Ecological site group DX035X03DESG05
Lake Bidahochi - Shale or Clayey
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 not sandy
- Parent Material is Shale or Volcanic, or soil is Clayey
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 in bottom and upland positions. Bottom postions included floodplains, valley floors, stream terraces and drainageways and benefits significantly from run-in moisture from adjacent areas. Upland positions include summits of mesas, structural benches and cuestas. Slopes range from 0 to 35%.
Climate
The overall climate is characterized by cold dry winters in which winter moisture is less than summer. As much as half or more of the annual precipitation can be expected to come during the period of July through September. Thus, fall conditions are often more favorable for good growth of cool-season perennial grasses, shrubs, and forbs than are those of spring. Precipitation often varies substantially from year to year.
Rainfall patterns generally favor warm-season perennial vegetation, while the temperature regime tends to favor cool-season vegetation. This creates a somewhat complex community of plants on a given range site which is quite susceptible to disturbance and is at or near its productive potential only when both the natural warm- and cool- season dominants are present.
Soil features
Soils are typically moderately fine to fine-textured on the surface (clay loam, clay, silty clay loam). Runoff from this group can be excessive in the absence of adequate vegetative cover. It may also be excessive during periods of heavy rainfall or spring snowmelt. The erosion hazard is high when the vegetative cover deteriorates.
Vegetation dynamics
Please see associated ecological sites under subclasses to view state and transition models.
The historic plant communities on these sites are dominated by alkali sacaton and western wheatgrass. Other important grasses that appear on this site include galleta, blue grama, and bottlebrush squirreltail. Fourwing saltbush and winterfat are the dominant shrubs. Rabbitbrush and broom snakeweed may also be sparsely scattered across the site. Grass cover is uniform with few large bare connected areas present. Shrubs are scattered with canopy cover and there is little evidence of erosion. Loss of grass cover due to changes in hydrology, overgrazing or other disturbances is accompanies by an increase in rabbitbrush and other shrubs. The continued loss of remaining grass cover due to overgrazing or soil drying may cause the transition to a bare state. The subsequent sealing of the soil surface by physical crusts reduces infiltration and inhibits grass reestablishment. Annuals are the dominant herbaceous vegetation. Extensive interconnected bare areas are common with scattered or no grass plants. Evidence of erosion such as rills and gullies are present.
Major Land Resource Area
MLRA 035X
Colorado Plateau
Subclasses
- DX035X01I104–Clay Loam Wash 10-14" p.z.
- DX035X03A119–Clayey Bottomland
- DX035X03B630–Clay Loam Upland 13-17" p.z. (PIED)
- DX035X03F128–Clayey
- R035XA130NM–Shale Hills 10-14"p.z.
- R035XB202AZ–Clayey Wash 6-10" p.z.
- R035XB220AZ–Shale Upland 6-10" p.z.
- R035XB239AZ–Clayey Fan 6-10" p.z.
- R035XC306AZ–Clayey Upland 10-14" p.z.
- R035XC307AZ–Clay Loam Upland 10-14" p.z.
- R035XC320AZ–Shale Hills 10-14" p.z.
- R035XG706AZ–Clayey Upland 14-18" p.z.
- R035XG707AZ–Clay Loam Upland 14-18" p.z.
Correlated Map Unit Components
22529502, 22529507, 22529535, 22529534, 22529782, 22529541, 22529727, 22529423, 22529518, 22529527
Stage
Provisional
Contributors
Curtis Talbot
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