Ecological site group DX035X02DESG06
Grand Canyon - Aridic Ustic - Limestone or Loamy Cliffs
Last updated: 10/26/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Grand Canyon (D)
- Site parent material is limestone or dolomite, or soil is loamy.
- Site soils are aridic ustic or within a 13-17" precipitation zone.
- Site is and/or located in an upland with slopes <15%.
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
Site is and/or located on a cliff with slopes >50%. Physiography is complex.
Climate
Site soils are aridic ustic or within a 13-17" precipitation zone. Precipitation comes monsoonal patterns during months of July, August, and September, and is supplemented by winter storm patterns from November through March.
Soil features
Parent material is limestone. Soils are loamy. Site consists of gently dipping shallow residuum weathered from sedimentary rocks eroded into steep cliff faces and canyons.
Vegetation dynamics
The dominant aspect of the site is a shrub tree mix with grasses and forbs. The shrubs most dominant are turbinella oak and banana yucca. Scattered trees of Colorado pinyon and Utah juniper are present. The major grasses are Sideoats grama, Desert needlegrass, and muttongrass.
With disturbance plants that will increase are Turbinella oak, banana yucca and pricklypear, those that may invade are mainly annuals.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Correlated Map Unit Components
22395197, 22395218, 22395221, 22395191, 22395103, 22395122
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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