Ecological site group DX035X01JESG09
Paria and Kaibito Plateaus Loamy Shallow Hills, Escarpments, and Cliffs
Last updated: 10/25/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Paria and Kaibito Plateaus
- Loamy
- Uplands
- Shallow
- Hille, slopes, cliffs
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 on steeper hillsides and escarpments that have shallow soils (<20 inches) over limestone and sandstone. Surface and subsoil textures are extremely gravelly loam. Rock outcrop is common. Overall slopes range from 15 to 60 percent, but there can be small areas with flatter or steeper slopes within the site.
Climate
Winter/Summer moisture ratios range from 70:30 to 60:40. Late spring is usually the driest period, followed by summer rains falling from June to September; this moisture originates in the Gulf of Mexico and creates brief, intense convective thunderstorms. Fall moisture can be sporadic. Regular winter precipitation in the form of snow generally falls from October to May and is the result of fronts originating in the Pacific. Summer daytime temperatures are commonly 95 - 100 F and on occasion exceed 105 F. Winter air temperatures can regularly go below 10 F and have been recorded below - 20 F.
Soil features
Soils are very shallow to shallow.
Surface and subsoil textures are extremely gravelly loam.
Parent materials are alluvium, colluvium and residuum from limestone and sandstone.
Geologic formation is Kaibab limestone and Moenkopi sandstone.
Available water capacity is very low.
Hazard of erosion by water and/or wind is moderate.
Soils are non-saline, non-sodic with a pH of 7.9-8.0.
Soil moisture regime is ustic aridic, 10 to 14 inch precipitation.
Vegetation dynamics
This site occurs on bedrock-controlled hills of Kaibab limestone and is sometimes intermixed with Moenkopi sandstone. This site may or may not be dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush on north-facing slopes; sagebrush may be limited to inter-fingerings of cooler, moister areas or in protected areas, such as behind rocks.
The dominant aspect of the site is a grass-shrub mix. Major grasses are muttongrass, blue grama and bottlebrush squirreltail. The dominant shrubs are Wyoming big sagebrush and/or Bigelow sage, fourwing saltbush, and Mormon tea. With severe disturbance, plants that will increase are Wyoming big sagebrush and broom snakeweed; plants that will invade are annual forbs.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
- R035XB240AZ–Limestone/Sandstone Cliffs 6-10" p.z.
- R035XB251AZ–Mudstone/Sandstone Hills 6-10" p.z. Warm
- R035XC302AZ–Sedimentary Cliffs 10-14" p.z.
- R035XC308AZ–Limestone/Sandstone Hills 10-14" p.z.
- R035XC343AZ–Limestone/Sandstone Cliffs 10-14" p.z.
- R035XY240UT–Semidesert Steep Shallow Loam (Utah Juniper-Two-Needle Pinyon)
Correlated Map Unit Components
22341622, 22340889
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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