospatial Center of Excellence. Colorado annual Precipitation Map from 1981-2010, Annual Average Precipitation by State

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2009. Part 630, Hydrology, National Engineering Handbook

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1972-2012. National Engineering Handbook Hydrology Chapters. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/water/?&cid=stelprdb1043063 Accessed August 2015.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. National Soil Survey Handbook title 430-VI. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcs142p2_054242 Accessed July 2015

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Survey Division Staff. 1993. Soil Survey Manual.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.1973. Soil Survey of Baca County, Colorado.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1970. Soil Survey of Bent County, Colorado.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1968. Soil Survey of Crowley County, Colorado.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1981 Soil Survey of El Paso County Area, Colorado.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1995. Soil Survey of Fremont County Area, Colorado.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1983. Soil Survey of Huerfano County Area, Colorado.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.1981. Soil Survey of Kiowa County, Colorado.

Western Regional Climate Center. 2022. Climate of Colorado, climate of the eastern plains. https://wrcc.dri.edu/Climate/narrative_co.php (accessed 9 August 2022).

Contributors

Doug Whisenhunt Ecological Site Specialist NRCS
Ben P. Berlinger Rangeland Management Specialist NRCS Ret.
Kimberly A. Diller Ecological Site Specialist NRCS
Laura L. Craven MLRA Project Leader NRCS

Approval

Kirt Walstad, 9/07/2023

Acknowledgments

Project Staff:
Kimberly Diller, Ecological Site Specialist, NRCS MLRA, Pueblo Soil Survey Office (SSO)
Laura Craven, MLRA 69 Soil Survey Leader, NRCS MLRA Pueblo SSO
Amber Wyndham, Soil Scientist, NRCS MLRA Pueblo SSO
Ben Berlinger, Rangeland Management Specialist, Ret. NRCS La Junta, CO

Program Support:
Rachel Murph, NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist
David Kraft, NRCS MLRA Ecological Site Specialist-QA (acting), Emporia, KS
Chad Remley, Regional Director, N. Great Plains Soil Survey, Salina, KS
B.J. Shoup, State Soil Scientist, Denver
Eugene Backhaus, State Resource Conservationist, Denver
Chanda Garcia, NRCS State Biologist, NRCS, Denver CO
Patty Knupp, Area 3 Biologist, NRCS, Pueblo CO

Partners/Contributors:
James Kulbeth, Natural Resources Specialist, Department of the Army, Fort Carson, CO
John Lamman, Rangeland Management. Specialist, BLM, Cañon City, CO
Steve Olson, Botanist, USFS, Pueblo, CO
Renee Rondeau, Ecologist, CO Natural Heritage Program, Hesperus, CO
Terri Schultz, The Nature Conservancy, Ft. Collins, CO
John Valentine, District Manager, CO State Land Board, Pueblo, CO

Those involved in developing earlier versions of this site description include: Ben Berlinger, rangeland management specialist (RMS); Lee Neve, Soil Scientist; Herman Garcia, CO State RMS

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)	Ben Berlinger & Lee Neve
Contact for lead author	USDA-NRCS Rachel Murph State Rangeland Management Specialist Denver State Office Rachel.murph@co.usda.gov
Date	04/03/2012
Approved by	Kirt Walstad
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
None.
Presence of water flow patterns:
None. Minor water flow patterns may be present on bare areas resulting from ponded water, however they will be short and disconnected.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
The amount of bare ground is minimal due to excellent plant and litter cover on the soil surface. Expect bare ground to be two to five percent.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None.
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. Minor wind scour may be present on bare areas resulting from ponded water, the extent will be correlated to the size of the bare area.
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
None. Expect minimal to very short movement of small sized herbaceous litter during intense ranfall events.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability class rating is anticipated to be 5-6 in interspace at soil surface. These values need verification at the reference site.
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
The A horizon is 0-3 inches thick, grayish brown, silty clay, brown moist; moderate fine granular structure with common very fine and fine roots. Bkss1 horizon 3-19 inches, brown silty clay, dark grayish brown moist; strong medium subangular blocky sturcture; common very fine root. SOM content is 1.0 to 4.0 percent in the A horizon and 0.0 to 2.0 percent in the Bkss horizons.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Diverse grass, forb and shrub functional/structural groups and diverse root structure and patterns reduces raindrop impact and slows runoff providing increased time for infiltration to occur.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Usually none. The Bkss soil horizons at 3-36 inches are extremely hard and may be mistaken as a compaction layer. Expect these horizons to commonly exhibit very fine roots.
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:
Warm-season mid-height grasses > Cool-season rhizomatous grass >

Sub-dominant:
Warm-season short to mid-height grasses = Warm-season forbs > Warm-season shortgrasses > shrubs

Other:
sedges = Cool-season forbs > Cool-season mid-height grasses > poisonous forbs

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Typcially minimal. Expect short and mid-height bunchgrass mortality and decadence during and following drought.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expect litter cover to decrease to 20-30 percent during and following extended drought.
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
650 pounds per acre in low precipitation years, 1300 pounds per acre in average precipitation years, and 2100 pounds per acre in above average precipitation years. After extended drought or the first growing season following wildfire, production may be significantly reduced by 300-400 pounds per acre.
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Invasive plants should not occur in the reference plant community.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
The only limitations are weather related and wildfire incidents.

Download reference sheet

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Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Pascopyrum smithii- Sporobolus airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton)

1.2. Pascopyrum smithii-Sporobolus-airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton)

1.3. Pascopyrum smithii-Sporobolus airoides (western wheatgrass-alkali sacaton) Excessive Litter, Low Plant Denstiy Community

1.4. Bouteloua gracilis-Bouteloua dactyloides (blue grama-buffalograss)

1.1 A	-	Heavy season-long grazing. Drought.
1.1 B	-	Non-use. Lack of fire.
1.2 A	-	Prescribed grazing. Adequate precipitation.
1.2 B	-	Continuous, heavy grazing.
1.3 A	-	Prescribed grazing. Prescribed fire.
1.4 A	-	Prescribed grazing.

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R069XY012CO

Saline Closed Depression

Last updated: 9/07/2023 Accessed: 11/21/2024

General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 9/07/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024