State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
1.1 Pinyon-Juniper scattered understory of shrubs and sparse grasses

In the absence of regular distrubance, this site has a dominant overstory of pinyon and juniper (rarely exceeds 50%) with a scattered understory of shrubs and sparse grasses and forbs. Typical perennial plant spacing is 1.5-2 ft.

Community 1.2
1.2 Native shortgrasses and shrubs

Pathway P1.1
Community 1.1 to 1.2

A disturbance of fire to set back the P-J.

Pathway P1.2
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Over time pinyon and juniper gain a competitive advantage.

State 2
Introduced grasses

State 3
Grasses and Shrubs Co-dominant with trees

State 4
4 Pinyon/Juniper dominant with sparse understory of cheatgrass and snakeweed on eroded soils

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Invasion of introduced species.

Transition T1C
State 1 to 3

Increased encroachment and cover of pinyon-juniper.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 4

Greater encroachment of pinyon and juniper.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Once introduced species are integrated it will be difficult to return to reference.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

A decrease in introduced annuals due to management.

Transition T2B
State 2 to 4

Increased encroachment of pinyon and juniper.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Fire, mechanical treatment of pinyon-juniper along with management to improve palatable grass cover.

Transition T3A
State 3 to 4

Invasion of cheatgrass

Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2

A set-back to Pinyon and Juniper.