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Representative Soil Features <br /> The soils on this site are very deep,poorly to somewhat poorly drained soils that formed from alluvium They typically have a slow to <br /> moderately rapid permeability class.The available water capacity is typically low,but ranges to moderate.Available water is the portion of <br /> water in a soil that can be readily absorbed by plant roots.This is the amount of water released between the field capacity and the <br /> permanent wilting point.As fineness of texture increases,there is a general increase in available moisture storage from sands to loams and <br /> sift loams.The high levels of salts decreases the available water capacity in these soils.The soil moisture regime is typically aquic,but may <br /> include oxyaquic The soil temperature regime is mesic. <br /> The surface layer of the soils in this site are typically loam,clay loam.or fine sandy loam.but may include clay or sandy loam.The surface <br /> layer ranges from 4 to 10 inches thick.The subsoil is typically clay,Gay loam,or loam.but may include stratified layers with sandy toam, <br /> sand,or coarse sand with varying amounts of rock fragments Rork fragments range from 0 to 35 percent in the underlying material Soils in <br /> this site typically have free carbonates at the surface,but some soils may be leached from 4 to 10 inches These soils are saline and <br /> alkaline.The high levels of salinity adversely affects plant species composition and growth.These soils are susceptible to erosion by water <br /> and wind. <br /> Plant Communities <br /> Ecological Dynamics of the Site <br /> The information in this ESD,including the state-and-transition model diagram(STM),was developed using archeological and historical data.. <br /> professional experience,and scientific studies The information is representative of a dynamic set of plant communities that represent the <br /> complex interaction of several ecological processes The plant composition has been determined by study of rangeland relic areas,areas <br /> protected from excessive disturbance,seasonal use pastures,short duratiorbtirne controlled grazing strategies,and historical accounts <br /> The Salt Meadow Ecological Site is characterized by three states Reference.Warm SeasonShortgrass and increased Bare Ground State, <br /> The Reference State is characterized by warm-season bunchgrass(alkali sacaton,switchgrass),cool-season midgrass(western wheatgrass), <br /> warm-season tall rhizomatous grass,and a minor component of cool-season grasslike(Nebraska sedge).The Warm-Season Shortgrass <br /> State is characterized by a warm-season short rhizomatous grass(inland saltgrass).The Increased Bare Ground State m characterized by <br /> early successional Lool-season grass(foxtail barley),annual grasses,and annual forbs. <br /> The site has a high water table throughout the growing season.The availability of water has a major influence on the vegetation that will <br /> persist on this site. <br /> Reference Plant Community <br /> This plant community is the interpretive plant community for this site.This community evolved with grazing by large herbivores and is well <br /> suited for grazing by domestic livestock.Historically,fires occurred infrequently This plant community can be found on areas that are grazed <br /> and where the grazed plants receive adequate periods of recovery during the growing season.The potential vegetation is about 80-95% <br /> grasses and grass likes,3 10%(orbs and 2-10%woody plants. <br /> The community is dominated by tall and mid warm and coal-season grasses Major grasses include alkali sacaton,switchgrass,prairie <br /> cordgrass and western wheatgrass.Other grasses and grass-likes occurring on the community include big bluestem,little bluestem.alkali <br /> cordgrass,Nebraska sedge,and Baltic rush.Key forbs and shrubs include American liconce,prairie gentian,rag sumpweed,and tourwing <br /> saitbush <br /> 12 <br />