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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 /> c 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(lame:Shaly Plains LRU's A&B <br /> l Atriplex canescens-Krascheninnikovia/anata l Sporobo/us airoides-Pascopyrum smithii <br /> (/fourwing saltbush-winterfat/alkali sacaton-western wheatgrass) <br /> Site type:Rangeland <br /> Site ID:R069XY046CO <br /> Major land resource area(MLRA):069-Upper Arkansas Valley Rolling Plains <br /> 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.Elevations MLRA-wide are 3,700-6,400 feet. <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.Annual precipitation is 10 to 16 inches,which occurs mostly during the growing season,often during <br /> rapidly developing thunderstorms.Mean annual air temperature(MART)is 48-52*F.Summer temperatures may exceed 100°F. <br /> Evapotranspiration rates are high.Winter temperatures may be sub-zero,and snowfall varies from 20-40 inches per year.Blizzards can <br /> form quickly. <br /> Ecological Site Concept <br /> The Shaly Plains ESD occurs in an upland position on plains.It is a cool-season/warm-season co-dominant mixed mid and shortgrass <br /> prairie with a minor component of shrubs and(orbs. <br /> Note:LRU C will be described in the"Shaly Plains,LRU C,(14-16 Inches P.Z.),reserved. <br /> Physiographic Features <br /> This site occurs on plains.There is no influential water table or wetland associated with this site. <br /> Landform:interfluves,ridges,pediments,knolls,hillslopes <br /> Landform: (1)Ridge <br /> https://esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESDReporttfsReportPrt.aspx?id=R069XY046CO&rptLevel=all&approved=yes&repType=regular&scrns=&comm= 1/16 <br />