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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
ECOLOGICAL SITE DESCRIPTION
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ECOLOGICAL SITE CHARACTERISTICS
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Site Type: Rangeland
Site Name: Gyp Hills
/ Tiquilia hispidissima - Mahonia repens / Sporobolus nealleyi - Sporobolus airoides
( / hairy coldenia (crinklemat) - creeping mahonia / gyp dropseed - alkali sacaton )
Site ID: R070CY124NM
Major Land Resource Area: 070C - Central New Mexico Highlands
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Physiographic Features
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This site occurs on hillsides and on footslopes of higher mountains. Slopes range from 15 to 60 percent but average 20 to 30 percent. Aspect of slope varies but is not significant. Elevation ranges from 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level.
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| Land Form: |
(1) |
Hill |
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Elevation (feet): |
5000 |
7000 |
| Slope (percent): |
15 |
60 |
| Water Table Depth (inches): |
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| Flooding: |
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| Frequency: |
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| Duration: |
None |
None |
| Ponding: |
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| Depth (inches): |
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| Frequency: |
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| Duration: |
None |
None |
| Runoff Class: |
Negligible |
Medium |
| Aspect: |
No Influence on this site
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Climatic Features
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The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 16 inches. Variations of 5 inches, more or less, are not uncommon. Seventy-five percent of the precipitation falls from April to October. Much of the summer precipitation comes in the form of high-intensity, short-duration thunderstorms.
The average frost-free season ranges from 130 to 160 days in the CP-3 subland resource area and from 160 to 190 days in the WP-3 subland resource area.
Growing conditions favor warm-season perennial vegetation, however, late winter and late summer precipitation is also available for cool-season plant growth. Strong winds blow across these areas in the spring and can dry the soil profile rapidly during a critical period for cool-season plant growth.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site using 50% probability for freeze-free and frost-free seasons using 28.5 degrees F and 32.5 degrees F respectively.
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Frost-free period (days): |
131 |
173 |
| Freeze-free period (days): |
155 |
187 |
| Mean annual precipitation (inches): |
13.0 |
16.0 |
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| Monthly precipitation (inches) and temperature (°F): |
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Precip. Min. |
0.34 |
0.34 |
0.23 |
0.39 |
0.85 |
0.89 |
1.77 |
2.46 |
1.54 |
1.0 |
0.57 |
0.34 |
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| Precip. Max. |
0.92 |
0.81 |
0.98 |
0.96 |
1.61 |
1.62 |
2.75 |
3.22 |
2.26 |
1.51 |
1.02 |
1.16 |
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| Temp. Min. |
15.6 |
19.9 |
24.4 |
31.4 |
39.2 |
46.9 |
53.1 |
51.9 |
44.3 |
32.8 |
22.2 |
15.9 |
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| Temp. Max. |
42.1 |
52.9 |
59.7 |
68.9 |
77.7 |
87.1 |
88.5 |
85.7 |
80.4 |
70.5 |
57.5 |
49.3 |
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| Climate Stations: |
(1) 291918, Clines Corners 7 SE, NM. Period of record 1968 - 2000 |
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(2) 292096, Corona 11 SSW, NM. Period of record 1977 - 1992 |
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(3) 293060, Estancia, NM. Period of record 1914 - 2000 |
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(4) 293649, Gran Quivira Natl. Monument, NM. Period of record 1938 - 2000 |
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(5) 295965, Mountainair, NM. Period of record 1914 - 2000 |
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(6) 299405, Vaughn, NM. Period of record 1971 - 2000 |
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Influencing Water Features
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This site is not influenced by water form a wetland or stream.
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| Wetland Description: |
System |
Subsystem |
Class |
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(Cowardin System)
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None |
N/A |
N/A |
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Representative Soil Features
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The soils on this site are very shallow, well drained soils that formed on gypsum bedrock. Surface textures range from a sandy loam to a channery loam overlaying dense layers of soft or cemented gypsum material. These gypsum materials commonly outcrop to the surface as inclusions of raw gypsum-land, which are void of vegetation and not part of the ecological site. The soils have moderate permeability and water-holding capacity is very low. Water erosion hazard is high and wind erosion hazard is moderate.
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Predominant Parent Materials:
Kind: Marine deposits
Origin: Gypsum
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| Surface Texture: |
(1) Channery Sandy loam |
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(2) Very fine sandy loam |
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(3) Fine sandy loam |
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Subsurface Texture Group: Loamy
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Surface Fragments <=3" (% Cover): |
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| Surface Fragments > 3" (% Cover): |
15 |
35 |
| Subsurface Fragments <=3" (% Volume): |
15 |
35 |
| Subsurface Fragments > 3" (% Volume): |
15 |
35 |
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| Drainage Class: Well drained
To Well drained
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| Permeability Class: Moderately slow
To Moderately rapid
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Depth (inches): |
0 |
72 |
| Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): |
0 |
2 |
| Sodium Absorption Ratio: |
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| Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): |
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| Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): |
6.6 |
8.4 |
| Soil Reaction (0.01M CaCl2): |
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| Available Water Capacity (inches): |
0.0 |
3.0 |
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Plant Communities
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| Ecological Dynamics of the Site |
| Historic Climax Plant Community |
The aspect of this site is a grassland/shrub with a scattering of oneseed juniper. Forbs are scattered and make-up an important part of the potential natural plant community.
Other grasses that could appear include:
threeawn spp., ring muhly, curlyleaf muhly, tridens spp., and sand dropseed.
Other woody species include:
opuntia spp., skunkbush sumac, pale wolfberry, and pinyon.
Other forb species include:
penstemon, bladderpod, annual sunflowers, and buckwheat.
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| Historic Climax Plant Community Plant Species Composition: |
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| Annual Production by Plant Type: |
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Annual Production (lbs/AC) |
| Plant Type |
Low |
Representative Value |
High |
| Forb |
8 |
14 |
19 |
| Grass/Grasslike |
150 |
263 |
356 |
Total: |
158 |
277 |
375 |
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| Structure and Cover: |
Ground Cover (%)
| Vegetative Cover |
Non-Vegetative Cover |
| Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
Shrub/ Vine |
Tree |
Non-Vascular Plants |
Biological Crust |
Litter |
Surface Fragments > 1/4 & <= 3" |
Surface Fragments > 3" |
Bedrock |
Water |
Bare Ground |
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10 to 10
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3 to 3
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5 to 5
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60 to 60
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Plant Growth Curve:
Growth Curve Number: NM4324
Growth Curve Name: HCPC
Growth Curve Description: Mixed grassland/shrub w/ scattered oneseed juniper & forbs.
| Percent Production by Month |
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 0 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
15 |
25 |
25 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
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Ecological Site Interpretations
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Animal Community:
Habitat for Wildlife:
This site produces habitat which supports a resident animal community that is characterized by mule deer, coyote, bobcat, Ord’s kangaroo rat, white throated woodrat, sparrow hawk, red tailed hawk, scrub jay, common raven, great horned owl, chipping sparrow, collared lizard, desert short horned lizard, and black tailed rattlesnake.
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Plant Preference by Animal Kind:
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Hydrology Functions:
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydrologic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.
Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series-------------Hydrologic Group
Clovis-------------------------B
La Fonda-----------------------B
Palma--------------------------B
Tanbark------------------------C
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Recreational Uses:
This site has a limited potential for camping, picnicking and hiking. Due to its steep slopes, sparse vegetation, and its shallow, highly erodible soils, any activity, which would concentrate any soil disturbance, is not recommended. This site offers a varied and in some cases unusual aspect to the site.
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Wood Products:
This site has a very limited potential for harvest of posts and firewood from oneseed juniper.
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Other Products:
Grazing:
This site is suitable for grazing by all classes of livestock during all seasons of the year. Steep slopes may limit access on portions of the site. Due to the shallow highly erosive soils grazing must be carefully managed to prevent irreparable loss of productivity. Mismanagement of grazing leads to a decrease in the desirable forage plants such as alkali sacaton, black grama, bush muhly, the needlegrasses and sideoats grama, and an increase in undesirable forage plants such as gyp dropseed, threeawn spp., ring muhly, and hairy coldenia.
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Other Information:
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index-------------Ac/AUM
100 - 76-------------------7.6 – 9.8
75 – 51--------------------9.0 – 11.5
50 – 26--------------------10.5 – 16.0
25 – 0---------------------20.0+
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Supporting Information
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Associated Sites:
| Site Name |
Site ID |
Site Narrative |
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Similar Sites:
| Site Name |
Site ID |
Site Narrative |
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State Correlation:
This site has been correlated with the following states:
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Inventory Data References:
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Type Locality:
| State: |
NM |
| County: |
Catron |
| Township: |
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| Range: |
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| Section: |
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| General Legal Description: |
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| Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system: |
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| State: |
NM |
| County: |
Lincoln |
| Township: |
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| Range: |
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| Section: |
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| General Legal Description: |
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| Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system: |
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| State: |
NM |
| County: |
Sierra |
| Township: |
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| Range: |
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| Section: |
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| General Legal Description: |
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| Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system: |
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| State: |
NM |
| County: |
Socorro |
| Township: |
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| Range: |
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| Section: |
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| General Legal Description: |
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| Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system: |
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| State: |
NM |
| County: |
Torrance |
| Township: |
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| Range: |
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| Section: |
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| General Legal Description: |
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| Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system: |
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| State: |
NM |
| County: |
Valencia |
| Township: |
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| Range: |
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| Section: |
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| General Legal Description: |
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| Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system: |
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Relationship to Other Established Classifications:
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Other References:
Data collection for this site was done in conjunction with the progressive soil surveys within the Pecos-Canadian Plains and Valleys and the NM and Az. Plateaus and Mesas Major Land Resource Areas of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: Lincoln, Torrance, Socorro, Sierra, Socorro, Grant, Chaves, De Baca, Guadalupe, Lincoln, Sna Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance.
Characteristic Soils Are:
Tanbark
Other Soils included are:
Clovis, La Fonda, Palma
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Site Description Approval:
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| Author |
Date |
Approval |
Date |
| Don Sylvester |
5/25/1984 |
George Chavez |
12/17/2002 |
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Site Description Revision Approval:
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| Author |
Date |
Approval |
Date |
| John Tunberg |
4/22/2008 |
John Tunberg |
4/22/2008 |
| Christine Bishop |
11/27/2007 |
John Tunberg |
11/29/2007 |
| Elizabeth Wright |
7/5/2002 |
George Chavez |
12/17/2002 |
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Reference Sheet
Author(s)/participant(s):
Contact for lead author:
Date:
MLRA:
070C
Ecological Site:
Gyp Hills
R070CY124NM
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:
Annual Production,
Foliar Cover,
Biomass
Indicators. For each indicator, describe the potential for the site. Where
possible, (1) use numbers, (2) include expected range of values for above- and below-average years
for each community and natural disturbance regimes within the reference state, when
appropriate and (3) cite data. Continue descriptions on separate sheet.
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| 1. |
Number and extent of rills: |
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| 2. |
Presence of water flow patterns: |
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| 3. |
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes: |
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| 4. |
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, standing dead,
lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground): |
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| 5. |
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies: |
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| 6. |
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas: |
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| 7. |
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel): |
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| 8. |
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages -
most sites will show a range of values): |
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| 9. |
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type and strength of structure, and A-horizon color
and thickness): |
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| 10. |
Effect on plant community composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and
spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff: |
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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): |
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| 12. |
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground weight using
symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to) with dominants and
sub-dominants and "others" on separate lines:
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional: |
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| 13. |
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show
mortality or decadence): |
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| 14. |
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth (
inches): |
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| 15. |
Expected annual production (this is TOTAL above-ground production, not just forage production:
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| 16. |
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List Species
which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species
on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by
management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term
response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicator, we are
describing what in NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site: |
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| 17. |
Perennial plant reproductive capability: |
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Ecological Site Description
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