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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 <br /> ,, an ESD at the provisional status represents the lowest tier of documentation that is releasable to the public.It contains a grouping of soil <br /> units that respond similarly to ecological processes.The ESD contains 1)enough information to distinguish it from similar and associated ecological <br /> sites and 2)a draft state and transition model capturing the ecological processes and vegetative states and community phases as they are currently <br /> conceptualized.The provisional ESD has undergone both quality control and quality assurance protocols.It is expected that the provisional ESD will <br /> continue refinement towards an approved status. <br /> Site name:Sandstone Breaks LRU's A&B <br /> Site type:Rangeland <br /> Site ID:R069XY053CO <br /> Major land resource area(MLRA):069-Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains <br /> I", <br /> MLRA 99,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 I-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.The"Dust Bowl"region(1930's)included SE Colorado.This area is periodically <br /> affected by severe drought.Dust storms may form during drought years,in windy periods.Elevations range from 3,600 to 6,300 feet. <br /> Annual precipitation is 10 to 16 inches,which occurs mostly during the growing season,often during rapidly developing thunderstorms. <br /> Mean annual air temperature(MART)is 48-52"F.Summer temperatures may exceed 100°F.Evapotranspiration rates are high.Winter <br /> temperatures may be s!h-zero,and snowfall varies from 20-40 inches per year.Blizzards can form quickly. <br /> Ecological Site Concept <br /> This site occurs in an upland position in plains and canyonlands.It is characterized by numerous sandstone outcrops and ranges from <br /> nearly level on the summit and toe-slope,to very steep on the back-slope.Primary production is warm-season midgrasses,with secondary <br /> warm-season tall bunchgrass,warm-season short bunchgrass and cool-season mid rhizomatous grasses.There is also a large variety of <br /> forbs and shrubs,and occasionally trees(juniper). <br /> Physiographic Features <br /> This site occurs on plains or canyonlands.Sandstone outcrops are common and can include vertical sandstone cliffs. <br /> On north facing slopes little bluestem,warm-season tall grasses,and juniper/pinyon will increase due to cooler temperatures and increased <br /> effective winter and summer precipitation. <br /> Landform: (1)Scarp <br /> (2)Mesa <br /> Minimum Maximum <br /> https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReport/fsReportPrt.aspx?id=R069XY053CO&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 1/19 <br />