Ecological site group DX035X01CESG01
Mesas and Benches - Bottoms and Flats - riparian
Last updated: 10/05/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Mesa and Benches
- Bottoms and Flats
- Extra water is from perennial or intermittent streamflow
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.
Physiography
This group occurs on valley bottoms, inset fans and low lying terraces adjacent to live streams and rivers.
Climate
Average annual precipitation is 6 to 12 inches. Approximately 77% occurs as rain from March through October. On the average, February, May and June are the driest months and August, September and October are the wettest months. The mean annual air temperature is 11-13 degrees celsius and the soil temperatures are in the mesic regime. The average freeze-free period is 160 to 220 days. This site is frequently flooded and has a watertable. These factors over-ride climate as a controlling factor. This site occurs primarily in the semidesert and desert climatic zones. In average years, plants begin growth around March 20 and end growth around October. Optimum growth on cool season plants occurs in May. Warm season plants make their optimum growth in July and August.
Soil features
Characteristic soils in this site are deep and somewhat poorly drained. They formed in alluvium derived mainly from mixed parent materials. Soils contain 4 to 16 mmhos/cm of salt and have a water table at a depth of 20 to 60 inches during most of the plant growing season. Soils are flooded during spring runoff and frequently as the result of intense summer convection storms.
Vegetation dynamics
As ecological condition deteriorates due to overgrazing, alkali sacaton and coyote willow decrease while salt cedar and rubber rabbitbrush increase to dominate the site. Cheatgrass and annual weeds are most likely to invade this site.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Correlated Map Unit Components
22592314, 22592550, 22592709, 22598030, 22598056, 22598221, 22598320
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Vic Parslow
Jim Harrigan
Harry Hosler
Keith Crossland
Curtis Talbot
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