Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

MLRA 38, LRU 38.3 Selected Ecological Site Reports for Conservation Planning on the San Carlos Apache Tribal Lands ()

State of Arizona, with San Carlos Apache Nation outlined in blue. Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs) and symbols shown in black.

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This report contains newly-developed ecological site description reports for four ecological sites found in Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 38 and Land Resource Unit (LRU) 38.3, on the San Carlos Apache Tribal lands. It was developed through a collaborative effort with the NRCS Conservation Effects Assessment Project’s Grazing Land Component (CEAP-GL), the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ San Carlos Agency, with extensive leadership provided by Resource Management Systems, LLC via USDA Agreement #67-3A75-16-794.

The ecological site descriptions in this report were developed by following NRCS policy as provided in the National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH). The NESH provides standards, guidelines, definitions, policies, responsibilities, and procedures for conducting the collaborative process of ecological site description (ESD) development. Responsibilities for ESD development are shared among disciplines, including soils, range, forest, agronomy, wildlife biology, and hydrology. The NESH describes steps needed to collect information on site attributes, site correlation and classification, site dynamics, and site interpretations to ensure the quality and utility of Ecological Sites (NRCS 2017; https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232).

Due to time constraints, personnel shortages, and other workload demands experienced by NRCS, some of the organizational policies outlined in the NESH were circumvented for expediency reasons. This has, in no way, diminished the value of the ecological site data, soil correlation, use and management findings, or other data presented herein.

This report is issued as a National Bulletin, and shared with the NRCS National Ecological Site Team (NEST), NRCS-Arizona, and NRCS Soil Survey Region 8, headquartered out of Phoenix, AZ. Per NRCS policy provided in the NESH, Soil Survey Region 8 is responsible for reviewing this report and issuing the contents (edited or intact) as official Provisional ESDs. At the risk of omitting key experts, Resource Management Systems LLC and NRCS CEAP-Grazing Lands would like to thank the following groups and individuals for their contributions to this report: • Tribal Council, San Carlos Apache Tribe – for expressing the need for this product to better- inform their conservation planning efforts. • Teresa Goseyun, Range Specialist, San Carlos Apache Tribe • Dee Randall, Forester, San Carlos Apache Tribe • Paul Buck, Soil Conservationist, San Carlos Apache Tribe • Clark Richins, Natural Resource Specialist, San Carlos Agency, BIA • Bob Hetzler, Natural Resource Specialist, San Carlos Agency, BIA • Fire Division, San Carlos Apache Tribe • Wildlife Division, San Carlos Apache Tribe

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INTRODUCTION The four ecological sites presented and described in this report include: • MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Hills, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z. • MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Hills, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z. • MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z. • MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Upland, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z. The information is sufficient to meet the NRCS requirement of a Provisional ecological site description. An Ecological Site Description (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. Each 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. All four of the ecological sites are within MLRA 38, Land Resource Unit (LRU) 38.3, and have similar climate characteristics, described below.

MAJOR LAND RESOURCE AREA (MLRA) 38 - MOGOLLON TRANSITION Major Land Resource Area 38 is a rough mountainous transition zone lying between the Mohave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts (MLRAs 30, 40, and 42, respectively), and the Plateau (MLRA 35). The northern boundary of MLRA 38 is defined by the Mogollon Rim – a grand escarpment that defines the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau running northwest to southeast across the central portion of Arizona and into New . At the top of the Mogollon Rim, across most of its length, stands the world’s largest contiguous stand of Ponderosa pine (MLRA 39). And on the eastern end of MLRA 38, along the Arizona – boundary, this MLRA blends into the Southeastern Arizona Basin and Range (MLRA 41), characterized by grasslands and oak woodlands, that runs south into Mexico. MLRA 38 is a diverse bio-physiographic transition zone where all of these Major Land Resource Areas come together.

LAND RESOURCE UNIT (LRU) 38.3 INTERIOR CHAPARRAL FORESTS Land Resource Units are subdivisions of Major Land Resource Areas. Large elevation changes within Major Land Resource Area 38 affect the kinds and amounts of precipitation, mean soil and air temperatures, and growing season lengths which all influence soil development processes and community production and composition. MLRA 38 is divided into three Land Resource Units.

The Interior Chaparral Forests Land Resource Unit (LRU 38.3), is the highest, wettest, and coolest Land Resource Unit in the MLRA. Elevations in this Land Resource Unit range from about 5200-7000 feet and average annual precipitation ranges from 20 to over 30 inches per year. Land Resource Unit 38.3 generally supports open grasslands on clayey and seasonally saturated soils; Arizona Interior Chaparral shrub communities on granite, rhyolite and diabase derived soils; pinyon – juniper and pinyon dominated woodlands on basalt and limestone derived soils; and on the highest mountain peaks it supports ponderosa pine dominated forests. Common in this Land Resource Unit includes Gambel oak, gray oak, Arizona white oak, Emory oak, pinyon, alligator juniper, one seed juniper, Arizona cypress, ponderosa pine, shrubby buckwheat, sacahuista, skunkbush sumac, Wright’s silktassle, blue grama, sideoats grama, muttongrass, western wheatgrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail.

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CLIMATE Precipitation for the proceeding ecological sites averages approximately 20 to 24 inches annually. Precipitation is lower and temperatures are cooler in the eastern part of the LRU. The winter-summer precipitation ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the western part of the area to 45/55% in the eastern part. Summer rains fall July through September; and are from high-intensity convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from 10 to 18 inches per year and can occur from November through April. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 50 to 57 degrees F (mesic temperature regime). Daytime temps in the summer are commonly in the mid 80's in the eastern portion of the MLRA and the low to mid 90's in the western portion. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April. The actual precipitation, available moisture and temperature varies, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.

ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION REPORTS The following pages contain the four new site descriptions that meet NRCS Provisional ESD requirements, including the development of a Reference Worksheet. Click on each site name to jump ahead to that section.

• MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Hills, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z. Key slope and soil characteristics for this ecological site: o Slopes 15-45% o No rock fragments in the soil profile. o The soil surface may have a 30-40% cover of basalt gravel. o Silt Loam to clay loam surface textures. o A clay horizon, within 6-10 inches of the surface. o Basalt bedrock within 20 inches.

• MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Hills, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z. Key slope and soil characteristics for this ecological site: o Slopes 15-45% o Soil surface cover of basalt gravel and cobbles. o Rock fragments throughout the soil profile. o Soil textures are silt loam to clay loam throughout. o Basalt or andesite bedrock within 20 inches. o Rock outcrop and very shallow bedrock areas concentrate available precipitation.

• MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z. Key soil characteristics for this ecological site: o Slopes 1-15%. o No rock fragments in the soil profile. o The soil surface typically has a 10-20% cover of basalt gravel and cobbles. o Silt Loam to clay loam surface textures. o A clay horizon, within 4-10 inches of the surface. o Basalt bedrock within 20 inches. 4 | Page

• MLRA 38, LRU 38.3, Basalt Upland, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z. Key slope and soil characteristics for this ecological site: o Slopes 1-15%. o Soil surface cover of basalt gravel and cobbles (up to 40% surface cover is not uncommon). o Rock fragments throughout the soil profile. o Soil textures are silt loam to clay loam. o Subsurface textures silty clay loam to clay. o Basalt or andesite bedrock within 20 inches.

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BASALT HILLS, CLAY SUBSOIL 20-24" P.Z. Juniperus deppeana - Pinus edulis/Bouteloua gracilis, - Bouteloua curtipendula

Site type: Forest Site ID: To be determined by NRCS This ecological site occurs in the 20-24” precipitation zone of MLRA 38, LRU 38.3. Elevations range from about 5200 to 6000 feet. The higher precipitation zone supports ponderosa pine as the dominant tree species in many of the plant communities. Monthly Moisture and Temperature Distribution The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic ustic. Average Frost-free period is 158 days, and the average Freeze-free period is 178 days. Monthly Precipitation (Inches): Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 2.10 1.90 2.00 1.20 0.40 0.60 2.90 3.50 1.90 1.30 1.30 2.00 Medium 1.80 1.65 1.80 1.05 0.45 0.50 2.80 3.40 1.85 1.35 1.30 1.75 Low 1.50 1.40 1.60 0.90 0.50 0.40 2.70 3.30 1.80 1.40 1.30 1.50

Monthly Precipitation 4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

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

High Avg Low

Monthly Temperature (°F): Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 56.60 62.60 65.30 72.10 80.20 90.70 95.20 93.40 87.30 78.70 68.50 59.90 Low 21.90 24.50 27.80 32.50 38.20 46.00 56.30 55.00 48.30 37.60 26.90 23.40

Monthly Temperature 100.00 80.00 60.00 40.00 20.00 0.00 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

High Low

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Climate Stations (1) 020808, Black River Pumps, Arizona. Period of record 1948-2005 (2) 021749 Cibecue, Arizona Period of Record 1927-1979 (3) 026653 Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, Arizona Period of Record 1964-2005 (4) 029271 Whiteriver 1 SW, Arizona Period of Record 1900-2005 (5) 029622 Young, Arizona Period of Record 1903-1964

ECOLOGICAL SITE CONCEPT The Basalt Hills, Clayey Subsoil 20-24” P.Z. ecological site occurs on mountain sideslopes and backslopes created by basalt lava flows. Slopes are typically more 15 to 45 percent. The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt bedrock. There are few if any rock fragments throughout the entire soil profile, though the surface may have a 30-40% cover of basalt gravels and cobbles. Soil surface textures range from silt loam to clay loam typically to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. The subsurface textures range from silty clay to clay over basalt bedrock. Rock outcrop may make up to 10-25 percent of the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture is from precipitation, including snow. Slopes are limiting on this site for brush management or forest stand improvement using mechanical methods. Key soil characteristics for this ecological site: o No rock fragments in the soil profile. o The soil surface may have a 30-40% cover of basalt gravel. o Silt Loam to clay loam surface textures. o A clay horizon, within 6-10 inches of the surface. o Basalt bedrock within 20 inches. This ecological site produces a reference community with an overstory dominated by alligator juniper and an increasing amount of pinyon pine as elevation and rainfall increase. At the highest end of the precipitation range, ponderosa pine may occur on the north-facing slopes. The understory is dominated by perennial grasses including blue grama, sideoats grama and hairy grama, and perennial forbs including fleabane and Canadian horseweed.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES Geology: Basalt (Basic Igneous, Extrusive) Landform/Landscape Position: Plateau, Mesa, Butte Hillslope – Profile Position: Shoulders, Backslopes Slope Shape: Concave or Convex

Attribute Minimum Maximum Elevation (feet): 5200 6000 Slope (percent): 15 45

INFLUENCING WATER FEATURES There are no influencing water features associated with this site.

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REPRESENTATIVE SOIL FEATURES The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt bedrock. The USGS geological map shows them as basalts and andesite formations from the Miocene and Oligocene era (USGS map units Tbn and Tab). There are few if any rock fragments throughout the entire soil profile. The soil surface may have a 30-40% cover of gravels and cobbles. Soil surface textures range from silt loam to clay loam typically to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. The subsurface textures range from silty clay to clay over basalt bedrock. Rock outcrop may make up to 10-25 percent of the site. The rock outcrop and shallow bedrock areas act as water harvesting features that concentrate available precipitation into the deeper pockets of soil on the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture comes from precipitation, including snow.

Parent Material Kind: Residuum, Alluvium Parent Material Origin: Basalt Surface Texture: Silty Clay Loam, Clay Loam Surface Texture Modifier: None Subsurface Texture Class: Clayey

Minimum Maximum Depth (inches): 6 20 Available Water Capacity (inches): 2.2 4.4 Drainage Class: Moderately Well Well Drained Permeability Class: Slow Moderately Slow Surface Fragments <=3” (% Cover): 20 80 Surface Fragments >3” (% Cover): 25 60 Subsurface Fragments <=3” (%Volume): 0 1 Subsurface Fragments >3” (%Volume) 0 1 Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 2 Sodium Absorption Ratio: 0 2 Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): 6.8 8.0 Soil Reaction (0.1M CaCl2): 0 2 Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): 0 5

ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS Plant community dynamics on this ecological site may occur over a period as long as 300-400 years. Although sustained severe drought combined with bark beetle infestations can significantly change the composition and structure of the plant community, fire is the dominant driver. The general successional sequence following a stand-replacing event is: herbaceous dominated production for the first 20 years; herbaceous species and trees co-dominate annual production from 20-80 years after a stand replacing event; trees dominate annual production after 80 years if there is not a regular fire interval. Competition from perennial grasses can delay the domination by woody species. Fire scar records indicate the natural fire frequency interval averages 20-30 years at higher elevations. At lower elevations, the natural fire frequency is thought to be about 15-25 years. Fire frequency is recorded on scattered ponderosa pines in the higher elevations. Fire scarred pinyons are rare. They are typically killed by fire, either directly from fire damage, or from heart rot infecting the injured trees following a fire.

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Junipers (especially alligator juniper) are very difficult to age. They can produce more than one growth ring in favorable years, and no growth ring in dry years. The evergreen oaks are also difficult to age.

Pinyon pine starts producing seed at approximately 25 years of age. Each tree produces a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, and the cones mature over 3 years. Alligator juniper can be dioecious (separate male and female plants) or monecious (male and female parts on the same plant). The trees start bearing berries at 10-20 years of age. Birds are the most common method of seed dispersal for both pinyon and juniper. Coyotes, mice, rabbits, and livestock also disperse seed. Pinyon pines often reach ages of 300-400 years, with some reaching 500 years old. The older trees typically occur on shallow bedrock areas that produce spare tree canopies, and sparse, patchy understories that will rarely carry a hot fire.

Continuous heavy grazing will alter the composition of the understory species. Midgrasses and cool season grasses will decline under continuous heavy grazing, while warm season shortgrasses and sod grasses such as blue grama will increase. If blue grama and other sod forming grasses establish dominance as a solid sod, the return of midgrasses and cool season grasses will only occur with long term rest, or long term grazing management that provides regular deferment during both the spring and summer growing seasons. A change agent, such as drought, disease, insect damage or repeated fire that will open up the sod-bound community may also be needed. As tree canopy sizes increase over time, grazing use becomes more concentrated in the diminishing interspaces between trees. This effectively reduces the number of grazable acres. The fine loamy and clay loam surface textures on this site are susceptible to soil compaction when they are wet. In areas with high animal densities, such as areas near water, the interspaces between trees can see an increase in soil compaction and a decrease in herbaceous cover and litter cover. This may reduce infiltration, and increase runoff and erosion. If the site has a gravel and cobble cover of 40% or more, then erosion is unlikely to increase significantly, and but runoff may increase, resulting in less soil moisture for herbaceous production.

STATE AND TRANSITION MODEL Communities show the dominant functional groups in general descending order by aboveground annual production (air-dry weight).

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State 1: (Reference) State 2 Herbaceous – Woody, <50% Tree Canopy Woody – Herbaceous

1.1 Mature Successional 2.1 Mature Successional Stage T1A Stage >50% Tree Canopy Summer Shortgrass, Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Summer Coniferous Tree, Spring Midgrass, Spring Annual Annual Forb, Summer Forb, Summer Perennial Perennial Forb, Spring Forb, Spring Midgrass, Rhizomatous Grass, R1A Summer Annual Forb Spring Midgrass, Summer 1.1A Midgrass

1.2A

1.2 Immature 1.3 Young Successional Successional Stage Stage Summer Shortgrass, 1.3A Summer Midgrass, Summer Midgrass, Spring Summer Annual Forb, Midgrass, Summer Spring Midgrass, Spring Perennial Forb, Perennial Forb, Summer Coniferous Tree, Spring Shortgrass, Spring Annual Perennial Forb, Summer Grass, Coniferous Tree Annual Forb 1.2B

Legend T1A – Lack of fire, continuous heavy grazing R1A – Forest Stand Improvement or Brush Management (mechanical), Prescribed Grazing 1.1A – Stand replacing crown fire, drought with bark beetle infestations. Mechanical brush control or forest stand improvement is limited due to slopes. 1.2A – 80-100 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill immature trees 1.2B – stand replacing crown fire 1.3A – 15-20 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill young trees

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State 1. Reference State

Figure 1. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Hills, Clayey Subsoil 20-24” PZ – Reference Community 1.1, Mature Successional Stage.

Community 1.1 Mature Successional Stage Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Summer Midgrass, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Spring Midgrass, Summer Annual Forb Narrative This is the interpretive plant community. The overstory is dominated by alligator juniper. Twoneedle pinyon pine increases on the site as elevation and precipitation increase. Canopy cover is about 30-50%, with about 120-150 trees per acre. Major grasses include blue grama, sideoats grama, hairy grama, Arizona fescue, and mountain muhly. Perennial and annual forbs, including spreading fleabane, Canadian horseweed, and Wright’s bird’s beak are also important components of the herbaceous understory. Annual above ground production averages 1360 lbs, air dry weight. Production will typically vary from that average by 50-300 pounds with elevation and the natural variability in the timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of rainfall from year to year. In this Community Phase, the alligator juniper has achieved maximal height and crown diameters for the site, canopies are less dense, and the trees have flat to rounded crowns. Average stem diameter is greater than 5” at a 1-foot stump height.

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Plant Community 1.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry weight, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 707 Forb 270 Shrub 1 Tree 382 Total 1360 Species Production by Functional Group Average annual production in the table below is displayed by functional group – plants that have the same growth habits and flowering period which tend to compete and replace each other on the ecological site in different places, and over time. In state and transition models, the specific species that occupies a niche in the plant community is less important than whether that functional group is present, and the relative dominance of that functional group in the plant community. The season (spring, summer) is used to show when the plant is in its’ reproductive phase. Plant Community 1.1. Species Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Prod No lbs/ac 3 Spring Midgrass Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica 65 squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 5 Spring Shortgrass pinyon ricegrass PIFI Piptochaetium fimbriatum 15 15 Summer Tallgrass bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 2 17 Summer Midgrass mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia 150 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 19 Summer Shortgrass blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 475 hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 39 Summer Perennial southwestern ARPL3 Argemone pleiacantha 85 Forb pricklypoppy spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 43 Spring Annual Forb Canadian horseweed COCA5 Conyza canadensis 125 45 Summer Annual Wright's bird's beak COWR2 Cordylanthus wrightii 60 Forb 59 Cacti staghorn cholla CYVE3 Cylindropuntia versicolor 1 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 382 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis

Plant Community 1.1. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 25 50 Tree Basal Area 0.5 1 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 8 15 Basal cover, forbs 1 3 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 30 60 Bare Ground 10 20

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Plant Community 1.1. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 155 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 17 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 295 D+X Spacing 1.2 Avg Diameter Root Crown (in) 14 Site Index (Howell) 103

Species % Avg Avg Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Composition Height Canopy Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator juniper 95 17 15 6 120 420 pinyon pine 5 15 6 7 9 16

Plant Community 1.1. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.24 8,177 20,500 28,677 pinyon pine 35.60 45 35 80 Total 8,222 20,535 28,757

Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cov er Cover X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X

Community 1.2 Immature Successional Stage Summer Shortgrass, Summer Midgrass, Spring Midgrass, Summer Perennial Forb, Coniferous Tree, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Annual Forb Narrative This community phase represents the immature successional stage, 15-20 years after a stand-replacing crown fire, extended severe drought with bark beetle damage, or brush management or forest stand improvement treatments. Trees have not yet reached mature height for the site. Alligator junipers have dense canopies of 4 to 10 resprouted stems and cone- or pyramid-shaped tops. Tree stem diameters are less than 5 inches at a 1-foot stump height. Tree canopy cover is greater than 15%. Alligator junipers are producing seed. The trees are too tall to control with prescribed burning. Herbaceous species still dominate annual production but juniper trees are competing for soil moisture, reducing herbaceous production on the site. Community 1.3 Young Successional Stage Summer Midgrass, Summer Annual Forb, Spring Midgrass, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Shortgrass, Spring Annual Grass, Coniferous Tree Narrative This community phase occurs on recently treated areas where trees have been removed by a stand replacing fire, drought and bark beetle die off. Scattered older trees may be left standing, or patches of older trees may still be present. Annual production is dominated by spring and summer midgrasses, summer shortgrasses, and forbs. Young tree resprouts are less than 4.5 feet tall. Prescribed burning or individual plant treatment with chemicals are still viable options for control of young resprouts.

STATE 2. WOODY – HERBACEOUS Community 2.1 Mature Successional Stage > 50% Tree Canopy Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Spring Rhizomatous Grass, Spring Midgrass, Summer Midgrass Narrative The plant community is a mix of mature and climax trees, with immature trees infilling the previously open spaces due to lack of a natural fire return interval, and in some cases the reduction in competition from herbaceous species due to continuous heavy grazing. Tree canopy cover exceeds 50%. Juniper and

14 | Page pinyon trees dominate the ecological process in this community phase. Annual herbaceous production may still exceed woody species production. Lower branches of mature trees are dead or dying due to lack of sunlight, lifting the crown up above the ground. Herbaceous plant communities are patchy, with little production under heavy canopy areas, and solid stands of grasses and forbs in more open areas. Cool season grasses increase because of the tree canopies.

ASSOCIATED SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located on the same landscape position, but the soil Upland, profile contains gravels and cobbles, and there is not a significant clay horizon Cobbly Clay above the basalt bedrock. The reduction in clay and the improved drainage Loam over shallow basalt bedrock allows the Basalt Upland, Clay Loam site to be dominated by oak species in the reference community. Clay Loam R038XC303AZ This rangeland ecological site is on similar landscape positions, but the soils are Upland moderately deep to deep. The reference plant community is an open grassland with scattered juniper (<15% canopy cover).

SIMILAR SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located on the same landscape position, but the soil Upland, profile contains gravels and cobbles, and there is not a significant clay horizon Clay Loam above the basalt bedrock. The reduction in clay and the improved drainage over shallow basalt bedrock allows the Basalt Upland, Clay Loam site to be dominated by oak species in the reference community. Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located in similar shallow soils over basalt bedrock, but Upland, slopes are less than 15%. These steeper slopes affect use and management, Clay Subsoil and fire behavior.

ECOLOGICAL SITE INTERPRETATIONS Plant Preferences by Animal Kind by Month 1/ Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seeds Gould Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seeds Mule Deer D D D D P P D N N N N N juniper deppeana alligator Juniperus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Whitetail alligator Juniperus Leaves Mule Deer D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana alligator Juniperus Stems Mule Deer D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Desert D D D P P D P P P D D D Bighorn blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Horses D D D D P P P P P D D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D D D U U

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Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Pronghorn U U U D D D D D U U U U Antelope blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Cattle D D D D D P P P P P D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Mule Deer U U U D D D D D U U U U blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Scaled Quail U U D D D D U U U U U U bluedicks Dichelostemma Entire plant Mule Deer N N P P P D U N N N N N capitatum bluedicks Dichelostemma Entire plant Pronghorn U U U P P D D U U U U U capitatum Antelope bluedicks Dichelostemma Flowers Pronghorn N N P P D D U U N N N N capitatum Antelope bluedicks Dichelostemma Underground Javalina D D D D D D D D D D D D capitatum parts bluedicks Dichelostemma Underground Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D capitatum parts Quail desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Coues D D P P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Whitetail desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Mule Deer D D P P D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Rocky D D D P P D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Mountain Sheep desert Sphaeralcea Fruits/Seeds Gambels N N D D D D D D D D N N globemallow ambigua Quail desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Cattle D D D P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Coues D D D P P D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Whitetail desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Quail desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Mule Deer D D D P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Antelope hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D D D U U hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Pronghorn U U U D D D D D U U U U Antelope hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Rocky U U U U U U D D D D U U Mountain Sheep hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D mat muhly Muhlenbergia Entire plant Pronghorn U U D D D U U U U U U U richardsonis Antelope milkvetch Astragalus Entire plant Cattle U U T T T T T T U U U U milkvetch Astragalus Entire plant Mule Deer U D P P D U U U U U D D milkvetch Astragalus Entire plant Pronghorn T T T T T T T T T T T T Antelope milkvetch Astragalus Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail

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Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name milkvetch Astragalus Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D milkvetch Astragalus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D Whitetail milkvetch Astragalus Leaves Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail purple Aristida purpurea Entire plant Cattle U U D D D U U D U U U U threeawn sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P D D D grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Desert E E D D D D P P P D E E grama curtipendula Bighorn sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Horses P P P P P P P P P P P P grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D U U U U grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Pronghorn D D D D D P P P D D D D grama curtipendula Antelope sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Sheep P P P P P P P P P P P P grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D grama curtipendula Quail spreading Erigeron Entire plant Mule Deer U D D D U U U D D D U U fleabane divergens spreading Erigeron Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D fleabane divergens Quail spreading Erigeron Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D fleabane divergens Whitetail spreading Erigeron Leaves Pronghorn X X X D D D D D D X X X fleabane divergens Antelope vine mesquite Panicum Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum vine mesquite Panicum Entire plant Horses D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum vine mesquite Panicum Entire plant Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum Antelope vine mesquite Panicum Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum Quail vine mesquite Panicum Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum Quail vine mesquite Panicum Leaves Gambels E E E E E E E E E E E E obtusum Quail vine mesquite Panicum Leaves Mule Deer E E E E E E E E E E E E obtusum vine mesquite Panicum Leaves Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum western Pascopyrum Entire plant Cattle D D P P P D D D D D D D wheatgrass smithii western Pascopyrum Entire plant Elk D D P P P D D D D D D D wheatgrass smithii western Pascopyrum Entire plant Horses D D P P P D D D D D D D wheatgrass smithii western Pascopyrum Entire plant Sheep U U D D D D D D D D D U wheatgrass smithii white Artemisia Entire plant Cattle U U U U U U X X X X U U sagebrush ludoviciana

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Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name white Artemisia Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D sagebrush ludoviciana Antelope wolfstail Lycurus phleoides Entire plant Cattle U U U D D D P P P P U U wolfstail Lycurus phleoides Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D

1/ D = Desirable; E = Emergency; P = Preferred; T = Toxic; U = Undesirable; X = Not Consumed or Unknown Hydrology Soil moisture comes from both rainfall and snowfall, but winter moisture is more important in replenishing soil moisture because of the slow infiltration rate of the soils. Annual evapotranspiration exceeds annual precipitation. The amount of water that can be captured and stored for plant growth is limited by the shallow soil depth. Any plant community on the site will fully utilize the available soil moisture, whether it is herbaceous- or woody-dominated. So reducing tree cover will not result in any significant increase in water yield from the site. As tree cover increases on the site, the amount of rain and snow intercepted by the tree canopy is increased. In areas with heavy concentrations of livestock, soil compaction can occur in the interspaces between the trees, resulting in increased runoff and erosion from those areas. In areas with heavy concentrations of animals, soil compaction and loss of litter and herbaceous cover can occur in the interspaces between the trees, resulting in increased runoff and erosion from those areas. Where ground surface cover is significantly reduced, gravel filled rills often form under and between the tree canopies, which channel water off the site, reducing the amount of precipitation that can infiltrate. Livestock Production This ecological site is well-suited to livestock production if reliable livestock water is provided at least every 0.75 to 1 mile. Prescribed Grazing should include regular grazing deferment during the spring and summer growing season to allow for regrowth and seed production of the desirable forage species. Forage production per acre will be affected by the amount of tree cover. There is a positive correlation between tree removal and herbaceous production until tree canopy gets below about 15%, and then the benefit diminishes. Tree canopy cover should be kept below 25% if grazing is the primary intended land use. The herbaceous annual production benefits from tree removal generally last about 20 years. Wildlife This ecological site is part of the Madrean Evergreen Woodland described by Brown and Lowe. This ecological site provides important food and cover for a rich assortment of wildlife species, including black bear, elk, turkey, mule deer, Coues whitetail deer, pinyon jays, ground squirrels, snakes and lizards. If wildlife is an important intended use, studies indicate that not more than 20-30% of an area should be cleared at a time, and openings should be kept under 250 feet wide for turkey, and 600 feet wide for deer and elk habitat. Alligator juniper provides browse and cover for deer and elk. Mountain mahogany is an important browse species for deer and elk.

Turkey will use this ecological site for feeding when it is near a stand of ponderosa pine for roosting. Corridors of trees should be left to provide a travel lane to roost sites for turkey. Pinyon pine nuts and juniper berries are important food for turkey. Pinyon nuts are an important food source for Pinyon Jays, and several other jay species. These birds cache the seeds in the ground near the base of the pinyon trees, helping to cultivate the next generation of pinyon. Small mammals will increase on the site if dense stands of juniper are thinned to allow the herbaceous cover and production to increase. The herbaceous species

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provides important cover and food for smaller mammals. Leaving some slash in windrows after thinning will also benefit a variety of birds and small mammals. Wood Products This ecological site can produce a variety of wood products, including fuelwood, biomass, and fence posts. Lumber production is not commercially viable, because merchantable trees are too widely scattered. In the mature successional stage, there may be 15-20 posts per acre. Aboveground annual biomass estimates for each community are provided in the community descriptions. If managing for wood products is the primary intended use of this site, it is recommended that areas at the higher end of the precipitation zone be used, where this ecological site begins mixing with ponderosa pine. These areas would provide the best diversity of wood products, including fuelwood, posts, and possible lumber from the pinyon trees. The growth rates and rotation cycles would also be quicker. Single-tree selection and two-step shelterwood methods are recommended for sustained stand health and productivity of these woodlands. Pinyon nuts are another important product harvested from this site. Pinyon trees produce a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, starting at 25 years old. Nut yields can be as high as 300 lbs/ac in good years. Recreation These areas provide excellent hunting opportunities, as well as bird watching and hiking opportunities. The slope limits camping opportunities. Water is not typically available on this site, or associated sites.

STATE CORRELATION This site has not been correlated with other states.

INVENTORY DATA REFERENCES State County Sample Site Sample Date Sample Methods AZ Graham SCWP8 6/28/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition.

REFERENCES Arnold, J. F., Jameson, D. A., & Reid, E. H. (1964). The Pinyon-Juniper type of Arizona: effects of grazing, fire, and tree control. Production Research Report, United States Department of Agriculture, (84). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ Bassett, Dick; Larson, Milo; Moir, Will. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. 2nd edition. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Variously paginated. [20308] Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. (2005). Long-term successional trends following western juniper cutting. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 58(5), 533-541.

Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. J. (2000). Understory dynamics in cut and uncut western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 119-126.

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Brown, D. E., & Lowe, C. H. (1980). Biotic communities of the Southwest. General Technical Report, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, (RM-78).

Butler, L., Cropper, J., Johnson, R., Norman, A., Peacock, G., Shaver, P., & Spaeth, K. (2003). National range and pasture handbook. United States department of agriculture, National resources conservation service.

Chojnacky, D. C. (1992). Estimating volume and biomass for dryland oak species. Ecology and management of oak and associated woodlands: Perspectives in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, 155-161.

Clary, Warren P; September 1974; Response of Herbaceous Vegetation to Felling of Alligator Juniper; Journal of Range Management; Vol 27 No 5; pg 387-389

Collings, M. R., & Myrick, R. M. (1966). Effects of juniper and pinyon eradication on streamflow from Corduroy Creek Basin, Arizona (No. 491-B).

Davenport, D. W., Breshears, D. D., Wilcox, B. P., & Allen, C. D. (1998). Viewpoint: Sustainability of pinon- juniper ecosystems: A unifying perspective of soil erosion thresholds. Journal of Range Management, 231- 240. Dowhower, S. L., Teague, W. R., Ansley, R. J., & Pinchak, W. E. (2001). Dry-weight-rank method assessment in heterogenous communities. Journal of Range Management, 71-76.

Dwyer, D. D., & Pieper, R. D. (1967). Fire effects on blue grama-pinyon-juniper rangeland in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management Archives, 20(6), 359-362. Ffolliott, P. F., & Gottfried, G. J. (2002). Dynamics of a pinyon-juniper stand in northern Arizona: a half- century history (p. 12). Fort Collins, CO, USA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Findley, J. S. (1975). Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press.

Fisher, J. T., Mexal, J. G., & Pieper, R. D. (1988). Pinyon-juniper woodlands of New Mexico: a biological and economic appraisal. Flagstaff, A. Z. General Technical Report RM-258. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.

Gifford, Gerald F.; November 1982; Impact of Burning and Grazing on Soil Water Patterns in the Pinyon – Juniper Type; Journal of Range Management; Vol 36 No 6; Pg 697-699

Gillihan, S. W. (2006). Sharing the land with pinyon-juniper birds. Division of Wildlife Resources.

Gottfried, G. J., & Severson, K. E. (1993). Distribution and multiresource management of pinon-juniper woodlands in the southwestern United States. General technical report RM/(USA).

Gottfried, G. J., Swetnam, T. W., Allen, C. D., Betancourt, J. L., & Chung-MacCoubrey, A. L. (1995). Pinyon- juniper woodlands. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT RM, 95-132. Jameson, D. A. (1971). Optimum stand selection for juniper control on southwestern woodland ranges. Journal of Range Management, 94-99.

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Jameson, D. A., & Johnsen Jr, T. N. (1964). Ecology and control of alligator juniper. Weeds, 140-142.

Johnsen Jr, T. N., & Dalen, R. S. (1990). Managing individual juniper and pinyon infestations with pelleted tebuthiuron or picloram. Journal of Range Management, 249-252.

Lavin, Fred, Johnsen, T.N. Jr.; 1977; Species Adapted for Planting Arizona Pinyon -Juniper Woodland; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 6; Pg 410-415

Mason, L. R., & Hutchings, S. S. (1967). Estimating foliage yields on Utah juniper from measurements of crown diameter. Journal of Range Management, 20(3), 161-166.

Milchunas, D. G. (2006). Responses of plant communities to grazing in the southwestern United States. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Miles, P. D., & Smith, W. B. (2009). Specific gravity and other properties of wood and bark for 156 tree species found in North America (Vol. 38). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Miller, E. L., Meeuwig, R. O., & Budy, J. D. (1981). Biomass of singleleaf pinyon and Utah juniper (p. 18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

Miller, R. F., & Wigand, P. E. (1994). Holocene changes in semiarid pinyon-juniper woodlands. BioScience, 44(7), 465-474. Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Forestry Handbook, title 190, February 2004. Pavek, Diane S. 1994. Quercus grisea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Pieper, R. D. (1990). Overstory-understory relations in pinyon-juniper woodlands in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 413-415. Scott, Virgil E., Boeker, Erwin L.; 1977; Responses of Merriam’s Turkey to Pinyon – Juniper Control; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 3; Pg 220-223 Sedgwick, J. A. (1987). Avian habitat relationships in pinyon-juniper woodland. The Wilson Bulletin, 413- 431. Severson, K. E. (1986). Woody plant reestablishment in modified pinyon-juniper woodlands, New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 438-442.

Short, H. L., & McCulloch, C. Y. (1977). Managing pinyon-juniper ranges for wildlife. R. M. Forest (Ed.). Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture. Stuever, M. C., & Hayden, J. S. (1997). Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Vol. 2: Woodlands Tausch, R. J., Miller, R. F., Roundy, B. A., & Chambers, J. C. (2009). Pinon and juniper field guide: asking the right questions to select appropriate management actions. Tirmenstein, D. 1999. Juniperus deppeana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

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USDA-NRCS, I. Classifying, and Correlating Juniper and Pinyon Communities, to Soils in the Western United States, September 1997, Grazing Lands and Technology Institute, Ft. Worth, .

USDA-NRCS, National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH). 2017. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232. Waichler, W. S., Miller, R. F., & Doescher, P. S. (2001). Community characteristics of old-growth western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 518-527.

Williams, G., Gifford, G. F., & Coltharp, G. B. (1969). Infiltrometer Studies on Treated vs. Untreated Pinyon- Juniper Sites in Central Utah (Estudios con el Infiltrometro en Sitios de Pino-Enebro (Pinus juniperus) Tratados y no Tratados en la Parte Central de Utah). Journal of Range Management, 110-114.

Wood, M. K., & Scanlon, R. (1993). Occurrence and control of pinon pine, alligator juniper, and gray oak sprouts and seedlings following fuelwood harvest. General technical report RM (USA).

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RANGELAND HEALTH REFERENCE WORKSHEET Author(s)/participant(s): Steve Barker, Teresa Goseyun, Bob Hetzler

Contact for lead authors: NRCS CEAP Grazing Lands, San Carlos Apache Tribe

Date: 12/1/2016

MLRA: 038X; LRU: 38.3 Ecological Site: Basalt Hills, Clay Subsoil 20-24" P.Z.

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

1. Number and extent of rills: None present on the site. Perennial grass basal area is 10-20%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, coarse fragment cover is 30-40%. These promote infiltration, and break up water flow reducing its energy and ability to produce rills on the site. 2. Presence of water flow patterns: Water flow paths are less than 12 inches in length before encountering plant bases. Perennial grass basal area is 10-20%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, and gravel/cobble cover is 30-40%. These create more tortuous water flow paths, thereby slowing the flow of water within and from the site. 3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: None present on the site. Very high density of plants and rock cover reduces potential for soil erosion and pedestal formation.

4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): 10-20%.

5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: None present on the site. Shallow bedrock limits gully formation. 6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: None present on the site. Tree cover plus high density and canopy of perennial grass is not conducive to wind erosion.

7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): Herbaceous litter travels less than 12 inches in water flow paths before being trapped by rock or plant bases.

8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values): Soil stability values range from 4-6.

9. Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color and thickness): Soil surface structure is granular with weak to moderate rupture resistance when moist. Surfaces range from 4-6 inches thick and have colors average 5YR 4/2 -4/3 dry and 5YR 3/1-3/2 moist. 10. Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff: Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Summer Midgrass, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Spring Midgrass, Summer Annual Forb. High density of perennial grasses and rock fragments is very conducive to slowing down water leaving the site.

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11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site): None present on the site. Argillic horizon is 6-10 inches deep and when dry has moderate to strong structure that can be mistaken for a compaction layer when dry. 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: summer shortgrass = coniferous tree • Sub-dominant: summer midgrass = spring annual forbs • Other: summer perennial forbs, spring midgrasses, summer annual forbs, spring shortgrasses, summer tallgrasses, cacti

13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence): Very low plant mortality; approximately 1-2% of shortgrasses are dead.

14. Average percent litter cover (30-60%) and depth (0.25inches): 15. Expected annual production (this is TOTAL above-ground production, not just forage production): 1000 lbs/ac below average year, 1360 lbs/ac average year, 2000 lbs/ac above average year

16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). Yellow bluestem, yellow star thistle. 17. Perennial plant reproductive capability: Not affected after several years of drought in the region.

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BASALT HILLS, COBBLY CLAY LOAM 20-24" P.Z. Juniperus deppeana - Pinus edulis / Bouteloua gracilis - Bouteloua curtipendula / Ambrosia psilostachya

Site type: Forest Site ID: To be determined by NRCS This ecological site occurs in the 20-24” precipitation zone of MLRA 38, LRU 38.3. Elevations range from about 5200 to 6200 feet. The higher precipitation zone supports ponderosa pine as the dominant tree species in many of the plant communities. Monthly Moisture and Temperature Distribution The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic ustic. Average Frost-free period is 158 days, and the average Freeze-free period is 178 days. Monthly Precipitation (Inches): Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 2.10 1.90 2.00 1.20 0.40 0.60 2.90 3.50 1.90 1.30 1.30 2.00 Medium 1.80 1.65 1.80 1.05 0.45 0.50 2.80 3.40 1.85 1.35 1.30 1.75 Low 1.50 1.40 1.60 0.90 0.50 0.40 2.70 3.30 1.80 1.40 1.30 1.50

Monthly Precipitation 4.00

2.00

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

High Avg Low

Monthly Temperature (°F): Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 56.60 62.60 65.30 72.10 80.20 90.70 95.20 93.40 87.30 78.70 68.50 59.90 Low 21.90 24.50 27.80 32.50 38.20 46.00 56.30 55.00 48.30 37.60 26.90 23.40

Monthly Temperature 100.00

50.00

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

High Low

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Climate Stations (1) 020808, Black River Pumps, Arizona. Period of record 1948-2005 (2) 021749 Cibecue, Arizona Period of Record 1927-1979 (3) 026653 Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, Arizona Period of Record 1964-2005 (4) 029271 Whiteriver 1 SW, Arizona Period of Record 1900-2005 (5) 029622 Young, Arizona Period of Record 1903-1964

ECOLOGICAL SITE CONCEPT This ecological site occurs on steep mountain slopes created by basalt lava flows. Elevations range from about 5200 to 6200 feet. Annual precipitation averages 20-24” per year. This elevation/precipitation zone is below the higher precipitation zone in this Land Resource Unit where ponderosa pine becomes an important part of the plant communities.

Slopes range from 15 to 45 percent. Slopes limit management options on this ecological site, especially using vehicles and equipment. The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt and andesite bedrock. Rock fragments occur throughout the soil profile. The soil surface may have a significant cover (up to 50%) of gravels and cobbles. Rock outcrop may make up to 10-15 percent of the site. The rock outcrop and shallow bedrock areas act as water harvesting features that concentrate available precipitation into the deeper pockets of soil on the site. Soil surface textures range from gravelly to cobbly silt loams to clay loams to a depth of 4 to 8 inches. The subsoil textures range from gravely clay loam to very cobbly silty clay loam. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture only comes from precipitation, which includes snow. Snow melt and slow gentle rains in the winter provide most of the soil moisture replenishment because of the slow infiltration rates of the clay loam textures. Key slope and soil characteristics for this ecological site: o Slopes 15-45%. o Soil surface cover of basalt gravel and cobbles. o Rock fragments throughout the soil profile. o Soil textures are silt loam to clay loam throughout. o Basalt or andesite bedrock within 20 inches. o Rock outcrop and very shallow bedrock areas concentrate available precipitation. This ecological site produces a reference community with an overstory dominated by gray oak, Emory oak, alligator juniper and an increasing amount of pinyon pine as elevation and rainfall increases. There is a shrub layer that includes Wright’s silktassle, Fendler ceanothus, and mountain mahogany. The understory is dominated by short and mid grasses including prairie junegrass, Arizona fescue, sideoats grama and hairy grama. Perennial forbs including globemallow, Navajo fleabane, Wright’s deervetch, and New Mexico groundsel, make up a significant amount of the annual production on the site.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES Geology: basalt and andesite (basic igneous) Landform/Landscape Position: mountain slopes Hillslope – Profile Position: shoulders and backslopes Slope Shape: concave or convex

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Attribute Minimum Maximum Elevation (feet) 5200 6200 Slope (percent) 15 45

INFLUENCING WATER FEATURES There are no influencing water features associated with this site.

REPRESENTATIVE SOIL FEATURES The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt bedrock. The USGS geological map shows the site occurring on basalts and andesite formations from Miocene and Oligocene era (map units Tbn and Tab). There are rock fragments throughout the soil profile ranging from gravelly to very cobbly. The soil surface may also have a significant cover of (up to 60%) gravels and cobbles. Soil surface textures range from silt loams to cobbly silty clay loams typically to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. The subsoil textures range from cobbly to very cobbly clay loams to clay over basalt bedrock at less than 20 inches. Rock outcrop may make up to 5-15 percent of the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture comes from precipitation, including snow. Parent Material Kind: Residuum, Alluvium Parent Material Origin: Basalt Surface Texture: Silty Clay Loam, Clay Loam Surface Texture Modifier: Gravelly to Cobbly Subsurface Texture Class: Silty Clay Loam

Minimum Maximum Depth (inches): 6 20 Available Water Capacity (inches): 2.0 4.0 Drainage Class: Moderately Well Well Drained Permeability Class: Slow Moderately Slow Surface Fragments <=3” (% Cover): 2 35 Surface Fragments >3” (% Cover): 15 45 Subsurface Fragments <=3” (%Volume): 5 30 Subsurface Fragments >3” (%Volume): 10 40 Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 2 Sodium Absorption Ratio: 0 2 Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): 6.8 8.0 Soil Reaction (0.1M CaCl2): 0 2 Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): 0 5 Soil Correlation This ecological site is correlated to the Dedal soil map unit component in the following soil survey: AZ675 Soil Survey of San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona, Parts of Gila and Graham Counties Map Unit 54: Pachic Argiustolls-Dedal-Rock outcrop complex, 8 to 35 percent slopes Component: Dedal Taxonomic classification: clayey-skeletal, smectitic, mesic Lithic Argiustolls

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ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS Plant community dynamics on this ecological site may occur over a period of 300-400 hundred years. Precipitation and fire are the dominant ecological drivers. Sustained severe drought combined with fire, and/or with bark beetle infestations in junipers and pinyons can change the composition and structure of the plant community. The general successional sequence following a stand replacing event is herbaceous dominated production for the first 20 years, herbaceous species and trees co-dominate annual production from 20-80 years after fire, then tree dominated annual production after 80 years. Competition from perennial grasses can slow the progression of woody species.

Fire scar records indicate the natural fire intervals averages 20-30 years at higher elevations. This fire frequency is recorded on scattered ponderosa pines at the higher elevations. Fire scarred pinyons are rare. They are typically killed by fire, either directly from fire damage, or from heart rot infecting the injured trees following a fire. Junipers (especially alligator juniper) are very difficult to age. They can produce more than one growth ring in favorable years, and no growth ring in dry years. The evergreen oaks are also very difficult to age with normal silvicultural practices. So determining fire frequency from fire scars on these species is unreliable. At lower elevations, the natural fire frequency is thought to be about 15-25 years. Gray oak is the dominant oak species on this ecological site. Emory oak is common as a shrub or small tree, and there are occasional Gambel oaks at the higher elevations. Gray oak acorns are produced annually, and nearly all successful germination occurs within 30 days of acorn drop. Emory oak acorns are edible, and are still collected for food and ceremony by Native Americans.

Pinyon pine starts producing seed at approximately 25 years of age. Each tree produces a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, and the cones mature over 3 years. Alligator juniper can be dioecious (separate male and female plants) or monecious. The trees start bearing berries at 10-20 years of age. Birds are the most common method of seed dispersal for both pinyon and juniper. Coyotes, mice, rabbits, and livestock also disperse seed. Pinyon pines often reach ages of 300-400 years, with some reaching 500 years old. The older trees typically occur on shallow bedrock areas that produce spare tree canopies, and sparse, patchy understories that will rarely carry a hot fire. Midgrasses and cool season grasses will decline under continuous heavy grazing. Warm season short grasses and sod grasses such as blue grama and hairy grama will increase. If blue grama and other short grasses establish dominance as a solid sod, the return of mid-grasses and cool season grasses will only occur with long term rest, or long term grazing management that provides regular deferment during both the spring and summer growing seasons. Drought, disease, insect damage or repeated fire that will open up the sod-bound community can accelerate an increase in mid- and tallgrasses.

As tree canopy sizes increase over time, grazing becomes more concentrated in the diminishing interspaces between trees. This effectively reduces the number of grazable acres. The fine loamy and clay loam surface textures on this site are susceptible to soil compaction when wet. In areas with high animal densities, such as areas near water, the interspaces between trees can have an increase in soil compaction and a decrease in herbaceous cover and litter cover. This may reduce infiltration, and increase runoff and erosion. If the site has over 40 percent rock and litter cover, then erosion is unlikely to increase significantly, and but runoff may increase, resulting in less soil moisture for plant production.

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STATE AND TRANSITION MODEL Communities show the dominant functional groups in general descending order by aboveground annual production (air-dry weight).

State 1 (Reference) State 2 Herbaceous – Woody, <50% Tree Canopy Woody – Herbaceous, >50% Tree Canopy 1.1 Mature Successional 2.1 Mature Successional Stage T1A Stage Summer Shortgrass, Summer Shortgrass, Summer Perennial Forb, Coniferous Tree, Spring Coniferous Tree, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Spring R1A Midgrass, Evergreen Rhizomatous Grass, 1.1A Tree, Spring Midgrass, Spring Midgrass, Spring Annual Forb Summer Midgrass

1.2A

1.2 Immature 1.3 Young Successional Successional Stage Stage Summer Shortgrass, Summer Midgrass, 1.3A Summer Midgrass, Summer Annual Forb, Spring Midgrass, Spring Midgrass, Spring Summer Perennial Forb, Perennial Forb, Summer Coniferous Tree, Spring Shortgrass, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer 1.2B Annual Grass, Annual Forb Coniferous Tree

Legend T1A – Lack of fire, continuous heavy grazing R1A – Forest Stand Improvement or Brush Management (mechanical), Prescribed Grazing 1.1A – Stand replacing crown fire, drought with bark beetle infestations, or mechanical brush control or forest stand improvement 1.2A – 80-100 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill young trees 1.2B – stand replacing crown fire 1.3A – 15-20 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill young trees

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State 1. Reference State

Figure 2. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Hills, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z., Reference Community 1.1.

Community 1.1 Mature Successional Stage, <50% Tree Canopy Cover Spring Perennial Forb, Coniferous Tree, Spring Midgrass, Evergreen Shrub, Evergreen Tree, Summer Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass Narrative This is the interpretive plant community. The overstory is dominated by gray oak and alligator juniper. Canopy cover averages 20%, with about 100 trees per acre. Perennial grasses include prairie junegrass, Arizona fescue, sideoats grama, hairy grama, and bullgrass. Perennial forbs include Navajo fleabane, New Mexico Groundsel, Wright’s deervetch, and lupine. Annual above ground production averages 1500 lbs, air dry weight. Production will vary 50-300 pounds with elevation and natural variability in the plant community, and the timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of rainfall from year to year. In this community phase, the dominant trees have achieved maximal height and crown diameters for the site and the trees have flat to rounded crowns. Tree branching is relatively open. Average trunk diameters on trees are greater than 5” at a 1-foot stump height.

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Plant Community 1.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry weight, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 260 Forb 765 Shrub 120 Tree 355 Total 1500 Species Production by Functional Group Average annual production in the table below is displayed by functional group – plants that have the same growth habits and flowering period which tend to compete and replace each other on the ecological site in different places, and over time. In state and transition models, the specific species that occupies a niche in the plant community is less important than whether that functional group is present, and the relative dominance of that functional group in the plant community. The season (spring, summer) is used to show when the plant is in its’ reproductive phase. Plant Community 1.1. Species Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Prod No lbs/ac 3 Spring Midgrass Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica 180 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 15 Summer Tallgrass bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 25 17 Summer Midgrass sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 50 19 Summer Shortgrass hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 5 blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 37 Spring Perennial aster ASTER Aster 660 Forb desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua Hog potato HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca Navajo fleabane ERCO27 Erigeron concinnus New Mexico PANE7 Packera neomexicana groundsel Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 39 Summer Perennial bluebonnet lupine LUPA3 Lupinus palmeri 65 Forb Missouri goldenrod SOMI2 Solidago missouriensis western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya 43 Spring Annual Forb other annual forbs 2FA 35 45 Summer Annual Dakota mock GLBI2 Glandularia bipinnatifida 5 Forb vervain 51 Evergreen Subshrub shrubby buckwheat ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 5 53 Deciduous Shrub skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 5 55 Evergreen Shrub desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 120 Wright's silktassel GAWR3 Garrya wrightii 63 Evergreen Tree Emory oak QUEM Quercus emoryi 100 gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 245

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Plant Community 1.1. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 15 25 Tree Basal Area 0 1 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 5 15 Basal cover, forbs 1 5 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 35 55 Bare Ground 2 10

Plant Community 1.1. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 95 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 20 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 125 D+X Spacing 2.0 Site Index (Howell) 62

Species % Comp Avg Avg Avg Root Avg Ann Avg Woody Avg Woody Height Canopy Crown Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) Dia (in) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator 47 19 13 12 7 130 350 juniper Emory Oak 10 13 14 10 4 8 90 gray oak 43 15 9 9 2 53 95

Plant Community 1.1. Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Tree Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.24 5765 15,535 21,300 Emory Oak 35.40 70 855 925 gray oak 43.15 2200 3960 6160 Total 8035 20,350 28,385

Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

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Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cover Cover X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X X

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Plant Community 1.3 - Young Successional Stage

Figure 3. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Hills, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z., Community 1.3 (1 year after stand replacing crown fire). Plant Community 1.3. Young Successional Stage Summer Perennial Forb, Evergreen Tree, Summer Shortgrass, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Grasslike, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass Narrative This community phase represents the young successional stage, after a stand replacing wildlife or prescribed burn, or after brush management or forest stand improvement that removes most of the tree canopy. Most tree growth is from resprouts of gray oak and alligator juniper. Scattered older trees may be left standing, or patches of older trees may be present. Annual above ground production averages 1150 pounds per acre, air dry weight. It is dominated by a diversity of perennial and annual forbs, and summer short grasses, and midgrasses. Young tree resprouts are less than 4.5 feet tall. Prescribed burning or individual plant treatment with chemicals are still viable option for control of young resprouts. Plant Community 1.3. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 195 Forb 845 Shrub 10 Tree 100 Total 1150

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Plant Community 1.3. Species Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Prod No lbs/ac 3 Spring Midgrass Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica 5 squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 15 Summer Tallgrass bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 1 5 17 Summer Midgrass sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 30 19 Summer Shortgrass blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 80 hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 27 Summer Perennial sedges SEDGE Sedge 50 Grasslike 29 Spring Annual Grass mucronate sprangletop LEPA6 Leptochloa panicea 17 31 Summer Annual Red Sprangletop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. 3 Grass brachiata 37 Spring Perennial Forb Forb, perennial 2FP 40 globemallow SPHAE Sphaeralcea goldenrod SOLID Solidago milkweed ASCLE Asclepias Navajo fleabane ERCO27 Erigeron concinnus New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 39 Summer Perennial bluebonnet lupine LUPA3 Lupinus palmeri 745 Forb fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron Geranium GERAN Geranium verbena VERBE Verbena western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana whiteflower prairie DAAL Dalea albiflora clover 43 Spring Annual Forb catchfly SILEN Silene 55 filaree ERODI Erodium other annual forbs 2FA mustard BRASS2 Brassica 45 Summer Annual Forb annual goldeneye HELO6 3 pigweed AMARA Amaranthus 49 Deciduous Subshrub Dalea spp. DALEA Dalea 2 Wright deervetch PHWR3 Physalis wrightii 55 Evergreen Shrub alderleaf mountain CEMO2 Cercocarpus montanus 5 mahogany Fendler's ceanothus CEFE Ceanothus fendleri Wright's silktassel GAWR3 Garrya wrightii 63 Evergreen Tree gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 95 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 10

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Plant Community 1.3. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 0 15 Tree Basal Area 0 0.5 Basal cover grasses, grasslikes 5 15 Basal cover forbs 5 10 Basal cover shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 15 30 Bare Ground 5 30

Plant Community 1.3. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no.) 40 Avg Tree Spacing (ft.) 33 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 300 D+X Spacing 1 Avg Diameter Root Crown (in) 2 Site Index (Howell) 205 Plant Community 1.3. Tree Species Data Species % Avg Avg Avg Root Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Composition Height Canopy Crown Dia Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) (in) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) gray oak 100 2 3 1 1.4 0 0

Plant Community 1.3. Tree Biomass Per Acre Symbol Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Wood Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac gray oak 43.15 0 0 0

Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

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Plant Community 1.3. Percent Production by Month Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cov er Cover Cover X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X

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STATE 2. WOODY – HERBACEOUS Plant Community 2.1 Mature Successional Stage

Figure 4. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Hills, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z., Community 2.1 Mature Successional Stage. Plant Community 2.1. Mature Successional Stage, >50% Tree Canopy Cover Evergreen Tree, Spring Perennial Forb, Evergreen Shrub, Summer Midgrass, Fern, Summer Perennial Forb, Summer Tallgrass Narrative This community occurs when trees dominate the ecological processes on the site. Tree and shrub canopy cover exceeds 50%. The plant community is a mix of mature and climax trees, with immature trees infilling previously open spaces. Annual above ground production averages 2240 lbs/ac. Older trees are at the maximum height and canopy diameters for the site, with rounded crowns and more open branching. Lower branches of mature trees are dead or dying due to lack of sunlight, lifting the tree canopies up above the ground. Herbaceous plant communities are patchy, with little production or cover under heavy canopy areas, and high cover and production of grasses and forbs in more open areas. Annual above ground production of woody and herbaceous species is about equal, but woody species typically dominate cover and competition for sunlight. Cool season species are more abundant because of the increased shade on the site.

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Plant Community 2.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 395 Forb 815 Shrub 320 Tree 710 Total 2240 Plant Community 2.1. Plant Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Prod No lbs/ac 15 Summer Tallgrass bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia 90 emersleyi 17 Summer Midgrass sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua 220 curtipendula 19 Summer Shortgrass hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 70 wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 30 Spring Annual Grass red brome BRRU2 Bromus rubens 15 35 Fern Fern or Fern Ally 2FERN 115 37 Spring Perennial Forb buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 605 Fendler's pennycress NOFE3 Noccaea fendleri goldenrod SOLID Solidago Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 39 Summer Perennial white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 90 Forb 49 Deciduous Subshrub Dalea spp. DALEA Dalea 5 55 Evergreen Shrub alderleaf mountain CEMO2 Cercocarpus 320 mahogany montanus Wright's silktassel GAWR3 Garrya wrightii 63 Evergreen Tree Emory oak QUEM Quercus emoryi 675 gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 35 Plant Community 2.1. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover (%) 45 65 Tree Basal Area (%) 0.5 1.5 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 2 10 Basal cover, forbs 1 3 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 1 2 Litter Cover 40 60 Bare Ground 5 15 Plant Community 2.1. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 375 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 10 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 482 D+X Spacing 1.3 Site Index (Howell) 245

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Plant Community 2.1. Tree Species Data Species % Avg Avg Avg Root Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Composition Height Canopy Crown Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) Dia (in) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator 20 13 8 7 3 32 38 juniper gray oak 80 17 9 10.6 3.6 64 200

Plant Community 2.1. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Wood Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.26 2420 2870 5290 gray oak 43.15 19,360 60,395 79,755

Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cover Cover X X X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X X X

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ASSOCIATED SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site may be located on flatter summits and mesas above this Upland, ecological site, on areas with less than 15% slopes. The soil profile does not Clay Subsoil contains gravels and cobbles, and there is heavy clay horizon above the basalt bedrock. The increase in clay and the reduced drainage over shallow basalt bedrock reduces the amount of oak in the reference community. Alligator juniper dominates the overstory with increasing pinyon as elevation and rainfall increase. Clay Loam R038XC303AZ May be located on flatter summits and mesas above this ecological site, on Upland areas with less than 15% slopes. The soils are moderately deep to deep. The reference plant community is an open grassland with scattered juniper (<15% canopy cover).

SIMILAR SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site may be located on flatter summits and mesas above this Upland, ecological site, on areas with less than 15% slopes. The soil profile contains Cobbly Clay gravels and cobbles, and there is not a significant clay horizon above the basalt Loam bedrock. The reduction in clay and the improved drainage over shallow basalt bedrock allows the Basalt Upland, Clay Loam site to be dominated by oak species in the reference community. The flatter slopes are preferred by domestic livestock. Treatment with vehicles and equipment are much more feasible. Basalt Hills, F038XC___AZ This ecological site is on similar shallow soils over basalt bedrock, where slopes Clay Subsoil exceed 15%. These steeper slopes affect use and management, and fire behavior. The increase in clay and the reduced drainage over shallow basalt bedrock reduces the amount of oak in the reference community. Alligator juniper dominates the overstory with increasing pinyon as elevation and rainfall increase.

ECOLOGICAL SITE INTERPRETATIONS Plant Preferences by Animal Kind by Month 1/ Symbol Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name FEAR2 Arizona fescue Festuca Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D D D D D D D arizonica FEAR2 Arizona fescue Festuca Entire plant Horses D D D D D D D D D D D D arizonica FEAR2 Arizona fescue Festuca Entire plant Sheep D D D D D D D D D D D D arizonica KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P P D D Junegrass macrantha KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Elk D D D D D D D D D D D D Junegrass macrantha KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Horses D D D D D D D D D D D D Junegrass macrantha KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Sheep U U D D D U U U U U U U Junegrass macrantha

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Symbol Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name ELELE squirreltail Elymus Leaves Cattle D D P P P U U U P P P D elymoides ssp. elymoides ELELE squirreltail Elymus Leaves Scaled U U D D D U U U U U U U elymoides ssp. Quail elymoides MUEM bullgrass Muhlenbergia Entire plant Cattle E E E E E E D D D U U U emersleyi BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P D D D curtipendula BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Entire plant Desert E E D D D D P P P D E E curtipendula Bighorn BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Entire plant Horses P P P P P P P P P P P P curtipendula BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Entire plant Mule U U U U D D D D U U U U curtipendula Deer BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Entire plant Pronghor D D D D D P P P D D D D curtipendula n Antelope BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Entire plant Sheep P P P P P P P P P P P P curtipendula BOCU sideoats grama Bouteloua Fruits/Seed Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D curtipendula Quail BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D gracilis BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Entire plant Desert D D D P P D P P P D D D gracilis Bighorn BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Entire plant Horses D D D D P P P P P D D D gracilis BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Entire plant Mule U U U U D D D D D D U U gracilis Deer BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Entire plant Pronghor U U U D D D D D U U U U gracilis n Antelope BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Fruits/Seed Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D gracilis Quail BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Fruits/Seed Scaled D D D D D D D D D D D D gracilis Quail BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua Leaves Scaled U U D D D D U U U U U U gracilis Quail BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D hirsuta BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua Entire plant Mule U U U U D D D D D D U U hirsuta Deer BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua Entire plant Pronghor U U U D D D D D U U U U hirsuta n Antelope BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua Entire plant Rocky U U U U U U D D D D U U hirsuta Mountain Sheep BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua Fruits/Seed Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D hirsuta Quail BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua Fruits/Seed Scaled D D D D D D D D D D D D hirsuta Quail

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Symbol Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name LYPH wolfstail Lycurus Entire plant Cattle U U U D D D P P P P U U phleoides LEPAB Red Leptochloa Entire plant Cattle U U U U U U D P D U U U Sprangletop panicea ssp. brachiata ERIOG buckwheat Eriogonum Entire plant Cattle U U D D D D D D U U U U ERIOG buckwheat Eriogonum Entire plant Mule U U D D D D D D U U U U Deer ERIOG buckwheat Eriogonum Entire plant Pronghor U U D D D D D D U U U U n Antelope ERIOG buckwheat Eriogonum Entire plant Sheep U U D D D D D D U U U U ERIOG buckwheat Eriogonum Fruits/Seed Scaled D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail ERIOG buckwheat Eriogonum Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D Whitetail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Coues D D P P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Whitetail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Mule U D P P D U U U U U U U globemallow ambigua Deer SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Rocky D D D P P D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Mountain Sheep

SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Fruits/Seed Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Quail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Cattle E E D D D D D D D D D E globemallow ambigua SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Quail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Pronghor D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua n Antelope HOGL2 hog potato Hoffmannseggi Fruits/Seed Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D a glauca Quail HOGL2 hog potato Hoffmannseggi Fruits/Seed Scaled D D D D D D D D D D D D a glauca Quail HOGL2 hog potato Hoffmannseggi Undergroun javalina D D D D D D D D D D D D a glauca d parts LOWR Wright's Lotus wrightii Entire plant Coues U U U P P D D D D D U U deervetch Whitetail LOWR Wright's Lotus wrightii Fruits/Seed Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D deervetch Quail LOWR Wright's Lotus wrightii Leaves Pronghor D D D D D D D D D D D D deervetch n Antelope ARLU white Artemisia Entire plant Cattle U U U U U U X X X X U U sagebrush ludoviciana ERWR shrubby Eriogonum Entire plant Pronghor U U D D D D D D U U U U buckwheat wrightii n Antelope

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Symbol Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name ERWR shrubby Eriogonum Fruits/Seed Gambel’s X X X X X X X X X X X X buckwheat wrightii Quail ERWR shrubby Eriogonum Fruits/Seed Scaled D D D D D D D D D D D D buckwheat wrightii Quail ERWR shrubby Eriogonum Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D buckwheat wrightii Whitetail ERWR shrubby Eriogonum Leaves Mule D D D P P P D D D D D D buckwheat wrightii Deer RHTR skunkbush Rhus trilobata Entire plant Cattle D D P P P D D D P P P D sumac CEMO alderleaf Cercocarpus Leaves Cattle D P P P D D P P P P D D 2 mountain montanus mahogany CEMO alderleaf Cercocarpus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D 2 mountain montanus Whitetail mahogany CEMO alderleaf Cercocarpus Leaves Mule D D P P P P D D D D D D 2 mountain montanus Deer mahogany CEGR desert Ceanothus Leaves Cattle U U D D D D U U U U U U ceanothus greggii CEGR desert Ceanothus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D ceanothus greggii Whitetail CEGR desert Ceanothus Leaves Mule D D D P P P D D D D D D ceanothus greggii Deer QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Fruits/Seed Coues D D X X X X X P P P D D whitetail QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Fruits/Seed Gould D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Fruits/Seed Mearns D D D D D D D P P P D D Quail QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Fruits/Seed Mule D D X X X X X P P P D D Deer QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Leaves Cattle D D U U U U U U E E E D QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Leaves Coues U U U U D D D D D U U U whitetail QUEM Emory oak Quercus emoryi Leaves Mule D D D D D D D D D D D D Deer QUGR3 gray oak Quercus grisea Fruits/Seed Mule D D X X X X X P P P D D Deer QUGR3 gray oak Quercus grisea Fruits/Seed Turkey D D X X X X X P P P D D QUGR3 gray oak Quercus grisea Leaves Cattle E E E E U U U E E E E E JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seed Gould D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Quail JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seed Mule D D D D P P D X X X X X juniper deppeana Deer JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seed Turkey D D D D P P D X X X X X juniper deppeana JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Whitetail JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Leaves Mule D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Deer

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Symbol Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Stems Mule D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Deer

1/ D = Desirable; E = Emergency; P = Preferred; T = Toxic; U = Undesirable; X = Not Consumed or Unknown Hydrology The hydrology of this ecological site is influenced by the kind and amount of tree canopy, the understory composition, and the timing, duration, intensity, and distribution rain and snowfall events. Annual evapotranspiration greatly exceeds annual precipitation. The amount of water that can be captured and stored for plant growth is limited by the shallow soil depth. Any plant community on the site will fully utilize the available soil moisture, whether it is herbaceous or woody dominated.

Trees play a very important role in trapping snow on the site, especially on north aspects. Snow is an important source of soil moisture. Winter moisture is more important in replenishing soil moisture because of the relatively slow infiltration rate of the soils. Infiltration is typically higher under tree canopies, where there is an accumulation of litter and organic matter in the soil surface. As tree cover increases on the site, the amount of rain and snow intercepted by the tree canopy is increased. As much as 20-30 percent of the precipitation may be intercepted in dense canopies. Available soil moisture may increase about 5-10 percent if trees cover is reduced. Complete removal of trees may result in an overall decrease in available soil moisture, due to both the loss of snow capture, and an increase in evaporation. Reducing tree cover will not result in any significant increase in water yield from the site. Average annual water yield from these sites into stream channels is typically less than 5 percent of the precipitation amount. In areas with heavy concentrations of animals, soil compaction and loss of litter and herbaceous cover can occur in the interspaces between the trees, resulting in increased runoff and erosion from those areas. Where ground surface cover is significantly reduced, gravel filled rills often form under and between the tree canopies, which channel water off the site, reducing the amount of precipitation that can infiltrate. Livestock Production This ecological site is well suited to livestock production if reliable livestock water is provided about every 0.75 to 1 miles. Livestock use of the site is affected by the slope. If flatter areas are available that provide sufficient quantity and quality of forage, then this site will have less grazing pressure. Younger animals will use the site more often, and use will increase during cooler months when animals are willing to travel farther. Prescribed Grazing should include regular grazing deferment during the spring and summer growing season to allow for regrowth and seed production of the desirable forage species. Forage production per acre will be affected by the amount of tree cover. There is a positive correlation between tree removal and herbaceous production until tree canopy gets below about 15%, and then the benefit diminishes. Tree canopy cover should be kept below 25% if grazing is the primary intended land use, in order to maximize herbaceous production. Wildlife This ecological site is part of the Madrean Evergreen Woodland described by Brown and Lowe. This ecological site provides important food and cover for a rich assortment of wildlife species, including black bear, elk, turkey, mule deer, Coues whitetail deer, pinyon jays, ground squirrels, snakes and lizards.

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If wildlife is an important intended use, studies indicate that not more than 20-30% of an area should be cleared at a time, and openings should be kept under 250 feet wide for turkey, and 600 feet wide for deer and elk habitat. Alligator juniper provides browse and cover for deer and elk. Mountain mahogany is an important browse species for deer and elk.

Turkey will use this ecological site for feeding when it is near a stand of ponderosa pine for roosting. Corridors of trees should be left to provide a travel lane to roost sites for turkey. Acorns, pinyon pine nuts and juniper berries are important food for turkey. Pinyon nuts are an important food source for Pinyon Jays, and several other jay species. These birds cache the seeds in the ground near the base of the pinyon trees, helping to cultivate the next generation of pinyon. Small mammals will increase on the site if dense stands of juniper are thinned to allow the herbaceous cover and production to increase. The herbaceous species provides important cover and food for smaller mammals. Leaving some slash in windrows after thinning will also benefit a variety of birds and small mammals. Wood Products This ecological site can produce a variety of wood products, including fuelwood, biomass, and fence posts. Biomass estimates for each community are provided in the community descriptions. Lumber production is not commercially viable, because merchantable trees are too widely scattered. In the mature successional stage, there may be 10-20 post per acre. If managing for wood products is the primary intended use of this site, it is recommended that areas at the higher end of the precipitation zone be considered, where this ecological site begins mixing with ponderosa pine. These higher elevation areas have faster growth rates, and rotation cycles. They also provide the best diversity of wood products, including fuelwood, posts, and possible lumber from the pinyon and ponderosa pines. Single-tree selection and two-step shelterwood harvesting methods are recommended for sustained stand health and productivity of these woodlands. Pinyon nuts and acorns are another important product harvested from this site. Pinyon trees produce a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, starting at 25 years old. Nut yields can be as high as 300 lbs/ac in good years. Oak trees produce acorns every year. Recreation These areas provide excellent hunting, as well as bird watching and hiking opportunities. Slopes limit camping opportunities. Water is not typically available on this site, or associated sites.

STATE CORRELATION This site has not been correlated with other states.

INVENTORY DATA REFERENCES State County Sample Site Sample Date Sample Methods AZ Graham SCWP7 6/27/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition. AZ Graham SCWP9 6/28/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition.

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AZ Graham SCWP12 7/8/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition.

REFERENCES Arnold, J. F., Jameson, D. A., & Reid, E. H. (1964). The Pinyon-Juniper type of Arizona: effects of grazing, fire, and tree control. Production Research Report, United States Department of Agriculture, (84).

Bassett, Dick; Larson, Milo; Moir, Will. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. 2nd edition. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Variously paginated. [20308]

Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. (2005). Long-term successional trends following western juniper cutting. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 58(5), 533-541.

Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. J. (2000). Understory dynamics in cut and uncut western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 119-126.

Brown, D. E., & Lowe, C. H. (1980). Biotic communities of the Southwest. General Technical Report, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, (RM-78).

Butler, L., Cropper, J., Johnson, R., Norman, A., Peacock, G., Shaver, P., & Spaeth, K. (2003). National range and pasture handbook. United States department of agriculture, National resources conservation service.

Chojnacky, D. C. (1992). Estimating volume and biomass for dryland oak species. Ecology and management of oak and associated woodlands: Perspectives in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, 155-161.

Clary, Warren P; September 1974; Response of Herbaceous Vegetation to Felling of Alligator Juniper; Journal of Range Management; Vol 27 No 5; pg 387-389

Collings, M. R., & Myrick, R. M. (1966). Effects of juniper and pinyon eradication on streamflow from Corduroy Creek Basin, Arizona (No. 491-B).

Davenport, D. W., Breshears, D. D., Wilcox, B. P., & Allen, C. D. (1998). Viewpoint: Sustainability of pinon- juniper ecosystems: A unifying perspective of soil erosion thresholds. Journal of Range Management, 231- 240.

Dowhower, S. L., Teague, W. R., Ansley, R. J., & Pinchak, W. E. (2001). Dry-weight-rank method assessment in heterogenous communities. Journal of Range Management, 71-76.

Dwyer, D. D., & Pieper, R. D. (1967). Fire effects on blue grama-pinyon-juniper rangeland in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management Archives, 20(6), 359-362.

Ffolliott, P. F., & Gottfried, G. J. (2002). Dynamics of a pinyon-juniper stand in northern Arizona: a half- century history (p. 12). Fort Collins, CO, USA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Findley, J. S. (1975). Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press.

Fisher, J. T., Mexal, J. G., & Pieper, R. D. (1988). Pinyon-juniper woodlands of New Mexico: a biological and economic appraisal.

Flagstaff, A. Z. General Technical Report RM-258. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.

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Gifford, Gerald F.; November 1982; Impact of Burning and Grazing on Soil Water Patterns in the Pinyon – Juniper Type; Journal of Range Management; Vol 36 No 6; Pg 697-699

Gillihan, S. W. (2006). Sharing the land with pinyon-juniper birds. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Gottfried, G. J., & Severson, K. E. (1993). Distribution and multiresource management of pinon-juniper woodlands in the southwestern United States. General technical report RM/(USA).

Gottfried, G. J., Swetnam, T. W., Allen, C. D., Betancourt, J. L., & Chung-MacCoubrey, A. L. (1995). Pinyon- juniper woodlands. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT RM, 95-132.

Jameson, D. A. (1971). Optimum stand selection for juniper control on southwestern woodland ranges. Journal of Range Management, 94-99.

Jameson, D. A., & Johnsen Jr, T. N. (1964). Ecology and control of alligator juniper. Weeds, 140-142.

Johnsen Jr, T. N., & Dalen, R. S. (1990). Managing individual juniper and pinyon infestations with pelleted tebuthiuron or picloram. Journal of Range Management, 249-252.

Lavin, Fred, Johnsen, T.N. Jr.; 1977; Species Adapted for Planting Arizona Pinyon -Juniper Woodland; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 6; Pg 410-415

Maingi, J. K. (1992). Specific gravity and estimated physical properties of emory oak in southeastern Arizona.

Mason, L. R., & Hutchings, S. S. (1967). Estimating foliage yields on Utah juniper from measurements of crown diameter. Journal of Range Management, 20(3), 161-166.

Milchunas, D. G. (2006). Responses of plant communities to grazing in the southwestern United States. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Miles, P. D., & Smith, W. B. (2009). Specific gravity and other properties of wood and bark for 156 tree species found in North America (Vol. 38). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Miller, E. L., Meeuwig, R. O., & Budy, J. D. (1981). Biomass of singleleaf pinyon and Utah juniper (p. 18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

Miller, R. F., & Wigand, P. E. (1994). Holocene changes in semiarid pinyon-juniper woodlands. BioScience, 44(7), 465-474.

Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Forestry Handbook, title 190, February 2004.

Pavek, Diane S. 1994. Quercus grisea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).

Pieper, R. D. (1990). Overstory-understory relations in pinyon-juniper woodlands in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 413-415.

Scott, Virgil E., Boeker, Erwin L.; 1977; Responses of Merriam’s Turkey to Pinyon – Juniper Control; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 3; Pg 220-223

Sedgwick, J. A. (1987). Avian habitat relationships in pinyon-juniper woodland. The Wilson Bulletin, 413- 431.

Severson, K. E. (1986). Woody plant reestablishment in modified pinyon-juniper woodlands, New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 438-442.

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Short, H. L., & McCulloch, C. Y. (1977). Managing pinyon-juniper ranges for wildlife. R. M. Forest (Ed.). Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture.

Stuever, M. C., & Hayden, J. S. (1997). Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Vol. 2: Woodlands

Tausch, R. J., Miller, R. F., Roundy, B. A., & Chambers, J. C. (2009). Pinon and juniper field guide: asking the right questions to select appropriate management actions.

Tirmenstein, D. 1999. Juniperus deppeana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

USDA-NRCS, I. Classifying, and Correlating Juniper and Pinyon Communities, to Soils in the Western United States, September 1997, Grazing Lands and Technology Institute, Ft. Worth, Texas. USDA-NRCS, National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH). 2017. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232.

Waichler, W. S., Miller, R. F., & Doescher, P. S. (2001). Community characteristics of old-growth western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 518-527.

Williams, G., Gifford, G. F., & Coltharp, G. B. (1969). Infiltrometer Studies on Treated vs. Untreated Pinyon- Juniper Sites in Central Utah (Estudios con el Infiltrometro en Sitios de Pino-Enebro (Pinus juniperus) Tratados y no Tratados en la Parte Central de Utah). Journal of Range Management, 110-114.

Wood, M. K., & Scanlon, R. (1993). Occurrence and control of pinon pine, alligator juniper, and gray oak sprouts and seedlings following fuelwood harvest. General technical report RM (USA).

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RANGELAND HEALTH REFERENCE WORKSHEET Author(s)/participant(s): Steve Barker, Teresa Goseyun, Bob Hetzler

Contact for lead authors: NRCS CEAP Grazing Lands, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Forestry and Range Divisions

Date: 12/1/2016

MLRA: 038X; LRU: 38.3 Ecological Site: Basalt Hills, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24" P.Z.

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

1. Number and extent of rills: None present on the site. Perennial grass basal area is 5-15%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, rock cover and gravel cover is 30-50%. This cover slows runoff, promotes infiltration, and break up water flow energy and the ability to produce rills on the site. 2. Presence of water flow patterns: Water flow paths are less than 12 inches in length before encountering rock cover or plant bases. Perennial grass basal area is 5-15%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, and gravel cover is 30-50%. These limit water flow paths. 3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: None present on the site. Plant and rock cover reduces the potential for soil erosion and pedestal formation.

4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): 5-15%. 5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: None present on the site. Shallow bedrock limits gully formation. 6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: None present on the site. Tree cover plus high density and canopy of perennial grass and cobbly surface is not conducive to wind erosion. 7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): Herbaceous litter travels less than 12 inches in water flow paths before being trapped by rock or plant bases.

8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values): Soil stability values range from 4-6.

9. Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color and thickness): Soil surface structure is granular with weak to moderate rupture resistance. Surfaces range from 3 to 4 inches thick and have colors average 7.5YR 4/2 -5/3 dry and 5YR 5/2 moist.

10. Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff: Midgrasses >> short grasses > cool season grasses = annual forbs & grasses = trees & shrubs > perennial forbs. Rock cover, and basal area of perennial grasses is very conducive to slowing down water leaving the site.

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11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site): None present on the site. Slope and cobble cover limit use by grazing animals. 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: spring perennial forb • Sub-dominant: spring midgrass, coniferous tree, evergreen tree, evergreen shrub • Other: summer perennial forbs, summer midgrasses, annual forbs, midgrasses • Additional: Summer shortgrass, Deciduous subshrub 13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence): Very low plant mortality; approximately 1-2% of short grasses are dead. Less than 1 percent of woody species are dead.

14. Average percent litter cover is 35-55%. Litter depth averages 0.25inches. 15. Expected annual production (this is TOTAL above-ground production, not just forage production): 1200 lbs/ac below average year, 1500 lbs/ac average year, 1800 lbs/ac above average year 16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). Yellow bluestem, yellow star thistle, red brome. 17. Perennial plant reproductive capability: Tree seed production is lost for 20-25 years after crown fires or mechanical thinning. Herbaceous species seed production and establishment declines in years with below average precipitation.

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BASALT UPLAND, CLAY SUBSOIL 20-24" P.Z. Juniperus deppeana - Pinus edulis/Bouteloua gracilis, - Bouteloua curtipendula/Ambrosia psilostachya

Site type: Forest Site ID: To be determined by NRCS This ecological site occurs in the 20-24” precipitation zone of MLRA 38, LRU 38.3. Elevations range from about 5200 to 6000 feet. The higher precipitation zone supports ponderosa pine as the dominant tree species in many of the plant communities. Monthly Moisture and Temperature Distribution The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic ustic. Average Frost-free period is 158 days, and the average Freeze-free period is 178 days. Monthly Precipitation (Inches): Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 2.10 1.90 2.00 1.20 0.40 0.60 2.90 3.50 1.90 1.30 1.30 2.00 Medium 1.80 1.65 1.80 1.05 0.45 0.50 2.80 3.40 1.85 1.35 1.30 1.75 Low 1.50 1.40 1.60 0.90 0.50 0.40 2.70 3.30 1.80 1.40 1.30 1.50

Monthly Precipitation 4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

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

High Avg Low

Monthly Temperature (°F): Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 56.60 62.60 65.30 72.10 80.20 90.70 95.20 93.40 87.30 78.70 68.50 59.90 Low 21.90 24.50 27.80 32.50 38.20 46.00 56.30 55.00 48.30 37.60 26.90 23.40

Monthly Temperature 100.00

50.00

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

High Low

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Climate Stations (1) 020808, Black River Pumps, Arizona. Period of record 1948-2005 (2) 021749 Cibecue, Arizona Period of Record 1927-1979 (3) 026653 Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, Arizona Period of Record 1964-2005 (4) 029271 Whiteriver 1 SW, Arizona Period of Record 1900-2005 (5) 029622 Young, Arizona Period of Record 1903-1964

ECOLOGICAL SITE CONCEPT The Basalt Upland, Clayey Subsoil 20-24” P.Z. ecological site occurs on relatively flat ridges, plateaus and mesas created by basalt lava flows. Slopes are typically less than 8 percent, but may range up to 15 percent in places. The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt bedrock. There are few if any rock fragments throughout the entire soil profile, though the surface may have a 10-20% cover of gravels and cobbles. Soil surface textures range from silt loam to clay loam, typically to a depth of 4 to 8 inches. The subsurface textures range from silty clay to clay over basalt bedrock. Rock outcrop may make up to 10-15 percent of the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture is from precipitation, including snow. Key soil characteristics for this ecological site: o Slopes 1-15%. o No rock fragments in the soil profile. o The soil surface typically has a 10-20% cover of basalt gravel and cobbles. o Silt Loam to clay loam surface textures. o A clay horizon, within 4-10 inches of the surface. o Basalt bedrock within 20 inches. This ecological site produces a reference community with an overstory dominated by alligator juniper and an increasing amount of pinyon pine as elevation and rainfall increase. The understory is dominated by perennial grasses including blue grama, sideoats grama and hairy grama, and perennial forbs including western ragweed and hog potato.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES Geology: Basalt (Basic Igneous, Extrusive) Landform/Landscape Position: Plateau, Mesa, Butte Hillslope – Profile Position: Summit, Shoulder Slope Shape: Concave or Convex Attribute Minimum Maximum Elevation (feet): 5200 6000 Slope (percent): 1 15

INFLUENCING WATER FEATURES There are no influencing water features associated with this site.

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REPRESENTATIVE SOIL FEATURES The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt bedrock. The USGS geological map shows them as basalts and andesite formations from Miocene and Oligocene era (map units Tbn and Tab). There are few if any rock fragments throughout the entire soil profile. The soil surface may have a significant cover (up to 80%) of gravels and cobbles. Soil surface textures range from silt loam to clay loam typically to a depth of 4 to 8 inches. The subsurface textures range from silty clay to clay over basalt bedrock. Rock outcrop may make up to 5-10 percent of the site. The rock outcrop and shallow bedrock areas act as water harvesting features that concentrate available precipitation into the deeper pockets of soil on the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture comes from precipitation, including snow.

Parent Material Kind: Residuum, Alluvium Parent Material Origin: Basalt Surface Texture: Silty Clay Loam, Clay Loam Surface Texture Modifier: None Subsurface Texture Class: Clayey

Minimum Maximum Depth (inches): 5 20 Available Water Capacity (inches): 2.2 4.4 Drainage Class: Moderately Well Well Drained Permeability Class: Slow Moderately Slow Surface Fragments <=3” (% Cover): 5 20 Surface Fragments >3” (% Cover): 10 20 Subsurface Fragments <=3” (%Volume): 0 1 Subsurface Fragments >3” (%Volume): 0 1 Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 2 Sodium Absorption Ratio: 0 2 Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): 6.8 8.0 Soil Reaction (0.1M CaCl2): 0 2 Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): 0 5

ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS Plant community dynamics on this ecological site may occur over a period as long as 300-400 years. Although sustained severe drought combined with bark beetle infestations can significantly change the composition and structure of the plant community, fire is the dominant driver. The general successional sequence following a stand-replacing event is: herbaceous dominated production for the first 20 years; herbaceous species and trees co-dominate annual production from 20-80 years after a stand replacing event; trees dominate annual production after 80 years if there is not a regular fire interval. Competition from perennial grasses can delay the domination by woody species. Fire scar records indicate the natural fire frequency interval averages 20-30 years at higher elevations. At lower elevations, the natural fire frequency is thought to be about 15-25 years. Fire frequency is recorded on scattered ponderosa pines in the higher elevations. Fire scarred pinyons are rare. They are typically killed by fire, either directly from fire damage, or from heart rot infecting the injured trees following a fire.

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Junipers (especially alligator juniper) are very difficult to age. They can produce more than one growth ring in favorable years, and no growth ring in dry years. The evergreen oaks are also difficult to age.

Pinyon pine starts producing seed at approximately 25 years of age. Each tree produces a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, and the cones mature over 3 years. Alligator juniper can be dioecious (separate male and female plants) or monecious (male and female parts on the same plant). The trees start bearing berries at 10-20 years of age. Birds are the most common method of seed dispersal for both pinyon and juniper. Coyotes, mice, rabbits, and livestock also disperse seed.

Pinyon pines often reach ages of 300-400 years, with some reaching 500 years old. The older trees typically occur on shallow bedrock areas that produce spare tree canopies, and sparse, patchy understories that will rarely carry a hot fire.

Continuous heavy grazing will alter the composition of the understory species. Midgrasses and cool season grasses will decline under continuous heavy grazing, while warm season shortgrasses and sod grasses such as blue grama will increase. If blue grama and other sod-forming grasses establish dominance as a solid sod, the return of midgrasses and cool season grasses will only occur with long term rest, or long term grazing management that provides regular deferment during both the spring and summer growing seasons. A change agent, such as drought, disease, insect damage or repeated fire that will open up the sod-bound community may also be needed. As tree canopy sizes increase over time, grazing use becomes more concentrated in the diminishing interspaces between trees. This effectively reduces the number of grazable acres. The fine loamy and clay loam surface textures on this site are susceptible to soil compaction when they are wet. In areas with high animal densities, such as areas near water, the interspaces between trees can see an increase in soil compaction and a decrease in herbaceous cover and litter cover. This may reduce infiltration, and increase runoff and erosion. If the site has a gravel and cobble cover of 40% or more, then erosion is unlikely to increase significantly, and but runoff may increase, resulting in less soil moisture for herbaceous production.

STATE AND TRANSITION MODEL Communities show dominant functional groups in general descending order by above ground annual production (air-dry weight).

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State 1: (Reference) State 2 Herbaceous – Woody, <50% Tree Canopy Woody – Herbaceous, >50% Tree Canopy

1.1 Mature Successional 2.1 Mature Successional Stage T1A Stage

Summer Shortgrass, Summer Shortgrass, Summer Perennial Forb, Coniferous Tree, Spring Coniferous Tree, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Summer R1A Perennial Forb, Spring Midgrass, Evergreen Rhizomatous Grass, 1.1A Tree, Spring Midgrass, Spring Midgrass, Spring Annual Forb Summer Midgrass

1.2A

1.2 Immature 1.3 Young Successional Successional Stage Stage

Summer Shortgrass, 1.3A Summer Midgrass, Summer Midgrass, Summer Annual Forb, Spring Midgrass, Spring Midgrass, Spring Summer Perennial Forb, Perennial Forb, Summer Coniferous Tree, Spring Shortgrass, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer 1.2B Annual Grass, Annual Forb Coniferous Tree

Legend T1A – Lack of fire, continuous heavy grazing R1A – Forest Stand Improvement or Brush Management (mechanical), Prescribed Grazing 1.1A – Stand replacing crown fire, drought with bark beetle infestations, or mechanical brush control or forest stand improvement 1.2A – 80-100 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill immature trees 1.2B – stand replacing crown fire, 1.3A – 15-20 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill young trees

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State 1. Reference State

Figure 5. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z., Community 1.1.

Community 1.1 Mature Successional Stage <50% Canopy Cover Summer Shortgrass, Summer Perennial Forb, Coniferous Tree, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass, Evergreen Tree, Spring Midgrass Narrative This is the interpretive plant community. The overstory is dominated by alligator juniper and twoneedle pinyon. Gray oak and Emory oak are minor components, and they primarily occur as small shrubs. Canopy cover is about 25%, with about 110 trees per acre. Major grasses include blue grama, sideoats grama, hairy grama, Arizona fescue, and mountain muhly. Perennial forbs, including western ragweed and hog potato are also important components of the herbaceous understory. Annual above ground production averages 1555 lbs, air dry weight. Production will typically vary from that average value by 50-300 pounds because of elevation and the natural variability in the timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of rainfall from year to year. In this Community Phase, the dominant and co-dominant trees have achieved maximal height and crown diameters for the site, canopies are less dense, and the trees have flat to rounded crowns. Average stem diameter is greater than 5” at a 1-foot stump height.

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Plant Community 1.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 855 Forb 335 Shrub 0 Tree 365 Total 1555 Plant Community 1.1. Plant Production by Functional Group Average annual production in the table below is displayed by functional group – plants that have the same growth habits and flowering period which tend to compete and replace each other on the ecological site in different places, and over time. In state and transition models, the species or group of species occupies that niche in the plant community is less important than whether that functional group is present, and the relative dominance of that functional group in the plant community. The season (spring, summer) is used to show when the plant is in the reproductive phase.

Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Avg Annual No Production Lbs/Ac Air Dry 3 Spring Midgrass Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica 10 squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 17 Summer Midgrass sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 70 mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana 19 Summer Shortgrass blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 775 hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 37 Spring Perennial hog potato HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia Forb glauca 135 bluebonnet lupine LUPA3 Lupinus palmeri desert SPAM2 Sphaeralcea globemallow ambigua small-leaf ANPA4 Antennaria pussytoes parvifolia Navajo fleabane ERCO27 Erigeron concinnus 39 Summer Perennial western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia Forb psilostachya 190 New Mexico Sida SINE Sida neomexicana Arizona evolvulous EVAR Evolvulus arizonicus wormwood ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana pineywoods GECA3 Geranium geranium caespitosum 43 Spring Annual Forb Forb, annual 2FA 10 American wild DAPU3 Daucus pusillus carrot 63 Evergreen Tree gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 15 Emory oak QUEM Quercus emoryi 58 | Page

65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 350 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis

Plant Community 1.1. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 20 30 Tree Basal Area 0 1 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 8 15 Basal cover, forbs 1 3 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 55 80 Bare Ground 5 10

Plant Community 1.1. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 110 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 20 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 127 D+X Spacing 1.8 Avg Diameter Root Crown (in) 11 Site Index (Howell) 71

Species % Comp Avg Avg Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Height Canopy Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator juniper 65 13 10 3 70 70 pinyon pine 25 18 10 2 55 135 gray oak 10 20 23 18 130 565

Plant Community 1.1. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.24 4,529 4,640 9,505 pinyon pine 35.60 1,448 3,734 5,250 gray oak 43.15 1,416 6,152 7,684 Total 7,393 14,526 22,439

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Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cover Cover X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X

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Figure 6. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z., Community 1.2 (15 years after mechanical brush management). Community 1.2. Immature Successional Stage Summer Shortgrass, Summer Midgrass, Spring Midgrass, Summer Perennial Forb, Coniferous Tree, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Annual Forb Narrative This community phase represents the immature successional stage, 10-20 years after brush management. Trees have not yet reached mature height for the site. Alligator junipers have dense canopies of 4 to 10 resprouted stems and cone or pyramid-shaped tops. Tree stem diameters are less than 5 inches at a 1- foot stump height. Tree canopy cover is greater than 15%. Alligator junipers are producing seed. The trees are too tall to control with prescribed burning. Herbaceous species still dominate annual production, but juniper trees are competing for soil moisture, reducing herbaceous production on the site. Average annual production is 365 pounds per acre, air-dry weight. Plant Community 1.2. Annual Production by Plant Type, air-dry weight, lbs/acre Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 270 Forb 60 Shrub 10 Tree 25 Total 365

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Plant Community 1.2. Species Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Prod No lbs/ac 3 Spring Midgrass Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica 80 prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 17 Summer Midgrass sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 95 19 Summer Shortgrass blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 100 hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 37 Spring Perennial Forb Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 10 39 Summer Perennial spreading ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 40 Forb fleabane spurge EUPHO Euphorbia thistle CIRSI Cirsium western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya 45 Summer Annual Forb Wright's bird's COWR2 Cordylanthus wrightii 1 beak 59 Cacti prickly pear OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 7 tree cholla CYIM2 Cylindropuntia imbricata 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 25 twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis

Plant Community 1.2. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 15 25 Tree Basal Area 0 0.5 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 5 15 Basal cover, forbs 1 3 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 50 60 Bare Ground 5 10

Plant Community 1.2. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 144 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 17 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 344 D+X Spacing 4.2 Avg Diameter Root Crown (in) 17 Site Index (Howell) 101

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Plant Community 1.2. Tree Species Data Species % Avg Avg Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Composition Height Canopy Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator juniper 100 9 7 2 30 34

Plant Community 1.2. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Wood Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.24 500 155 600

Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cov er Cover Cover X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X

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Figure 7. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z., Community 1.3, Young Successional Stage Community 1.3. Young Successional Stage Summer Midgrass, Summer Annual Forb, Spring Midgrass, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Shortgrass, Spring Annual Grass(I), Coniferous Tree Narrative This community phase occurs on areas where trees have been removed by a stand replacing fire, or by using mechanical treatment methods. Scattered older trees may be left standing, or patches of older trees may still be present. Annual production averages 1365 pounds per acre (air dry) and is dominated by spring and summer midgrasses, summer short grasses, and forb. Young tree resprouts are less than 4.5 feet tall. Prescribed burning or individual plant treatment with chemicals are still viable option for control of young resprouts. Plant Community 1.3. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry weight, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 810 Forb 540 Shrub 1 Tree 14 Total 1365

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Plant Community 1.3. Plant Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Annual Production No Lbs/Ac 3 Spring Midgrass squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. 260 elymoides Arizona fescue FEAR2 Festuca arizonica plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 17 Summer Midgrass tumblegrass SCPA Schedonnardus 340 paniculatus mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 19 Summer blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 195 Shortgrass wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 30 Spring Annual wild oat AVFA Avena fatua 15 Grass(I) 37 Spring Perennial woolly locoweed ASMO7 Astragalus mollissimus 235 Forb buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca PHLOX Phlox desert SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua globemallow 39 Summer spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 10 Perennial Forb Penstemon PENST Penstemon 43 Spring Annual Plantago spp. PLANT Plantago 5 Forb slender MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis goldenweed Canadian COCA5 Conyza canadensis horseweed 45 Summer Annual annual ragweed AMAR2 Ambrosia artemisiifolia 290 Forb 59 Cacti prickly pear OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 1 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 14

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Plant Community 1.3. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 0 5 Tree Basal Area 0 1 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 2 10 Basal cover, forbs 1 3 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 60 80 Bare Ground 5 10

Plant Community 1.3. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 2 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 125 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 10 D+X Spacing 12 Avg Diameter Root Crown (in) 12 Site Index (Howell) 101

Plant Community 1.3. Tree Species Data Species % Avg Avg Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Composition Height Canopy Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator juniper 100 15 6 2 25 200

Plant Community 1.3. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Wood Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.24 100 625 720

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Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cov er Cov er Cover X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X

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STATE 2: WOODY – HERBACEOUS, >50% TREE CANOPY Community 2.1 Mature Successional Stage >50% Canopy

Figure 8. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24” P.Z., Community 2.1, Mature Successional State >50% Canopy

COMMUNITY 2.1 MATURE SUCCESSIONAL STAGE >50% CANOPY Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Forb, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass, Evergreen Subshrub Narrative The plant community is a mix of mature trees, with immature trees, and old but stunted small trees infilling between the mature trees. Alligator juniper and twoneedle pinyon have a significant influence on the ecological processes in this community. Tree canopy cover typically exceeds 50%. Lower branches of mature trees are dead or dying due to lack of sunlight, lifting the crown up above the ground. Herbaceous plant communities are patchy, with little production under heavy canopy areas, and solid stands of grasses and forbs in more open areas. Annual herbaceous production may still exceed woody species production. Cool season grasses increase under tree canopies. Plant Community 2.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry weight, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 1330 Forb 525 Shrub 5 Tree 895 Total 2755

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Plant Community 2.1. Plant Production by Functional Group Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Prod No lbs/ac 17 Summer Midgrass spidergrass ARTEH Aristida ternipes var. 35 hamulosa 19 Summer Shortgrass blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 1295 37 Spring Perennial Forb Forb, perennial 2FP 45 Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 39 Summer Perennial spreading ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 190 Forb fleabane spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 43 Spring Annual Forb other annual forbs 2FA 290 51 Evergreen Subshrub shrubby ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 5 buckwheat 63 Evergreen Tree gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 5 65 Coniferous Tree alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 890 ponderosa pine PIPO Pinus ponderosa twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis Plant Community 2.1. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 50 65 Tree Basal Area 0 1 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 2 10 Basal cover, forbs 1 5 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 50 70 Bare Ground 20 35

Plant Community 2.1. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 225 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 14 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 410 D+X Spacing 1.2 Avg Diameter Root Crown (in) 14 Site Index (Howell) 145

Plant Community 2.1. Tree Species Data Species % Avg Avg Avg Annual Avg Woody Avg Woody Composition Height Canopy Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator juniper 68 13 12 3 70 70 pinyon pine 23 13 11 2 55 135 ponderosa pine 1 19 12 2.3 14 88

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Plant Community 2.1. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Wood Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.24 10,710 7,650 18360 pinyon pine 35.6 2,846 6,986 9,832 ponderosa pine 25.0 35 200 235 Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall. Percent Production by Month Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cov er Cover x X X x X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X

ASSOCIATED SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located on the same landscape position, but the soil Upland, profile contains gravels and cobbles, and there is not a significant clay horizon Clay Subsoil above the basalt bedrock. The reduction in clay and the improved drainage over shallow basalt bedrock allows the Basalt Upland, Clay Loam site to be dominated by oak species in the reference community. Clay Loam R038XC303AZ This rangeland ecological site is on similar landscape positions, but the soils are Upland moderately deep to deep. The reference plant community is an open grassland with scattered juniper (<15% canopy cover).

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SIMILAR SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located on the same landscape position, but the soil Upland, profile contains gravels and cobbles, and there is not a significant clay horizon Clay Loam above the basalt bedrock. The reduction in clay and the improved drainage over shallow basalt bedrock allows the Basalt Upland, Clay Loam site to be dominated by oak species in the reference community. Basalt Hills, F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located in similar shallow soils over basalt bedrock, but Clay Subsoil slopes exceed 15%. These steeper slopes affect use and management, and fire behavior.

ECOLOGICAL SITE INTERPRETATIONS Plant Preferences by Animal Kind by Month 1/ Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seeds Gould Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seeds Mule Deer D D D D P P D X X X X X juniper deppeana alligator Juniperus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Whitetail alligator Juniperus Leaves Mule Deer D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana alligator Juniperus Stems Mule Deer D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Desert D D D P P D P P P D D D Bighorn blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Horses D D D D P P P P P D D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D D D U U blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Pronghorn U U U D D D D D U U U U Antelope blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Cattle D D D D D P P P P P D D blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Mule Deer U U U D D D D D U U U U blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Scaled Quail U U D D D D U U U U U U bluedicks Dichelostemma Entire plant Mule Deer X X P P P D U X X X X X capitatum bluedicks Dichelostemma Entire plant Pronghorn U U U P P D D U U U U U capitatum Antelope bluedicks Dichelostemma Flowers Pronghorn X X P P D D U U X X X X capitatum Antelope bluedicks Dichelostemma Underground Javalina D D D D D D D D D D D D capitatum parts bluedicks Dichelostemma Underground Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D capitatum parts Quail desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Coues D D P P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Whitetail desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Mule Deer D D P P D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua

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Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Rocky D D D P P D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Mountain Sheep desert Sphaeralcea Fruits/Seeds Gambels X X D D D D D D D D X X globemallow ambigua Quail desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Cattle D D D P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Coues D D D P P D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Whitetail desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Quail desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Mule Deer D D D P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Antelope hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D D D U U hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Pronghorn U U U D D D D D U U U U Antelope hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Rocky U U U U U U D D D D U U Mountain Sheep hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D mat muhly Muhlenbergia Entire plant Pronghorn U U D D D U U U U U U U richardsonis Antelope milkvetch Astragalus Entire plant Cattle U U T T T T T T U U U U milkvetch Astragalus Entire plant Mule Deer U D P P D U U U U U D D milkvetch Astragalus Entire plant Pronghorn T T T T T T T T T T T T Antelope milkvetch Astragalus Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail milkvetch Astragalus Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D milkvetch Astragalus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D Whitetail milkvetch Astragalus Leaves Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail purple Aristida purpurea Entire plant Cattle U U D D D U U D U U U U threeawn sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P D D D grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Desert E E D D D D P P P D E E grama curtipendula Bighorn sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Horses P P P P P P P P P P P P grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D U U U U grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Pronghorn D D D D D P P P D D D D grama curtipendula Antelope sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Sheep P P P P P P P P P P P P grama curtipendula sideoats Bouteloua Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D grama curtipendula Quail

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Common Scientific Name Plant Part Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name spreading Erigeron Entire plant Mule Deer U D D D U U U D D D U U fleabane divergens spreading Erigeron Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D fleabane divergens Quail spreading Erigeron Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D fleabane divergens Whitetail spreading Erigeron Leaves Pronghorn X X X D D D D D D X X X fleabane divergens Antelope vine mesquite Panicum Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum vine mesquite Panicum Entire plant Horses D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum vine mesquite Panicum Entire plant Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum Antelope vine mesquite Panicum Fruits/Seeds Gambels D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum Quail vine mesquite Panicum Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum Quail vine mesquite Panicum Leaves Gambels E E E E E E E E E E E E obtusum Quail vine mesquite Panicum Leaves Mule Deer E E E E E E E E E E E E obtusum vine mesquite Panicum Leaves Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D obtusum western Pascopyrum Entire plant Cattle D D P P P D D D D D D D wheatgrass smithii western Pascopyrum Entire plant Elk D D P P P D D D D D D D wheatgrass smithii western Pascopyrum Entire plant Horses D D P P P D D D D D D D wheatgrass smithii western Pascopyrum Entire plant Sheep U U D D D D D D D D D U wheatgrass smithii white Artemisia Entire plant Cattle U U U U U U X X X X U U sagebrush ludoviciana white Artemisia Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D sagebrush ludoviciana Antelope wolfstail Lycurus phleoides Entire plant Cattle U U U D D D P P P P U U wolfstail Lycurus phleoides Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D

1/ D = Desirable; E = Emergency; P = Preferred; T = Toxic; U = Undesirable; X = Not Consumed or Unknown Hydrology Soil moisture comes from both rainfall and snowfall, but winter moisture is more important in replenishing soil moisture because of the slow infiltration rate of the soils. Annual evapotranspiration exceeds annual precipitation. The amount of water that can be captured and stored for plant growth is limited by the shallow soil depth. Any plant community on the site will fully utilize the available soil moisture, whether it is herbaceous- or woody-dominated. So reducing tree cover will not result in any significant increase in water yield from the site. As tree cover increases on the site, the amount of rain and snow intercepted by the tree canopy is increased. In areas with heavy concentrations of livestock, soil compaction can occur in the interspaces between the trees, resulting in increased runoff and erosion from those areas.

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Livestock Production This ecological site is well-suited to livestock production if reliable livestock water is provided at least every 1 to 1.5 miles. Prescribed Grazing should include regular grazing deferment during the spring and summer growing season to allow for regrowth and seed production of the desirable forage species. Forage production per acre will be affected by the amount of tree cover. There is a positive correlation between tree removal and herbaceous production until tree canopy gets below about 15%, and then the benefit diminishes. Tree canopy cover should be kept below 25% if grazing is the primary intended land use. The benefit from tree removal generally last about 20 years. Wildlife This ecological site is part of the Madrean Evergreen Woodland described by Brown and Lowe. This ecological site provides important food and cover for a rich assortment of wildlife species, including black bear, elk, turkey, mule deer, Coues whitetail deer, pinyon jays, ground squirrels, snakes and lizards.

If wildlife is an important intended use, studies indicate that not more than 20-30% of an area should be cleared at a time, and openings should be kept under 250 feet wide for turkey, and 600 feet wide for deer and elk habitat. Alligator juniper provides browse and cover for deer and elk. Mountain mahogany is an important browse species for deer and elk. Turkey will use this ecological site for feeding when it is near a stand of ponderosa pine for roosting. Corridors of trees should be left to provide a travel lane to roost sites for turkey. Pinyon pine nuts and juniper berries are important food for turkey. Pinyon nuts are an important food source for Pinyon Jays, and several other jay species. These birds cache the seeds in the ground near the base of the pinyon trees, helping to cultivate the next generation of pinyon. Small mammals will increase on the site if dense stands of juniper are thinned to allow the herbaceous cover and production to increase. The herbaceous species provides important cover and food for smaller mammals. Leaving some slash in windrows after thinning will also benefit a variety of birds and small mammals. Wood Products This ecological site can produce a variety of wood products, including fuelwood, biomass, and fence posts. Lumber production is not commercially viable, because merchantable trees are too widely scattered. In the mature successional stage, there may be 15-20 posts per acre. Above ground biomass estimates for each community are provided in the community descriptions. If managing for wood products is the primary intended use of this site, it is recommended that areas at the higher end of the precipitation zone be used, where this ecological site begins mixing with ponderosa pine. These areas would provide the best diversity of wood products, including fuelwood, posts, and possible lumber from the pinyon trees. The growth rates and rotation cycles would also be quicker. Single-tree selection and two-step shelterwood methods are recommended for sustained stand health and productivity of these woodlands. Pinyon nuts are another important product harvested from this site. Pinyon trees produce a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, starting at 25 years old. Nut yields can be as high as 300 lbs/ac in good years.

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Recreation These areas provide excellent hunting and camping opportunities, as well as bird watching and hiking opportunities. Water is not typically available on this site, or associated sites.

STATE CORRELATION This site has not been correlated with other states.

INVENTORY DATA REFERENCES State County Sample Site Sample Date Sample Methods AZ Graham SCWP7 6/27/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition. AZ Graham SCWP9 6/28/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition. AZ Graham SCWP12 7/8/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition.

REFERENCES Arnold, J. F., Jameson, D. A., & Reid, E. H. (1964). The Pinyon-Juniper type of Arizona: effects of grazing, fire, and tree control. Production Research Report, United States Department of Agriculture, (84). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ Bassett, Dick; Larson, Milo; Moir, Will. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. 2nd edition. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Variously paginated. [20308]

Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. (2005). Long-term successional trends following western juniper cutting. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 58(5), 533-541.

Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. J. (2000). Understory dynamics in cut and uncut western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 119-126.

Butler, L., Cropper, J., Johnson, R., Norman, A., Peacock, G., Shaver, P., & Spaeth, K. (2003). National range and pasture handbook. United States department of agriculture, National resources conservation service. Chojnacky, D. C. (1992). Estimating volume and biomass for dryland oak species. Ecology and management of oak and associated woodlands: Perspectives in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, 155-161.

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Clary, Warren P; September 1974; Response of Herbaceous Vegetation to Felling of Alligator Juniper; Journal of Range Management; Vol 27 No 5; pg 387-389

Collings, M. R., & Myrick, R. M. (1966). Effects of juniper and pinyon eradication on streamflow from Corduroy Creek Basin, Arizona (No. 491-B).

Davenport, D. W., Breshears, D. D., Wilcox, B. P., & Allen, C. D. (1998). Viewpoint: Sustainability of pinon- juniper ecosystems: A unifying perspective of soil erosion thresholds. Journal of Range Management, 231- 240.

Dowhower, S. L., Teague, W. R., Ansley, R. J., & Pinchak, W. E. (2001). Dry-weight-rank method assessment in heterogenous communities. Journal of Range Management, 71-76.

Dwyer, D. D., & Pieper, R. D. (1967). Fire effects on blue grama-pinyon-juniper rangeland in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management Archives, 20(6), 359-362.

Ffolliott, P. F., & Gottfried, G. J. (2002). Dynamics of a pinyon-juniper stand in northern Arizona: a half- century history (p. 12). Fort Collins, CO, USA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Findley, J. S. (1975). Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press. Fisher, J. T., Mexal, J. G., & Pieper, R. D. (1988). Pinyon-juniper woodlands of New Mexico: a biological and economic appraisal. Flagstaff, A. Z. General Technical Report RM-258. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. Gifford, Gerald F.; November 1982; Impact of Burning and Grazing on Soil Water Patterns in the Pinyon – Juniper Type; Journal of Range Management; Vol 36 No 6; Pg 697-699 Gillihan, S. W. (2006). Sharing the land with pinyon-juniper birds. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Gottfried, G. J., & Severson, K. E. (1993). Distribution and multiresource management of pinon-juniper woodlands in the southwestern United States. General technical report RM/(USA). Gottfried, G. J., Swetnam, T. W., Allen, C. D., Betancourt, J. L., & Chung-MacCoubrey, A. L. (1995). Pinyon- juniper woodlands. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT RM, 95-132.

Jameson, D. A. (1971). Optimum stand selection for juniper control on southwestern woodland ranges. Journal of Range Management, 94-99.

Jameson, D. A., & Johnsen Jr, T. N. (1964). Ecology and control of alligator juniper. Weeds, 140-142.

Johnsen Jr, T. N., & Dalen, R. S. (1990). Managing individual juniper and pinyon infestations with pelleted tebuthiuron or picloram. Journal of Range Management, 249-252. Lavin, Fred, Johnsen, T.N. Jr.; 1977; Species Adapted for Planting Arizona Pinyon -Juniper Woodland; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 6; Pg 410-415

Mason, L. R., & Hutchings, S. S. (1967). Estimating foliage yields on Utah juniper from measurements of crown diameter. Journal of Range Management, 20(3), 161-166.

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Milchunas, D. G. (2006). Responses of plant communities to grazing in the southwestern United States. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Miles, P. D., & Smith, W. B. (2009). Specific gravity and other properties of wood and bark for 156 tree species found in North America (Vol. 38). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Miller, E. L., Meeuwig, R. O., & Budy, J. D. (1981). Biomass of singleleaf pinyon and Utah juniper (p. 18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

Miller, R. F., & Wigand, P. E. (1994). Holocene changes in semiarid pinyon-juniper woodlands. BioScience, 44(7), 465-474.

Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Forestry Handbook, title 190, February 2004.

Pavek, Diane S. 1994. Quercus grisea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Pieper, R. D. (1990). Overstory-understory relations in pinyon-juniper woodlands in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 413-415.

Scott, Virgil E., Boeker, Erwin L.; 1977; Responses of Merriam’s Turkey to Pinyon – Juniper Control; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 3; Pg 220-223 Sedgwick, J. A. (1987). Avian habitat relationships in pinyon-juniper woodland. The Wilson Bulletin, 413- 431. Severson, K. E. (1986). Woody plant reestablishment in modified pinyon-juniper woodlands, New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 438-442.

Short, H. L., & McCulloch, C. Y. (1977). Managing pinyon-juniper ranges for wildlife. R. M. Forest (Ed.). Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture. Stuever, M. C., & Hayden, J. S. (1997). Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Vol. 2: Woodlands Tausch, R. J., Miller, R. F., Roundy, B. A., & Chambers, J. C. (2009). Pinon and juniper field guide: asking the right questions to select appropriate management actions. Tirmenstein, D. 1999. Juniperus deppeana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ USDA-NRCS, I. Classifying, and Correlating Juniper and Pinyon Communities, to Soils in the Western United States, September 1997, Grazing Lands and Technology Institute, Ft. Worth, Texas. USDA-NRCS, National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH). 2017. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232. Waichler, W. S., Miller, R. F., & Doescher, P. S. (2001). Community characteristics of old-growth western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 518-527.

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Williams, G., Gifford, G. F., & Coltharp, G. B. (1969). Infiltrometer Studies on Treated vs. Untreated Pinyon- Juniper Sites in Central Utah (Estudios con el Infiltrometro en Sitios de Pino-Enebro (Pinus juniperus) Tratados y no Tratados en la Parte Central de Utah). Journal of Range Management, 110-114.

Wood, M. K., & Scanlon, R. (1993). Occurrence and control of pinon pine, alligator juniper, and gray oak sprouts and seedlings following fuelwood harvest. General technical report RM (USA).

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RANGELAND HEALTH REFERENCE WORKSHEET Author(s)/participant(s): Steve Barker, Teresa Goseyun, Bob Hetzler

Contact for lead authors: NRCS CEAP Grazing Lands, San Carlos Apache Tribe

Date: 12/1/2016

MLRA: 038X; LRU: 38.3 Ecological Site: Basalt Upland, Clay Subsoil 20-24" P.Z.

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.

1. Number and extent of rills: None present on the site. Perennial grass basal area is 10-15%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, rock cover and gravel cover is 10-20%. These promote infiltration, and break up water flow reducing its energy and ability to produce rills on the site. 2. Presence of water flow patterns: Water flow paths are less than 12 inches in length before encountering plant bases. Perennial grass basal area is 5-15%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, and gravel cover is 10-20%. These create more tortuous water flow paths, thereby slowing the flow of water within and from the site. 3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: None present on the site. Very high density of plants reduces potential for soil erosion and pedestal formation.

4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): 5-15%.

5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: None present on the site. Shallow bedrock limits gully formation. 6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: None present on the site. Tree cover plus high density and canopy of perennial grass is not conducive to wind erosion.

7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): Herbaceous litter travels less than 12 inches in water flow paths before being trapped by rock or plant bases.

8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values): Soil stability values range from 4-6.

9. Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color and thickness): Soil surface structure is granular with weak to moderate rupture resistance when moist. Surfaces range from 3 to 4 inches thick and have colors average 5YR 4/2-4/3 dry and 5YR 3/1-3/2 moist. 10. Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff: Midgrasses >> shortgrasses > cool season grasses = annual forbs & grasses = trees & shrubs > perennial forbs. High density and 15-20% basal area of perennial grasses is very conducive to slowing down water leaving the site.

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11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site): None present on the site. Argillic horizon is 6-10 inches deep and when dry has moderate to strong structure that can be mistaken for a compaction layer when dry. 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: summer shortgrass • Sub-dominant: summer perennial forb, coniferous tree, spring perennial forb • Other: summer midgrass, evergreen tree • Additional: spring midgrass, annual forb 13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence): Very low plant mortality; approximately 1-2% of shortgrasses are dead. 14. Average percent litter cover (60-70%) and depth (0.25 inches). 15. Expected annual production (this is TOTAL air-dry aboveground production, not just forage production): 1000 lbs/ac below average year, 1500 lbs/ac average year, 2000 lbs/ac above average year. 16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). Yellow bluestem, yellow starthistle.

17. Perennial plant reproductive capability: Not affected after several years of drought in the region.

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BASALT UPLAND, COBBLY CLAY LOAM 20-24" P.Z. Quercus grisea - Juniperus deppeana / Bouteloua hirsuta - Bouteloua curtipendula / Erigeron divergens Site type: Forest Site ID: To be determined by NRCS

This ecological site occurs in the 20-24” precipitation zone of MLRA 38, LRU 38.3. Elevations range from about 5200 to 6200 feet. The higher precipitation zone supports ponderosa pine as the dominant tree species in many of the plant communities. Monthly Moisture and Temperature Distribution The soil temperature regime is mesic and the soil moisture regime is typic ustic. Average Frost-free period is 158 days, and the average Freeze-free period is 178 days. Monthly Precipitation (Inches): Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 2.10 1.90 2.00 1.20 0.40 0.60 2.90 3.50 1.90 1.30 1.30 2.00 Medium 1.80 1.65 1.80 1.05 0.45 0.50 2.80 3.40 1.85 1.35 1.30 1.75 Low 1.50 1.40 1.60 0.90 0.50 0.40 2.70 3.30 1.80 1.40 1.30 1.50

Monthly Precipitation 4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

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

High Avg Low

Monthly Temperature (°F): Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec High 56.60 62.60 65.30 72.10 80.20 90.70 95.20 93.40 87.30 78.70 68.50 59.90 Low 21.90 24.50 27.80 32.50 38.20 46.00 56.30 55.00 48.30 37.60 26.90 23.40

Monthly Temperature 100.00

50.00

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

High Low

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Climate Stations (1) 020808, Black River Pumps, Arizona. Period of record 1948-2005 (2) 021749 Cibecue, Arizona Period of Record 1927-1979 (3) 026653 Pleasant Valley Ranger Station, Arizona Period of Record 1964-2005 (4) 029271 Whiteriver 1 SW, Arizona Period of Record 1900-2005 (5) 029622 Young, Arizona Period of Record 1903-1964

ECOLOGIAL SITE CONCEPT This ecological site occurs on relatively flat plateaus and mesa tops created by basalt lava flows. Elevations range from about 5200 to 6200 feet. Annual precipitation averages 20-24” per year. This elevation/precipitation zone is below the higher precipitation zone in this Land Resource Unit where ponderosa pine becomes an important part of the plant communities.

Slopes range from 1 to 15 percent. The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt and andesite bedrock. Rock fragments occur throughout the soil profile. The soil surface typically has a significant cover (up to 40%) of gravels and cobbles. Rock outcrop may make up to 10-15 percent of the site. Soil surface textures range from gravelly to cobbly silt loams to clay loams to a depth of 4 to 8 inches. The subsoil textures range from gravely silty clay loam to very cobbly clay loam. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture only comes from precipitation, which includes snow. Snow melt and slow gentle rains in the winter provide most of the soil moisture replenishment because of the slow infiltration rates of the clay loam textures. The rock outcrop and shallow bedrock areas act as water harvesting features that concentrate available precipitation into the deeper pockets of soil on the site. Key characteristic for this ecological site o Slopes 1-15% o Soil surface cover of basalt gravel and cobbles (up to 40% surface cover is not uncommon). o Rock fragments throughout the soil profile. o Soil textures are silt loam to clay loam. o Subsurface textures silty clay loam to clay. o Basalt or andesite bedrock within 20 inches.

This ecological site produces a reference community with an overstory dominated by gray oak, Emory oak, alligator juniper and an increasing amount of pinyon pine as elevation and rainfall increases. The understory is dominated by short and mid grasses including hairy grama, sideoats grama, blue grama and squirreltail. Perennial forbs including spreading fleabane and Wright’s bird’s beak make up a significant amount of the annual production on the site.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES Geology Basalt and Andesite (basic igneous) Landform/Landscape Position Plateau, Mesa, Butte Hillslope – Profile Position Summit, Shoulder Slope Shape Concave or Convex Attribute Minimum Maximum Elevation (feet) 5200 6200 Slope (percent) 1 15

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INFLUENCING WATER FEATURES There are no influencing water features associated with this site.

REPRESENTATIVE SOIL FEATURES The soils are very shallow (<10 inches) to shallow (<20 inches) over basalt bedrock. The USGS geological map shows the site occurring on basalts and andesite formations from Miocene and Oligocene era (map units Tbn and Tab). There are rock fragments throughout the soil profile ranging from gravelly to very cobbly. The soil surface may also have a significant cover of (up to 40%) gravels and cobbles. Soil surface textures range from silt loams to cobbly silty clay loams typically to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. The subsurface textures range from gravelly to very cobbly clay loams to clay over basalt bedrock at less than 20 inches. Rock outcrop may make up to 5-15 percent of the site. The site does not benefit from run-on moisture from other sites. Soil moisture comes from precipitation, including snow.

Parent Material Kind: Residuum, Alluvium Parent Material Origin: Basalt or Andesite Surface Texture: Silt Loam, Silty Clay Loam Surface Texture Modifier: Gravelly to Cobbly Subsurface Texture Class: Clay Loam

Minimum Maximum Depth (inches): 6 20 Available Water Capacity (inches): 2.0 4.0 Drainage Class: Moderately Well Well Drained Permeability Class: Slow Moderately Slow Surface Fragments <=3” (% Cover): 5 35 Surface Fragments >3” (% Cover): 5 20 Subsurface Fragments <=3” (%Volume): 5 30 Subsurface Fragments >3” (%Volume): 10 40 Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): 0 2 Sodium Absorption Ratio: 0 2 Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): 6.6 7.8 Soil Reaction (0.1M CaCl2): 0 2 Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): 0 5

Soil Correlation This ecological site is correlated to the Dedal soil map unit component in the following soil survey: AZ675 Soil Survey of San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona, Parts of Gila and Graham Counties. Map Unit 3: Anezul-Dedal-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 20 percent slopes. Component: Dedal Taxonomic classification: clayey-skeletal, smectitic, mesic Lithic Argiustolls.

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ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS Plant community dynamics on this ecological site may occur over a period of 300-400 years. Precipitation and fire are the dominant ecological drivers. Sustained severe drought combined with fire, and/or with bark beetle infestations in junipers and pinyons can change the composition and structure of the plant community. The general successional sequence following a stand-replacing event is herbaceous dominated production for the first 20 years, herbaceous species and trees co-dominate annual production from 20-80 years after fire, then tree dominated annual production after 80 years. Competition from perennial grasses can slow the progression of woody species.

Fire scar records indicate the natural fire frequency interval averages 20-30 years at higher elevations. At lower elevations, the natural fire frequency is thought to be about 15-25 years. At the higher elevations, this fire frequency is recorded on scattered ponderosa pines. Fire scarred pinyons are rare. They are typically killed by fire, either directly from fire damage, or from heart rot infecting the injured trees following a fire. Junipers (especially alligator juniper) are very difficult to age. They can produce more than one growth ring in favorable years, and no growth ring in dry years. The evergreen oaks are also very difficult to age with normal silvicultural practices. So determining fire frequency from fire scars on these species is unreliable. Gray oak is the dominant oak species on this ecological site. There are occasional shrub-sized Emory oaks, and some Gambel oaks at the higher elevations. Gray oak acorns are produced annually, and nearly all successful germination occurs within 30 days of acorn drop. Emory oak acorns are edible, and are still collected for food and ceremony by Native Americans.

Pinyon pine starts producing seed at approximately 25 years of age. Each tree produces a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, and the cones mature over 3 years. Alligator juniper can be dioecious (separate male and female plants) or monecious (male and female parts on the same plant). The trees start bearing berries at 10-20 years of age. Birds are the most common method of seed dispersal for both pinyon and juniper. Coyotes, mice, rabbits, and livestock also disperse seed. Pinyon pines often reach ages of 300-400 years, with some reaching 500 years old. The older trees typically occur on shallow bedrock areas that produce spare tree canopies, and sparse, patchy understories that will rarely carry a hot fire. Midgrasses and cool season grasses will decline under continuous heavy grazing. Warm season short grasses and sod grasses such as blue grama and hairy grama will increase. If blue grama and other short grasses establish dominance as a solid sod, the return of midgrasses and cool season grasses will only occur with long term rest, or long term grazing management that provides regular deferment during both the spring and summer growing seasons. Drought, disease, insect damage or repeated fire that will open up the sod-bound community can accelerate an increase in midgrasses.

As tree canopy sizes increase over time, grazing becomes more concentrated in the diminishing interspaces between trees. This effectively reduces the number of grazable acres. The fine loamy and clay loam surface textures on this site are susceptible to soil compaction when wet. In areas with high animal densities, such as areas near water, the interspaces between trees can have an increase in soil compaction and a decrease in herbaceous cover and litter cover. This may reduce infiltration, and increase runoff and erosion. If the site has over 40% rock and litter cover, then erosion is unlikely to increase significantly, and but runoff may increase, resulting in less soil moisture for plant production.

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STATE AND TRANSITION MODEL Communities show the dominant functional groups in general descending order by above ground annual production (air-dry weight).

State 1 (Reference) State 2 Herbaceous – Woody, <50% Tree Canopy Woody – Herbaceous, >50% Tree Canopy 1.1 Mature Successional Stage T1A 2.1 Mature Successional Stage Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Evergreen Tree, Spring Summer Perennial Forb, Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass, R1A Evergreen Shrub, Evergreen Tree, Summer 1.1A Summer Midgrass, Fern, Annual Forb, Spring Summer Perennial Forb, Midgrass Summer Tallgrass 1.2A

1.2 Immature 1.3 Young Successional Successional Stage Stage

Summer Shortgrass, 1.3A Summer Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass, Evergreen Tree, Summer Spring Midgrass, Shortgrass, Spring Summer Perennial Forb, Annual Forb, Summer Evergreen Tree, Perennial Grasslike, 1.2B Coniferous Tree, Spring Spring Perennial Forb, Perennial Forb Summer Midgrass

Legend T1A– Lack of fire, continuous heavy grazing R1A – Forest Stand Improvement or Brush Management (mechanical), Prescribed Grazing 1.1A – Stand replacing crown fire, drought with bark beetle infestations, mechanical brush control or forest stand improvement 1.2A – 80-100 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill young trees 1.2B – stand replacing crown fire 1.3A – 15-20 years of growth without a fire hot enough to kill young trees

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State 1. Reference State

Figure 9. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Upland, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z., Reference Community 1.1.

Community 1.1 Mature Successional Stage, <50% Tree Canopy Cover Summer Shortgrass, Coniferous Tree, Summer Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass, Evergreen Tree, Summer Annual Forb, Spring Midgrass Narrative This is the interpretive plant community. The overstory is dominated by gray oak and alligator juniper. Canopy cover averages 40%, with about 300 trees per acre. Perennial grasses include prairie junegrass, squirreltail, sideoats grama, hairy grama and blue grama. Perennial forbs include spreading fleabane, New Mexico Groundsel, Wright’s deervetch, and lupine. Annual above ground production averages 1500 lbs, air-dry weight. Production will vary from that average value by 50-300 pounds with elevation and natural variability in the plant community, and the timing, frequency, duration, and intensity of rainfall from year to year. In this community phase, the dominant trees have achieved maximal height and crown diameters for the site and the trees have flat to rounded crowns. Tree branching is relatively open. Average trunk diameter on trees is greater than 5” at a 1-foot stump height.

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Plant Community 1.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry weight, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 560 Forb 360 Shrub 5 Tree 475 Total 1400 Plant Community 1.1. Species Production by Functional Group Average annual production in the table below is displayed by functional group – plants that have the same growth habits and flowering period which tend to compete and replace each other on the ecological site in different places, and over time. In state and transition models, the species or group of species occupying that niche in the plant community is less important than whether that functional group is present, and the relative dominance of that functional group in the plant community. The season (spring, summer) is used to show when the plant is in the reproductive phase.

Group Functional Group Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Annual Prod No lbs/ac 3 Spring Midgrass prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 25 squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 5 Spring Shortgrass pinyon ricegrass PIFI Piptochaetium 5 fimbriatum 13 Spring Perennial sedge CAREX Carex 3 Grasslike 15 Summer Tallgrass bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 2 17 Summer Midgrass sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 215 mountain muhly MUMO Muhlenbergia montana purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 19 Summer Shortgrass blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 310 hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 37 Spring Perennial desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 15 Forb New Mexico PANE7 Packera neomexicana groundsel 39 Summer Perennial white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 230 Forb western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya spurge EUPHO Euphorbia pineywoods GECA3 Geranium caespitosum geranium whiteflower prairie DAAL Dalea albiflora clover Missouri goldenrod SOMI2 Solidago missouriensis spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 45 Summer Annual Wright's bird's beak COWR2 Cordylanthus wrightii 115 Forb 59 Cacti tree cholla CYIM2 Cylindropuntia imbricata 5

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63 Evergreen Tree gray oak QUGR3 Quercus grisea 190 65 Coniferous Tree twoneedle pinyon PIED Pinus edulis 285 alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana

Plant Community 1.1. Vegetation Structure and Cover Cover Type Min % Max % Tree Canopy Cover 30 40 Tree Basal Area 0 1 Basal cover, grasses, grasslikes 2 10 Basal cover, forbs 1 5 Basal cover, shrubs/vines 0 1 Litter Cover 40 60 Bare Ground 2 10

Plant Community 1.1. Tree Spacing and Site Index Trees per acre (no) 300 Avg Tree Spacing (ft) 12 Tree Basal Area (ft2/ac) 300 D+X Spacing 1.26 Site Index (Howell) 191

Plant Community 1.1. Tree Species Data Species % Avg Avg Avg Root Avg Ann Avg Woody Avg Woody Comp Height Canopy Crown Prod Biomass <3” Biomass >3” (ft) Dia (ft) Dia (in) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) (Lbs/Tree) alligator juniper 55 15 9 8 1.7 21 88 pinyon 20 14 7 4 2.7 87 20 gray oak 25 18 11 11 6.8 72 188

Plant Community 1.1. Aboveground Tree Biomass Per Acre Species Wood Weight <3” Biomass >3” Biomass Total Tree Biomass Lbs/ft3 Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac Lbs/Ac alligator juniper 32.25 3,391 14,139 17,530 pinyon pine 35.60 5,117 1,190 6,308 gray oak 43.15 5,234 13,765 19,000 Total 13,742 29,094 42,838

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Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cov er Cover X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X X

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Plant Community 1.3 - Young Successional Stage

Figure 10. MLRA 38.3 Basalt Upland, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24” P.Z., Community 1.3 (1 year after stand replacing crown fire). Plant Community 1.3. Young Successional Stage Summer Perennial Forb, Evergreen Tree, Summer Shortgrass, Spring Annual Forb, Summer Perennial Grasslike, Spring Perennial Forb, Summer Midgrass Narrative This community phase represents the young successional stage, after a stand replacing fire, or after brush management or forest stand improvement that removes most of the tree canopy. Most tree growth is from resprouts of gray oak and alligator juniper. Scattered older trees may be left standing, or patches of older trees may be present. Annual above ground production averages 1150 pounds per acre, air dry weight. It is dominated by a diversity of perennial and annual forbs, and summer short grasses, and midgrasses. Young tree resprouts are less than 4.5 feet tall. Prescribed burning or individual plant treatment with chemicals are still viable option for control of young resprouts. Plant Community 1.3. Annual Production by Plant Type Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 195 Forb 845 Shrub 10 Tree 100 Total 1,150

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Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Plant Community 1.3. Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cov er Cover Cover X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X

STATE 2. WOODY – HERBACEOUS Plant Community 2.1. Mature Successional Stage, >50% Tree Canopy Cover Evergreen Tree, Spring Perennial Forb, Evergreen Shrub, Summer Midgrass, Fern, Summer Perennial Forb, Summer Tallgrass Narrative This community occurs when trees dominate the ecological processes on the site. Tree and shrub canopy cover exceeds 50%. The plant community is a mix of mature and climax trees, with immature trees infilling previously open spaces. Annual aboveground production averages 2240 lbs/ac (air-dry). Older trees are at the maximum height and canopy diameters for the site, with rounded crowns and more open branching. Lower branches of mature trees are dead or dying due to lack of sunlight, lifting the tree canopies up above the ground. Herbaceous plant communities are patchy, with little production or cover

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under heavy canopy areas, and high cover and production of grasses and forbs in more open areas. Annual above ground production of woody and herbaceous species is about equal, but woody species typically dominate cover and competition for sunlight. Cool season species are more abundant because of the increased shade on the site. Plant Community 2.1. Annual Production by Plant Type (air-dry weight, lbs/acre) Plant Type Low Representative High Grass 395 Forb 815 Shrub 320 Tree 710 Total 2,240

Plant Growth Curve Growth curve number: AZ3813 Growth curve name: 38.3 20-24"p.z. all sites Growth curve description: Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and fall.

Percent Production by Month

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec % Growth 0 0 5 15 10 15 15 20 10 5 5 0

25 20 15 10 5 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildlife Food and Cover Wildlife Cover Bare Burrows Rocks Nests Caves Plant Plant Cavities, Tree Shrub Herbaceous Patches Boulders Midden s Cavities Litter Snags Cover Cover Cover X X X X X X X X Wildlife Food Moss, Lichen, Pollinator Seed Mast Grasses Forbs Browse Invertebrates Vertebrates Cryptogams Plants X X X X X X X X X

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ASSOCIATED SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located on flatter summits and mesas, on areas with less Upland, than 15% slopes. The soil profile does not contain gravels and cobbles, and Clay Subsoil there is heavy clay horizon above the basalt bedrock. The increase in clay and the reduced drainage reduces the presence of oak in the reference community. Alligator juniper dominates the overstory with increasing pinyon as elevation and rainfall increase. Clay Loam R038XC303AZ This ecological site is located on flatter summits and on areas with less than Upland 15% slopes. The soils are moderately deep to deep. The reference plant community is an open grassland with scattered juniper (<15% canopy cover).

SIMILAR SITES Site Name Site ID Site Narrative Basalt Hills, F038XC___AZ This ecological site is located on slopes greater than 15%. Soil textures range Cobbly Clay from silt loam to cobbly clay loam over shallow basalt bedrock. The lower clay Loam content and the improved drainage over shallow basalt bedrock allows this site to be dominated by oak species in the reference community. Treatment with vehicles and other mechanization is limited. Basalt Hills, F038XC___AZ This ecological site is on similar shallow soils over basalt bedrock, where slopes Clay Subsoil exceed 15%. These steeper slopes affect use and management, and fire behavior. The increase in clay and the reduced drainage over shallow basalt bedrock reduces the amount of oak in the reference community. Alligator juniper dominates the overstory with increasing pinyon as elevation and rainfall increase.

ECOLOGICAL SITE INTERPRETATIONS Plant Preferences by Animal Kind by Month 1/ Symbol Common Scientific Name PLANT_PART Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P P D D Junegrass macrantha KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Elk D D D D D D D D D D D D Junegrass macrantha KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Horses D D D D D D D D D D D D Junegrass macrantha KOMA prairie Koeleria Entire plant Sheep U U D D D U U U U U U U Junegrass macrantha ELELE squirreltail Elymus elymoides Leaves Cattle D D P P P E E E P P P D ssp. elymoides ELELE squirreltail Elymus elymoides Leaves Scaled Quail U U D D D U U U U U U U ssp. elymoides PIFI pinyon Piptochaetium Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P P D D ricegrass fimbriatum PIFI pinyon Piptochaetium Entire plant Elk P P P P P P P P P P P P ricegrass fimbriatum PIFI pinyon Piptochaetium Entire plant Horses P P P P P P P P P P P P ricegrass fimbriatum PIFI pinyon Piptochaetium Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D ricegrass fimbriatum Quail CAREX sedge Carex Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D D D P P P D CAREX sedge Carex Entire plant Sheep U U D D D U U U U U U U

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Symbol Common Scientific Name PLANT_PART Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name CAREX sedge Carex Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail CAREX sedge Carex Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D Whitetail CAREX sedge Carex Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D Antelope CAREX sedge Carex Leaves Scaled Quail U U D D D D U U U U U U MUEM bullgrass Muhlenbergia Entire plant Cattle E E E E E E D D D U U U emersleyi MUMO mountain Muhlenbergia Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D D D D D D D muhly montana MUMO mountain Muhlenbergia Entire plant Horses D D D D D D D D D D D D muhly montana ARPU9 purple Aristida purpurea Entire plant Cattle E E D P D U U D U U E E threeawn SPCR sand Sporobolus Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D D D D D D D dropseed cryptandrus SPCR sand Sporobolus Entire plant Pronghorn U U D D D U U U U U U U dropseed cryptandrus Antelope BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Cattle D D P P D D P P P D D D grama curtipendula BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Desert E E D D D D P P P D E E grama curtipendula Bighorn BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Horses P P P P P P P P P P P P grama curtipendula BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D U U U U grama curtipendula BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Pronghorn D D D D D P P P D D D D grama curtipendula Antelope BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Entire plant Sheep P P P P P P P P P P P P grama curtipendula BOCU sideoats Bouteloua Fruits/Seeds Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D grama curtipendula Quail BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Desert D D D P P D P P P D D D Bighorn BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Horses D D D D P P P P P D D D BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D D D U U BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant Pronghorn U U U D D D D D U U U U Antelope BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Fruits/Seeds Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D BOGR2 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Leaves Scaled Quail U U D D D D U U U U U U BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Cattle D D D D D D P P P D D D BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Mule Deer U U U U D D D D D D U U BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Pronghorn U U U D D D D D U U U U Antelope BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant Rocky U U U U U U D D D D U U Mountain Sheep BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Fruits/Seeds Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D Quail BOHI2 hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Fruits/Seeds Scaled Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Coues D D P P P P D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Whitetail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Mule Deer U D P P D U U U U U U U globemallow ambigua SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Entire plant Rocky D D D P P D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Mountain Sheep

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Symbol Common Scientific Name PLANT_PART Animal J F M A M J J A S O N D Name SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Fruits/Seeds Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Quail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Cattle E E D D D D D D D D D E globemallow ambigua SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Mearns D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Quail SPAM2 desert Sphaeralcea Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D globemallow ambigua Antelope ERDI4 spreading Erigeron Entire plant Mule Deer U D D D U U U D D D U U fleabane divergens ERDI4 spreading Erigeron Fruits/Seeds Gambel’s D D D D D D D D D D D D fleabane divergens Quail ERDI4 spreading Erigeron Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D fleabane divergens Whitetail ERDI4 spreading Erigeron Leaves Pronghorn X X X D D D D D D X X X fleabane divergens Antelope ARLU white Artemisia Entire plant Cattle U U U U U U X X X X U U sagebrush ludoviciana ARLU white Artemisia Leaves Pronghorn D D D D D D D D D D D D sagebrush ludoviciana Antelope QUGR3 gray oak Quercus grisea Fruits/Seeds Mule Deer D D X X X X X P P P D D QUGR3 gray oak Quercus grisea Leaves Cattle E E E E D D D E E E E E JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seeds Gould Quail D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Fruits/Seeds Mule Deer D D D D P P D X X X X X juniper deppeana JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Leaves Coues D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana Whitetail JUDE2 alligator Juniperus Leaves Mule Deer D D D D D D D D D D D D juniper deppeana

1/ D = Desirable; E = Emergency; P = Preferred; T = Toxic; U = Undesirable; X = Not Consumed or Unknown

Hydrology The hydrology of this ecological site is influenced by the kind and amount of tree canopy, the understory composition, and the timing, duration, intensity, and distribution rain and snowfall events. The amount of water that can be captured and stored for plant growth is limited by the shallow soil depth. Annual evapotranspiration exceeds annual precipitation. Any plant community on the site will fully utilize the available soil moisture, whether it is herbaceous- or woody-dominated.

Trees play a very important role in trapping snow on the site. Winter moisture, including snow, is important in replenishing soil moisture because of the slow infiltration rate of the soils. Infiltration is typically higher under tree canopies, due to the accumulation of litter and the resulting increase in organic matter in the soil surface. As tree cover increases on the site, the amount of rain and snow intercepted by the tree canopy is increased. As much as 20-30 percent of the precipitation may be intercepted in dense canopies. Reducing tree cover will not result in any significant increase in water yield from the site. Average annual water yield from these sites into stream channels is typically less than 5 percent of the precipitation amount. Total available soil moisture may increase about 5-10 percent if tree cover is reduced. Complete removal of trees may result in an overall decrease in available soil moisture, due to both the loss of snow capture, and an increase in evaporation. In areas with heavy concentrations of animals, soil compaction and loss of litter and herbaceous cover can occur in the interspaces between the trees, resulting in increased runoff and erosion from those areas.

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Livestock Production This ecological site is well-suited to livestock production if reliable livestock water is provided about every 1 to 1.5 miles. Prescribed Grazing should include regular grazing deferment during the spring and summer growing season to allow for regrowth and seed production of the desirable forage species. Forage production per acre will be affected by the amount of tree cover. There is a positive correlation between tree removal and herbaceous production until tree canopy gets below about 15%, and then the benefit diminishes. Tree canopy cover should be kept below 25% if grazing is the primary intended land use, in order to maximize herbaceous production. Wildlife This ecological site is part of the Madrean Evergreen Woodland described by Brown and Lowe. This ecological site provides important food and cover for a rich assortment of wildlife species, including black bear, elk, turkey, mule deer, Coues whitetail deer, pinyon jays, ground squirrels, snakes and lizards.

If wildlife is an important intended use, studies indicate that not more than 20-30% of an area should be cleared at a time, and openings should be kept under 250 feet wide for turkey, and 600 feet wide for deer and elk habitat. Alligator juniper provides browse and cover for deer and elk. Mountain mahogany is an important browse species for deer and elk. Turkey will use this ecological site for feeding when it is near a stand of ponderosa pine for roosting. Corridors of trees should be left to provide a travel lane to roost sites for turkey. Acorns, pinyon pine nuts and juniper berries are important food for turkey. Pinyon nuts are an important food source for Pinyon Jays, and several other jay species. These birds cache the seeds in the ground near the base of the pinyon trees, helping to cultivate the next generation of pinyon. Small mammals will increase on the site if dense stands of juniper are thinned to allow the herbaceous cover and production to increase. The herbaceous species provides important cover and food for smaller mammals. Leaving some slash in windrows after thinning will also benefit a variety of birds and small mammals. Wood Products This ecological site can produce a variety of wood products, including fuelwood, biomass, and fence posts. Biomass estimates for each community are provided in the community descriptions. Lumber production is not commercially viable, because merchantable trees are too widely scattered. In the mature successional stage, there may be 3-10 posts per acre. If managing for wood products is the primary intended use of this site, it is recommended that areas at the higher end of the precipitation zone be considered, where this ecological site begins mixing with ponderosa pine. These higher elevation areas have faster growth rates, and rotation cycles. They also provide the best diversity of wood products, including fuelwood, posts, and possible lumber from the pinyon and ponderosa pines. Single-tree selection and two-step shelterwood harvesting methods are recommended for sustained stand health and productivity of these woodlands.

Pinyon nuts and acorns are another important product harvested from this site. Pinyon trees produce a seed crop every 4 to 7 years, starting at 25 years old. Nut yields can be as high as 300 lbs/ac in good years. Oak trees produce acorns every year. Recreation These areas provide excellent hunting, as well as bird watching and hiking opportunities. Water is not typically available on this site, or associated sites.

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STATE CORRELATION This site has not been correlated with other states.

INVENTORY DATA REFERENCES State County Sample Site Sample Date Sample Methods AZ Graham SCWP10 7/7/2016 Zig-Zag Method for tree data, 9.6 ft2 clipped plots for herbaceous production, Weight Unit Method for shrub and tree current year growth and biomass estimates, Dry Weight Rank for species composition.

REFERENCES Arnold, J. F., Jameson, D. A., & Reid, E. H. (1964). The Pinyon-Juniper type of Arizona: effects of grazing, fire, and tree control. Production Research Report, United States Department of Agriculture, (84). Bassett, Dick; Larson, Milo; Moir, Will. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. 2nd edition. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Variously paginated. [20308] Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. (2005). Long-term successional trends following western juniper cutting. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 58(5), 533-541. Bates, J. D., Miller, R. F., & Svejcar, T. J. (2000). Understory dynamics in cut and uncut western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 119-126. Brown, D. E., & Lowe, C. H. (1980). Biotic communities of the Southwest. General Technical Report, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, (RM-78). Butler, L., Cropper, J., Johnson, R., Norman, A., Peacock, G., Shaver, P., & Spaeth, K. (2003). National range and pasture handbook. United States department of agriculture, National resources conservation service. Chojnacky, D. C. (1992). Estimating volume and biomass for dryland oak species. Ecology and management of oak and associated woodlands: Perspectives in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, 155-161.

Clary, Warren P; September 1974; Response of Herbaceous Vegetation to Felling of Alligator Juniper; Journal of Range Management; Vol 27 No 5; pg 387-389

Collings, M. R., & Myrick, R. M. (1966). Effects of juniper and pinyon eradication on streamflow from Corduroy Creek Basin, Arizona (No. 491-B).

Davenport, D. W., Breshears, D. D., Wilcox, B. P., & Allen, C. D. (1998). Viewpoint: Sustainability of pinon- juniper ecosystems: A unifying perspective of soil erosion thresholds. Journal of Range Management, 231- 240.

Dowhower, S. L., Teague, W. R., Ansley, R. J., & Pinchak, W. E. (2001). Dry-weight-rank method assessment in heterogenous communities. Journal of Range Management, 71-76.

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Dwyer, D. D., & Pieper, R. D. (1967). Fire effects on blue grama-pinyon-juniper rangeland in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management Archives, 20(6), 359-362.

Ffolliott, P. F., & Gottfried, G. J. (2002). Dynamics of a pinyon-juniper stand in northern Arizona: a half- century history (p. 12). Fort Collins, CO, USA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Findley, J. S. (1975). Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press.

Fisher, J. T., Mexal, J. G., & Pieper, R. D. (1988). Pinyon-juniper woodlands of New Mexico: a biological and economic appraisal.

Flagstaff, A. Z. General Technical Report RM-258. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.

Gifford, Gerald F.; November 1982; Impact of Burning and Grazing on Soil Water Patterns in the Pinyon – Juniper Type; Journal of Range Management; Vol 36 No 6; Pg 697-699 Gillihan, S. W. (2006). Sharing the land with pinyon-juniper birds. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Gottfried, G. J., & Severson, K. E. (1993). Distribution and multiresource management of pinon-juniper woodlands in the southwestern United States. General technical report RM/(USA). Gottfried, G. J., Swetnam, T. W., Allen, C. D., Betancourt, J. L., & Chung-MacCoubrey, A. L. (1995). Pinyon- juniper woodlands. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE GENERAL TECHNICAL REPORT RM, 95-132. Jameson, D. A. (1971). Optimum stand selection for juniper control on southwestern woodland ranges. Journal of Range Management, 94-99.

Jameson, D. A., & Johnsen Jr, T. N. (1964). Ecology and control of alligator juniper. Weeds, 140-142. Johnsen Jr, T. N., & Dalen, R. S. (1990). Managing individual juniper and pinyon infestations with pelleted tebuthiuron or picloram. Journal of Range Management, 249-252. Lavin, Fred, Johnsen, T.N. Jr.; 1977; Species Adapted for Planting Arizona Pinyon -Juniper Woodland; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 6; Pg 410-415

Maingi, J. K. (1992). Specific gravity and estimated physical properties of emory oak in southeastern Arizona.

Mason, L. R., & Hutchings, S. S. (1967). Estimating foliage yields on Utah juniper from measurements of crown diameter. Journal of Range Management, 20(3), 161-166. Milchunas, D. G. (2006). Responses of plant communities to grazing in the southwestern United States. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Miles, P. D., & Smith, W. B. (2009). Specific gravity and other properties of wood and bark for 156 tree species found in North America (Vol. 38). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Miller, E. L., Meeuwig, R. O., & Budy, J. D. (1981). Biomass of singleleaf pinyon and Utah juniper (p. 18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station.

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Miller, R. F., & Wigand, P. E. (1994). Holocene changes in semiarid pinyon-juniper woodlands. BioScience, 44(7), 465-474.

Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Forestry Handbook, title 190, February 2004.

Pavek, Diane S. 1994. Quercus grisea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).

Pieper, R. D. (1990). Overstory-understory relations in pinyon-juniper woodlands in New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 413-415.

Scott, Virgil E., Boeker, Erwin L.; 1977; Responses of Merriam’s Turkey to Pinyon – Juniper Control; Journal of Range Management; Vol 30 No 3; Pg 220-223

Sedgwick, J. A. (1987). Avian habitat relationships in pinyon-juniper woodland. The Wilson Bulletin, 413- 431. Severson, K. E. (1986). Woody plant reestablishment in modified pinyon-juniper woodlands, New Mexico. Journal of Range Management, 438-442. Short, H. L., & McCulloch, C. Y. (1977). Managing pinyon-juniper ranges for wildlife. R. M. Forest (Ed.). Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture. Stuever, M. C., & Hayden, J. S. (1997). Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Vol. 2: Woodlands Tausch, R. J., Miller, R. F., Roundy, B. A., & Chambers, J. C. (2009). Pinon and juniper field guide: asking the right questions to select appropriate management actions.

Tirmenstein, D. 1999. Juniperus deppeana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ USDA-NRCS, I. Classifying, and Correlating Juniper and Pinyon Communities, to Soils in the Western United States, September 1997, Grazing Lands and Technology Institute, Ft. Worth, Texas. USDA-NRCS, National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH). 2017. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232. Waichler, W. S., Miller, R. F., & Doescher, P. S. (2001). Community characteristics of old-growth western juniper woodlands. Journal of Range Management, 518-527.

Williams, G., Gifford, G. F., & Coltharp, G. B. (1969). Infiltrometer Studies on Treated vs. Untreated Pinyon- Juniper Sites in Central Utah (Estudios con el Infiltrometro en Sitios de Pino-Enebro (Pinus juniperus) Tratados y no Tratados en la Parte Central de Utah). Journal of Range Management, 110-114.

Wood, M. K., & Scanlon, R. (1993). Occurrence and control of pinon pine, alligator juniper, and gray oak sprouts and seedlings following fuelwood harvest. General technical report RM (USA).

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RANGELAND HEALTH REFERENCE WORKSHEET Author(s)/participant(s): Steve Barker, Teresa Goseyun, Bob Hetzler

Contact for lead authors: NRCS CEAP Grazing Lands, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Forestry and Range Divisions

Date: 12/1/2016

MLRA: 038X; LRU 38.3 Ecological Site: Basalt Upland, Cobbly Clay Loam 20-24" P.Z.

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

1. Number and extent of rills: None present on the site. Perennial grass basal area is 2-10%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, rock cover and gravel cover is 30-50%. This cover slows runoff, promotes infiltration, and break up water flow energy and the ability to produce rills on the site. 2. Presence of water flow patterns: Water flow paths are less than 12 inches in length before encountering rock cover or plant bases. Perennial grass basal area is 2-10%, dominated by perennial grasses less than 12" apart, and gravel cover is 30-50%. These limit water flow paths. 3. Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: None present on the site. Plant and rock cover reduces the potential for soil erosion and pedestal formation.

4. Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): 2-10%. 5. Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: None present on the site. Shallow bedrock limits gully formation. 6. Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: None present on the site. Tree cover plus high density and canopy of perennial grass and cobbly surface is not conducive to wind erosion. 7. Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): Herbaceous litter travels less than 12 inches in water flow paths before being trapped by rock or plant bases.

8. Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values): Soil stability values range from 4-6.

9. Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color and thickness): Soil surface structure is granular with weak to moderate rupture resistance. Surfaces range from 3 to 4 inches thick and have colors average 7.5YR 4/3 moist.

10. Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff: Midgrasses >> short grasses > cool season grasses = annual forbs & grasses = trees & shrubs > perennial forbs. Rock cover, and basal area of perennial grasses is very conducive to slowing down water leaving the site.

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11. Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site): None present on the site. Slope and cobble cover limit use by grazing animals. 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: summer shortgrass>coniferous tree>summer perennial forb> summer midgrass • Sub-dominant: evergreen tree> summer annual forb • Other: spring midgrass, spring annual forb • Additional: spring shortgrass, spring grasslike, summer tallgrass, cacti 13. Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence): Very low plant mortality; approximately 1-2% of shortgrasses are dead. Less than 1 percent of woody species are dead. 14. Average percent litter cover is 40-65%. Litter depth averages 0.25 inches. 15. Expected annual production (this is TOTAL air-dry above-ground production, not just forage production): 1200 lbs/ac below average year, 1400 lbs/ac average year, 1700 lbs/ac above average year 16. Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). Yellow bluestem, yellow star thistle, red brome.

17. Perennial plant reproductive capability: Tree seed production is lost for 20-25 years after crown fires or mechanical thinning. Herbaceous species seed production and establishment declines in years with below average precipitation, and as canopy cover increases.

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