2022-04-04_PERMIT FILE - M2022013 (37)

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Canada wildrye and Nebraska sedge have decreased. Western wheatgrass may initially increase or decrease depending upon the season of use. Forbs and shrubs are still present in reduced amounts. This plant community is at risk of losing warm-season tall grasses, palatable forbs and shrubs. This community has decreased in plant frequency and production. Less litter can be expected however, the soil remains stable and can become very resistant to change depending on the degree to which the inland saltgrass has increased. Total annual production, during a normal year, ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds per acre air-dry weight and will average 1,500 pounds. Figure 8.Plant community growth curve(percent production by month). CO6713,Warm-Season Dominant,Cool-Season Subdominant; MLRA-6713; lowland water-influenced soils. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 0 0 2 8 20 130 20 12 5 3 0 0 Community 1.3 Excessive Litter Plant Community This plant community developed under the absence of grazing, fire and/or haying. The dominant plants are similar to those found in the Reference Plant Community. Plant density has been reduced. Grazing, haying or fire followed by prescribed grazing can quickly move this plant community back toward the Reference Plant Community. Much of the nutrients are tied up in excessive litter. Some organic matter oxidizes in the air rather than being incorporated into the soil due to the absence of animal impact. Increased litter levels and standing dead canopy prevent sunlight from reaching plant crowns and in time can stagnate the plant community. Bunchgrasses such as alkali sacaton, little bluestem and switchgrass have a tendency to exhibit dead centers and eventually entire plants can die off. Total annual production can vary substantially from 800 to 3,000 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre depending on how long this plant community has developed in the absence of haying, grazing or fire. Figure 9.Plant community growth curve(percent production by month). CO6715,Warm season/cool season co-dominant,excess litter; MLRA-6713; lowland water influenced soils.. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 0 0 1 7 20 135 20 10 5 2 0 0 Pathway 1.1 to 1.2 Community 1.1 to 1.2 Continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunity between grazing events, and/or drought, shifts this plant community toward the At-Risk Plant Community. Recurring spring seasonal grazing will decrease cool-season plants. Recurring summer grazing will decrease warm- season plants and tend to increase cool-season plants over time. Biotic integrity will be altered and water& nutrient cycles may become impaired as a result of this community pathway. Pathway 1.1 to 1.3 Community 1.1 to 1.3 Non-use and/or lack of fire will cause the Reference Plant Community to shift toward the Excessive Litter Plant Community. Plant decadence and standing dead plant material will impede energy flow. Water and nutrient cycles will be impaired as a result of this community pathway.