Stony, Dry Oak
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Restoration pathway R1 More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
State 1 Narrative:
State 1 represents woodland with no invasive or exotic weed species. Each native functional, structural group is represented by one or more native species.
Reference State Community Phases:
Reference Community 1.1 has a tree overstory with native grasses and native forbs. Shrubs may or may or may not be present. Oregon white oak is the only tree species. Bluebunch wheatgrass dominates the understory with a variety of native forbs present.
At-risk Communities:
• Different communities have different degrees of risk
• All communities in the reference state are at risk of invasion and moving to State 2. The seed source of invasive species is nearby and moving onto most sites annually.
• A community has moved to State 2 when cheatgrass or broadleaf weeds have colonized the site
Submodel
Description
State 2 Narrative:
State 2 represents communities which are dominated by invasive species. Depending on seed source State 2 is either annual grasses or broadleaf weeds.
Community Phases:
Community 2.1 has been invaded by and is dominated by annual grasses while Community 2.2 is mainly broadleaf weeds.
Dominate Reference State Species: annual grasses or broadleaf weeds
Submodel
Description
State 3 Narrative:
State 3 represents a site that has been seeded to desirable grasses such as intermediate wheatgrass. State 3 is stable if 0.8 plant per sq. ft. or greater of the desired bunchgrasses is maintained.
Community Phases for State 3:
Seeded Grasses
Submodel
Mechanism
T1 Result: transition from Reference State with no invasive species to State 2 which is dominated by invasive species. Depending on seed source this transition happens in one of two directions – to annual grasses or to broadleaf weeds.
Primary Trigger: grazing pressure (heavy grazing intensity, season long grazing or frequent late spring grazing) to bluebunch wheatgrass and other palatable species.
Ecological Process: consistent defoliation pressure to palatable species results in poor vigor, shrinking crowns and plant mortality. As the cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and other palatable species decline this releases resources and niche space. In a series of retrogressions, invasive species take advantage of the opportunity to colonize and expand until they dominate the site. In the end dominant native species are all but eliminated.
Indicators: declining cover of bluebunch wheatgrass and other native species. Increasing cover of invasive species.
Mechanism
Stony Dry Oak sites are marginal for seeding. With a soil depth less than 30 inches and rocks throughout the profile this site is droughty. Also, due to surface stones Stony Dry Oak has equipment limitations.
Recovery
R1 Transition from State 2 (a community dominated by invasive annual species) to State 3, which is predominately desirable seeded grasses.
This restoration transition does not occur without significant time and inputs to control weeds, prepare a seedbed, seed desirable species, and post-seeding weed control and management. This requires a commitment of two years or more for weed control. Care must be taken to maintain soil structure so that the seedbed has many safe sites for the seed. Seed placement must be managed to achieve seed-soil contact at very shallow depth (about 1/8 inch is desired). Proper grazing management is essential to maintain the stand post-seeding. Snake River wheatgrass, Sherman big bluegrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and intermediate wheatgrass are possible seeding options.
The actual transition occurs when the seeded species have successfully established and are outcompeting the annual species for cover and dominance of resources.
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
T. John, D. Tart, R. Clausnitzer, Forest Plant Associations of the Yakima Indian Reservation, Draft Field guide, May 1988
T. Lillybridge, B. Kovalchik, C. Williams, B. Smith, PNW-GTR-359 Field Guide for Forested Plant Associations of the Wenatchee National Forest, October 1995
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.
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
Briefcase
Add ecological site groups 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 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.