Ecological site group DX035X01JESG06
Paria and Kaibito Plateaus Shallow Upland
Last updated: 10/25/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Paria and Kaibito Plateaus
- Sandy
- Uplands
- Shallow
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 ecolgical site occurs on very shallow soils (<10 inches but can be up to 20 inches to R) over weathered sandstone. Slopes are generally less than 15 percent, but can be higher in spots. The soils are formed from residuum and eolian and alluvial deposits. The site occurs in the lower, warmer elevations and on the warmer slopes of the Common Resource Area that are preferred by blackbrush.
Climate
The 35.2 Colorado Plateau Cold Desert Shrub - Grassland common resource area has a very dry and windy climate that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The annual precipitation averages between 6 and 10 inches but may be as high as 10 to 14 inches. The soil moisture regime is typic aridic to ustic 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 (average range of 1 to 17 inches) falls from December through February, but rarely lasts more than a few days. A seasonal drought occurs from late May through early July. Summer rains occur from July through September during brief intense local thunderstorms. The rain is sporadic in intensity and location. The moisture originates from the Gulf of Mexico in the early summer and the Gulf of California in the late summer/early fall. Windy conditions are common year round, but the winds are strongest and most frequent during the spring.
Soil features
Soil associated with this site are very shallow, soils that formed in eolian and alluvial deposits on hills, sand sheets on structural benches and plateaus. These soils are very shallow to sandstone. The depth is typically 5 to 10 inches deep with occasional small areas of deeper soils.
Vegetation dynamics
The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. Elevations range from 3800-5800 feet and precipitation averages 6 to 10 inches per year.Vegetation includes shadscale, fourwing saltbush, Mormon tea, blackbrush, Indian ricegrass, galleta, blue grama, and black grama.
Drought, extended winter dominated precipitation patterns, interruption of natural fire cycles, and unmanaged livestock grazing will decrease the perennial grasses, which are replaced by shrubs. introduced exotic annuals such as cheatgrass, red brome and Russian thistle may exist.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Correlated Map Unit Components
22601073
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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