Physiographic features

This site occurs in nearly level to gently sloping depressions and on stream terraces*. Soils frequently have a fluctuating water table at a depth of 1 to 4 feet. The site receives water from the surrounding sites, either as shallow groundwater or surface runoff. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Elevation ranges from 4,200 to 5,000 feet.
Exposure varies and is not significant.
*Editor's note: The high water table described above would not occur on stream terraces. Rather, this probably describes floodplains.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

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

Annual average precipitation ranges from 11 to 16 inches. Roughly 78 percent of the moisture falls during the 6-month period of May through October. Most of this summer precipitation falls in the form of brief and heavy afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Hail may accompany the more severe summer storms. In the winter, there is normally only one day a month when as much as one-tenth inch of moisture falls, usually in the form of snow. Snow seldom lies on the ground for more than a few days.

Temperatures are characterized by a distinct seasonal change and large annual and diurnal temperature ranges. Summers are moderately warm. Maximum temperature average above 90 degrees F from July to August, and an average summer includes about 80 days with high readings exceeding 90 degrees F and 10 days with readings above 100 degrees F. Temperatures usually fall rapidly after sundown and lows average 60 degrees F on most summer nights. Winters are mild, sunny, and dry. Daytime shade temperatures in midwinter usually rise to the 50’s. However, freezing temperatures normally occur at night from mid-November to mid-March.

The freeze-free season ranges from 196 to 218 days. Dates of the last freeze range from April 11th to April 17th and the first freeze ranges from October 20th to October 25th.

Both temperature and rainfall distribution favor warm-season, perennial plant communities in the area. However, sufficient late winter and early spring moisture allows cool-season species to occupy a minor component within the plant community.

Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site. Data were interpreted utilizing NM Climate Summarizer spreadsheet.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Influencing water features

Perennial streams, including the Pecos River, are associated with this site.

Soil features

Soils are deep to very deep. Surface texture is loam or silt loam. Subsurface textures include sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, and silt loam. Subsoil textures are sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam. Gypsum content ranges from 30 to 60 percent in the control section. Content of gypsum plus calcium carbonate is greater than 40 percent. Effective rooting depth ranges from 12 to more than 60 inches.

Characteristic soils are:
Bluhol
Holloman
Palo

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Wildlife habitat: This ecological site provides habitats that 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.

Killdeer will often use these habitats for breeding, and 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
Bluhol-----------------C
Palo ------------------C
Holloman-reeves--------C

Recreational uses

This site is suitable for transitory recreational activities but may become boggy at any time, making it unsuitable for campsite development. As an open space dotted with shrubs, this site 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 fair winter range for big game where it occurs in the foothills of the mountains.

Wood products

There are no potential wood products on this site.

Other products

Grazing: This site is suitable for late winter, spring, and early summer grazing, but may be restricted by boggy conditions at any time. Forage can best be utilized by horses or cattle 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, concentrating livestock in small pastures during the summer, and resting individual pastures in alternate years. Approximately 85 percent of the total annual yield is from species that furnish forage for livestock.

Continuous grazing during the growing season will cause the the more desirable forage plants such as western wheatgrass, vine mesquite, blue grama, and fourwing saltbush to decrease. Species most likely to increase include alkali sacaton, saltgrass, mat muhly, alkali muhly, and salt cedar. As ecological conditions deteriorate, there is a sharp increase in inland saltgrass and/or alkali sacaton.

As deterioration advances, there is a reduction in plant cover, and the plant community may become dominated by inland saltgrass.

A system which varies the times of grazing and rest in a given pasture in 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 in Acres per Animal unit month
Similarity Index------------Acres/AUM
100 to 76-------------------1 to 1.9
75 to 51--------------------1.8 to 2.6
50 to 26--------------------2.5 to 5.9
25 or less------------------5.9 plus

Type locality

Contributors

Don Sylvester
John Tunberg

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 9/12/2023