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<br /> <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />Soll Conservation Service, Colorado <br />Technical Gulde <br />Section II E <br />RANGE SITE N0. 287 • <br />Field Officc ' <br />August 1975 <br />RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION <br />for ~~~ r~p~~ <br />• STONY FOOTHILLS ~ ~rarf,a.t~..:i <br />land Resource Area: Central Desertic Basins, Mountains, <br />and Plateaus (31+) <br />Southern Rocky Hountains (48) <br />A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. Physiographic Features <br />/~'` <br />Rough rocky breaks in foothills and mesa country on steep slopes, <br />generally between 15 to 65$. At higher elevations the site <br />•occupies south and west exposures. At lower elevations it occurs <br />on north and east exposures. Elevation ranges from 5500 to 7500 <br />feet above sea level. • <br />2. Climatic Features <br />Annual precipitation averages from 12 to 15 inches. Slightly more <br />than half of the moisture falls between April 1 and September 30. <br />Months receiving the highest precipitation are July, August, and <br />September. Growing season extends from April through the end of <br />September. <br />June is usually the most drouthy month. Coot season grasses are <br />._ favored. and make their best growth following the spring thaw (about <br />April) when available moisture is greatest. These plants again~takc <br />advantage of~late summer moisture if they are in healthy condition. <br />3. Native (potential) Vegetation <br /> <br />This site is a grassland plant community with small amounts of shrubs, <br />pinyon pine, and Utah juniper. Grasses such as Indian ricegrass, <br />native bunch bluegrasses, needle-and-thread, galleta, blue 'grams, <br />Junegrass, squirreltail, and wheatgrasses make up the major part of <br />[he plant cover. Pinyon and juniper are generally present. Browsc <br />plants include big sage, mountain mahogany, serviceberry, Mormon tea, <br />and bltterbrush. Many of the fortis such as daisies, asters, eriogonuz <br />stemless goldenweed, phlox, penstemon, and herbaceous sage are as <br />ciated in the composition. Sites having ten percent or more c:ow~ <br />canopy of pinyon and/or juniper are ~.oodland sites. <br /> <br />