State 1
Reference State

This state is dominated by native shrubs with native grasses in the understory. Utah juniper and pinyon may be present in the more moist and/or sandier areas.

Community 1.1
1.1 Native Shrubs with perennial grass understory

Native Shrubs, typically shadscale and jointfir, form an open shrub layer. The understory is mostly native grasses, typically galleta and Indian ricegrass.

State 2
Current Potential State

This state is similar to the reference state but non-native, invasive species are present.

Community 2.1
2.1 Native Shrubs and Grasses with Invasive Species

Typically this community is made up of an overstory of native shrubs such as shadscale and jointfir with an understory of native grasses with some invasive annuals present but not dominating the herbaceous layer.

State 3
Shrub Dominated State

This state is dominated by grazing resistant shrubs with little understory.

Community 3.1
3.1 Shrubland

This community is dominated by shrubs which are typically increasers such as rubber rabbitbrush or broom snakeweed. Little herbaceous understory is present.

State 4
Invaded State

This state is dominated by invasive species such as cheatgrass or Russian thistle. Native shrub and herbaceous species may be present in small amounts.

Characteristics and indicators. The dominance of annual weeds can lead to an increase in the frequency of fires and make re-establishing the native plant community difficult.

Community 4.1
4.1 Invasive non-native species dominated

This community is dominated by invasive annuals such as cheatgrass or Russian thistle. Native shrubs and herbaceous species may be present. The dominace of annuals may lead to an increased frequency of fire.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Transition from the Reference State (State 1) to the Current Potential State (State 2). This transition occurs due to the establishment invasive plant species. Events triggering this event include can include and combination of improper livestock grazing, extended drought, poorly managed off road vehicle (OHV) use, etc. However cheatgrass and other invasive species have been known to establish into intact perennial plant communities without disturbance triggers.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

This transition occurs as events, such as sustained improper livestock grazing, favor the dominance of broom unpalatable and toxic shrubs. Prolonged improper grazing can result in a decrease of perennial grasses and palatable shrubs and an increase in unpalatable or toxic shrubs.

Transition T2B
State 2 to 4

This transition occurs as events, such as fire or other surface disturbance, favor the dominance of cheatgrass and other invasive annuals. Cheatgrass typically invades the sites interspaces and once this species and other annuals dominate, the amount and continuity of fine fuels can increase until fire can fully eliminate the shrub/forb/perennial grass component and completes the conversion to an annual dominated site that can persist for long periods of time. Once this occurs, it is difficult for these species to reestablish themselves, because not only has the fire return interval been shortened, but the soil and other abiotic factors may have been altered.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 4

This transition occurs as events favor the increased establishment and dominance of cheatgrass and other invasive annuals. Typically this occurs due to fire.

Transition T4A
State 4 to 3

This transition occurs as events favor the establishment and dominance of unpalatable shrubs. This transition may occur after prolonged improper livestock grazing, which decreases fine fuels and allows for the reestablishment of shrubs due to an increase in the fire return interval. Cheatgrass, while tolerant of grazing, can be reduced by heavy spring grazing due to its palatability. Heavy spring grazing also reduces seed production, which decreases it abundance on a site.