Ecological site group DX035X03DESG03
Lake Bidahochi - Sandy
Last updated: 11/01/2022
Accessed: 05/02/2024
Ecological site group description
Key Characteristics
- Lake Bidahochi Sediments
- Soils not sodic
- Soils not saline
- Soils sandy
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
These sites occurs on slopes up to 45 percent. This ecological site is found on hillslopes, edges of plateaus and valley sides. The surface texture of the soil is generally loamy sand, loamy fine sand or fine sand. Subsurface horizons are generally fine sand or sand.
Climate
Winter summer moisture ratios range from 70:30 to 60:40. Late spring is usually the driest period, and early fall moisture can be sporadic. Summer rains fall from June through September; moisture originates in the Gulf of Mexico and creates convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture from October through May tends to be frontal; it originates in the Pacific and the Gulf of California and falls in widespread storms with longer duration and lower intensity. Precipitation generally comes as snow from December through February. Accumulations above 12 inches are not common but can occur. Snow usually lasts for 3-4 days, but can persist much longer. Summer daytime temperatures are commonly 95 - 100 F and on occasion exceed 105 F. Winter air temperatures can regularly go below 10 F and have been recorded below - 20 F.
Soil features
The surface texture of these soils is generally fine sand, loamy sand to loamy fine sand. Subsurface horizons are generally sand, fine sand, loamy sand and loamy fine sand. Parent material is eolian material and alluvium derived mainly from sandstone. The permeability is moderately rapid to rapid and the soil profile can absorb all the moisture the climate can supply. The available water capacity is very low to low. Wind erosion is a severe problem if the vegetative cover is lost. Soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. Soil temperature regime is mesic.
Vegetation dynamics
Please see associated ecological sites under subclasses to view state and transition models.
These sites have a plant community made up of primarily short and midgrasses with a mixture of shrubs and minor amounts of forbs and scattered trees. Major grasses include blue grama, Indian ricegrass, sand dropseed, needle and thread and black grama. Major shrubs include Wyoming big sagebrush, Greene's rabbitbrush, fourwing saltbush and broom snakeweed and mormon tea. A light overstory of juniper and pinyon pine is present on this site. Continuous heavy grazing, fire suppression, the introduction of non-native annuals and a loss of perennial cover can result in sites dominated by trees and shrubs with native and non-native annuals. Grasses are mostly absent or severely reduced. Bare ground patches are large and connected within the woody canopy. There are active signs of erosion and deposition.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
- DX035X03A113–Sandy
- DX035X03A115–Deep Sand
- F035XC332AZ–Sandy Bottom 10-14" (PODEW, SAEX), Perennial (Provisional)
- R035XA118AZ–Sandy Upland 10-14" p.z.
- R035XB216AZ–Sandy Wash 6-10" p.z.
- R035XB217AZ–Sandy Upland 6-10" p.z.
- R035XB222AZ–Sandy Terrace 6-10" p.z.
- R035XC315AZ–Sandy Upland 10-14" p.z.
- R035XC377AZ–Sandy Slopes 10-14" p.z.
- R035XF607AZ–Sandy Upland 13-17" p.z.
Correlated Map Unit Components
22529679, 23436344, 22529626
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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