Shallow Stony, 2800-4000 feet
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
State 1 Narrative:
State 1 represents shrub steppe with no invasive or exotic weed species. Each functional, structural group has one or more native species.
The Reference Community 1.1 is dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass with shrubs and native buckwheat species prominent.
Reference State Community Phases:
1.1 Bunchgrass dominated
1.2 Native grasses – Native Forb
1.3 Other Native Grasses – Native Forb
At-risk Communities:
Potentially every community is at risk as seeds of invasive species move around by wind and animals.
Submodel
Description
State 2 Narrative:
State 2 represents communities dominated by invasive species such as bulbous bluegrass and invasive annual grasses or broadleaf weeds. Native functional, structural groups are missing or diminished.
Community 2.1 is dominated by bulbous bluegrass and other invasive species.
At-risk Communities:
Potentially every community is at risk as seeds of invasive species move around by wind and animals.
Mechanism
T1 Result: shift from Reference State with no invasive species to State 2 which has a dominance of invasive species. Transition T1 is a continuation of the decline that started with Pathways 1.1a and 1.2a.
Primary Trigger: grazing pressure (heavy grazing pressure, season long grazing or frequent late spring grazing) to bluebunch wheatgrass or heavy livestock trailing.
Ecological Process: with continued defoliation pressure bluebunch wheatgrass has poor vigor, shrinking crowns and plant mortality. Invasive species such as annual bromes colonize the site and then increase to a position of dominance.
Indicators: declining cover of bluebunch wheatgrass, other native grasses and palatable forbs. Also, the occurrence of invasive species on sites where none previously existed and, increasing cover of invasive species.
Recovery
Since this ecological site does not cross a threshold recovery is not necessary. Also, due to shallow soil depth, surface rock and rock within the soil profile, and the equipment limitations thereof, seeding is not practical for the Shallow Stony ecological site. So, if a site were to cross a threshold to another state, it would be considered non-reversible.
References:
Boling M., Frazier B., Busacca, A., General Soil Map of Washington, Washington State University, 1998
Daubenmire, R., Steppe Vegetation of Washington, EB1446, March 1968
Davies, Kirk, Medusahead Dispersal and Establishment in Sagebrush Steppe Plant Communities, Rangeland Ecology & Management, 2008
Environmental Protection Agency, map of Level III and IV Ecoregions of Washington, June 2010
Miller, Baisan, Rose and Pacioretty, “Pre and Post Settlement Fire regimes in mountain Sagebrush communities: The Northern Intermountain Region
Natural Resources Conservation Service, map of Common Resource Areas of Washington, 2003
Rapid Assessment Reference Condition Model for Wyoming Sagebrush, LANDFIRE project, 2008
Rocchio, Joseph & Crawford, Rex C., Ecological Systems of Washington State. A Guide to Identification. Washington State Department of Natural Resources, October 2015. Pages 156-161 Inter-Mountain Basin Big Sagebrush.
Rouse, Gerald, MLRA 8 Ecological Sites as referenced from Natural Resources Conservation Service-Washington FOTG, 2004
Soil Conservation Service, Range Sites for MLRA 8 from 1980s and 1990s
Model keys
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Ecological site groups
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.