United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Ecological Site Interpretations
Animal Community:
This site provides habitats which support a resident animal community that is characterized by desert cottontail, spotted ground squirrel, Merriam’s kangaroo rat, cactus mouse, white-throated woodrat, gray fox, spotted skunk, roadrunner, Swainson’s hawk, white-necked raven, cactus wren, pyrrhuloxia, lark sparrow, mourning dove, scaled quail, leopard lizard, round-tailed horned lizard, prairie rattlesnake, marbled whiptail, and greater earless lizard. Where associated with limestone hills, mule deer utilize this site.

Where large woody shrubs occur, most resident birds and scissor-tailed flycatcher, morning dove, lark sparrow and Swainson’s hawk nest.
Plant Preference by Animal Kind:
Animal Kind: Livestock Cattle
Common Name Scientific Name Plant Part J F M A M J J A S O N D
cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis Entire plant U U U U U U P P D U U U
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P
black grama Bouteloua eriopoda Entire plant P P P D D D D D D D P P
blue grama Bouteloua gracilis Entire plant D D D D P P P P P D D D
hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta Entire plant D D D D P P P P P D D D
cassia Cassia Entire plant
javelina bush Condalia ericoides Entire plant U U U U U U U U U U U U
American tarwort Flourensia cernua Entire plant U U U U U U U U U U U U
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Leaves U U U U U T T U U U U U
creosote bush Larrea tridentata Leaves U U U U U U U U U U U U
bladderpod Lesquerella Entire plant D D D D
catclaw mimosa Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera Entire plant U U U U U U U U U U U U
bush muhly Muhlenbergia porteri Entire plant P P P P P P P P P P P P
pricklypear Opuntia Entire plant E E E E E E E E E E E E
mariola Parthenium incanum Entire plant
honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa Entire plant U U U U U U U U U U U U
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Entire plant U U U D D D D D D U U U
globemallow Sphaeralcea Entire plant D D D D D P P P
Legend:          P = Preferred     D = Desirable          U = Undesirable     N = Not consumed          E = Emergency     T = Toxic     X = Used,      but degree of utilization unknown

Hydrology Functions:
The runoff curve numbers are determined by field investigations using hydraulic cover conditions and hydrologic soil groups.

Hydrologic Interpretations
Soil Series-------- Hydrologic Group
Lozier------------- D
Potter------------- C
Tencee------------- D
Upton-------------- C
Kimbrough---------- D
Upton-------------- D
Ector-------------- D
Recreational Uses:
This site offers recreation potential for hiking, horseback riding, rock hunting, nature photography and bird hunting and birding. During years of abundant spring moisture, a colorful array of wild flowers is displayed during May and June. A few summer and fall flowers also occur.
Wood Products:
This site has no potential for wood production.
Other Products:
This site is suited for grazing by all kinds and classes of livestock during all seasons of the year. Missmanagement will cause a decrease in black grama, sideoats grama, and blue grama, bush muhly and New Mexico feathergrass. A corresponding increase in bare ground will occur. There will also be an increase in muhlys, fluffgrass, creosotebush, javalinabush, catclaw, and mesquite. This site will respond best to a system of management that rotates the season of use.
Other Information:
Guide to Suggested Initial Stocking Rate Acres per Animal Unit Month
Similarity Index-------- Ac/AUM
100 - 76---------------- 3.7 – 4.5
75 – 51----------------- 4.3 – 5.5
50 – 26----------------- 5.3 – 10.0
25 – 0------------------ 10.1 +

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