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Ecological site R028AY012UT

Semiwet Fresh 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 centimeters). Wetland plants, pickleweed (Salicornia sp.) and/or greasewood (Sacorbatus vermiculatus) are dominant in the plant communities.

Ecological site concept

The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site occurs on lake terraces and flood plains in low lying areas between 4,200 to 6,000 feet in elevation. The water table is typically between 30 and 60 inches in depth and the soil is somewhat poorly drained. The soil surface texture is loam, silty clay loam, or silt loam. This site is not as influenced by salts or alkalinity. The dominant plant species are sedges (Carex sp) and Baltic rush (Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis). The documentation for this site is limited and reference conditions are not known. This is similar to the Meadow site developed in Idaho (R028AY004ID) which lists tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa) as the dominant grass. This site is often invaded by Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and quackgrass (Elymus repens).

Associated sites

R028AY022UT	Wet Fresh Streambank The Wet Fresh Streambank site may be found along water ways adjacent to the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site.
R028AY014UT	Semiwet Fresh Streambank The Semiwet Fresh Streambank site may be found along water ways adjacent to the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site.
R028AY006UT	Loamy Bottom (basin wildrye) The Loamy Bottom site may be found adjacent to the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site.
R028AY010UT	Semiwet Saline Meadow The Semiwet Saline Meadow site may be found adjacent to the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site in more saline influenced soils.
R028AY020UT	Wet Fresh Meadow The Wet Fresh Meadow site may be found adjacent to the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site in wetter soils.

Similar sites

R028AY004ID	WET MEADOW DECA5/CAREX This is a similar site developed in Idaho's portion of MLRA 28A.

R028AY004ID

WET MEADOW DECA5/CAREX

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

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Carex (2) Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis

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Physiographic features

The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site occurs on lake terraces and flood plains on slopes less than 3 percent. This site can be found at elevations between 4,200 and 6,000 feet. The water table is typically between 30 and 60 inches (ranges from 18 to 60) and the site rarely floods and does not pond water.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Flood plain (2) Lake terrace
Flooding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to long (7 to 30 days)
Flooding frequency	Occasional to none
Elevation	4,200 – 6,000 ft
Slope	3%
Water table depth	18 – 60 in

Climatic features

The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers, cold, snowy winters and moist springs. Approximately 90 percent of the precipitation occurs as run-in from March through October. On the average January, February, and June are the driest months and July and August are the wettest months. This site receives additional water as ground water from adjacent sites. Soil moisture is influenced more by run-on, seepage, and water table than from precipitation.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	115-132 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	155-178 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	18 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	110-137 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	150-183 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	18 in
Frost-free period (average)	124 days
Freeze-free period (average)	167 days
Precipitation total (average)	18 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) LOGAN RADIO KVNU [USC00425182], Logan, UT
(2) OGDEN SUGAR FACTORY [USC00426414], Ogden, UT

Soil features

The characteristic soil in the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site are somewhat poorly drained. They formed in alluvium and/or lacustrine deposits derived mainly from mixed sedimentary and igneous parent materials. The surface soils are generally dark colored and high in organic matter content. Textures range from silty clay loam to loam. The water table fluctuates between 18 to 60 inches most of the growing season.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium (2) Lacustrine deposits
Surface texture	(1) Loam (2) Silty clay loam (3) Silt loam
Drainage class	Moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Very slow to moderately rapid
Surface fragment cover <=3"	5%
Available water capacity (Depth not specified)	3.1 – 7.9 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (Depth not specified)	40%
Electrical conductivity (Depth not specified)	4 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (Depth not specified)	13
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (Depth not specified)	7.4 – 9
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	5%

Ecological dynamics

The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site is similar to the Meadow site (R028AY004ID) developed in Idaho. Information was used from the Idaho site and applied to this site.

The dominant visual aspect of the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site is grass and sedges with scattered forbs and shrubs. The dominant plant community has tufted hairgrass, Nebraska sedge, and other Carex species as major components. The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site usually occurs within a complex of wetland sites. The soil surface of the site is typically slightly undulating causing small depressions and high spots with variable soil moisture characteristics. The plant communities found on these areas are sites within the complex. The dominant species in these included plant communities are as follows:
1. Shallow to depressions with the water table at or near the surface for the entire growing season are co-dominated by Carex spp. and Junus spp. These are Wet Fresh Meadow sites.
2. Deeper depressions with water slightly above the surface may have cattails, bulrush and Carex spp. This is the Lakeshore Marsh site.
3. Slightly higher areas that are drier during the growing season may have Great Basin wildrye, Nevada bluegrass, meadow barley, streambank wheatgrass, and some rushes. This is usually the Loamy Bottom site.

The conditions for the plant community of this site are highly variable due to a wide variation of soils, flooding frequency and duration, water table fluctuations, air and soil temperatures and competition between plants that are mostly rhizomatous. These conditions can vary within the site at a given location. At any one point within the site, one species can occupy nearly 100 percent of a small area. Another point nearby, may have another species fully occupying that area. Due to these situations, the plant community in the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site is written broadly.

The soils within any complex of meadow sites are highly variable. Factors that affect the determination of the site include depth to water table at end of growing season, micro-topography and drainage class. Depth to water table and micro-topography are measurable features. Determination of drainage class requires the use of soil interpretation tables. Other interpretive factors that may be used for site determination are ponding frequency, depth and duration and flooding frequency, timing and duration.

Micro-topography is a feature that has a dramatic effect on depth to water table and the resulting plant communities. A few inches of change in surface elevation changes species composition and/ or production. Slightly undulating topography is common in meadow complexes, therefore, more than one site should be expected.

An infinite number of combinations of factors that influence the ecology of potential plant communities exist. For practical purposes, four fresh water plant communities where the depth to the water table drives the vegetative composition have been described. They are:

Loamy Bottom: Water table at >60” at end of growing season
Semiwet Fresh Meadow: Water table at 20-40” at end of growing season
Wet Fresh Meadow: Water table at 10-20” at end of growing season
Lakeshore Marsh: Water at surface to <10” at end of growing season

The Reference State (State 1), moves through many phases depending on the natural and human-made forces that impact the community over time. State 1 indicates some of these phases. The Reference Plant Community Phase is Phase 1.1. This plant community is dominated by tufted hairgrass and Nebraska sedge. There are a wide variety of grasses and grass-like species and forbs that may occur in minor amounts. Some of these species may be dominant in small areas due to soil and water variations as stated above. Willows and shrubby cinquefoil can occur in small amounts.

Transition from State 1 may be caused by non-native plant presence and/or water table lowering. Site degradation as the result of lowering of the water table can occur with down cutting of adjacent stream channels or significant run-off following prolonged drought. This can result from on-site improper grazing or off-site conditions in the upper watershed. Once adjacent streams/drainageways down-cut, concentrated flows lower the water table.

Season-long grazing and/or excessive utilization can be very detrimental to the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site and may also result in state transitions. The grasses and sedges in the plant community will decline in the stand and rushes and forbs will increase, along with any non-native grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass or quackgrass. Continued improper grazing management will result in a stand of forbs and Kentucky bluegrass with rushes. The reduced ability of the community to withstand seasonal flooding is reduced and down cutting of adjacent streams or drainageways can result or initiation of headcuts. This down cutting will lower the water table and thus reduce the potential of the site. Grazing management that addresses frequency, duration, and intensity of grazing can maintain the integrity of the plant community and the water table on which it is dependent.

The largest threat to degradation of the Semiwet Fresh Meadow site is the lowering of the water table. Off-site conditions can affect the gradient of adjacent stream channels or drainageways that can affect the water table. If the perennial grass and sedge cover is depleted, down cutting can be accelerated within the site. High run-off events from the adjacent uplands can severely damage or change the normal stream channel on the site. As the water table is lowered, productive potential is lost. Eventually the water table is below the reach of the roots of the adapted perennial grasses and grass-like sedges and rushes. These are ultimately replaced by perennial forbs and shallow rooted grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass. Extreme down cutting and lowering of the water table can move the site across the threshold to a new, less productive state. Severe down-cutting can result in a plant community that resembles an upland site.

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. Current Potential State

SWAPAEH

3. Degraded Meadow State

SWAPAEH

State 1
Reference State

The plant community has tufted hairgrass and Nebraska sedge as co-dominant in the herbaceous layer. There are a wide variety of grasses and grass-like species and forbs that may occur in minor amounts. Some of these species may be dominant in small areas due to soil and water variations. Willows and shrubby cinquefoil can occur in small amounts. The Reference State has two plant community phases, one with a grass/sedge dominance and the other with sedge/rush dominance. The community phase transition can occur either from grazing or fire. Bunchgrasses, like tufted hairgrass, are susceptible to grazing and fire and can be temporarily reduced, which may increase rhizomatous sedges and rushes in the community.

Community 1.1
Tufted hairgrass/sedges

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	720	1560	2000
Forb	135	293	375
Shrub/Vine	45	98	125
Total	900	1951	2500

Table 6. Ground cover

Tree foliar cover	0%
Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover	1%
Grass/grasslike foliar cover	70-80%
Forb foliar cover	1-5%
Non-vascular plants	0%
Biological crusts	0%
Litter	0%
Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3"	0%
Surface fragments >3"	0%
Bedrock	0%
Water	0%
Bare ground	0%

Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)

Height Above Ground (ft)	Tree	Shrub/Vine	Grass/ Grasslike	Forb
<0.5	–	–	–	–
>0.5 <= 1	–	–	–	0-10%
>1 <= 2	–	–	75-85%	–
>2 <= 4.5	–	0-5%	–	–
>4.5 <= 13	–	–	–	–
>13 <= 40	–	–	–	–
>40 <= 80	–	–	–	–
>80 <= 120	–	–	–	–
>120	–	–	–	–

Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). UT0121, PNC. Excellent Condition.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	5	15	40	30	5	5	0	0	0	0

Community 1.2
Sedges/Rushes

The plant community is dominated by Nebraska sedge, other sedges, and Baltic rush. Forbs have increased in the community. Community Phase 1.2 has developed due to improper grazing management. The water table has not been lowered from that of Community Phase 1.1.

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

This pathway occurs due to intense grazing pressure or fire.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

This pathway occurs after recovery from fire or intense grazing pressure.

State 2
Current Potential State

The Current Potential State is dominated by Kentucky bluegrass and/or quackgrass, Nebraska sedge, other sedges, and Baltic rush but the overall production potential of the site is much lower than State 1. There is an increase in forbs and grasses that require less soil moisture. Kentucky bluegrass, quackgrass, redtop bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) and meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) may have invaded the community. The Current Potential State developed due to continued improper grazing management or using the site as a hayed pasture potentially with planted introduced species.

Community 2.1
Sedge/Rushes/non-native grasses

Community Phase 2.1 is similar to Community Phase 1.1, however there are non-native grasses in the community that have the potential to increase and become dominant.

Community 2.2
Non-native grasses/sedges/rushes

This community phase develops after continued grazing pressure or haying or fire. Any of these disturbances or a combination of them has the potential to increase non-native grasses on the site.

Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Intense grazing pressure or haying or fire.

Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Adequate time since disturbance (grazing, fire etc) allows sedges and rushes to recolonize.

State 3
Degraded Meadow State

The Degraded Meadow State develops after prolonged water table lowering either through artificial drainage or downcutting of adjacent streams or drainageways. Kentucky bluegrass, quackgrass, redtop bentgrass and meadow foxtail have become dominant in the community. There is a permanent lowering of the water table from 20-40 inches to greater than 60 inches below the surface. Significant loss of available soil moisture has occurred due to the loss of a water table. Some soil loss from the surface has occurred. The Degraded Meadow State can be similar to drier meadow sites or the Loamy Bottom site. The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site has crossed the threshold. The Degraded Meadow State cannot be returned to State 1 without raising the water table. This might be done using structures or bio-engineering over time, but the plant community may take many years to approach the plant community in State 1 or State 2.

Community 3.1
Non-native grasses/rushes

Community Phase 3.1 is dominated by non-native grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass or quackrass.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

This transition occurs with non-native plant introduction. Common non-native species are Kentucky bluegrass and quackgrass.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Develops through permanently lowering the late growing season water table to 40 to 60 inches. This can occur with continued improper grazing management. It may also occur with proper grazing on the site, but channel erosion may continue if poor off-site conditions cause frequent and/or severe flooding.

Additional community tables

Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Priamary Grasses			1140–1700
	Kentucky bluegrass	POPR	Poa pratensis	600–700	–
	clustered field sedge	CAPR5	Carex praegracilis	300–400	–
	arctic rush	JUAR2	Juncus arcticus	60–300	–
	basin wildrye	LECI4	Leymus cinereus	60–100	–
	western wheatgrass	PASM	Pascopyrum smithii	60–100	–
	creeping bentgrass	AGST2	Agrostis stolonifera	60–100	–
1	Secondary Grasses			100–200
	saltgrass	DISP	Distichlis spicata	20–60	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	20–60	–
	timothy	PHPR3	Phleum pratense	20–60	–
Forb
2	Primary Forb			60–100
	field horsetail	EQAR	Equisetum arvense	60–100	–
2	Secondary Forbs			100–200
	silverweed cinquefoil	ARAN7	Argentina anserina	20–60	–
	redwool plantain	PLER	Plantago eriopoda	20–60	–
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	20–60	–
	common dandelion	TAOF	Taraxacum officinale	20–60	–
	strawberry clover	TRFR2	Trifolium fragiferum	20–60	–
Shrub/Vine
3	Shrubs			60–100
	basin big sagebrush	ARTRT	Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata	20–60	–
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	20–60	–
	Woods' rose	ROWO	Rosa woodsii	20–60	–
	narrowleaf willow	SAEX	Salix exigua	20–60	–

Interpretations

Animal community

The Semiwet Fresh Meadow site is one of Utah’s highest yielding ecological sites. The plants are predominantly grasses and grasslike plants with a few forbs and practically no shrubs. To control soil erosion and degradation of the plant community, this site may be properly grazed early with animals being removed early to allow key plants to go ungrazed during the last part of the growing season. A stubble height of 4 to 6 inches should be adhered to.

Wildlife using this site include rabbit, coyote, birds, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer.

This is a short list of the more common species found. Many other species are present as well and migratory birds are present at times.

Hydrological functions

The soil is in hydrologic group C. The hydrologic curve numbers are 74 to 86 depending on hydrologic condition of the watershed.

Recreational uses

Recreation activities are hiking and hunting. Natural beauty exists in the more favorable plant growth environment on this site when compared to adjacent sites.

Wood products

None

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: Iron County, UT
General legal description	West of Kanarraville, Utah, East of the Freeway

Contributors

DJS

Approval

Jamin Johanson, 5/02/2025

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):
Essentially none. Litter or other ground cover fills all plant interspaces.
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
No gullies present.
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 (Kirkham SiCL 1-2%, soil survey area: 634, Iron-Washington), the only soil correlated with this site.

Soil surface horizon is typically 9 to 14 inches deep. Structure is typically moderate medium angular blocky. Color is typically grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist. Mollic epipedon is common.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Vascular plants and any 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. Since site is level and well covered, infiltration is very high and runoff very low.
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 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

Sub-dominant:
other grasses and sedges

Other:
other perennial grasses > forbs = shrubs

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 25-30% 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):
1950#/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:
Foxtail barley, poverty weed, gumweed, and cheatgrass
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial plants should have the ability to reproduce sexually or asexually, except in drought years. Density of plants indicates that plants reproduce at level sufficient to fill available resource. Within capability of site there are no restrictions on seed or vegetative reproductive capacity.

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R028AY012UT

Semiwet Fresh Meadow

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

General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

LRU notes

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