Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site R083AY002TX

Shallow Ridge

Last updated: 9/19/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 083A / Ecological site R083AY002TX

USC

Metric

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.

Click to explore map

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): 083A–Northern Rio Grande Plain

This area is entirely in Texas and south of San Antonio. It makes up about 11,115 square miles (28,805 square kilometers). The towns of Uvalde, Cotulla, and Hondo are in the western part of the area, and Beeville, Goliad, and Kenedy are in the eastern part. The town of Alice is just outside the southern edge of the area. Interstate Highways 35 and 37 cross this area. This area is comprised of inland, dissected coastal plains.

Classification relationships

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 83A

Ecological site concept

The Shallow Ridge ecological sites are located on uplands. They are shallow to bedrock or a petrocalcic horizon. Petrocalcic horizons are strongly cemented layers of calcium carbonate. Some of the soils have gravels in the soil profile.

Associated sites

R083AY005TX	Shallow
R083AY017TX	Blackland
R083AY019TX	Gray Sandy Loam
R083AY001TX	Igneous Hill
R083AY013TX	Loamy Bottomland
R083AY023TX	Sandy Loam
R083AY024TX	Tight Sandy Loam

Similar sites

R083BY002TX	Shallow Ridge
R083CY002TX	Shallow Ridge

R083BY002TX

Shallow Ridge

R083CY002TX

Shallow Ridge

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Acacia berlandieri (2) Acacia rigidula
Herbaceous	(1) Bouteloua curtipendula (2) Digitaria californica

Download full description

Physiographic features

The Shallow Ridge consists of soils that are very shallow and shallow over bedrock. They are found on nearly level to moderately sloping linear and convex ridges of the Coastal Plains. The soils were formed from loamy residuum, clayey alluvium and calcareous loamy alluvium derived from siltstone or sandstone. Slopes are commonly found from 1 to 8 percent, but can range as high as 25 percent. Elevation is 200 to 1,000 feet. This area is comprised of inland, dissected coastal plains.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Coastal plain > Ridge (2) Coastal plain > Interfluve
Runoff class	Low to very high
Elevation	200 – 801 ft
Slope	8%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

MLRA 83A is subtropical, subhumid on the western boundary and subtropical humid on the eastern boundary. Winters are dry and mild and the summers are hot and humid. Tropical maritime air masses predominate throughout spring, summer, and fall. Modified polar air masses exert considerable influence during winter, creating a continental climate characterized by large variations in temperature. Average precipitation for MLRA 83A is 20 inches on the western boundary and 35 inches on the eastern boundary. Peak rainfall, because of rain showers, occurs late in spring and a secondary peak occurs early in fall. Heavy thunderstorm activities increase in April, May, and June. July is hot and dry with little weather variations. Rainfall increases again in late August and September as tropical disturbances increase and become more frequent. Tropical air masses from the Gulf of Mexico dominate during the spring, summer, and fall. Prevailing winds are southerly to southeasterly throughout the year except in December when winds are predominately northerly.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	221-246 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	263-365 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	628-815 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	207-262 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	254-365 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	609-934 in
Frost-free period (average)	233 days
Freeze-free period (average)	311 days
Precipitation total (average)	730 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

Line

Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range

Bar

Line

Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) CARRIZO SPRINGS 3W [USC00411486], Carrizo Springs, TX
(2) DILLEY [USC00412458], Dilley, TX
(3) FLORESVILLE [USC00413201], Floresville, TX
(4) KARNES CITY 2N [USC00414696], Karnes City, TX
(5) LYTLE 3W [USC00415454], Natalia, TX
(6) MATHIS 4 SSW [USC00415661], Mathis, TX
(7) PLEASANTON [USC00417111], Pleasanton, TX
(8) UVALDE 3 SW [USC00419268], Uvalde, TX
(9) HONDO MUNI AP [USW00012962], Hondo, TX
(10) CHARLOTTE 5 NNW [USC00411663], Charlotte, TX
(11) PEARSALL [USC00416879], Pearsall, TX
(12) CHEAPSIDE [USC00411671], Gonzales, TX
(13) CROSS [USC00412125], Tilden, TX
(14) FOWLERTON [USC00413299], Fowlerton, TX
(15) HONDO [USC00414254], Hondo, TX
(16) NIXON [USC00416368], Stockdale, TX
(17) POTEET [USC00417215], Poteet, TX
(18) BEEVILLE 5 NE [USC00410639], Beeville, TX
(19) CUERO [USC00412173], Cuero, TX
(20) GOLIAD [USC00413618], Goliad, TX
(21) TILDEN 4 SSE [USC00419031], Tilden, TX

Soil features

The soils in this site are very shallow and shallow to a petrocalcic horizon or tuffaceous sandstone interbedded with claystone. They are well drained with moderate to very slow permeability. Surface textures are fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, or clay with or without gravels. Soils correlated to this site include: Condido, Olemedo, Olmos, Pavelek, and Picosa.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium – sandstone and siltstone (2) Residuum – sandstone and siltstone
Surface texture	(1) Very gravelly loam (2) Very cobbly loam (3) Loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy-skeletal
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Slow to moderate
Soil depth	6 – 20 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	1 – 45%
Surface fragment cover >3"	1 – 30%
Available water capacity (0-20.1in)	3 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-20.1in)	70%
Electrical conductivity (0-20.1in)	4 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-20.1in)	6
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-20.1in)	7.4 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	1 – 30%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	10%

Ecological dynamics

The plant communities of this site are dynamic varying in relation to grazing and drought. Historically, the reference plant community of this site was influenced by fire and grazing herds of buffalo and wild horses. Herds of buffalo and wild horses would come into an area, graze it down and then leave, not to come back for many months or even years. This long deferment period allowed the grasses and forbs to recover from grazing. Periodic fires set by either Native Americans or lightning occurred but affected this site only when climatic factors were ideal for carrying the fire through the lighter fine fuel load of this site. The fuel for fires was dependent upon the accumulation of litter and prior year’s growth of grasses afforded by the long deferment.

The reference plant community is a chaparral grassland consisting of approximately 75 to 85 percent midgrasses, 15 to 25 percent woody plants and 5 percent forbs. Dominant grasses are sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica), and bristlegrass (Setaria spp.). Guajillo (Acacia berlandieri) dominates a wide variety of woody shrubs occurring on this site.

While grazing was a natural component of the ecosystem, overstocking and overgrazing by domestic animals has had an impact on the site. Due to overgrazing, midgrasses such as sideoats grama, little bluestem, and Arizona cottontop decrease. Grasses such as slim tridens (Tridens muticus), red grama (Bouteloua trifida), and threeawn (Aristida spp.) increase. Woody plants increase and will make up as much as 65 percent of the annual production. Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) is a major woody increaser on the site and may dominate the site in a deteriorated state.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 8. STM

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

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. Chaparral Grassland

2. Chaparral Shrubland

3. Converted Land

T1A	-	Absence of disturbance, excessive grazing pressure and natural regeneration over time
T1B	-	Rangeland seeding with introduced species
R2A	-	Reintroduction of natural disturbance regimes, coupled with rangeland seeding
T2A	-	Removal of woody vegetation coupled with rangeland seeding

State 1
Chaparral Grassland

Dominant plant species

sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica), grass

Community 1.1
Midgrass Dominant

This community represents the reference plant community. Fire did not play as important a role on this site as on deeper more productive sites. Guajillo dominates a wide variety of woody shrubs. The predominant grasses for this site are sideoats grama, little bluestem, bristlegrass species, and Arizona cottontop. Arizona cottontop and plains bristlegrass (Setaria macrostachya) are the more opportunistic species on this site. While grazing was a natural component of the ecosystem, overstocking and continuous overgrazing has a strong impact on this site. Due to overgrazing the midgrasses such as sideoats grama and bristlegrass species decrease. Such grasses as slim tridens and threeawn species are the major increasers. On the central and western range of the MLRA, sideoats grama may be the more dominant decreaser species. On the more northern and eastern ranges of the MLRA, the same site maybe dominated by little bluestem.

Figure 9. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	900	1720	2400
Shrub/Vine	400	430	600
Forb	80	120	170
Tree	20	30	30
Total	1400	2300	3200

Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX4541, Midgrass Dominant Community, 15-30% Canopy. Midgrasses dominate the site with 15-30% woody canopy..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	5	10	18	15	5	9	15	9	5	5

Community 1.2
Shortgrass Dominant

This phase of the Chaparral Grassland State (1) still exhibits a chaparral plant structure with the woody species canopy being as high as 30 percent. Heavy continuous grazing takes many of the midgrasses out of the site which are replaced by shortgrasses such as slim tridens, threeawn, and curlymesquite (Hilaria belangeri).

Figure 11. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 6. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	400	800	1200
Shrub/Vine	400	430	600
Forb	80	120	170
Tree	20	30	30
Total	900	1380	2000

Figure 12. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX4542, Shortgrass Dominant Community, 15-30% canopy. Shortgrasses dominate after midgrasses decline. Woody canopy approaches 15-30%..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	5	10	18	15	5	9	15	9	5	5

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This plant community will change to Shortgrass Dominant Community (1.2) if overstocking and heavy continuous grazing occur over time. Drought will hasten the change.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This phase can still be managed back to the Midgrass Dominant Community (1.1). A prescribed grazing plan, which includes proper stocking rates, will be essential to reverse the trend toward the Shrubland Community (2.1). Once the midgrass species begin to respond, it is possible to use fire, when the conditions are right, to suppress the brush species. Grazing management alone may not fully restore the reference plant community but can provide one reasonably close.

State 2
Chaparral Shrubland

Dominant plant species

guajillo (Acacia berlandieri), shrub
Texas barometer bush (Leucophyllum frutescens), shrub

Community 2.1
Shrubland

This plant community is a result of a transition from the Chaparral Grassland State (1) to the Shrubland State (2). The herbaceous understory is very limited in production due to the competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Rest from grazing will have limited impact on restoring the grasses with canopy this dense. There is an increase of woody shrubs and the site is generally dominated by guajillo and ceniza. Other woody plants are blackbrush (Acacia rigidula), condalia (Condalia spp.), and acacia (Acacia spp.). Ceniza can be a good indicator species for this community. There is much bare ground that has crusted to the point that there is little water infiltration and little seedling emergence. Water infiltration does occur directly under some of the woody species. Energy flow and nutrient uptake is predominantly through the shrubs. Cool-season annual forbs and grasses are produced by fall and winter rains. Slim tridens, hairy tridens (Erioneuron pilosum), threeawn, and red grama dominate the site in this condition.

Figure 13. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 7. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	250	600	800
Shrub/Vine	500	600	650
Forb	60	100	160
Tree	20	30	30
Total	830	1330	1640

Figure 14. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX4544, Shrubland Community, 30+% woody canopy. Shrubs dominate the site with heavy continuous grazing and no brush management. Woody canopy exceeds 30%. Grasses are in further decline..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	5	10	18	15	5	9	15	9	5	5

State 3
Converted Land

Dominant plant species

buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare), grass
kleingrass (Panicum coloratum), grass

Community 3.1
Converted Land Community

This plant community is developed by applying brush management and range seeding to any of the other states and phases where brush needs to be reduced in canopy and a seed source added to establish the desired plant community. The area can be seeded to grasses or forbs, or a mix of both. Introduced grass species such as buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), kleingrass (Panicum coloratum), Wilman lovegrass (Eragrostis superba), and Old World bluestem species are the most commonly selected. The selection of species to seed is a management decision based on clearly defined goals for livestock and wildlife. The use of introduced species does provide good forage for cattle and can provide some habitat for wildlife. However, once these species are introduced, it is difficult to remove them should objectives change.

Figure 15. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 8. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	810	1450	2100
Shrub/Vine	400	430	455
Forb	85	120	170
Tree	5	10	15
Total	1300	2010	2740

Figure 16. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX4530, Converted Land Community. Community converted into warm-season grass seed mixtures..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	5	10	18	15	5	9	15	9	5	5

Community 3.2
Abandoned Land

This plant community develops from the Converted Land Community (3.1). Without follow-up brush management, seedlings of shrubs establish themselves and spread. The role of prescribed grazing is to retain grass vigor to compete against seedling establishment and preserve fuel for maintenance burns. Production of the plant types depends on the grazing management that has been applied since seeding and the canopy of the shrubs. As the canopy of the shrubs expands, grass and forb production will be reduced.

Figure 17. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 9. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	600	1200	1800
Shrub/Vine	500	600	700
Forb	80	120	170
Tree	20	30	30
Total	1200	1950	2700

Figure 18. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX4534, Converted Land - Woody Seedlings Encroachment. Woody seedling encroachment on converted lands such as abandoned cropland, native seeded land, and introduced seeding lands..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	5	10	18	15	5	9	15	9	5	5

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Because of the residual seed source of woody plants, encroachment is inevitable. To help maintain this plant community, prescribed grazing along with fire and some brush management will be needed. The role of prescribed grazing is to keep the grasses health to compete against invasion of seedlings and to preserve fuel for maintenance fires. Otherwise, this community will transition to the Abandoned Land Community (3.2).

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

In order to transition back to Converted Land Community (3.2), control of the brush species is required. Options include mechanical control or chemical brush removal.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

If heavy continuous grazing continues, the plant community will transition to the Chaparral Shrubland State (2) with a woody canopy greater than 30 percent. When this occurs, a threshold has been crossed.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

The Chaparall Grassland State (1) can be changed into the Converted Land State (3) by controlling the brush and seeding to native or introduced grasses. Due to the gravelly soils of this site, care should be taken in the selection of soil disturbance equipment. Removing the brush and reseeding represents the crossing of a threshold.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Full restoration back to the Chaparral Grassland is difficult and requires high energy inputs. Mechanical or chemical brush control is required to remove the woody species that have invaded the site. Range seeding may be necessary if the seed bank has been severely reduced.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

The Shrubland Community (2.1) can be changed into the Converted Land State (3) by controlling the brush and seeding to native or introduced grasses. Due to the gravelly soils of this site, care should be taken in the selection of soil disturbance equipment. Removing the brush and reseeding represents the crossing of a threshold.

Additional community tables

Table 10. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Midgrasses			560–1280
	sideoats grama	BOCU	Bouteloua curtipendula	200–650	–
	little bluestem	SCSCS	Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium	50–650	–
	beardgrass	BOTHR	Bothriochloa	100–400	–
	plains bristlegrass	SEVU2	Setaria vulpiseta	100–400	–
	Texas bristlegrass	SETE6	Setaria texana	100–200	–
2	Midgrasses			210–480
	Arizona cottontop	DICA8	Digitaria californica	100–300	–
	tanglehead	HECO10	Heteropogon contortus	100–300	–
	green sprangletop	LEDU	Leptochloa dubia	100–300	–
	false Rhodes grass	TRCR9	Trichloris crinita	100–300	–
3	Shortgrasses			210–480
	hairy grama	BOHI2	Bouteloua hirsuta	50–150	–
	hooded windmill grass	CHCU2	Chloris cucullata	50–150	–
	fall witchgrass	DICO6	Digitaria cognata	50–150	–
	curly-mesquite	HIBE	Hilaria belangeri	50–150	–
	Reverchon's bristlegrass	SERE3	Setaria reverchonii	50–150	–
4	Shortgrasses			70–160
	threeawn	ARIST	Aristida	25–100	–
	sand dropseed	SPCR	Sporobolus cryptandrus	25–100	–
	slim tridens	TRMU	Tridens muticus	25–100	–
Forb
5	Forbs			70–160
	awnless bushsunflower	SICA7	Simsia calva	50–160	–
6	Forbs			70–160
	yellow sundrops	CASE12	Calylophus serrulatus	50–125	–
	featherplume	DAFO	Dalea formosa	50–125	–
	Engelmann's daisy	ENPE4	Engelmannia peristenia	50–125	–
	menodora	MENOD	Menodora	50–125	–
	evening primrose	OENOT	Oenothera	50–125	–
	Forb, annual	2FA	Forb, annual	0–50	–
Shrub/Vine
7	Shrubs			140–320
	guajillo	ACBE	Acacia berlandieri	140–320	–
8	Shrubs			70–150
	blackbrush acacia	ACRI	Acacia rigidula	50–250	–
	jointfir	EPHED	Ephedra	50–250	–
	Texas kidneywood	EYTE	Eysenhardtia texana	50–250	–
	stretchberry	FOPU2	Forestiera pubescens	50–250	–
	Texas lignum-vitae	GUAN	Guaiacum angustifolium	50–250	–
	pricklypear	OPUNT	Opuntia	50–250	–
	live oak	QUVI	Quercus virginiana	50–250	–
	shrubby blue sage	SABA5	Salvia ballotiflora	50–250	–

Interpretations

Animal community

As a historic tall/midgrass prairie, this site was occupied by bison, antelope, deer, quail, turkey, and dove. This site was also used by many species of grassland songbirds, migratory waterfowl, and coyotes. This site now provides forage for livestock and is still used by quail, dove, migratory waterfowl, grassland birds, coyotes, and deer.

Feral hogs (Sus scrofa) can be found on most ecological sites in Texas. Damage caused by feral hogs each year includes, crop damage by rutting up crops, destroyed fences, livestock watering areas, and predation on native wildlife, and ground-nesting birds. Feral hogs have few natural predators, thus allowing their population to grow to high numbers.

Wildlife habitat is a complex of many different plant communities and ecological sites across the landscape. Most animals use the landscape differently to find food, shelter, protection, and mates. Working on a conservation plan for the whole property, with a local professional, will help managers make the decisions that allow them to realize their goals for wildlife and livestock.

Grassland State (1): This state provides the maximum amount of forage for livestock such as cattle. It is also utilized by deer, quail and other birds as a source of food. When a site is in the reference plant community phase (1.1) it will also be used by some birds for nesting, if other habitat requirements like thermal and escape cover are near.

Shrubland State (2): This state can be maintained to meet the habitat requirements of cattle and wildlife. Land managers can find a balance that meets their goals and allows them flexibility to manage for livestock and wildlife. Forbs for deer and birds like quail will be more plentiful in this state. There will also be more trees and shrubs to provide thermal and escape cover for birds as well as cover for deer.

Converted Land State (3): The quality of wildlife habitat this site will produce is extremely variable and is influenced greatly by the timing of rain events. This state is often manipulated to meet landowner goals. If livestock production is the main goal, it can be converted to pastureland. It can also be planted to a mix of grasses and forbs that will benefit both livestock and wildlife. A mix of forbs in the pasture could attract pollinators, birds and other types of wildlife. Food plots can also be planted to provide extra nutrition for deer.

This rating system provides general guidance as to animal preference for plant species. It also indicates possible competition between kinds of herbivores for various plants. Grazing preference changes from time to time, especially between seasons, and between animal kinds and classes. Grazing preference does not necessarily reflect the ecological status of the plant within the plant community. For wildlife, plant preferences for food and plant suitability for cover are rated. Refer to habitat guides for a more complete description of a species habitat needs.

Hydrological functions

Due to very shallow soils found on this site, limited herbaceous cover, and exposed rock, this site has a limited ability to capture and store water. During high intensity rainfall events, runoff from this site can be high, thus causing some plant pedestalling to naturally occur on the site. During the growing season, light showers are captured in the canopy of the shrubs and evaporate. In higher rainfall event, the shrubs intercept rainfall and channel via the stems and trunks to the ground.

Recreational uses

Hunting and birdwatching are common recreational activities.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Information presented was derived from the revised Range Site, literature, limited NRCS clipping data (417s), field observations, and personal contacts with range-trained personnel.

Other references

AgriLife. 2009. Managing Feral Hogs Not a One-shot Endeavor. AgNews, April 23, 2009. http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=903.

Archer, S. 1995. Herbivore mediation of grass-woody plant interactions. Tropical Grasslands, 29:218-235.

Archer, S. 1995. Tree-grass dynamics in a Prosopis-thornscrub savanna parkland: reconstructing the past and predicting the future. Ecoscience, 2:83-99.

Archer, S. 1994. Woody plant encroachment into southwestern grasslands and savannas: rates, patterns and proximate causes. Ecological implications of livestock herbivory in the West, 13-68.

Archer, S. and F. E. Smeins. 1991. Ecosystem-level Processes. In Grazing Management: An Ecological Perspective. Edited by R.K. Heischmidt and J.W. Stuth. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Baen, J. S. 1997. The growing importance and value implications of recreational hunting leases to agricultural land investors. Journal of Real Estate Research, 14:399-414.

Bailey, V. 1905. North American Fauna No. 25: Biological Survey of Texas. United States Department of Agriculture Biological Survey. Government Printing Office, Washington D. C.

Bestelmeyer, B. T., J.R. Brown, K. M. Havstad, R. Alexander, G. Chavez, and J. E. Herrick. 2003. Development and use of state-and-transition models for rangelands. Journal of Range Management, 56(2):114-126.

Box, T. W. 1960. Herbage production on four range plant communities in South Texas. Journal of Range Management, 13:72-76.

Briske, B B, B. T. Bestelmeyer, T. K. Stringham, and P. L. Shaver. 2008. Recommendations for development of resilience-based State-and-Transition Models. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 61:359-367.

Brown, J. R. and S. Archer. 1999. Shrub invasion of grassland: recruitment is continuous and not regulated by herbaceous biomass or density. Ecology, 80(7):2385-2396.

Diamond, D. D. and T. E. Fulbright. 1990. Contemporary plant communities of upland grasslands of the Coastal Sand Plain, Texas. Southwestern Naturalist, 35:385-392.

Dillehay T. 1974. Late quaternary bison population changes on the Southern Plains. Plains Anthropologist, 19:180-96.

Edward, D. B. 1836. The history of Texas; or, the immigrants, farmers, and politicians guide to the character, climate, soil and production of that country. Geographically arranged from personal observation and experience. J. A. James and Co., Cincinnati, OH.

Everitt, J. H., D. L. Drawe, and R. I. Leonard. 2002. Trees, Shrubs, and Cacti of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, TX.

Everitt, J. H., D. L. Drawe, and R. I. Lonard. 1999. Field Guide to the Broad-Leaved Herbaceous Plants of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press. Lubbock, TX.

Foster, J. H. 1917. Pre-settlement fire frequency regions of the United States: a first approximation. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings No. 20.

Foster, W. C., ed. 1998. The La Salle Expedition to Texas: The Journal of Henry Joutel, 1684-1687. Texas State Historical Association, Austin, TX.

Frost, C. C. 1995. Presettlement fire regimes in southeastern marshes, peatlands, and swamps. In: Prodeedings, 19th Tall Timbers fire ecology conference, 39-60. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.

Fulbright, T. E. and S. L. Beasom. 1987. Long-term effects of mechanical treatment on white-tailed deer browse. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 15:560-564.

Fulbright, T. E., J. A. Ortega-Santos, A. Lozano-Cavazos, and L. E. Ramirez-Yanez. 2006. Establishing vegetation on migrating inland sand dunes in Texas. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 59:549-556.

Fulbright, T. E., D. D. Diamond, J. Rappole, and J. Norwine. The Coastal Sand Plain of Southern Texas. Rangelands, 12:337-340.

Gould, F. W. 1975. The Grasses of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.

Grace, J. B., L. K. Allain, H. Q. Baldwin, A. G. Billock, W. R. Eddleman, A. M. Given, C. W. Jeske, and R. Moss. 2005. Effects of prescribed fire in the coastal prairies of Texas. USGS Open File Report 2005-1287.

Hamilton, W. and D. Ueckert. 2005. Rangeland Woody Plant Control: Past, Present, and Future. In: Brush Management: Past, Present, and Future, 3-16. Texas A&M University Press. College Station, TX.

Hansmire, J. A., D. L. Drawe, B. B. Wester and C.M. Britton. 1988. Effect of winter burns on forbs and grasses of the Texas Coastal Prairie. The Southwestern Naturalist, 33(3):333-338.

Heitschmidt R. K., Stuth J. W., eds. 1991. Grazing management: an ecological perspective. Timberline Press, Portland, OR.

Inglis, J. M. 1964. A history of vegetation of the Rio Grande Plains. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Bulletin No. 45, Austin, TX.

Kneuper, C. L., C. B. Scott, and W. E. Pinchak. 2003. Consumption and dispersion of mesquite seeds by ruminants. Journal of Range Management, 56:255-259.

Kramp, B., R. Ansley, and D. Jones. 1998. Effect of prescribed fire on mesquite seedlings. Texas Tech University Research Highlights - Range, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, 29:13.

Le Houerou, H. N. and J. Norwine. 1988. The ecoclimatology of South Texas. In Arid lands: today and tomorrow. Edited by E. E. Whitehead, C. F. Hutchinson, B. N. Timmesman, and R. G. Varady, 417-444. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.

Lehman, V. W. 1965. Fire in the range of Attwater’s prairie chicken. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference, 4:127-143.

Lehman, V. W. 1969. Forgotten Legions: Sheep in the Rio Grande Plain of Texas. Texas Western Press, El Paso, TX.

Mann, C. 2004. 1491. New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus. Vintage Books, New York City, NY.

Mapston, M. E. 2009. Feral Hogs in Texas. Rep. Texas Cooperative Extension. 23 Apr. 2009 http://icwdm.org/Publications/pdf/Feral%20Pig/Txferalhogs.pdf

McClendon, T. 1991. Preliminary description of the vegetation of South Texas exclusive of the Coastal Saline Zones. Texas Journal of Science, 43:13-32.

McGinty A., D. N. Ueckert. 2001. The Brush Busters success story. Rangelands, 23:3-8.

McLendon, T. 1991. Preliminary description of the vegetation of south Texas exclusive of coastal saline zones. Texas Journal of Science, 43:13-32.

Norwine, J. 1978. Twentieth-century semiarid climates and climatic fluctuations in Texas and northeastern Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, 1:313-325.

Norwine, J. and R. Bingham. 1986. Frequency and severity of droughts in South Texas: 1900-1983, 1-17. In Livestock and wildlife management during drought. Edited by R. D. Brown. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX.

Olmsted, F. L. 1857. A journey through Texas, or a saddle trip on the Southwest frontier: with a statistical appendix. Dix, Edwards, and co., New York, London.

Prichard, D. 1998. A User Guide to Assessing Proper Functioning Condition and the Supporting Science for Lentic Areas. Bureau of Land Management. National Applied Resource Sciences Center, CO.

Rappole, J. H. and G. W. Blacklock. 1994. A field guide: Birds of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.

Rhyne, M. Z. 1998. Optimization of wildlife and recreation earnings for private landowners. M. S. Thesis, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX.

Schindler, J. R. and T. E. Fulbright. 2003. Roller chopping effects on Tamaulipan scrub community composition. Journal of Range Management, 56:585-590.

Schmidley, D. J. 1983. Texas mammals east of the Balcones Fault zone. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.

Scifres C. J., W. T. Hamilton, J. R. Conner, J. M. Inglis, and G. A. Rasmussen. 1985. Integrated Brush Management Systems for South Texas: Development and Implementation. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, TX.

Scifres, C. J. and W. T. Hamilton. 1993. Prescribed burning for brushland management: the South Texas example. Texas A&M Press, College Station, TX.

Scifres, C. J. 1975. Systems for improving McCartney rose infested coastal prairie rangeland. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin MP 1225.

Smeins, F. E., S. Fuhlendorf, and C. Taylor, Jr. 1997. Environmental and Land Use Changes: A Long Term Perspective. In Juniper Symposium, 1-21. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Smeins, F. E., D. D. Diamond, and W. Hanselka. 1991. Coastal prairie, 269-290. In Ecosystems of the World: Natural Grasslands. Edited by R. T. Coupland. Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database.

Snyder, R. A. and C. L. Boss. 2002. Recovery and stability in barrier island plant communities. Journal of Coastal Research, 18:530-536.

Stiles, H. R., ed. 1906. Joutel’s journal of La Salle’s last voyage, 1686-1687. Joseph McDonough, Albany, NY.

Stringham, T. K., W. C. Krueger, and P. L. Shaver. 2001. State and transition modeling: and ecological process approach. Journal of Range Management, 56(2):106-113.

Texas A&M Research and Extension Center. 2000. Native Plants of South Texas http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/index.html.

Texas Agriculture Experiment Station. 2007. Benny Simpson’s Texas Native Trees http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2007. List of White-tailed Deer Browse and Ratings. District 8.

Tharp, B. C. 1926. Structure of Texas Vegetation east of the 98th meridian. Bulletin 2606. University of Texas, Austin. TX.

Thurow, T. L. 1991. Hydrology and Erosion. In: Grazing Management: An Ecological Perspective. Edited by R.K. Heitschmidt and J.W. Stuth. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Urbatsch, L. 2000. Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small. USDA-NRCS Plant Guide.

USDA-NRCS Plant Database. 2018. https://plants.usda.gov/.

Van’t Hul, J. T., R. S. Lutz and N. E. Mathews. 1997. Impact of prescribed burning on vegetation and bird abundance on Matagorda Island, Texas. Journal of Range Management, 50:346-360.

Vines, R. A. 1984. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX.

Wade, D. D., B. L. Brock, P. H. Brose, J. B. Grace, G. A. Hoch, and W. A. Patterson III. 2000. Fire in Eastern ecosystems. In Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Edited by. J. K. Brown and J. Kaplers. United States Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.

Weltz, M. A. and W. H. Blackburn. 1995. Water budget for south Texas rangelands. Journal of Range Management, 48:45-52.

Whittaker, R. H., L. E. Gilbert, and J. H. Connell. 1979. Analysis of a two-phase pattern in a mesquite grassland, Texas. Journal of Ecology, 67:935-52.

Wright, B. D., R. K. Lyons, J. C. Cathey, and S. Cooper. 2002. White-tailed deer browse preferences for South Texas and the Edwards Plateau. Texas Cooperative Extension Bulletin B-6130.

Wright, H.A. and A.W. Bailey. 1982. Fire Ecology: United States and Southern Canada. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ.

Contributors

Edited by Gary Harris, SPSD Soil Survey Region 9

Approval

Bryan Christensen, 9/19/2023

Acknowledgments

Reviewers and Technical Contributors:
Jason Hohlt, RMS, NRCS, Kingsville, Texas
Shanna Dunn, RSS, NRCS, Corpus Christi, Texas
Mark Moseley, RMS, NRCS, San Antonio, Texas
Justin Clary, RMS, NRCS, Temple, Texas

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)
Contact for lead author
Date	09/25/2023
Approved by	Bryan Christensen
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.

Ecosystem states

1. Chaparral Grassland

2. Chaparral Shrubland

3. Converted Land

T1A	-	Absence of disturbance, excessive grazing pressure and natural regeneration over time
T1B	-	Rangeland seeding with introduced species
R2A	-	Reintroduction of natural disturbance regimes, coupled with rangeland seeding
T2A	-	Removal of woody vegetation coupled with rangeland seeding