Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site R028AY019NV

SANDY 5-8 P.Z.

Last updated: 6/12/2025
Accessed: 10/21/2025

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 028A / Ecological site R028AY019NV

USC

Metric

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.

MLRA notes

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

MLRA 28A occurs in Utah (82%), Nevada (16%), and Idaho (2%). It makes up about 36,775 square miles. 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. They are not well dissected because of low rainfall in the MLRA. Most of the valleys are closed basins containing sinks or playa lakes. Elevation ranges from 3,950 to 6,560 ft. in the basins and from 6,560 to 11,150 ft. in the mountains. Most of this area has alluvial valley fill and playa lakebed deposits at the surface. Great Salt Lake is all that remains of glacial Lake Bonneville. A level line on some mountain slopes indicates the former extent of this glacial lake. Most of the mountains in the interior of this area consist of tilted blocks of marine sediments from Cambrian to Mississippian age. Scattered outcrops of Tertiary continental sediments and volcanic rocks are throughout the area. The average annual precipitation is 5 to 12 ins. in the valleys and is as much as 49 ins. in the mountains. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. The driest period is from midsummer to early autumn. Precipitation in winter typically occurs as snow. The average annual temperature is 39 to 53 °F. The freeze-free period averages 165 days and ranges from 110 to 215 days, decreasing in length with elevation. The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Aridisols, Entisols, and Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic or frigid soil temperature regime, an aridic or xeric soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. They generally are well drained, loamy or loamy-skeletal, and very deep.

Ecological site concept

This site occurs on fan skirts, barrier beaches, and drainageways. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent, but slope gradients of 2 to 4 percent are most typical. Elevations are 5500 to 6000 feet.

The climate associated with this site is semiarid, characterized by cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 5 to 8 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 47 to 54 degrees F. The average growing season is about 110 to 170 days.

Soils associated with this site are very deep alluvial sands derived from mixed parent materials. Water intake rates are moderate to moderately rapid, available water holding capacity is low to very low, runoff is very low to low, and soils are well to somewhat excessively drained.

The reference state is dominated by Indian ricegrass, fourwing saltbush and winterfat. Needleandthread, sand dropseed and galleta are commonly associated plant species. Production ranges from 250 to 600 pounds per acre.

Associated sites

R028AY002NV	COARSE SILTY 5-8 P.Z.
R028AY004NV	SHALLOW CALCAREOUS SLOPE 8-10 P.Z.
R028AY012NV	LOAMY 5-8 P.Z.
R028AY018NV	COARSE GRAVELLY LOAM 5-8 P.Z.

Similar sites

R028AY011NV	SODIC DUNE SAVE4 major shrub
R028AY005NV	SANDY 8-10 P.Z. ARTR2 codominant shrub
R028AY002NV	COARSE SILTY 5-8 P.Z. ATCA2 minor shrub, if present
R028AY006NV	DROUGHTY LOAM 5-8 P.Z. GRSP codominant shrub
R028AY023NV	SODIC SANDS SAVE4 major shrub

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Atriplex canescens (2) Krascheninnikovia lanata
Herbaceous	(1) Achnatherum hymenoides

Download full description

Physiographic features

This site occurs on fan skirts, barrier beaches, and drainageways. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent, but slope gradients of 2 to 4 percent are most typical. Elevations are 5500 to 6000 feet.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Fan skirt (2) Barrier beach (3) Drainageway
Flooding duration	Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours)
Flooding frequency	Rare
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	5,500 – 6,000 ft
Slope	4%
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

Nevada’s climate is predominantly arid, with large daily ranges of temperature, infrequent severe storms, heavy snowfall in the higher mountains, and great location variations with elevation. Three basic geographical factors largely influence Nevada’s climate: continentality, latitude, and elevation. Continentality is the most important factor. The strong continental effect is expressed in the form of both dryness and large temperature variations. Nevada lies on the eastern, lee side of the Sierra Nevada Range, a massive mountain barrier that markedly influences the climate of the State. The prevailing winds are from the west, and as the warm moist air from the Pacific Ocean ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Range, the air cools, condensation occurs and most of the moisture falls as precipitation. As the air descends the eastern slope, it is warmed by compression, and very little precipitation occurs. The effects of this mountain barrier are felt not only in the West but throughout the state, with the result that the lowlands of Nevada are largely desert or steppes. The temperature regime is also affected by the blocking of the inland-moving maritime air. Nevada sheltered from maritime winds, has a continental climate with well-developed seasons and the terrain responds quickly to changes in solar heating.
Nevada lies within the mid-latitude belt of prevailing westerly winds which occur most of the year. These winds bring frequent changes in weather during the late fall, winter and spring months, when most of the precipitation occurs. To the south of the mid-latitude westerlies, lies a zone of high pressure in subtropical latitudes, with a center over the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, this high-pressure belt shifts northward over the latitudes of Nevada, blocking storms from the ocean. The resulting weather is mostly clear and dry during the summer and early fall, with scattered thundershowers. The eastern portion of the state receives significant summer thunderstorms generated from monsoonal moisture pushed up from the Gulf of California, known as the North American monsoon. The monsoon system peaks in August and by October the monsoon high over the Western U.S. begins to weaken and the precipitation retreats southward towards the tropics (NOAA 2004).

The climate associated with this site is semiarid, characterized by cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation is 5 to 8 inches. Mean annual air temperature is 47 to 54 degrees F. The average growing season is about 110 to 170 days.

Mean annual precipitation at the LAGES, NEVADA climate station (264341) is 8.16 inches.

Monthly mean precipitaion is:
January 0.59; February 0.6; March 0.76; April 0.92;
May 0.92; June 0.65; July 0.71; August 0.46;
September 0.63; October 0.94; November 0.5;
December 0.46.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)
Freeze-free period (average)	140 days
Precipitation total (average)	7 in

Bar

Line

Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 3. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 4. Annual average temperature pattern

Soil features

Soils associated with this site are very deep and well to somewhat excessively drained. They are derived from alluvium from quartz-monzonite or volcanic rocks. Water intake rates are moderate to moderately rapid, available water holding capacity is low to very low and runoff is very low to low. The soil moisture regime is typic aridic and the soil temperature regime is mesic. Soil series associated with this site include: Bienfait, Koyen, and Yelbrick.

The representative soil series is Bienfait, a Sandy, mixed, mesic Sodic Haplocambids. Diagnostic horizons include an ochric epipedon from the soil surface to 18 cm, a cambic horizon from 8 to 30 cm, and identifiable secondary carbonates from 30 to 152 cm. Clay content in the particle control section averages 2 to 7 percent. Rock fragments range from 5 to 25 percent, mainly gravel. Reaction is moderately alkaline or very strongly alkaline. Effervescence is violently effervescent. Lithology consists of quartz monzonite.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium – quartz-monzonite
Surface texture	(1) Coarse sandy loam (2) Gravelly sandy loam (3) Gravelly loam
Family particle size	(1) Sandy
Drainage class	Well drained to somewhat excessively drained
Permeability class	Moderate to moderately rapid
Soil depth	50 – 65 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	12 – 40%
Surface fragment cover >3"	3 – 5%
Available water capacity (0-40in)	2.8 – 3.6 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in)	15%
Electrical conductivity (0-40in)	16 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in)	60
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in)	8.3 – 9.5
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	5 – 30%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	3 – 5%

Ecological dynamics

As ecological condition deteriorates, fourwing saltbush, winterfat, Indian ricegrass and needleandthread decrease as rabbitbrush and snakeweed increase. Halogeton and annual mustards are likely to invade this site.

Fire Ecology:
The mean fire return interval for salt-desert shrub communities ranges from 35 to 100 years. Increased presence of non-native annual grasses, such as cheatgrass, can alter fire regimes by increasing fire frequency under wet to near-normal summer moisture conditions. When fire does occur, the effect on the ecosystem may be extreme. Salt-desert shrub, desert shrub, and desert grassland communities with fourwing saltbush historically experienced infrequent, stand-replacement fires. Fire top-kills or kills fourwing saltbush, depending upon ecotype. Fourwing saltbush may sprout after top-kill. Fourwing saltbush probably establishes primarily from seed after fire, with some populations also regenerating vegetatively. Winterfat is either killed or top-killed by fire, depending on fire severity. Severe fire can kill the perennating buds located several inches above the ground surface and thus kills the plant. In addition, severe fire usually destroys seed on the plant. Low-severity fire scorches or only partially consumes the aboveground portions of winterfat and thus does not cause high mortality. Spiny hopsage is considered to be somewhat fire tolerant and often survives fires that kill sagebrush. Mature spiny hopsage generally sprout after being burned. Spiny hopsage is reported to be least susceptible to fire during summer dormancy. Indian ricegrass can be killed by fire, depending on severity and season of burn. Indian ricegrass reestablishes on burned sites through seed dispersed from adjacent unburned areas. Needleandthread grass is top-killed by fire. It may be killed if the aboveground stems are completely consumed. Needleandthread grass is classified as slightly to severely damaged by fire. Needleandthread grass sprouts from the caudex following fire, if heat has not been sufficient to kill underground parts. Recovery usually takes 2 to 10 years. Galleta is a rhizomatous perennial which can resprout after top-kill by fire. Sand dropseed is usually killed or topkilled by fire. Sand dropseed has the potential for postfire regeneration and seedling establishment as seeds within burned areas may remain viable. However postfire regeneration responses may differ according to relative abiotic and biotic site characteristics.

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. Shrub State

SWAPAEH

State 1
Reference State

The Reference State 1.0 is a representative of the natural range of variability under pristine conditions. The reference state has three general community phases; a shrub-grass dominant phase, a perennial grass dominant phase and a shrub dominant phase. State dynamics are maintained by interactions between climatic patterns and disturbance regimes. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Plant community phase changes are primarily driven by fire, periodic long term drought and/or insect or disease attack.

Community 1.1
Fourwing saltbush/Indian ricegrass

This plant community is dominated by Indian ricegrass, fourwing saltbush and winterfat. Needleandthread, sand dropseed and galleta are commonly associated plant species. Potential vegetative composition is about 50% grasses, 5% forbs and 45% shrubs. Approximate ground cover (basal and crown) is 10 to 20 percent.

Figure 5. 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	125	200	300
Shrub/Vine	113	180	270
Forb	12	20	30
Total	250	400	600

Community 1.2
Indian ricegrass/ Fourwing saltbush

This community phase is characteristic of a post-disturbance, early-seral community phase. Indian ricegrass, and other perennial bunchgrasses dominate. Fourwing saltbush may sprout after fire depending on ecotype. Black greasewood, spiny hopsage and other sprouting shrubs may increase.

Community 1.3
Fourwing salt bush

Fourwing saltbush and other shrubs increase in the absence of disturbance. Excessive herbivory may cause an increase in black greasewood and other unpalatable shrubs. Fourwing saltbush and other shrubs dominate the overstory and the deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses in the understory are reduced either from competition with shrubs and/or from herbivory.

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Fire will decrease or eliminate the overstory of fourwing saltbush and allow for the perennial bunchgrasses to dominate the site. Fires will typically be low severity due to dispersed fuel loads. A fire following an unusually wet spring facilitating an increase in fine fuels may be more severe and reduce fourwing saltbush cover to trace amounts.

Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3

Time and lack of disturbance and/or chronic drought allows for fourwing saltbush to increase and dominate the site, causing a reduction in the perennial bunchgrasses. Inappropriate grazing may cause a decrease in perennial bunchgrasses and fourwing saltbush allowing other shrubs such as black greasewood and spiny hopsage to increase. However bottlebrush squirreltail and thickspike wheatgrass may increase in the understory depending on the grazing management.

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Absence of disturbance over time allows fourwing saltbush and other shrubs to recover.

Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.2

A low severity fire, herbivory or combinations will reduce the fourwing saltbush overstory and create a fourwing saltbush/grass mosaic.

State 2
Current Potential State

This state is similar to the Reference State 1.0. This state has the same three general community phases. Ecological function has not changed, however the resiliency of the state has been reduced by the presence of invasive weeds. Non-natives may increase in abundance but will not become dominant within this State. These non-natives can be highly flammable and can promote fire where historically fire had been infrequent. Negative feedbacks enhance ecosystem resilience and contribute to the stability of the state. These feedbacks include the presence of all structural and functional groups, low fine fuel loads, and retention of organic matter and nutrients. Positive feedbacks decrease ecosystem resilience and stability of the state. These include the non-natives’ high seed output, persistent seed bank, rapid growth rate, ability to cross pollinate, and adaptations for seed dispersal.

Community 2.1
Fourwing saltbush/Indian ricegrass/non-native species

Fourwing saltbush and Indian ricegrass dominate the site. Black greasewood, spiny hopsage and other shrubs are also common. Alkali sacaton, thickspike wheatgrass and bottlebrush squirreltail are also present in the understory. Forbs are present but not abundant. Non-native species are present.

Community 2.2
Indian ricegrass/non-native species

This community phase is characteristic of a post-disturbance, early seral community phase. Indian ricegrass and other perennial grasses dominate. Fourwing saltbush may be killed by fire depending on ecotype, therefore it may decrease in the burned community. Depending on fire severity patches of intact fourwing saltbush may remain. Sprouting shrubs such as black greasewood, spiny hopsage and rabbitbrush may dominate the aspect for a number of years following fire. Annual non-native species generally respond well after fire and may be stable to increasing within the community.

Community 2.3
Fourwing saltbush/non-native species

Fourwing saltbush increases in the community and may become the dominant with lack of disturbance. Inappropriate grazing may cause a decrease in fourwing saltbush and allow other shrubs such as black greasewood, spiny hopsage and shadscale to increase.

Pathway 2.1a
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Fire would decrease or eliminate the overstory of fourwing saltbush and allow for the perennial bunchgrasses to dominate the site. Fires would typically be small and patchy due to low fuel loads. A fire following an unusually wet spring or a change in management facilitating an increase in fuel loads may be more severe and reduce shrub cover to trace amounts. Annual non-native species generally respond well after fire and may be stable or increasing in within the community.

Pathway 2.1b
Community 2.1 to 2.3

Pathway 2.2a
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Time and lack of disturbance may allow for fourwing saltbush and other shrubs to establish and increase in community.

Pathway 2.3a
Community 2.3 to 2.2

Low severity fire, grazing management or combinations may decrease fourwing saltbush allowing for the perennial understory to increase. Late fall/winter grazing may cause mechanical damage to other shrubs such as black greasewood and spiny hopsage promoting the perennial bunchgrass understory.

State 3
Shrub State

This state has two community phases and is a product of many years of heavy grazing during time periods harmful to perennial bunchgrasses. Black greasewood, spiny hopsage and rabbitbrush dominate the overstory. Shrub cover exceeds site concept and may be decadent, reflecting stand maturity and lack of seedling establishment due to competition with mature plants. The shrub overstory dominates site resources such that soil water, nutrient capture, nutrient cycling and soil organic matter are temporally and spatially redistributed. With a decrease in understory species the soils on these sites may become unstable and wind erosion may increase.

Community 3.1
Black greaswood/Fourwing saltbush/non-native species

Black greasewood dominates the overstory. Rabbitbrush and spiny hopsage may be significant components. Fourwing saltbush is still present but declining. Deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses may be present in trace amounts or absent from the community. Annual non-native species increase. Bare ground is significant.

Community 3.2
Black geasewood/non-native species

Black greasewood, rabbitbrush and spiny hopsage dominate the site. Fourwing saltbush may be found in trace amounts or may be absent from the site. Annual non-native species dominate the understory. Perennial bunchgrasses make up a minor component.

Pathway 3.1a
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Heavy grazing in winter and early spring decreases fourwing saltbush and perennial bunchgrasses, and may promote other shrubs such as rabbitbrush and black greasewood.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Trigger: This transition is caused by the introduction of non-native annual weeds, such as cheatgrass, mustards, and Russian thistle. Slow variables: Over time the annual non-native species will increase within the community. Threshold: Any amount of introduced non-native species causes an immediate decrease in the resilience of the site. Annual non-native species cannot be easily removed from the system and have the potential to significantly alter disturbance regimes from their historic range of variation.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Trigger: To Community Phase 3.1: Inappropriate cattle/horse grazing will decrease or eliminate deep rooted perennial bunchgrasses and fourwing saltbush and favor other shrub growth and establishment. Soil disturbing brush treatments will reduce fourwing saltbush and possibly increase non-native annual species and rabbitbrush. Slow variables: Long term decrease in deep-rooted perennial grass density and/or fourwing saltbush. Threshold: Loss of deep-rooted perennial bunchgrasses changes nutrient cycling, nutrient redistribution, and reduces soil organic matter. Loss of long-lived, fourwing saltbush changes the temporal and depending on the replacement shrub, the spatial distribution of nutrient cycling.

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Primary Perennial Grasses			116–232
	Indian ricegrass	ACHY	Achnatherum hymenoides	80–120	–
	needle and thread	HECO26	Hesperostipa comata	20–60	–
	James' galleta	PLJA	Pleuraphis jamesii	8–32	–
	sand dropseed	SPCR	Sporobolus cryptandrus	8–20	–
2	Secondary Perennial Grasses			8–32
	threeawn	ARIST	Aristida	2–12	–
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	2–12	–
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	2–12	–
Forb
3	Perennial			8–32
	Forb, perennial	2FP	Forb, perennial	6–20	–
	globemallow	SPHAE	Sphaeralcea	2–12	–
Shrub/Vine
4	Primary Shrubs			78–207
	fourwing saltbush	ATCA2	Atriplex canescens	35–105	–
	winterfat	KRLA2	Krascheninnikovia lanata	35–70	–
	spiny hopsage	GRSP	Grayia spinosa	8–32	–
5	Secondary Shrubs			8–40
	shadscale saltbush	ATCO	Atriplex confertifolia	4–8	–
	yellow rabbitbrush	CHVI8	Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	4–8	–
	Nevada jointfir	EPNE	Ephedra nevadensis	4–8	–
	snakeweed	GUTIE	Gutierrezia	4–8	–
	bud sagebrush	PIDE4	Picrothamnus desertorum	4–8	–
	horsebrush	TETRA3	Tetradymia	4–8	–

Interpretations

Animal community

Livestock Interpretations:
This site is suited to livestock grazing. Grazing management should be keyed to Indian ricegrass and winterfat production. Indian ricegrass is highly palatable to all classes of livestock in both green and cured condition. It supplies a source of green feed before most other native grasses have produced much new growth. Needleandthread provides highly palatable forage, especially in the spring before fruits have developed. Needlegrasses are grazed in the fall only if the fruits are softened by rain. When actively growing, galleta provides good to excellent forage for cattle and horses and fair forage for domestic sheep. Although not preferred, all classes of livestock may use galleta when it is dry. Domestic sheep show greater use in winter than summer months and typically feed upon central portions of galleta tufts, leaving coarser growth around the edges. Galleta may prove somewhat coarse to domestic sheep. Sand dropseed provides fair to good forage for livestock. Sand dropseed's value as livestock forage is regional and dependent upon season. If fall rains are adequate, sand dropseed may have a period of renewed growth, producing new shoots in old sheaths. The persistent green base throughout winter makes sand dropseed an important desert winter range plant. In general, sand dropseed provides fair winter forage for domestic sheep and is most preferred by cattle of dune rangelands. Fourwing saltbush is one of the most palatable shrubs in the West. Its protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels are comparable to alfalfa. It provides nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. Palatability is rated as good for domestic sheep and domestic goats; fair for cattle; fair to good for horses in winter, poor for horses in other seasons. Winterfat is an important forage plant for livestock, especially during winter when forage is scarce. Abusive grazing practices have reduced or eliminated winterfat on some areas even though it is fairly resistant to browsing. Effects depend on severity and season of grazing. Spiny hopsage provides a palatable and nutritious food source for livestock, particularly during late winter through spring. Domestic sheep browse the succulent new growth of spiny hopsage in late winter and early spring.

Stocking rates vary over time depending upon season of use, climate variations, site, and previous and current management goals. A safe starting stocking rate is an estimated stocking rate that is fine tuned by the client by adaptive management through the year and from year to year.

Wildldife Interpretations:
Fourwing saltbush provides valuable habitat and year-round browse for wildlife. Fourwing saltbush also provides browse and shelter for small mammals. Additionally, the browse provides a source of water for black-tailed jackrabbits in arid environments. Granivorous birds consume the fruits. Wild ungulates, rodent and lagomorphs readily consume all aboveground portions of the plant. Palatability is rated good for deer, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Winterfat is an important forage plant for wildlife, especially during winter when forage is scarce. Winterfat seeds are eaten by rodents. Winterfat is a staple food for black-tailed jackrabbit. Mule deer and pronghorn antelope browse winterfat. Winterfat is used for cover by rodents. It is potential nesting cover for upland game birds, especially when grasses grow up through its crown. Spiny hopsage provides a palatable and nutritious food source for big game animals. Spiny hopsage is used as forage to at least some extent by domestic goats, deer, pronghorn, and rabbits. Indian ricegrass is eaten by pronghorn in "moderate" amounts whenever available. A number of heteromyid rodents inhabiting desert rangelands show preference for seed of Indian ricegrass. Indian ricegrass is an important component of jackrabbit diets in spring and summer. In Nevada, Indian ricegrass may even dominate jackrabbit diets during the spring through early summer months. Indian ricegrass seed provides food for many species of birds. Doves, for example, eat large amounts of shattered Indian ricegrass seed lying on the ground. Needleandthread is moderately important spring forage for mule deer, but use declines considerably as more preferred forages become available. Galleta provides moderately palatable forage when actively growing and relatively unpalatable forage during dormant periods. Galleta provides poor cover for most wildlife species. Sand dropseed provides poor forage for wildlife. Large mammals in general show little use of sand dropseed. Sand dropseed is not preferred by pronghorn, elk, and deer. Small mammals and birds utilize sand dropseed to a greater extent than large mammals.

Hydrological functions

Runoff is very low to low. Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid.

Recreational uses

Aesthetic value is derived from the diverse floral and faunal composition and the colorful flowering of wild flowers and shrubs during the spring and early summer. This site offers rewarding opportunities to photographers and for nature study. This site is used for camping and hiking and has potential for upland and big game hunting.

Other products

Fourwing saltbush is traditionally important to Native Americans. They ground the seeds for flour. The leaves, placed on coals, impart a salty flavor to corn and other roasted food. Top-growth produces a yellow dye. Young leaves and shoots were used to dye wool and other materials. The roots and flowers were ground to soothe insect bites. Some Native American peoples traditionally ground parched seeds of spiny hopsage to make pinole flour. Indian ricegrass was traditionally eaten by some Native Americans. The Paiutes used seed as a reserve food source. Sand dropseed is an edible grass used by Native Americans

Other information

Fourwing saltbush is widely used in rangeland and riparian improvement and reclamation projects, including burned area recovery. It is probably the most widely used shrub for restoration of winter ranges and mined land reclamation. Winterfat adapts well to most site conditions, and its extensive root system stabilizes soil. However, winterfat is intolerant of flooding, excess water, and acidic soils. Spiny hopsage has moderate potential for erosion control and low to high potential for long-term revegetation projects. It can improve forage, control wind erosion, and increase soil stability on gentle to moderate slopes. Spiny hopsage is suitable for highway plantings on dry sites in Nevada. Sand dropseed is recommended as a component of grass seed mixtures for sandy and heavy to semi-sandy soils. Good results are seen reseeding dry low lands receiving less than 9 inches (230mm) of precipitation within rangelands of Nevada.

Supporting information

Type locality

Location 1: Elko County, NV
Township/Range/Section	T29N R65E S16
Latitude	40° 23′ 33″
Longitude	114° 38′ 43″
General legal description	NE¼NW¼ Section 16, T29N. R65E. MDBM. About 7 miles northeast of Currie, Elko County, Nevada. Also found in White Pine County, Nevada.

Other references

Fire Effects Information System (Online; http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/)

Houghton, J.G., C.M. Sakamoto, and R.O. Gifford. 1975. Nevada’s Weather and Climate, Special Publication 2. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, NV.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. The North American Monsoon. Reports to the Nation. National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center. Available online: http://www.weather.gov/

USDA-NRCS Plants Database (Online; http://www.plants.usda.gov)

Contributors

Approval

Kendra Moseley, 6/12/2025

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)	P. Novak-Echenique
Contact for lead author	State Rangeland Management Specialist
Date	10/29/2013
Approved by	Kendra Moseley
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Rills are none.
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are none to rare.
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are none to rare. Should pedestals occur, they are confined to areas of water flow.
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare Ground ± 70%
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Fine litter (foliage from grasses and annual & perennial forbs) expected to move distance of slope length during intense summer convection storms or rapid snowmelt events. Persistent litter (large woody material) will remain in place except during large rainfall events.
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability values should be 2 to 5 on most soil textures found on this site. (This will be field tested.)
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Surface structure is typically thin to thick platy. Soil surface colors are pale browns or grays and soils are typified by an ochric epipedon. Organic matter of the surface 2 to 3 inches is typically <1 percent dropping off quickly below. Organic matter content can be more or less depending on micro-topography.
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial herbaceous plants (especially deep-rooted bunchgrasses [i.e., Indian ricegrass & needleandthread] slow runoff and increase infiltration. Shrub canopy and associated litter break raindrop impact and provide opportunity for snow catch and accumulation on site.
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Compacted layers are none. Platy or massive sub-surface horizons are not to be interpreted as compacted 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:
Reference State: Deep-rooted, cool season, perennial bunchgrasses

Sub-dominant:
Fourwing saltbush and winterfat >> associated shrubs > warm season perennial grasses > deep-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs > shallow-rooted, cool season perennial grasses > fibrous, shallow-rooted, cool season, perennial forbs and annual forbs.

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Dead branches within individual shrubs common and standing dead shrub canopy material may be as much as 25% of total woody canopy; some of the mature bunchgrasses (<20%) have dead centers.
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Between plant interspaces 10-20% and depth <¼ in
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
For normal or average growing season (thru June) ± 400 lbs/ac; Favorable years ± 600 lbs/ac and unfavorable years ± 250 lbs/ac
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:
Potential invaders include cheatgrass, halogeton, Russian thistle and annual mustards.
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All functional groups should reproduce in average (or normal) and above average growing season years. Little growth and reproduction occurs in extreme or extended drought periods.

Download reference sheet

Search

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R028AY019NV

SANDY 5-8 P.Z.

Last updated: 6/12/2025 Accessed: 10/21/2025

General information

MLRA 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: 6/12/2025
Accessed: 10/21/2025