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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: Limestone Hills
Site ID: R070DY151NM
Major Land Resource Area: 070D - Southern Desert Foothills
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Physiographic Features
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This site occurs as hills, low mountains, and foot slopes of higher mountains. Slopes range from 15 to 75 percent and average 20 percent. Elevation ranges from 4,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level. This site is a complex of soils, fractured limestone aspect and degree of slope. Aspect and elevation are important in the determination of species composition and production.
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| Land Form: |
(1) |
Hill |
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(2) |
Mountain slope |
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Elevation (feet): |
4000 |
7000 |
| Slope (percent): |
15 |
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: |
High |
Very high |
| Aspect: |
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Climatic Features
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The climate of this area is “semi-arid continental.”
Annual average precipitation ranges from 11 to 19 inches. Variations of 5 inches, more or less, are not uncommon. Approximately 70 percent of the precipitation occurs from May through October. Most of the summer rain comes in the form of high-intensity, short- uration thunderstorms. Winter moisture is usually negligible.
Temperatures are characterized by distinct seasonal changes and large annual and diurnal temperature changes. The average annual temperature ranges from 55 degrees to 60 degrees, with extremes of 20 degrees below zero in the winter to 110 degrees in the summer not uncommon.
The average frost-free season is 170 to 189 days. The last killing frost is in early April and the first killing frost is in mid October.
Both temperature (especially south slope)and precipitation favor warm-season species. However, approximately 40 percent of the precipitation (and temperature on north slopes) is favorable to to cool season growth at the middle to higher elevations. This could allow the cool season plants to occupy a very important part of this complex plant community. Due to the shallow soil profile, vegetation responds well to light rains. Moisture can also be stored relatively deep in the seams and cracks of fractured limestone. This moisture is also available for plant use. Slope aspect is also important when the strong winds from the west and southwest blow. These winds, which blow from February to June, cause the soil to dry during the critical growth stage for many cool season species. The north slopes are somewhat protected and do not dry as fast as the south slopes.
Climate data was obtained from http://www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu/summary/climsmnm.html web site.
Data interpreted utilizing NM NRCS Climate Summarizer spreadsheet.
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Frost-free period (days): |
170 |
189 |
| Freeze-free period (days): |
192 |
211 |
| Mean annual precipitation (inches): |
11.0 |
19.0 |
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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. |
0.08 |
0.12 |
0.08 |
0.07 |
0.38 |
0.45 |
1.13 |
1.5 |
0.85 |
0.34 |
0.01 |
0.08 |
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| Precip. Max. |
0.78 |
0.82 |
0.75 |
0.85 |
1.98 |
2.11 |
3.49 |
3.97 |
3.8 |
2.07 |
0.87 |
0.86 |
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| Temp. Min. |
24.5 |
27.0 |
31.9 |
38.9 |
47.3 |
55.5 |
59.5 |
58.4 |
52.0 |
42.1 |
31.0 |
24.9 |
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| Temp. Max. |
55.6 |
59.5 |
65.7 |
73.6 |
80.8 |
88.6 |
88.3 |
86.4 |
81.2 |
73.9 |
64.0 |
56.6 |
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| Climate Stations: |
(1) 292865, Elk 2E. Period of record 1895 - 2007 |
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(2) 294112, Hope. Period of record 1919 - 2007 |
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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 on this site are typically shallow over limestone. Pockets of deeper soils can exist usually occurring along seams and cracks in the fractured limestone. The soils are well drained. Permeability is moderate to moderately slow. Water-holding capacity is low except at seams and cracks in the limestone bedrock. Surface textures are cobbly loams, stony or rocky loams and cobbly silt loams. The soils of this site are over fractured limestone bedrock.
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Predominant Parent Materials:
Kind: Marine deposits
Origin: Limestone
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| Surface Texture: |
(1) Cobbly Loam |
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Subsurface Texture Group:
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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: Moderately slow
To Moderate
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Minimum |
Maximum |
| Depth (inches): |
4 |
20 |
| Electrical Conductivity (mmhos/cm): |
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| Sodium Absorption Ratio: |
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| Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (percent): |
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| Soil Reaction (1:1 Water): |
7.9 |
8.4 |
| Soil Reaction (0.01M CaCl2): |
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| Available Water Capacity (inches): |
3.0 |
6.0 |
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Plant Communities
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| Ecological Dynamics of the Site |
Overview:
The Limestone Hills site is associated with Swale, Very shallow, and Shallow sites. Swale sites often dissect the lower footslopes of Limestone Hills. Very Shallow and Shallow sites can occur as upland plains adjacent to, but topographically lower than Limestone Hills. The historic plant community of Limestone Hills has the aspect of a Grass/Shrub/Succulent mix. Grasses are the dominant component followed by shrubs and succulents. Forbs are the minor component, but can increase significantly during years of abundant rainfall. Slope-aspect and elevation play an important role in determining plant community composition and production. North aspects and higher elevations typically have more cool season grasses, juniper, piñon, and oak. South aspects have more forbs, succulents, and desert shrubs. Dispersal of shrub/succulent seed, resource competition, loss of grass cover, and reduced fire frequency are reported to be factors that may facilitate the transition to a Shrub/Succulent-Dominated state.
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| Historic Climax Plant Community |
Grass/Shrub/Succulent-Mix:
Sideoats grama is typically the dominant grass species of the historic plant community. Blue grama, black grama, curlyleaf muhly, and Metcalf muhly are sub-dominants. North aspects and higher elevations exhibit higher densities of cool season grasses, such as bottlebrush squirreltail, western wheatgrass, and needlegrass species. This site produces a wide variety of shrubs/succulent species. Juniper, piñon, and oaks are more common on north aspects and higher elevations, while catclaw mimosa is typically found on south-facing slopes or lower elevations. Succulents common to this site include yucca, sacahuista, cholla, pricklypear, sotol, lechuguilla, and agave. Most succulents seem to be better adapted to the warmer south and west-facing slopes and lower elevations. Sacahuista, however, is more tolerant of cooler temperatures and higher elevations.1 Continuous heavy grazing by livestock will cause an increase in threeawns, tridens, and ring muhly. At lower elevations threeawns and tridens may become sub-dominant to grama grasses. At higher elevations blue grama may come to dominate with ring muhly as the sub-dominant. Dispersal of shrub and succulent seed, resource competition, loss of grass cover, and fire suppression may initiate the transition to a state dominated by shrubs/succulents.
Diagnosis:
Grass cover is fairly uniform, but rock fragments and limestone outcrops make up a large percent of the total ground cover. Sideoats grama is typically the dominant grass species. Shrubs/succulents are common with canopy cover averaging 15-20%.
Other grasses which may appear on this site include:
hairy grama, ring muhly, Hall’s panicum,
wolftail, western wheatgrass, bottlebrush squirreltail, silver bluestem, little bluestem, and plains bristlegrass. Needlegrasses may occur on favored north slopes.
Other shrubs that may appear include:
cactus spp., algerita, dalea spp., sotol, juniper, pinyon, oak spp., winterfat, Apacheplume, wolfberry, century plant, lechuquilla, fourwing saltbush,
ceanothus, allthorn, and brickelbush.
Other forbs that may appear include:
pricklyleaf dogweed, groundsel spp., globemallow spp., wildbuckwheat spp., verbena spp., desert holly, wooly Indianwheat, fiddleneck, Indian paintbrush, phlox spp., and penstemon spp.
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MLRA 70 CP4 Limestone Hills
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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 |
70 |
123 |
175 |
| Grass/Grasslike |
406 |
711 |
1015 |
| Shrub/Vine |
245 |
429 |
613 |
Total: |
721 |
1263 |
1803 |
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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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10 to 10
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10 to 15
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10 to 18
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Plant Growth Curve:
Growth Curve Number: NM4601
Growth Curve Name: HCPC
Growth Curve Description: A mixed mid/tall, warm/cool-season grassland with a major shrub, half-shrub and forb component.
| 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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| Shrub/Succulent-Dominated |
Additional States:
Shrub/Succulent-Dominated:
This state is characterized by the predominance of shrubs and/or succulents, with perennial grasses as the subordinate component. Juniper may dominate at midto higher elevations. Pinchot juniper has a limited distribution in New Mexico and is typically the dominant in the CP-4 resource unit at mid-elevations in the Guadalupe Mountains. Oneseed and alligator juniper have a wider distribution and may dominate a mid-to higher elevations on Limestone Hills throughout most of CP-4. At lower elevations, catclaw mimosa may dominate in localized areas, often forming dense thickets along headers and drainageways. Blue grama is
often the primary grass species associated with increased densities of juniper, while threeawns, tridens, hairy grama, and black grama are more strongly associated with catclaw mimosa. Sotol, agave species, sacahuista, or cholla may become the dominant succulent. Sotol and agave are often co-dominant in localized areas, usually on south and west aspects along side slopes of hills.
It may be that local dominance by sotol and or agave is natural and due to their adaptability on the shallower rocky limestone soils. Sacahuista is better adapted to the cooler north and east aspects and may dominate with sideoats and curlyleaf muhly as subordinate species. On the slightly deeper soils of ridge tops and benches historically overgrazed by sheep, cholla may be the dominant species with mat muhly occurring as a sub-dominant.
Diagnosis: Shrubs, and/or succulents are found at increased densities relative to the grass/shrub/succulent mix. Grass cover is variable ranging from relatively uniform to patchy with frequent areas of bare soil present.
Transition to Shrub/Succulent-Dominated (1a) Transitions to a Shrub/Succulent-Dominated state may occur as a result of seed dispersal, resource competition between shrubs and grasses, loss of grass cover, and a decrease in natural fire frequencies. wildlife, livestock, water, and wind may all act as dispersal agents for many of the shrubs and succulents. Competition for resources (especially soil moisture) may lead to the decline of grasses, and an increase in shrubs by providing a competition-free area for seedling establishment.2 Competition between grasses and succulents seems to be less important. Research has indicated that removal of cholla and prickly pear does not result in significant increases in grass production, 3, 4, 5 indicating low direct competition between some succulents and herbaceous understory plants. Overgrazing and/or drought can reduce grass cover, provide shrubs with a competitive advantage, and reduce fine fuels necessary to carry fire. Historically fire may have played a role in limiting the density of succulents and shrubs by reducing the number of young plants, and in cases of more severe fire, killing mature plants.6 Fire may also cause mortality by weakening the plants and making them more susceptible to damage by insects and rodents.
Key indicators of approach to transition:
* Decrease or change in composition or distribution of grass cover.
* Increase in size and frequency of bare patches.
* Increase in amount of shrub/succulent seedlings.
Transition back to Grass/Shrub/Succulent-Mix (1b) Chemical control is an effective means of controlling many shrubs and succulents. Prescribed fire may be a suitable option depending on target species and the amount of fine fuels available to carry fire. Species such as oneseed juniper and cholla have been controlled successfully with fire. Pinchot juniper, alligator juniper, catclaw mimosa and sacahuista are not as susceptible due to their ability to resprout following fire. Prescribed grazing will help ensure proper forage utilization, sustain grass cover, and retard the establishment of shrubs.
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Ecological Site Interpretations
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Animal Community:
This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community characterized by mule deer, desert cottontail, rock squirrel, Botta’s pocket gopher, cactus mouse, white-throated woodrat, ringtail, bobcat, golden eagle, Swainson’s hawk, rock wren, brown towhee, scaled quail, collared lizard, tree lizard, spadefoot toad, red-spotted toad, rock rattlesnake, mountain patchnosed snake.
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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
Deama---------------------------C
Ector---------------------------C
Holloman Variant----------------C
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Recreational Uses:
This site offers recreation potential for
hiking, horseback riding, nature observation, photography, rock hunting, and hunting for mule deer, antelope, quail, dove and varmints. Trapping for fur-bearing animals is good. The variety of shrubs and forbs adds to the natural beauty of the area during times of adequate moisture.
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Wood Products:
Juniper and pinyon offer some supply of fuelwood and fencing material. However, due to the shallow soil depth, great care must be taken in harvesting this material.
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Other Products:
Grazing:
This site is suited for grazing by all kinds and classes of livestock, during all seasons of the year, and is best utilized by a combination of grazing animals. South slopes usually receive more intensive use during the spring, due to early green-up. The north slopes receive more intensive use during the summer months. This site provides an abundance of high quality browse species to compliment the grass species. The vegetation of this site responds well to planned deferment periods. A planned system of grazing, which rotates the season of use, will allow all the vegetation of this site to increase in vigor and production. This will also help to control invasion of undesirable species. Under retrogression, this site will show an increase in woody plants, at higher elevations annuals and grasses like ring muhly, threeawn spp., and dropseed spp. The use of goats can help control the invasion of woody plants Predator control should be considered when grazing this site with sheep or goat or during calving season.
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Other Information:
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index----------Ac/AUM
100 - 76-----------------2.0 – 4.0
75 – 51------------------3.5 – 5.0
50 – 26------------------4.8 – 8.0
25 – 0-------------------11.0+
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Supporting Information
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Associated Sites:
| Site Name |
Site ID |
Site Narrative |
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R070XD152NM |
Shallow sites can occur as upland plains adjacent to the lower footslopes of Limestone Hills. |
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R070XD154NM |
Swale sites often dissect the lower footslopes of Limestone Hills. |
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R070XD158NM |
Very Shallow sites can occur as upland plains adjacent to the lower footslopes of Limestone Hills. |
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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:
Data collection for this site was done in
conjunction with the progressive soil surveys
within the Pecos-Canadian Plains and Valleys Major Land Resource Area of New Mexico (MLRA 70).
This site has been mapped and correlated with soils in the following soil surveys:
Otero, Eddy, Chaves, Lincoln
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Type Locality:
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Relationship to Other Established Classifications:
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Other References:
References
1. Gehlbach, F.R. 1967. Vegetation of the Guadalupe Escarpment, New Mexico-Texas.
Ecology. 48(3): 404-419.
2. Johnsen, T. N., Jr. 1962. One-seeded juniper invasion of northern Arizona grasslands.
Ecological Monographs. 32:187-207.
3. Kunst, C. R., R. E. Sosebee, and M. J. Dumesnil. 1988. Herbicidal control of cholla.
Society of range Management. Abstract Papers. 41: 67.
4. Martin, S. C., J. L. Thames, and E. B. Fish. 1974. Changes in cactus numbers and herbage production.
Prog. Agric. Ariz. 26: 3-6.
5. Pieper, R. D. 1971. Blue grama vegetation responds inconsistently to cholla cactus control.
Journal of Range Management. 24: 52-54
6. Wright, H.A., and A.W. Bailey. 1982. Fire ecology: United States and southern Canada.
New York: John Wiley and Sons. 501p.
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Site Description Approval:
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| Author |
Date |
Approval |
Date |
| Don Sylvester |
2/2/1982 |
Donald H. Fulton |
3/3/1982 |
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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 |
| David Trujillo |
10/29/2003 |
George Chavez |
10/31/2003 |
| Elizabeth Wright |
7/10/2002 |
George Chavez |
10/31/2003 |
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Reference Sheet
Author(s)/participant(s):
Contact for lead author:
Date:
MLRA:
070D
Ecological Site:
Limestone Hills
R070DY151NM
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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