Physiographic features

This site occurs on hilly convex river terrace remnants, cuestas, mesas, and fans along mountain foot slopes. Slopes are convex and range from 1 to 25 percent on all aspects. Elevation ranges from 4,300 to 7,500 feet.

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

Site may occur along drainageways at toe of foot slopes. Dry washes and riverine systems may occur in this area.

Soil features

Soils are moderately deep to deep and well to somewhat excessively drained. Surface textures are gravelly sandy clay loam, or gravelly sandy loam or gravelly clay loam with about 18 to 30 percent clay. Substratum is a gravelly sandy clay loam, or gravelly sandy loam or gravelly clay loam with about 18 to 30 percent clay with a calcic horizon between 12 and 40 inches. Underlying material is a gravelly loam and gravelly sandy loam (sand, loamy sand, or sandy loam with 0 to 85 percent pebbles).

They have moderate permeability. The available water holding capacity is low to moderate. The effective rooting depth is 40 to 60 inches. Air and water move freely through these soils.

Minimum and maximum values listed below represent the characteristic soils for this site.

Characteristic Soils:
Tinaja

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Wildlife: This site provides habitat for mule Deer, coyote, desert cottontail, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, marsh hawk, scaled quail, roadrunner, western racer, and woodhouse toad.

Hydrological functions

Characteristic Soil Series-----Hydrologic Group

Tinaja----------------------------B

Recreational uses

This site has attractive aesthetic appeal and natural beauty. It is fair for camping, hiking, and picnicking. Hunting is fair for deer, rabbits, and quail.

Wood products

Limited wood from juniper for firewood unless site is heavily encroached by juniper and piñon trees.

Other products

Guide to initial Stocking rates as Acres per Animal Unit Month.
Range Condition------------AC/AUM
100%-----------------------2.5 to 3
75%------------------------2.9 to 4.6
50%------------------------4.5 to 9.0
25%------------------------9.1 plus

Other information

Grazing: This site can be used any season of the year by all classes of grazing animals. Approximately 80 percent of the total annual yield is from species that furnish forage for grazing or browsing. A variety of grasses, forbs and shrubs provide good nutrition to grazing and browsing animals. Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the more desirable forage plants such as western wheatgrass, vine mesquite, sideoats grama, alkali sacaton, fourwing saltbush, and winterfat to decrease. Species most likely to invade include sleepygrass and broom snakeweed. Species most likely to increase are blue grama, galleta, buffalograss, mat muhly, cholla cactus, plains pricklypear, and oneseed Juniper.

As the ecological condition deteriorates , it is accompanied by a sharp decrease in plant cover. When adequate plant cover is lacking, this site is subject to severe sheet and gully erosion due to a very slow water intake rate.

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 allows western wheatgrass to grow and reproduce. Rest during the summer is beneficial to warm season plants such as blue grama, alkali sacaton, vine mesquite, and sideoats grama. Spring rest will also allow alkali sacaton sufficient time to green up before grazing.

Contributors

Don Sylvester
John E. Tunberg
John Tunberg

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 9/12/2023