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12/9/2019 ESD Printable Report <br /> United States Department of Agriculture <br /> Natural Resources Conservation Service <br /> Ecological Site Description <br /> Section I: Ecological Site Characteristics <br /> Ecological Site Identification and Concept <br /> Site stage:Approved <br /> Approved:an ESD at the approved status represents a tier of documentation that fully describes all distinguishing features of the ecological site,to <br /> include both tabular and narrative entries.The reference state and community phase in the state and transition model is fully described,including both <br /> tabular and narrative entries.All other alternative states are at least described in narrative form.The approved ESD has undergone both quality control <br /> and quality assurance protocols. <br /> Site name:Loamy Plains,LRU's A&B 10-14 Inches,P.Z. <br /> l Bouteloua gracilis-P/euraphis jamesii <br /> (/blue grama-James'galleta) <br /> Site type:Rangeland <br /> Site/D:R069XY006CO <br /> Major land resource area(MLRA):069-Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains <br /> Figure 1.MLRA 69,Lrus A,B,and C <br /> MLRA 69 is located in the Arkansas Watershed of SE Colorado.It is comprised of rolling plains,river valleys,and canyonlands.The <br /> Arkansas River flows from the Rocky Mountains to Kansas.Tributaries include the Huerfano,and Purgatoire Rivers.It's traversed by 1-25 <br /> and U.S.50,and includes the cities of Pueblo,La Junta,and Lamar.Other cities include Canon City,and Walsenburg.Bent's Fort was <br /> once a major trading post along the Santa Fe Trail.The majority of land use is rangeland(>75%),and 6%cropland.The remainder is <br /> urban,recreation,etc.Land ownership is mostly private.Federal lands include U.S.Forest Service Comanche National Grassland,Dept.of <br /> Defense Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site and Fort Carson.There is a minor amount of Bureau of Land Management and other federal land. <br /> State areas include Pueblo and John Martin reservoirs. <br /> The"Dust Bowl"region(1930's)included SE Colorado.This area is periodically affected by severe drought.Dust storms may form during <br /> drought years,in windy periods.Elevations range from 3,600 to 6,300 feet.Annual precipitation is 10 to 16 inches,which occurs mostly <br /> during the growing season,often during rapidly developing thunderstorms.Mean annual air temperature(MART)is 48-52'F.Summer <br /> temperatures may exceed 100°F.Evapotranspiration rates are high.Winter temperatures may be sub-zero,and snowfall varies from 20-40 <br /> inches per year.Blizzards can form quickly <br /> Ecological Site Concept <br /> The Loamy Plains ESD occurs in an upland position on plains.The soils most commonly are formed on interfluves,fan remnants and <br /> hillslopes,from old alluvium,and eolian deposits.It is a warm-season dominant,mixed short and mid-grass prairie with a minor component <br /> of(orbs and shrubs.Blue grama is the primary species while galleta and western wheatgrass are secondary in LRU's A and B.Buffalograss <br /> may occasionally be found in LRU B.Fourwing saltbush,winterfat,and walkingstick cholla vary in amounts throughout the MLRA 69 extent. <br /> Trees such as one-seed Juniper is occasionally present when adjacent to associated ecological sites with shallow soils and exposed <br /> bedrock(i.e.sandstone breaks). <br /> Note:LRU C is sufficiently different from LRU's A and B and will be described in the"Loamy Plains,LRU C,14-16 Inches,and P.Z."ESD <br /> (reserved). <br /> Physiographic Features <br /> This site occurs on nearly level to gently sloping plains.There is no influential water table or wetland associated with this site. <br /> https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReporttfsReportPrt.aspx?id=R069XYOO6CO&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 1/18 <br />