Sodic Flat
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 the Sodic Flat ecological site with no invasive or exotic species. All the functional, structural groups have one or more species.
Reference State Community Phases:
1.1 Reference Black greasewood – Saltgrass
1.2 Shrub Black Greasewood
1.3 Bunchgrass – Rhizomatous Grass Foxtail barley – Saltgrass
Dominate Reference State Species:
Black greasewood, saltgrass
At-risk Communities:
• All communities in the reference state are at risk of invasive species. Annual or biennial weeds and annual grass seeds blow onto most sites annually
• Community 1.3 is most at risk of invasion
Submodel
Description
State 2 Narrative:
State 2 represents the Sodic Flat ecological site where invasive broadleaf weeds and invasive annual grasses have prominence. Foxtail barley is present and saltgrass has been reduced to scattered patches
Community Phases for State 2:
State 2 can have several variations:
1. Invasive broadleaf weeds with foxtail barley and saltgrass patches
2. Invasive annual grasses with foxtail barley and saltgrass patches
3. Both variations above can be with or without some greasewood and rabbitbrush
Some Invasive Species in State 2:
cheatgrass perennial pepperweed
rabbitsfoot grass alkali grass
Mechanism
T1 Result: shift from Reference State with no invasive species to State 2 with invasive species
Primary Trigger: heavy to severe grazing pressure (heavy to severe grazing intensity or extended grazing period).
Ecological process. With consistent defoliation saltgrass has reduced vigor and bare ground increases which provide opportunities for invasive species to colonize and expand. Weed seeds blow onto most sites annually.
Indicators: initially reduced cover of saltgrass and increasing bare ground. The presence of invasive species where none has occurred.
Recovery
State 2 is considered non-reversible. Sodic Flat is a harsh site. Soils are very strongly alkaline and sodic. Seeding success would be very problematic. Seeding is not a viable option economically or from a plant adaptability standpoint.
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
Tart, D., Kelley, P., and Schlafly, P., Rangeland Vegetation of the Yakima Indian reservation, August 1987, YIN Soil and Vegetation Survey
Model keys
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