State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Mixed Grass/Shrub

Bluebunch wheatgrass, needlegrasses, other grasses, and forbs co-dominant with Wyoming big sagebrush.

Community 1.2
Grassland

Bluebunch wheatgrass, needlegrasses, other grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Wyoming big sagebrush canopy cover low.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

fire, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, vegetative treatments, and/or small scale insect/pathogen outbreaks

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

State 2
Mature Sagebrush

Community 2.1
Mature Sagebrush

Old stands of Wyoming big sagebrush with high canopy cover. Reduced understory. Grasses located under shrubs. Active soil loss.

State 3
Seeded State

Community 3.1
Seeded Grassland/Shrub

Seeded grass species, shrubs (high canopy cover), pioneering native grasses, and forbs.

Community 3.2
Seeded Grassland

Seeded grass species and other pioneering native grasses, shrubs, and forbs.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

fire, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, vegetative treatments, and/or small scale insect/pathogen outbreaks

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

State 4
Seeded Mature Sagebrush

Community 4.1
Mature Sagebrush with Seeded Species

Old stands of Wyoming big sagebrush with high canopy cover. Very sparse understory. Grasses located under shrubs. Active soil loss.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

seeded herbaceous species plants and/or shrub removal

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

fire, vegetation treatments, insect herbivory, drought, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, and/or encroached shrub removal

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

seeded herbaceous species planted and/or shrub removal

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

intensive management and inputs may be required to return to reference state, wet climatic years, native plantings, vegetative treatments, proper grazing, and/or fire

Transition T3A
State 3 to 4

extended improper grazing, lack of fire, extended drought, time without disturbance, and/or lack of insect/pathogen outbreaks

Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 3

fire, proper grazing, wet climatic cycles, vegetative treatments, and/or small scale insect/pathogen outbreaks