Clay Flat 19-26" PZ
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Transition T1B
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Adequate rest from defoliation coupled with brush management. Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes, may be coupled with rangeland seeding
More details -
Transition T2A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Adequate rest from defoliation coupled with brush management. Reintroduction of historic disturbance regimes, may be coupled with rangeland seeding
More details -
Transition T3A
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
In the Grassland State, tobosa dominates the community with alkali sacaton being secondary in occurrence. Small amounts of blue grama and buffalograss occur throughout. Annual production is normal for the site. Few forbs are present due to the dry early summer at this location. Mesquite is scattered and is shorter than 6 feet in height and is multi-stemmed.
Submodel
Description
The Grass/Mesquite State has tobosa as the dominant grass with an increase in the canopy and production of mesquite. Mesquite is 4 to 6 feet in height and is multi-stemmed. Prickly pear is also increasing.
Submodel
Description
The Grass/Shrubland State shows more mixed shrubs, namely more mesquite and prickly pear. The grass production is less. The major grass species is tobosa. Alkali sacaton has decreased along with the small amounts of other perennial grasses.
Submodel
Description
This community is a severely degraded community. This community is mesquite dominant with little perennial grass remaining. Annuals will be strong when moisture occurs and cool-season annual grasses and forbs will make up a large part of the next season’s production. This may not be a stable state, but annuals will likely prevail for several years. There may be sufficient seed source to allow perennial warm-season grasses to reclaim the area in time.
Submodel
Mechanism
With heavy continuous grazing, no fires, and brush invasion over a thirty plus year period, the Grassland State will transition into the Grass/Mesquite State.
Mechanism
With heavy continuous grazing, no fires, and brush invasion over a thirty plus year period, the Grassland State will transition into the Grass/Shrubland State.
Mechanism
With the implementation of Prescribed Grazing, Prescribed Burning, and Brush Management, the Grass/Mesquite State can be restored back to the Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Due to heavy continuous grazing, no fires, brush invasion, and drought conditions, the Grass/Mesquite State will transition into the Shrubland State.
Mechanism
With the implementation of Prescribed Grazing, Prescribed Burning, and Brush Management, the Grass/Shrubland State can be restored back to the Grassland State.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Brush Management |
|
|
Prescribed Burning |
|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Due to heavy continuous grazing, no fires, brush invasion, and drought conditions, the Grass/Shrubland State will transition into the Shrubland State.
Constraints to recovery
Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time, may be coupled with excessive grazing pressure
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.