Ecological site group DX035X02FESG07
Kaibab Plateau - Aridic Ustic - Limestone or Loamy Slopes
Last updated: 10/31/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Kaibab Plateau (F)
- Site parent material is limestone or loamy.
- Soils are aridic ustic, or precipitation is within the range of 13 to 17 inches.
- 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 in an upland with slopes >15%. Aspects tend toward the perimeter of the LRU subset.
Climate
Site soils are aridic ustic or within a 14-18" precipitation zone. Precipitation comes predominantly from winter storm patterns from November through March at upper elevations. Monsoonal patterns and xeric patterns occur more equally at lower elevations.
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
This site is characterized by an overstory dominance of trees with an understory of shrubs and herbaceous species. Tree canopy is typically 25-40% with a range of 15 to 55% depending on aspect, elevation, slopes, rock cover and soil depth. Major overstory species are pinyon and juniper with scattered large shrubs including Freemont barberry, Stansbury cliffrose, turbinella oak and Utah serviceberry. Major understory species include muttongrass, blue grama, squirreltail, galleta, Wyoming big sagebrush, broom snakeweed, Mormon tea and yucca. Amounts and composition of understory species will vary depending on tree canopy, elevation, aspect, rock cover and drought.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Correlated Map Unit Components
22601823
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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