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Ecological site R028AY010UT

Semiwet Saline Meadow

Last updated: 5/02/2025
Accessed: 10/19/2025

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General information

Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.

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Figure 1. Mapped extent

Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 028A–Ancient Lake Bonneville

MLRA 28A occurs in Utah (82 percent), Nevada (16 percent), and Idaho (2 percent). It encompasses approximately 36,775 square miles (95,246 square kilometers). A large area west and southwest of Great Salt Lake is a salty playa. This area is the farthest eastern extent of the Great Basin Section of the Basin and Range Province of the Intermontane Plateaus. It is an area of nearly level basins between widely separated mountain ranges trending north to south. The basins are bordered by long, gently sloping alluvial fans. The mountains are uplifted fault blocks with steep side slopes. Most of the valleys are closed basins containing sinks or playa lakes. Elevation ranges from 3,950 to 6,560 feet (1,204 to 2000 meters) in the basins and from 6,560 to 11,150 feet (1996 to 3398 meters) in the mountains. Much of the MLRA has alluvial valley fill and playa lakebed deposits at the surface from pluvial Lake Bonneville, which dominated this MLRA 13,000 years ago. A level line of remnant lake terraces on some mountain slopes indicates the former extent of this glacial lake. The Great Salt Lake is what remains of the pluvial lake.

Mountains in the interior of this MLRA consist of tilted blocks of marine sediments from Cambrian to Mississippian age with scattered outcrops of Tertiary continental sediments and volcanic rocks. The average annual precipitation is 5 to 12 inches (13 to 30 cm) in the valleys and ranges up to 49 inches (124 cm) in the mountains. Most of the rainfall in the southern LRU occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season (April through September). The driest period is from midsummer to early autumn in the northern LRU. Precipitation in winter typically occurs as snow. The average annual temperature is 39 to 53 °F (4 to 12 °C). The freeze-free period averages 165 days and ranges from 110 to 215 days, decreasing in length with increasing elevation. The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. Soils are dominantly in the mesic or frigid soil temperature regime, aridic or xeric soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. The soils are generally well drained, loamy or loamy-skeletal, and very deep.

LRU notes

The Salt Desert/Wetland LRU consists of all the run-in ecological sites. Run-in sites occur in landform positions that receive additional moisture either through overland flow or subsurface water flow. Typical landforms are basin floors, lake plains, low lake terraces, depressional areas, drainageways, and flood plains. Sites within this LRU typically have water table depths of less than 60 inches (152 cm). Wetland plants, pickleweed (Salicornia sp.) and/or greasewood (Sarcorbatus vermiculatus) are dominant in the plant communities.

Classification relationships

General Legal Description: SWA-C290 Photo 1B-5-014

Modal Soils: Airport – fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Natraquolls

Ecological site concept

The Semiwet Saline Meadow ecological site occurs on flood plains and relic levees where the water table is lower, between 20 and 40 inches from the soil surface. It occurs on low slopes of less than 2 percent. The Semiwet Saline Meadow site is flooded rarely (1 to 100 times every 100 years) and floods for less than 7 days. The site is influenced by salts and the surface soil is strongly to very saline. The plant community is comprised of mainly of inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), sedges (Carex sp.), and black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus).

The Semiwet Saline Meadow site was developed from soils that are no longer correlated to the current site. The soils that were used were Airport which is now correlated to Alkali Bottom and Wet Saline Meadow, Arave which is now correlated to Wet Saline Meadow and Alkali Bottom, and Benjamin which is now correlated to Semiwet Fresh Meadow and Alkali Bottom. The current correlated soils are in the Sevier River valley and are correlated to only flood plain soils. This site is similar to R028AY001ID, Semiwet Saline Meadow. These two sites should be further evaluated for combining. There are other locations that should or could be correlated to the Semiwet Saline Meadow, and should be considered when update projects are planned. The Semiwet Saline Meadow site also has overlap of concepts with the Alkali Bottom site. There is no supporting data for this site. The State and Transition model used for this site was developed by Idaho (R028AY001ID).

Associated sites

R028AY012UT	Semiwet Fresh Meadow The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site may occur in less saline soils.
R028AY022UT	Wet Fresh Streambank The Wet Fresh Streambank site may occur along water courses in wetter soils, adjacent to the Semiwet Saline Meadow site.
R028AY020UT	Wet Fresh Meadow The Wet Fresh Meadow site may occur in wetter, less saline soils.

R028AY012UT

Semiwet Fresh Meadow

The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site may occur in less saline soils.

R028AY022UT

Wet Fresh Streambank

The Wet Fresh Streambank site may occur along water courses in wetter soils, adjacent to the Semiwet Saline Meadow site.

R028AY020UT

Wet Fresh Meadow

The Wet Fresh Meadow site may occur in wetter, less saline soils.

Similar sites

R028AY001ID	SEMIWET SALINE MEADOW This is a similar site developed in Idaho's portion of MLRA 28A.
R028AY001UT	Alkali Bottom (Alkali Sacaton) The Alkali Bottom site has a similar plant community and is difficult to distinguish. Additional field work is needed to address this issue.

R028AY001ID

SEMIWET SALINE MEADOW

This is a similar site developed in Idaho's portion of MLRA 28A.

R028AY001UT

Alkali Bottom (Alkali Sacaton)

The Alkali Bottom site has a similar plant community and is difficult to distinguish. Additional field work is needed to address this issue.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Sarcobatus vermiculatus (2) Ericameria nauseosa
Herbaceous	(1) Distichlis spicata (2) Carex praegracilis

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Physiographic features

The Semiwet Saline Meadow site occurs on flood plains and relict levees. It has a water table between 20 and 40 inches below the soil surface. It occurs on low slopes at elevations between 5000 and 5310 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Flood plain (2) Levee
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	Very rare to rare
Elevation	5,000 – 5,310 ft
Slope	2%
Water table depth	20 – 40 in

Climatic features

The climate is cold and snowy in the winter and warm and dry in the summer. The average annual precipitation is 9 inches. Approximately 70 percent comes as rain from March through October. On the average, June through September are the driest months and March through May are the wettest months.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	87-89 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	125-128 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	9-10 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	87-89 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	124-129 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	9-11 in
Frost-free period (average)	88 days
Freeze-free period (average)	127 days
Precipitation total (average)	10 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) SALINA [USC00427557], Salina, UT
(2) RICHFIELD RADIO KSVC [USC00427260], Richfield, UT

Influencing water features

The Semiwet Saline Meadow site primarily occurs on flood plains and relic levees. The flood plains can be briefly flooded 1 to 5 times recurring every 100 years. The primary water influence on this site is ground water. The water table is between 20 and 40 inches below the soil surface.

Soil features

Characteristic soils in the Semiwet Saline Meadow site are somewhat poorly drained. They formed in loamy alluvium derived mainly from sedimentary rock. Moderate and strong alkali and salt concentrations and a fluctuating moderately deep (20 to 40 inches) water table characterize the soils. Additional water is received from runoff. Profile textures range within the loamy to clayey classes. Clay and silty clay are most common. Loamy fine sand will also occur. Surface texture is very fine sandy loam, loam, or clay loam. Permeability is slow. Water is available for year long plant growth.

Average annual soil loss in potential is approximately 0.1 tons/acre.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium – sedimentary rock
Surface texture	(1) Loam (2) Clay loam (3) Very fine sandy loam
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Slow to moderate
Soil depth	60 in
Available water capacity (Depth not specified)	0.8 – 6.4 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (Depth not specified)	1 – 25%
Electrical conductivity (Depth not specified)	4 – 32 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (Depth not specified)	5 – 12
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (Depth not specified)	7.9 – 9

Ecological dynamics

The dominant visual aspect of the Semiwet Saline Meadow site is black greasewood and salt and alkali tolerant perennial grasses in the understory. The amount and distribution of the understory grasses is quite variable and is dependent upon the degree of salinity and alkalinity. As ecological condition deteriorates due to overgrazing, the more palatable plants decrease. They will be replaced by greasewood and rabbitbrush. If this situation continues, the plant community will be opened up to invasion by other species, erosion, and a drying of the site.

Influence of fire:
In the absence of normal fire frequency, black greasewood and Gardner saltbush increases. Grasses and forbs decrease as shrubs increase. When fire frequency is greater than historic levels, the top growth of black greasewood and Gardner saltbush is reduced significantly. The reduction is temporary however, since both shrubs re-sprout after light to moderate intensity fires. Root-sprouting shrubs such as gray rabbitbrush and horsebrush will increase after fire.

Influence of improper grazing management:
Season-long grazing can be very detrimental to the Semiwet Saline Meadow site. Excessive utilization is also detrimental. This type of management leads to reduced vigor of the bunchgrasses. With reduced vigor, recruitment of these species declines. As these species decline, the plant community becomes susceptible to an increase in black greasewood, inland saltgrass, and noxious and invasive weeds.

Weather influences:
Above normal precipitation in April, May, and June increases total annual production of the plant community. These weather patterns can also increase viable seed production of desirable species to provide for recruitment. Abnormally high amounts of winter and/or spring precipitation can cause increased run-on and ponding on the Semiwet Saline Meadow site. This can lead to reduced production and mortality if the ponding persists for an extended period of time.

Likewise, below normal precipitation during these spring months can reduce total annual production and be detrimental to good seed production. Overall plant composition is normally not effected when perennials have good vigor.

Below normal temperatures in the spring can have an adverse impact on total production regardless of the precipitation. A hard, early freeze can kill some plants occasionally.

Prolonged drought adversely affects this plant community in several ways. Vigor, recruitment, and production are usually reduced. Mortality can occur. Prolonged drought can lead to changes in fire frequency.

Influence of insects and disease:
An outbreak of a particular insect is usually influenced by weather but no specific data for this site is available. Mormon cricket and grasshopper outbreaks occur periodically. Outbreaks seldom cause plant mortality since defoliation of the plant occurs only once during the year of the outbreak.

Influence of noxious and invasive plants:
Many of these species add to the fine-fuel component and lead to increased fire frequency. Many of the annual and perennial weeds with deep root systems compete with desirable plants for moisture and nutrients. The result is reduced production and change in composition of the understory.

Influence of wildlife:
Big game use the Semiwet Saline Meadow site sparingly. Since their use is so light, the influence on the site is minimal. Population explosions of black-tailed jackrabbits occur occasionally. These high populations can affect the plant community. However, the effect is usually temporary since population die-offs normally occur within a year or two.

Watershed:
Decreased infiltration and increased runoff occur with the increase in black greasewood. Desired understory species can be reduced. The increased runoff also causes sheet and rill erosion. This may lead to gully development and a lowering of the watertable. This change can affect nutrient and water cycles. The long-term effect is a transition to a different state.

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

SWAPAEH

2. Shrub Dominated State

SWAPAEH

3. Degraded State

SWAPAEH

State 1
Reference State

The Reference State has three community phases that shift with fire and grazing. Shrubs tend to increase in the absence of fire or improper grazing. Fire may temporarily increase grass production, however, the dominant shrubs in this ecological site can resprout.

Community 1.1
Inland saltgrass/black greasewood

The dominant aspect of the plant community is saltgrass and sedges. The composition by air-dry weight is approximately 80 percent perennial grasses, 5 percent forbs, and 15 percent shrubs.

Figure 8. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	600	920	1240
Shrub/Vine	113	173	233
Forb	38	58	78
Total	751	1151	1551

Community 1.2
Black greasewood/inland saltgrass

The Black greasewood/inland saltgrass plant community is dominated by black greasewood with reduced amounts of alkali bluegrass and alkali sacaton. Inland saltgrass has increased in the understory. All deep-rooted bunchgrasses are typically in low vigor. Black greasewood has increased as well as some other tall shrubs. This community phase has developed due to improper grazing management and lack of fire.

Community 1.3
Inland saltgrass/perennial bunch grasses

The Inland saltgrass/perennial bunch grasses plant community is dominated by inland saltgrass and perennial bunch grasses. Inland saltgrass has increased. Forbs remain about in the same proportion as Community Phase 1.1. Black greasewood and Gardner’s saltbush have re-sprouted. This plant community is the result of wildfire.

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Develops in the absence of fire and improper grazing management.

Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Develops with fire.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Develops with prescribed grazing and brush management.

Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.1

Develops with prescribed grazing and no fire.

State 2
Shrub Dominated State

The Shrub Dominated State occurs due to soil loss and changes in hydrology that lower the watertable. The Shrub Dominated State has one community phase that is dominated by black greasewood, halogeton and /or other annuals. Inland saltgrass is still dominant in the understory but is beginning to decline. Root sprouting shrubs such as black greasewood and rabbitbrush can be present. Some soil loss has occurred. Gully development has begun due to increased run-on from adjacent sites. This state has developed due to frequent fires and improper grazing management. The site has crossed the threshold. It is not economically practical to return this plant community to State 1 with accelerating practices.

Community 2.1
Black greasewood/inland saltgrass/non-native species

The Black greasewood/inland saltgrass/non-native species plant community is dominated by black greasewood, Halogeton, and other annuals. Inland saltgrass is still dominant in the understory but is beginning to decline. Root sprouting shrubs such as black greasewood and rabbitbrush can be present. Some soil loss has occurred. Gully development has begun due to increased run-on from adjacent sites.

State 3
Degraded State

The Degraded State develops after significant soil loss that lowering of the water table so that the plant communities shift to less adapted to wet conditions. The plant community has crossed the threshold to a new state. Inland saltgrass is declining. Site potential has been reduced. Significant soil loss has occurred. Gully development is extensive due to increased run-on from adjacent sites. Infiltration has been reduced and run-off has become more rapid. The Degraded State has developed due to continued improper grazing management and/or frequent fires.

Community 3.1
Degraded Community

The Degraded Community phase is dominated by species that are less tolerant to wet conditions. Inland saltgrass is still present, but is declining.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Develops through frequent fire, improper grazing management, or gully development (lowering of the water table). It is generally not economically feasible to move this state back across the threshold with accelerating practices.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Excessive soil loss and changes in the hydrologic cycle caused by continued improper grazing management, frequent fire or lowering of the water table through gully development, causes the Shrub Dominated State to cross a threshold and retrogress to a new state (Degraded State) with reduced potential.

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Shrub/Vine
1	Dominant Shrubs			72–120
	rubber rabbitbrush	ERNAN5	Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. nauseosa	36–60	–
	greasewood	SAVE4	Sarcobatus vermiculatus	36–60	–
3	Sub-Dominant Shrubs			60–132
	Shrub (>.5m)	2SHRUB	Shrub (>.5m)	36–60	–
	basin saltbush	ATTR3	Atriplex tridentata	12–36	–
Grass/Grasslike
2	Dominant Grasses			684–996
	saltgrass	DISP	Distichlis spicata	240–300	–
	clustered field sedge	CAPR5	Carex praegracilis	180–240	–
	foxtail barley	HOJU	Hordeum jubatum	60–120	–
	scratchgrass	MUAS	Muhlenbergia asperifolia	36–60	–
	Nuttall's alkaligrass	PUNU2	Puccinellia nuttalliana	36–60	–
3	Sub-Dominant Grasses			24–120
	Grass, annual	2GA	Grass, annual	12–60	–
	Grass, perennial	2GP	Grass, perennial	12–60	–
Forb
2	Sub-Dominant Forbs			132–300
	Forb, annual	2FA	Forb, annual	36–60	–
	Forb, perennial	2FP	Forb, perennial	36–60	–
	western tansymustard	DEPI	Descurainia pinnata	12–36	–
	herb sophia	DESO2	Descurainia sophia	12–36	–
	pingue rubberweed	HYRI	Hymenoxys richardsonii	12–36	–
	Mojave seablite	SUMO	Suaeda moquinii	12–36	–

Interpretations

Animal community

The Semiwet Saline Meadow site provides proper grazing for livestock during all seasons of the year. It provides food and some cover for wildlife.
Wildlife using this site include rabbit, coyote, fox, and pronghorn antelope.

Hydrological functions

The soil series are in hydrologic group d. The hydrologic curve number is 80 when the vegetation is in good condition.

Wood products

None

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)	Jack Alexander, Range Specialist, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc. Julia Kluck, Soil Scientist, Synergy Resource Solutions, Inc. Shane Green, State Range Specialist, Utah NRCS
Contact for lead author	Shane Green, Shane.Green@ut.usda.gov
Date	02/08/2010
Approved by	Jamin Johanson
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
No rills present. Very minor rill development may occur in sparsely vegetated areas. If rills are present, they should be widely spaced and not connected. Rill development may increase following large storm events, but should begin to heal during the following growing season. Frost heaving will accelerate recovery. Rill development may increase when run inflow enters site from adjacent sites that produce large amounts of runoff (i.e. steeper sites, slickrock, rock outcrop). Site is essentially level and rills do not form.
Presence of water flow patterns:
Essentially none. Site is essentially level, water flow patterns are not expected to form.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Plants may have small pedestals (1-3”) where they are adjacent to water flow patterns, but without exposed roots. Terracettes should be few and stable. Terracettes should be small (1-3”) and show little sign of active erosion. Some plants may appear to have a pedestal but rather than be formed by erosion, the only place litter accumulates and soil collects is at plant bases forming the appearance of a pedestal.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
0-10% bare ground (soil with no protection from raindrop impact). Herbaceous communities are most likely to have lower values. As species composition by shrubs increases, bare ground is likely to increase. Poorly developed biological soil crust that is susceptible to raindrop splash erosion should be recorded as bare ground. Very few if any bare spaces of greater than 1 square foot. Large slick spots up to 100’ may develop due to chemical reactions in the soil.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
No gullies present. Site is essentially level, so no gullies are expected to form.
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Very minor evidence of active wind-generated soil movement. Wind scoured (blowouts) and depositional areas are rarely present. If present they have muted features and are mostly stabilized with vegetation and/or biological crust. Gravel or desert pavement protects the site from wind scour.
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Most litter resides in place with some redistribution caused by water and wind movement. Very minor litter removal may occur in flow patterns and rills with deposition occurring at points of obstruction. The majority of litter accumulates at the base of plants. Some leaves, stems, and small twigs may accumulate in soil depressions adjacent to plants. Woody stems are not likely to move.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface is moderately stable (average soil stability score of 3.5 -5).
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
This description is based on the modal soil (Airport). This site has 4 correlated soils, resulting in variation of each of these attributes. Unless working on a location with the modal soil, it is critical to supplement this description with the soil-specific information from the published soil survey.

Soil surface horizon is typically 4 to 12 inches deep. Structure in upper inch is typically weak, then platy. Color is typically gray (10YR 5/1), very dark gray (10YR 3/1), moist. Mollic epipedon is common.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Bunchgrasses important for increasing infiltration and reducing runoff.
Bunchgrasses important for increasing infiltration and reducing runoff. Litter plays a role in increasing infiltration and decreasing runoff. Plants provide microhabitat for seedlings, catch litter and soil, and slow raindrops and runoff. Vascular plants and/or well-developed biological soil crusts (where present) will break raindrop impact and splash erosion. Spatial distribution of vascular plants and interspaces between well-developed biological soil crusts (where present) provide detention storage and surface roughness that slows runoff allowing time for infiltration. Interspaces between plants and any well-developed biological soil crusts (where present) may serve as water flow patterns during episodic runoff events, with natural erosion expected in severe storms. When perennial grasses decrease, reducing ground cover and increasing bare ground, runoff is expected to increase and any associated infiltration reduced.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. Naturally occurring soil horizons may be harder than the surface because of an accumulation of clay or calcium carbonate and should not be considered as compaction layers.
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:
clustered field sedge, mountain rush, saltgrass

Sub-dominant:
rabbitbrush, greasewood

Other:
forbs > other shrubs > other grasses

Additional:
Functional/structural groups may appropriately contain non-native species if their ecological function is the same as the native species in the reference state (e.g. crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye may substitute for mid stature cool season perennial native bunchgrasses.). Biological soil crust is variable in its expression on this site and is measured as a component of ground cover. Forbs can be expected to vary widely in their expression in the plant community based upon departures from average growing conditions.
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
During years with average to above average precipitation, there should be very little recent mortality or decadence apparent in either the shrubs or grasses. Some mortality of bunchgrass and other shrubs may occur during very severe (long-term) droughts. There may be partial mortality of individual bunchgrasses and shrubs during less severe drought. Long-lived species dominate site. Open spaces from disturbance are quickly filled by new plants through seedlings and reproductive reproduction (tillering).
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Litter cover includes litter under plants. Most litter will be fine litter. Depth should be 1-2 leaf thickness in the interspaces and up to 1/2” under canopies. Litter cover may increase to 15-25% following years with favorable growing conditions. Excess litter may accumulate in absence of disturbance. Vegetative production may be reduced if litter cover exceeds 40%.
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
1150#/acre.
Even the most stable communities exhibit a range of production values. Production will vary between communities and across the MRLA. Refer to the community descriptions in the ESD. Production will differ across the MLRA due to the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The biological processes on this site are complex; therefore, representative values are presented in a land management context.
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 indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Cheatgrass, halogeton, green rabbitbrush, annual forbs, broom snakeweed, Utah juniper, purple threeawn, medusahead rye.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Reproduction restricted by effective precipitation, rock cover, soil depth, and generally harsh growing conditions; all to be expected for site. Site provides harsh environment for seedling establishment.

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R028AY010UT

Semiwet Saline Meadow

Last updated: 5/02/2025 Accessed: 10/19/2025

General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

State 2 submodel, plant communities

State 3 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 5/02/2025
Accessed: 10/19/2025