Ecological site group DX035X01HESG02
Black Mesa-Navajo Mtn-Sandy washes
Last updated: 09/01/2021
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Black Mesa Navajo Mountain
- Sandy soils
- Sandy washes
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 site is in a bottom position on stream terraces, floodplains and drainageway channels. It benefits significantly from occasional over bank flooding and run-in moisture from adjacent uplands. Slopes are less than 2%, but can range to 4%.
Climate
Average annual precipitation ranges from 6 to 14 inches. About 50% -60% of the annual precipitation is received as rainfall and comes between July and September. The remaining moisture comes as snow during the winter. Long periods with little or no effective moisture are relatively common.
Soil features
Soils on this site are deep and well drained.
Textures in the profiles are mixed and stratified with thin horizons of loamy textures.
Vegetation dynamics
Grassland dominated by perennial grasses, such as western wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass, alkali sacaton, squirreltail and galleta. Occasional over bank flooding and additional run-in moisture from adjacent uplands lends to high grass production. Shrubs can occur across the site along drainageways and areas of discontinuous channels. The occasional cottonwood may be present where a seep or a higher water table due to shallow bedrock depth occurs. Some areas can range to a vegetation community of Rio Grande cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. wislizenii, with lesser amounts of red willow (Salix laevigata) and other native willows. The understory is a mix of shrubs such as redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and chokecherry (Prunus spp.) with cool-season and warm season grasses and forbs.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Vic Parslow, Keith Crossland, Harry Hosler, Jeff Fenton
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