Ecological site group DX035X01IESG20
Little Colorado River Basin-sandstone or sandy loam moderately deep or deeper soils (mid elevation)
Last updated: 10/25/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Little Colorado River Basin
- Sandstone or sandy loam
- Moderately deep and deeper soils
- Mid elevation, MAST< 54 degrees F
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 occurs in an upland position. It neither benefits significantly from run-in of moisture nor does it suffer from excessive loss of moisture from runoff, unless denuded of its vegetative cover. It is on gently sloping to rolling plains and slopes are mainly less than 12 percent.
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
The soils in this ecological site are deep and have no plant root restricting layer.
The surface horizon texture is sandy loam to loamy sand about 4 to 10 inches thick.
The subsurface horizons have textures ranging from sandy clay loam to loamy sand. There may be thin strata of finer or coarser material.
The permeability ranges from moderate to rapid and can absorb and hold all of the moisture the climate supplies.
Vegetation dynamics
Sandstone uplands position moderately deep or deeper on stable positions supporting stable plant communities use and management have affected range vegetation.
The reference state plant community is composed primarily of warm season mid-grasses and short grasses with a small percentage of cool season grasses and half-shrubs. Dominant grasses include blue grama, black grama, sand dropseed and galleta. Dominant shrubs include fourwing saltbush and Greene's rabbitbrush. Natural climatic variation result in changes in the amount of and ratio of both individual plants and warm season versus cool season plants, especially grasses.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Correlated Map Unit Components
22341079, 22341112, 22341111, 22341123, 22341125, 22341130, 22353873, 22353875, 22353874, 22353894, 22353896, 22353919, 22353948, 22353953, 22353991, 22353344, 22354037, 22354036, 22353361, 22396739, 22396740, 22396831, 22396725, 22396726, 22396670, 22396729, 22484794, 22484789, 22484788, 22484762, 22484763, 22484722, 22484743, 22484774, 22484777, 22484780, 22484779, 22484748, 22484747, 22484771, 22484749, 23170287
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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