State 1
Mixed Shrubland. Reference State.

This site is primarily desert shrubs (blackbrush, cliffrose, ephedra, and rabbitbrush). Scattered pockets of perennial grasses (gyp dropseed, galleta, bottlebrush squirreltail, Indian ricegrass) are present, as are perennial forbs such as globemallow and desert trumpet. Annual can be a significant component if winter-spring moisture is favorable. Typical perennial plant spacing is 1.5 to 2.0 feet.

Characteristics and indicators. Because of the scattered canopy cover and a sparse understory, this site does not have a history of regular fire disturbance. Blackbrush plant communities are often quite old and tend to be stable. If it is severely disturbed, this site will revert to an early seral stage of mostly annuals, including an increases of cheatgrass brome, broom snakedweed, and rabbitbrush. A more advanced plant community will contain scattered desert shrubs and a small increase in perennial grasses, with little regeneration of blackbrush. It is speculated that blackbrush communities evolved under a difference climatic regime, and once removed will not readily return to the site.

Community 1.1
1 HCPC

blackbrush, cliffrose, rabbitbrush, ephedra

State 2
Shrubland - Grassland

cliffrose, ephedra, rabbitbrush, galleta, gyp dropseed

State 3
Shrubland- grassland with introduced annuals.

cheatgrass, snakeweed, rabbitbrush

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

some fire

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

repeated fire

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

continuous heavy grazing

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2

prescribed grazing