Ecological Site Description

5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report

United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Ecological Site Description

Section l: Ecological Site Characteristics Ecological Site Identification and Concept

Site stage: Provisional

Provisional: an ESD at the provisional status represents the lowest tier of documentation that is releasable to the public. It contains a grouping of soil units that respond similarly to ecological processes. The ESD contains 1) enough information to distinguish it from similar and associated ecological sites and 2) a draft state and transition model capturing the ecological processes and vegetative states and community phases as they are currently conceptualized. The provisional ESD has undergone both quality control and quality assurance protocols. It is expected that the provisional ESD will continue refinement towards an approved status.

Site name: Semidesert Stony Loam (Blackbrush) / Coleogyne ramosissima - Pleuraphis jamesii ( / blackbrush - James' galleta) Site type: Rangeland Site ID: R035XY243U T Major land resource area (MLRA): 035-Colorado Plateau

https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 1/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report

Physiographic Features

This site occurs on gently sloping alluvial and glacial outwash fans, toe slopes, alluvial terraces and mesa tops.

Landform: (1) Alluvial fan (2) Outwash fan

(3) Mesa

Minimum Maximum Elevation (feet): 5000 6000 Slope (percent): 2 15 Aspect: NorthEast SouthEast

https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 2/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report SouthWest

Climatic Features

Average annual precipitation is 9 to 12 inches. Approximately 77 percent of the precipitation comes as rain from March through October. On the average February, May, and June are the driest months and July through October are the wettest months. Soil temperatures are in the mesic regime. Precipitation is extremely variable from month to month and from year to year. Much of the summer precipitation occurs as convection thunder storms. In average years, plants begin growth around March 1 and end growth around October 15.

Averaged Frost-free period (days): 140 Freeze-free period (days): 140 Mean annual precipitation (inches): 12.00

Monthly Precipitation (Inches): Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Low 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

0 inches

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Monthly Temperature (°F): Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Low 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 3/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report

2 °F

0 °F

-2 °F

-4 °F

-6 °F

-8 °F

-10 °F

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Influencing Water Features

Representative Soil Features

The soils are generally deep, well drained, water holding capacity is low. Typically the surface layer is reddish brown to brown and surface textures range from gravelly fine sandy loams to gravelly loams. Soil temperature regime is mesic and moisture regime is ustic aridic. Runoff is low due to the high permeability—the coarser the soil the slower the runoff. Soils on reference state sites typically have low wind and water erosion potential due to rock fragments. Biological crust cover is characterized as crustless or the possible occurrence of light cyanobacteria or by isolated pinnacles of lichen with little continuity. These surface rock fragments typically have evidence of calcium deposits (small whiteish nodes). The occurrence of water flow patterns is common, but may be masked by rock fragments or biological crusts if present. Disturbed areas are marked by increased water flow patterns and gullies, as well as a decrease in plant cover. This site has been used in the following soils surveys and has been correlated to the following components:

UT631—Henry Mountains Area—Cerrillos; Stormitt UT633—Canyonlands Area—Clapper; Stormitt UT638—Styrch UT685—Capital Reef National Park—Moab; Ustic Torriothents

Typical Soil Profile:

A—0-3 inches; gravelly sandy loam; strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline Bw—3-12 inches; very cobbly sandy loam; strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline Bk1—12-29 inches; very cobbly sandy loam; very strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline Bk2—29-60 inches; very cobbly loam; very strongly calcareous; moderately alkaline https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 4/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report

Minimum Maximum Drainage class: Well drained Minimum Maximum Depth (inches): 60 Available water capacity (inches): 3.00 6.50 Electrical conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 2 Sodium adsorption ratio: 0 5 Calcium carbonate equivalent (percent): 15 30 Soil reaction (1:1 water): 8.2 9.0

Plant Communities

Ecological Dynamics of the Site

As ecological condition deteriorates due to overgrazing, Indian ricegrass and galleta decrease while blackbrush and snakeweed may increase to dominate the site. When the potential natural plant community is burned, blackbrush decreases while Indian ricegrass, galleta, and snakeweed increase. Cheatgrass, Russian thistle, and Utah juniper are most likely to invade this site.

Suitability for rangeland seeding is very poor. The main limitations are low precipitation and low available water capacity.

Reference State

The general view of this site is blackbrush. The composition by air-dry weight is approximately 35 percent perennial grasses, 10 percent forbs, and 55 percent shrubs.

Reference State Plant Species Composition Annual Production Grass/Grasslike (pounds per acre)

Group Group name Common name Symbol Scientific name Low High 0 -Dominant Grasses 113 175 Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 45 75 James' galleta PLJA Pleuraphis jamesii 68 100

Annual Production Shrub/Vine (pounds per acre)

Group Group name Common name Symbol Scientific name Low High 0 -Dominant Shrubs 149 250 blackbrush CORA Coleogyne ramosissima 135 200 mormon tea EPVI Ephedra viridis 14 50 https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 5/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report

Annual Production Grass/Grasslike (pounds per acre)

Group Group name Common name Symbol Scientific name Low High 1 -Sub-Dominant Grasses 58 140 Grass, annual 2GA 14 25 Grass, perennial 2GP 14 25 desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 5 15 purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 5 15 squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 5 15 needle and thread HECOC8 Hesperostipa comata subsp. comata 5 15 Sandberg bluegrass POSE Poa secunda 5 15 sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 5 15

Annual Production Forb (pounds per acre)

Group Group name Common name Symbol Scientific name Low High 2 -Sub-Dominant Forbs 98 310 Forb, annual 2FA 14 50 Forb, perennial 2FP 14 50 woolly locoweed ASMO7 Astragalus mollissimus 5 15 Fendler's sandmat CHFE3 Chamaesyce fendleri 5 15 Brenda's yellow cryptantha CRFL5 Cryptantha flava 5 15 red dome blanketflower GAPI Gaillardia pinnatifida 5 15 flatspine stickseed LAOC3 Lappula occidentalis 5 15 Utah desertparsley LOPA Lomatium parryi 5 15 rayless tansyaster MAGR2 Machaeranthera grindelioides 5 15 tufted evening primrose OECA10 Oenothera caespitosa 5 15 Utah penstemon PEUT Penstemon utahensis 5 15 cleftleaf wildheliotrope PHCR Phacelia crenulata 5 15 woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 5 15 scarlet globemallow SPCO Sphaeralcea coccinea 5 15 Symphyotrichum chilense var. Pacific aster SYCHC 5 15 chilense

Annual Production Shrub/Vine (pounds per acre)

Group Group name Common name Symbol Scientific name Low High 3 -Sub-Dominant Shrubs 64 650 Shrub (>.5m) 2SHRUB 14 500 California saltbush ATCA Atriplex californica 5 15 fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 5 15 yellow rabbitbrush CHVI8 Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 5 15 rubber rabbitbrush ERNAN5 Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa 5 15 sulphur-flower buckwheat ERUM Eriogonum umbellatum 5 15 spiny hopsage GRSP Grayia spinosa 5 15 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 5 15 winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 5 15 plains pricklypear OPPO Opuntia polyacantha 5 15 Thompson's dalea PSTH Psorothamnus thompsoniae 5 15

Annual Production by Plant Type https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 6/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report Annual Production (lbs/ac) Representative Plant type Low value High Forb 28 48 73 Grass/Grasslike 96 166 254 Shrub/Vine 151 261 399

Total: 275 475 726

Structure and Cover: Ground Cover (%) Vegetative Cover Non-Vegetative Cover

Surface Non- Fragments Surface Grass/ Shrub/ Vascular Biological > 1/4 & <= Fragments Bare Grasslike Forb Vine Tree Plants Crust Litter 3" > 3" Bedrock Water Ground 19 to 21 4 to 6 39 to 41

Structure of Canopy Cover (%) Grasses/Grasslike Forbs Shrubs/Vines Trees <=0.5 feet > 0.5 - < 1 feet 19 to 21 4 to 6 < 1 - >= 2 feet 39 to 41

Section ll: Ecological Site Interpretations

Animal Community

--Livestock and Wildlife Grazing--

This site provides poor/fair grazing conditions for livestock due to the high tannins, and low available nutrition in blackbrush. However is has relatively high importance for winter livestock grazing due to the preferable climate. For goats, the grazing value is increased (poor to good). For any class of livestock used, the carrying capacity is always low. This site often lacks natural perennial water sources, which can influence the suitability for livestock and wildlife grazing. Care should be taken to maintain the native perennial grasses and shrubs due to the poor suitability for re-seeding or restoring this site. Reseeding and/or restoration are difficult due to the extreme temperatures and variability in time and amount of precipitation. This site may occur in desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk and pronghorn antelope ranges, and can be important winter areas for bighorn sheep. However, in many places the populations will be small and have little grazing impact on the site.

The plant community is primarily shrubs, with the majority of canopy cover being attributed to blackbrush; sub dominants include green mormontea and winterfat. These shrubs provide good year round browse for cattle, sheep, goats, bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope. When present, grasses, primarily Indian ricegrass and galleta, provide fair year round grazing conditions for horses, cattle, sheep, elk, and bighorn sheep. Forb composition and annual production depends primarily on precipitation amounts and thus is challenging to use in livestock grazing management decisions. However, forb composition should be monitored https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 7/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report for species diversity, as well as poisonous or injurious plant communities which may be detrimental to livestock if grazed. Before making specific grazing management recommendations, an onsite evaluation must be made.

--References--

Relative Forage Preference of Plants for Grazing Use by Season: Plants commonly found in Major Land Resource Area D35 --The Colorado Plateau. 2007

Stubbendieck, J., S. L. Hatch, and C. H. Butterfield. 1997. North American range plants. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. 501p.

USDA, Forest Service. 2007. Fire effects information: plant species life form. Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/index.html. Accessed 7 August 2007.

West, N. E. 1983. Colorado plateau-Mohavian blackbrush semi-desert. In: West, Neil E., ed. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company: 399-411. (Goodall, David W., ed. in chief; Ecosystems of the world; vol. 5). [2508]

Plant Preference by Animal Kind

Animal kind: Livestock cattle Common name Scientific name Plant part J F M A M J J A S O N D Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus Entire plant T T T T T T T T T T T T fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Entire plant P P P D D D D D D D P P blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima Entire plant X X X N N N N N X X X X Cutler's jointfir Ephedra cutleri Entire plant D D D D D D D D D D D D Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana Entire plant D D D X X X X X D D D D mormon tea Ephedra viridis Entire plant D D D X X X X X D D D D rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Entire plant N N N N N N N N N N N N broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X needle and thread Hesperostipa comata subsp. comata Entire plant D D P P P P D D X X X D winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P Jones' pepperweed Lepidium montanum var. jonesii Entire plant N N X X X X X X X X N N James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii Entire plant D D D D P P P P P P P D globemallow Sphaeralcea Entire plant X X D D D D D D D D X X

Animal kind: Wildlife deer Common name Scientific name Plant part J F M A M J J A S O N D Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides Entire plant X X X P P D D D D X X X woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X Cutler's jointfir Ephedra cutleri Entire plant P P D D D D D D D D D P Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana Entire plant D D X X X X X X X D D D mormon tea Ephedra viridis Entire plant D D X X X X X X X D D D https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 8/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X needle and thread Hesperostipa comata subsp. comata Entire plant D D D P P P X X X X X D winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P Jones' pepperweed Lepidium montanum var. jonesii Entire plant N N N D D D X X X X X N James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii Entire plant N N N D D D X X D X X N globemallow Sphaeralcea Entire plant X X X D D D D D D D D X

Animal kind: Wildlife elk Common name Scientific name Plant part J F M A M J J A S O N D Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Entire plant P P P D D D D D D D D P blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X Cutler's jointfir Ephedra cutleri Entire plant D D D D D D D D D D D D Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana Entire plant D D X X X X X D D D D D mormon tea Ephedra viridis Entire plant D D X X X X X D D D D D rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Entire plant N N N N N N N N N N N N broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X needle and thread Hesperostipa comata subsp. comata Entire plant D D D P P P P X X X D D winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P Jones' pepperweed Lepidium montanum var. jonesii Entire plant N N N D D D X X X X N N James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii Entire plant D D D D D D P P P D D D globemallow Sphaeralcea Entire plant X X X D D D D D D D X X

Animal kind: Livestock sheep Common name Scientific name Plant part J F M A M J J A S O N D Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus Entire plant T T T T T T T T T T T T fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima Entire plant X X X N N N N X X X X X Cutler's jointfir Ephedra cutleri Entire plant D D D D D D D D D D D D Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana Entire plant D D D X X X X X D D D D mormon tea Ephedra viridis Entire plant D D D X X X X X D D D D rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Entire plant N N N N N N N N N N N N broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Entire plant X X X X X X X X X X X X needle and thread Hesperostipa comata subsp. comata Entire plant D D D P P P X X X X D D winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P Jones' pepperweed Lepidium montanum var. jonesii Entire plant N N N D D D X X X X N N James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii Entire plant D D D D D D P P P P D D globemallow Sphaeralcea Entire plant X X X D D D D D D D X X

https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 9/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report Legend: P=Preferred; D=Desirable; U=Undesirable; N=Not consumed; E=Emergency; T=Toxic; X=Used, but degree of utilization unknown

Hydrology Functions The soil is in hydrologic group B & C. The hydrologic curve numbers are 61 to 68 depending on the overall watershed condition.

Recreational Uses Recreation uses of this site include hiking and hunting.

Wood Products None

Other Information --Poisonous/Toxic Plant Communities--

Toxic plants associated with this site include wooly locoweed and broom snakeweed. Wooly locoweed is toxic to all classes of livestock and wildlife. This plant is palatable and has similar nutrient value to alfalfa, which may cause animals to consume it even when other forage is available. Locoweed contains swainsonine (indolizdine alkaloid) and is poisonous at all stages of growth. Poisoning will become evident after 2-3 weeks of continuous grazing and is associated with 4 major symptoms: 1) neurological damage, 2) emaciation, 3) reproductive failure and abortion, and 4) congestive heart failure linked with “high mountain disease”. Broom snakeweed contains steroids, terpenoids, saponins, and flavones that can cause abortions or reproductive failure in sheep and cattle, however cattle are most susceptible. These toxins are most abundant during active growth and leafing stage. Cattle and sheep will generally graze broom snakeweed when other forage is unavailable, typically in winter when toxicity levels are at their lowest.

Potentially toxic plants associated with this site include fourwing saltbush, which may accumulate selenium, but only when growing on selenium enriched soils. These plants, when consumed will cause alkali disease or chronic selenosis, which affects all classes of livestock (excluding goats). Typically animals consuming 5-50 ppm selenium will develop chronic selenosis and animals consuming greater than 50 ppm selenium will develop acute selenosis. Clinical signs include lameness, soughing of the hoof, hair loss, blindness, and aimless wondering.

Russian thistle is an invasive toxic plant, causing nitrate and to a lesser extent oxalate poisoning, which affects all classes of livestock. The buildup of nitrates in these plants is highly dependent upon environmental factors, such as after a rain storm during a drought, cool/cloudy days, and soils high in nitrogen and low in sulfur and phosphorus, all which cause increased nitrate accumulation. Nitrate collects in the stems and can persist throughout the growing season. Clinical signs of nitrate poisoning include drowsiness, weakness, muscular tremors, increased heart and respiratory rates, staggering gait, and death. Conversely, oxalate poisoning causes kidney failure; clinical signs include muscle tremors, tetany, weakness, and depression. Poisoning generally occurs when livestock consume and are not accustomed to grazing oxalate-containing plants. Animals with prior exposure to oxalates have increased numbers of oxalate-degrading rumen microflora and thus are able to degrade the toxin before clinical poisoning can occur.

--Invasive Plant Communities--

Generally as ecological conditions deteriorate and perennial vegetation decreases due to disturbance (fire, over grazing, drought, off road vehicle overuse, erosion, etc.) annual forbs and grasses will invade the site. Of particular concern in semi-arid environments are annual invaders including cheatgrass, Russian thistle, kochia, halogeton, and annual mustards. The presence of these species will depend on soil properties and moisture availability; however, these invaders are highly adaptive and can flourish in many locations. Once established, complete removal is difficult but suppression may be possible. At this time, in most of the Colorado Plateau area, cheatgrass is not known to invade blackbrush associations as it does in areas of southwest Utah and the Mojave.

--Fire Ecology--

The ability for an ecological site to carry fire depends primarily on the present fuel load and plant moisture content—sites with small fuel loads will burn more slowly https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 10/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report and less intensely than sites with large fuel loads. Many semi-desert communities in the Colorado Plateau may have evolved without the influence of fire. However a year of exceptionally heavy winter rains can generate fuels by producing heavy stands of annual forbs and grasses. When fires do occur, the effect on the plant community may be extreme due to the harsh environment and slow rate of recovery.

The fire regime for blackbrush is not well understood due to few species in the association that show fire scars and can be aged. Research has noted that a burned blackbrush site in Arizona has recovered, and in Nevada, fire in blackbrush communities has increased forage diversity. In these areas, a fire return interval has been suggested at 35-100 years. However, communities in southeastern Utah do not show evidence of burning within that time frame. This ecological site is comprised of dense to scattered low stature blackbrush plants with bare interspaces to patchy occurrence of grasses, which is unlikely to carry a fire unless under high winds, high temperature, and low humidity. Blackbrush is a non-sprouter and is slow to re-establish on burned sites. Studies indicate that blackbrush sites do not recover well in Utah. So currently burning is not a recommended brush management tool. Because of the apical dominance trait, removal through grazing or mechanical treatment will increase sprouting/new growth. If at sometime there are species that can be used successfully to re-vegetate the community, then mechanical treatment could be used. Of caution, blackbrush is thought to be very flammable due to the dense spacing of the brush and the tinder-like nature, and resinous foliage. So, if annual grasses or forbs dominate the area after disturbance, re-vegetating efforts could be hampered due to several factors including an increase in fire frequency.

--References--

Knight, A. P. and R. G. Walter. 2001. A guide to plant poisoning of animals in North America. Jackson, WY: Teton NewMedia. 367p.

USDA, Forest Service. 2007. Fire effects information: plant species life form. Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/index.html. Accessed 7 August 2007.

Supporting Information

Associated Sites Site name Site ID Site narrative Desert Shallow Clay (Mat Saltbush) R035XY124UT Semidesert Sandy Loam (Blackbrush) R035XY218UT Semidesert Shallow Sandy Loam (Blackbrush) R035XY233UT Semidesert Shallow Sandy Loam (Utah Juniper, R035XY236UT Blackbrush)

Site Authors Lars Rassmussen, David J. Somorville V. Keith Wadman

Quality Assurance Provisional Status Verified in Legacy System

Reference Sheet

Author(s)/participant(s): Robert D. Stager (BLM), Shane A. Green (NRCS), Dana Truman (NRCS), Randy Beckstrand (BLM), Paul Curtis (BLM)

https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R035XY243UT&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 11/13 5/13/2019 ESD Printable Report Contact for lead author: [email protected]

Date: 3/21/2007 MLRA: 035X Ecological Site: Semidesert Stony Loam (Blackbrush) R035XY243UT This must be verified based on soils and climate (see Ecological Site Description). Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Composition (indicators 10 and 12) based on: X Annual Production, Foliar Cover, Biomass

Indicators. For each indicator, describe the potential for the site. Where possible, (1) use numbers, (2) include expected range of values for above- and below- average years for each community and natural distrurbance regimes within the reference state, when appropriate and (3) cite data. Continue descriptions on separate sheet.

1. Number and extent of rills: Very few occur throughout site. Rills may be 6 to 10 feet in length. Sides of rills may be up to 2 inches deep. Rills are most likely to form below adjacent exposed bedrock or water flow patterns where sufficient water accumulates to cause erosion.

2. Presence of water flow patterns: Frequent and occur throughout area. Flow patterns are sinuous and wind between the surface rocks and plant bases.

3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: Plants may show very minor pedestalling on their down slope side. Terracettes should be few and stable.

4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): 25-40%. (Soil surface is typically covered by up to 35-50% rock). Ground cover is measured as first raindrop impact, bare ground is the inverse of cover. Ground cover + bare ground = 100%. Well developed biological crusts should not be recorded as bare ground. Poorly developed biological soil crusts that are interpreted as functioning as bare ground (therefore they would be susceptible to raindrop splash erosion) should be recorded as bare ground.

5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:

6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:

7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):

8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):

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10. Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:

11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):

12. Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground weight using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to) with dominants and sub-dominants and "others" on separate lines: Dominant: Sub-dominant: Other: Additional:

13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):

14. Average percent litter cover (%) and depth (inches):

15. Expected annual production (this is TOTAL above-ground production, not just forage production):

16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List Species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicator, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:

17. Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Reference Sheet Approval

Approval Date Shane A. Green 4/4/2013

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