Ecological site group DX035X03DESG02
Lake Bidahochi - Saline
Last updated: 10/31/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Lake Bidahochi Sediments
- Soils not sodic
- Soils saline
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 group occurs on toeslopes of undulating plateaus and cuestas; dipslopes of cuestas; summits of plateaus and structural benches; knolls of plateaus, mesas and benches; fan remnants; and treads of high stream terraces. It also occurs on bottom land positions like braided floodplains.
Climate
This group has a very dry and windy climate that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The annual precipitation averages between 6 and 10 inches. The soil moisture regime is typic-aridic and the soil temperature regime is mesic. A slight majority of the precipitation arrives during the late fall, winter, and early spring. This winter season moisture originates in the Pacific Ocean and arrives as rain, or sometimes snow, during widespread frontal storms of generally low intensity. The majority of the snow (average range of 1 to 17 inches) falls from December through February, but rarely lasts more than a few days. A seasonal drought occurs from late May through early July. Summer rains occur from July through September during brief intense local thunderstorms. The rain is sporadic in intensity and location. The moisture originates from the Gulf of Mexico in the early summer and the Gulf of California in the late summer/early fall. Windy conditions are common year round, but the winds are strongest and most frequent during the spring.
Soil features
Surface textures are predominantly clay loam to clay. Subsurface textures are typically clay loam, clay, silty clay, sandy clay loam, sandy loam. Geologic formation: Mancos shale, Moenkopi, Mesa Verde group. Parent material is alluvium from sandstone, shale, and mudstone. Available water capacity: moderate to high. Hazard of erosion by water: slight to moderate - wind: moderate to high. Soil moisture regime: Typic aridic Soil temperature regime: mesic.
Vegetation dynamics
Please see associated ecological sites under subclasses to view state and transition models.
These sites were historically made up primarily of mid and short grasses mixed with scattered shrubs and a relatively small percentage of annual and perennial forbs. Dominant plants include fourwing saltbush, mound saltbush, alkali sacaton, and galleta. Disturbances can result in a slight decrease in the amount of cool season perennial grasses and palatable shrubs, like fourwing saltbush and winterfat. With unmanaged grazing, warm season grasses increase along with shrubs such as, shadscale, greasewood and mound saltbush.
These sites will generally have a disturbed surface with high amounts of bare ground.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
Correlated Map Unit Components
22529724, 22529575, 22529729, 22529529, 22529521
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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