Physiographic features

This is on nearly level to gently sloping bottoms and fans. Elevation ranges from 5,800 to 7,200 feet above sea level. Slopes are concave and range from 0 to 4 percent. These sites receive water from surrounding sites, either as shallow ground water or surface runoff.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

The climate of this area can be classified as “semi-arid continental”.

Precipitation averages 14 to 16 inches. Seventy seven percent of the year’s moisture normally falls during the period of May through October. Practically all of it is brought by brief afternoon and evening thunderstorms. In July and August, normally the wettest months of the year, one can expect about one day in five when rainfall exceeds one-tenth inch. Early spring precipitation in May benefits the cool-season plants. Winter precipitation, supplying 24 percent of the year’s moisture, normally has no more than two days a month with as much as one-tenth inch of moisture. Much of the winter precipitation falls as snow.

Air temperatures vary from a monthly mean of 20 degrees F in January to 69 degrees F in July. Daily high temperatures average in the 80’s and low 90’s during the summer. Winter low temperatures fall below the freezing mark much of the time from November through March with minimum temperatures approaching 25 degrees F below zero. Dates of the last killing frost may vary from May 9th through May 17th, and the first killing frost from September 27th to October 8th. The frost-free season ranges from 141 days to 153 days from early May to early October.

Wind velocities for the area average 10 to 12 miles per hour and prevail from the south and southwest. Generally, March is the windiest month. Strong winds during the spring cause rapid drying of the soil surface.

Nearby mountains to the west intercept much of the precipitation from the Pacific storms coming through this area during the winter. About 70 percent of the 14 to 16 inches of annual precipitation falls in the form of rainfall during the frost-free season. About 40 percent of the annual precipitation benefits cool-season plants, 50 percent benefits warm-season plants and 10 percent falls during the season of plant dormancy. Relative humidity is moderately low. The sun shines approximately 75 percent of the time.

Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site using 50 percent probability for freeze-free and frost-free seasons using 28.5 degrees F and 32.5 degrees F respectively.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Influencing water features

Original legacy text:
"This site is not influenced by water from a wetland or stream."

Given that this site is described as occupying run-on positions, and that its soils include very poorly-drained components, it stands to reason that this site does include wetlands. Perhaps the original author(s) meant that this is not a riparian wetland site.

Soil features

The soils on this site are very poorly drained to somewhat poorly drained. Permeability is moderate to slow. The available water-holding capacity is high. Effective rooting depth ranges from 12 to more than 60 inches. The effective rooting depth is sometimes determined by high saline content in the subsoil. These soils have water tables at or near the surface much of the growing season.

While not state explicitly in the legacy narrative above, it stands to reason that these soils often have measurable salinity (EC), and are derived from alluvium dominated by marine shale.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Habitat for Wildlife:

This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by coyote, desert cottontail, meadow mole, sparrow hawk, scaled quail, mourning dove, roadrunner, bullsnake, ornate box turtle, and Great Plains skunk.

The killdeer will often use these habitats for breeding. There may be seasonal use by pronghorn antelope.

Hydrological functions

The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.

Hydrologic Interpretations

Soil Series-------Hydrologic Group
Swastika---------- C
Vermejo----------- C

Recreational uses

This site, due to the open space dotted with shrubs, has fair aesthetic appeal. It is poor for camping, hiking, and picnicking. Hunting is poor to fair for antelope, rabbits, and upland game birds. This site provides a fair winter range for big game where it is located in the foothills of the mountains.

Wood products

This site has no significant potential for wood products.

Other products

Grazing: This site is suitable for late winter, spring and early summer grazing but may be restricted because of boggy conditions. Open water may be present during this time causing bogs. Forage could best be utilized by grazing cattle or horses due to the coarseness of the forage produced by alkali sacaton. When alkali sacaton dominates the site, maximum available forage production from this site can be achieved by mowing in late winter and concentrating livestock in small pastures during the summer and by grazing and resting the pastures in alternate years. Approximately 85 percent of the total annual yield are from species that furnish forage for livestock. Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as western wheatgrass, vine mesquite, blue grama, and fourwing saltbush to decrease. Species most likely to increase are alkali sacaton, saltgrass, mat muhly, alkali muhly, and salt sagebrush. As the ecological conditions deteriorate, it is accompanied by a sharp increase of saltgrass or alkali sacaton. As deterioration advances, saltgrass and a reduction of plant cover may dominate the plant community. A system of deferred grazing, which varies the time of grazing and rest in a pasture during successive years, is needed to maintain or improve the plant community. Rest during April, May, and June is especially beneficial to western wheatgrass.

Other information

Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month

Similarity Index------- Ac/AUM
100 - 76--------------- 1.0 – 1.9
75 – 51---------------- 1.8 – 2.6
50 – 26---------------- 2.5 – 5.9
25 – 0----------------- 5.9+

Contributors

Christine Bishop
Don Sylvester
Elizabeth Wright
John Tunberg

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 9/12/2023