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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: Subalpine Grassland
/ Ribes - Symphoricarpos albus / Bromus marginatus - Festuca thurberi
( / currant - snowberry (common) / mountain brome - Thurber fescue )
Site ID: R048AY001NM
Major Land Resource Area: 048A - Southern Rocky Mountains
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Physiographic Features
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This site takes in mountain parks and other open grasslands generally within the spruce-fir zone. In some places it is interspersed with aspen groves. This site is located near timberline extending down to the ponderosa pine zone. Topography is mostly rolling to moderate slopes, but some areas are steep. Slopes range up to 75 percent but are between 20 to 40 percent. Slope is not a determining factor within the site itself, although it has some effect on vegetation. The exposure is mainly southerly however, it can occur on the flatter north-facing slopes. Elevation ranges from 8,000 feet to near timberline, which is approximately 11,800 feet above sea level.
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| Land Form: |
(1) |
Mountain slope |
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(2) |
Mountain slope |
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Elevation (feet): |
8000 |
11800 |
| Slope (percent): |
20 |
75 |
| 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: |
Medium |
High |
| Aspect: |
North
South
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Climatic Features
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Average annual precipitation for this site varies from 20 to 30 inches. The annual amount received may fluctuate widely from year to year. Winter snowfall is an important feature of the climate of this site. During some winters, starting ordinarily in December and lasting through March, winter storms may cause accumulations up to 10 feet or more on higher portions of this site. Such accumulations lying at the headwaters of drainages represent the moisture reservoir for lower lying valleys for the ensuing summer season. Winter precipitation furnishes approximately 50 percent of the total annual amount received. June is a dry month on much of the site, but in near normal year, soil moisture from snowmelt carries over until summer rains begin. Summer precipitation occurs with the advent of cumulonimbus cloud formations during July and August. Convection currents cause this cloud formation during mid-day and by late afternoon, violent torrential thunderstorms may occur. These storms may be brief and have varied intensity. Frequency of the currents may largely influence the production of range forage on this site.
The mean air temperature of this site ranges from well below zero to approximately 55 degrees F. The frost-free period extends from 70 to 90 days. The last killing frost occurs approximately June 15th. The date of the first killing frost is September 15th.
Evaporation is relatively low on this site, and winds may be of high velocity. The ground is well covered by snow during the coldest weather, and snowmelt is relatively late. The typical plant community seems to be associated with depth and duration of snowpack. Forage plants must withstand grazing pressure and provide for storage of carbohydrates during the period of June 15th through September 15th. The advantage of the high precipitation amounts is offset on this site by the extreme short growing season.
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): |
103 |
144 |
| Freeze-free period (days): |
127 |
169 |
| Mean annual precipitation (inches): |
15.0 |
30.0 |
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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. |
0.32 |
0.33 |
0.62 |
0.81 |
1.12 |
1.26 |
2.68 |
2.87 |
1.63 |
1.05 |
0.56 |
0.41 |
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| Precip. Max. |
0.88 |
1.13 |
1.79 |
1.71 |
2.0 |
2.27 |
4.24 |
4.48 |
1.92 |
1.64 |
1.15 |
1.06 |
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| Temp. Min. |
14.2 |
16.7 |
20.4 |
25.6 |
33.3 |
40.6 |
44.9 |
44.0 |
38.1 |
29.2 |
20.3 |
14.5 |
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| Temp. Max. |
46.8 |
50.0 |
55.7 |
63.6 |
72.7 |
82.4 |
84.9 |
81.8 |
76.8 |
67.7 |
55.6 |
48.7 |
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| Climate Stations: |
(1) 291813, Cimarron4SW, NM. Period of record 1904 - 2001 |
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(2) 293488, Gascon, NM. Period of record 1953 - 2001 |
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(3) 296275, Ocate, NM. Period of record 1960 - 2001 |
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(4) 296676, Pecos Ranger Station, NM. Period of record 1916 - 2001 |
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Influencing Water Features
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This site is not influenced by water from 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 are well drained, shallow to moderately deep. The surface texture is loam, clay loam, silty loam, stony loam or gravelly loam. The subsoil and substratum are clay, cobbly clay, gravelly clay loam and cobbly loam. There may be large numbers of rock fragments throughout the profile. The soils have moderate to moderately slow permeability. Runoff is moderate. Available water-holding capacity is low to medium. The effective rooting depth is 20 inches or more.
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Predominant Parent Materials:
Kind: Colluvium
Origin:
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| Surface Texture: |
(1) Cobbly Silt loam |
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(2) Gravelly Loam |
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(3) Stony Clay loam |
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Subsurface Texture Group: Clayey
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Surface Fragments <=3" (% Cover): |
15 |
35 |
| 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: Impermeable
To Moderately slow
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Depth (inches): |
10 |
72 |
| Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): |
0 |
2 |
| Sodium Absorption Ratio: |
0 |
1 |
| Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): |
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| Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): |
5.6 |
8.4 |
| Soil Reaction (0.01M CaCl2): |
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| Available Water Capacity (inches): |
3.0 |
9.0 |
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Plant Communities
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| Ecological Dynamics of the Site |
| Historic Climax Plant Community |
This site is dominated by cool-season grasses and has a large variety of both mid-grasses and tall grasses. Grasses make up approximately 75 percent of the composition of this site. Forbs are showy when in bloom and may make up as much as 15 percent of the annual yield. Shrubs are a minor component of the plant community and are scattered throughout the site. In some places this site is interspersed with aspen growth. Tree species associated with this site are mainly aspen and they make up less than 2 percent cover.
Other species that could appear include: timothy, slender wheatgrass, big bluestem, spike muhly, sheep fescue, nodding brome, pinegrass, blue grama, meadow barley, vetch, peavine and valerian.
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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 |
120 |
180 |
240 |
| Grass/Grasslike |
600 |
900 |
1200 |
Total: |
720 |
1080 |
1440 |
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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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5 to 5
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2 to 2
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25 to 25
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15 to 15
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Plant Growth Curve:
Growth Curve Number: NM3101
Growth Curve Name: HCPC
Growth Curve Description: Mixed cool-season mid and tall grasses with minor components of forbs and shrubs.
| Percent Production by Month |
| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 0 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
10 |
25 |
30 |
12 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
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Ecological Site Interpretations
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Animal Community:
Habitat for Wildlife:
This site provides habitats, which support a resident animal community that is characterized by yellow-bellied marmot, northern pocket gopher, montane vole and least chipmunk. Elk and mule deer feed in these sites during late spring. The blue grouse will nest around the margins of these sites and bring young broods to feed on insects occurring on the herbaceous vegetation. This site provides habitat for elk and deer for summer use and for rabbits.
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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
Hillery---------------------------C
Penitente-------------------------D
Raton-----------------------------D
Wellsville------------------------B
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Recreational Uses:
This site offers recreation potential for hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, nature observations, winter sports, hunting for elk and deer and photography of wildflowers. During the spring, forbs are showy when in bloom and display a colorful array of wildflowers during July and August.
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Wood Products:
This site produces no commercial wood products. The site occurs as an intermixture with timberstands. Timber species adjoining this site include the following: Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, blue spruce, white fir, bristlecone pine and aspen.
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Other Products:
Grazing:
Approximately 85 percent of the annual herbage yield are from plants, which furnish forage for grazing animals. Elk extensively uses this site. This site can be used by all classes of livestock during the period from June 15th to September 15th, and this also represents the principal growing season. Due to the steep slopes and short grazing season, yearling calves are better suited than mature cows with calves. Grazing by sheep is also favored due to the site’s potential to produce forbs. To reduce spot grazing and grazing of the flatter slopes, herding of all classes of livestock is highly desirable. Continuous grazing during the entire season will cause mountain brome, Thurber fescue, mountain muhly, Arizona fescue and tufted hairgrass to decline and eventually disappear. Species most likely to invade this site or increase from trace amounts as the plant community deteriorates are Kentucky bluegrass, dandelions, rabbitbrush, cinquefoil and annual forbs. In some places aspen may invade. There may be a substantial increase in species such as lupine, yarrow, fringed sagewort or snowbush. In some places big or silver sagebrush may become dominant. Kentucky bluegrass, Letterman needlegrass or sheep fescue usually become the main grasses as deterioration continues. Under sheep use, Thurber fescue may hold its own or increase for a time while many forbs decrease. To maintain or improve on a healthy well-balanced plant community, grazing of domestic livestock should be delayed until soils are firm from the winter snows and when the desirable plants have had the opportunity to make good growth. Rapid growth of plants in the spring may temporarily deplete food reserves. Deferring grazing until the plants have had an opportunity to restore this food supply is advisable. This, coupled with a system of deferred grazing, which varies the time of grazing in a pasture during successive years, will allow for maximum forage production.
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Other Information:
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index----------------Ac/AUM
100 - 76-----------------------2.1 – 3.8
75 – 51------------------------2.4 – 4.4
50 – 26------------------------3.6 - 6.7
25 – 0-------------------------6.7+
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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: |
Colfax |
| 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: |
Mora |
| 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: |
Santa Fe |
| 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: |
Taos |
| 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 Southern Rocky Mountains 48 Major Land Resource Area of New Mexico. This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys: Colfax, Taos, Mora, San Miguel, and Santa Fe.
Characteristic Soils Are:
Hillery, Raton, Wellsville, Croftshaw, and Ess
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Site Description Approval:
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| Author |
Date |
Approval |
Date |
| Don Sylvester |
9/1/1978 |
George Chavez |
2/12/2003 |
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Site Description Revision Approval:
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| Author |
Date |
Approval |
Date |
| Christine Bishop |
11/27/2007 |
John Tunberg |
11/29/2007 |
| Elizabeth Wright |
9/16/2002 |
George Chavez |
2/12/2003 |
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Reference Sheet
Author(s)/participant(s):
Contact for lead author:
Date:
MLRA:
048A
Ecological Site:
Subalpine Grassland
R048AY001NM
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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