Ecological site group DX035X01GESG20
Chinle Valley Shale or Clayey Moderately Deep to Very Deep
Last updated: 10/12/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Chinle Valley
- Shale or clayey
- Upland
- Moderately deep to very deep
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 in an upland position as fans, plateaus, valley floors, stream terraces and fan terraces of flood plains. It is on very deep soils that are well drained. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent but are mostly less than 10 percent. The soils are deep, and have a clay loam to clay surface texture.
Climate
Area has a very dry and windy climate that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Average annual precipitation is from 6 to 10 inches. Soil moisture regime is typic aridic and the soil temperature regime is mesic. A slight majority of the precipitation arrives during the late fall, winter, and early spring. this winter season moisture originates in the Pacific Ocean and arrives as rain, or sometimes snow, during widespread frontal storms of generally low intensity. The majority of the snow falls from December through February, but rarely lasts more than a few days. The driest period is from late May to early July. Summer rains occur from July through September during brief intense local thunderstorms. The rain is sporadic in intensity and location. Windy conditions are common year round with the strongest most frequently in the spring.
Soil features
Soils on this site are deep and well drained. The surface layer is about 9 inches thick and textures include fine sandy loam, clay loam, and sandy clay loam. The subsurface textures include sandy clay loam, clay loam, very fine sandy loam, clay, silt loam, sandy loam, silty clay, fine sandy loam, loamy sand. The soil will usually hold all the moisture the climate supplies. The soils grouped into this range site are moderately deep or deep to any plant root restriction layer. The surface textures range from sandy clay loam to clay. This ecological group does not include soils with cracking clay surfaces. The subsurface textures are clay loam to clay and can have rock fragments ranging from 10 to 35 percent. Permeability is slow or very slow. The soil reaction is slightly to moderately alkaline (pH 7.4 to 8.4). The water erosion hazard is moderate to high.
Vegetation dynamics
The plant community changes that take place with site deterioration on this ecological site are decreased perennial grasses, shrubs increase (fourwing saltbush, Wyoming big sagebrush, snakeweed, rabbitbrush). Annual grasses and forbs increase and can dominate. Juniper trees can invade from the adjoining uplands. Non-native plants that are introduced on this site and can increase enough to have a significant impact are Russian thistle and cheatgrass.
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The historical climax plant community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as grazing, fire, or drought.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Correlated Map Unit Components
22397580, 22999688, 22999892
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.