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Custom Soil Resource Report <br /> Ecological Site Information for: <br /> R067BY056CO — Sandstone Breaks <br /> R067BY056CO — Sandstone Breaks— <br /> Reference Plant Community <br /> This plant community is the interpretive plant community for this site. This <br /> community developed with grazing by large herbivores and is suited to grazing by <br /> domestic livestock. Historically, fires likely occurred infrequently. This plant <br /> community can be found on areas where grazed plants receive adequate periods of <br /> recovery during the growing season. The potential vegetation is about 70-90% <br /> grasses and grass-likes, 5-15% forbs and 5-15% woody plants. <br /> Mid and tallgrasses dominate this community. The principal grasses are prairie <br /> sandreed, little bluestem and sideoats grama. Secondary grasses are blue grama, <br /> switchgrass and needle and thread. Other important grasses are sand bluestem <br /> and big bluestem. Threadleaf and sun sedge are common. Dominant forbs are <br /> American vetch, dotted gayfeather, purple prairie clover and upright prairie <br /> coneflower. Key shrubs are chokecherry, skunkbush sumac, western sandcherry, <br /> golden and wax currant. Other shrubs may include hackberry, mountain mahogany, <br /> and others. Trees are occasionally present. One-seed juniper occurs in the <br /> southeastern counties. <br /> This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function <br /> and biological integrity. Litter is properly distributed where vegetative cover is <br /> continuous. Some litter movement may occur on steeper, wind-swept slopes. <br /> Decadence and natural plant mortality is very low. Community dynamics, nutrient <br /> cycle, water cycle and energy flow are functioning properly. This community is <br /> resistant to many disturbances except continuous grazing, tillage and/or <br /> development into urban or other uses. Areas having lost all vegetation, such as <br /> livestock and vehicle trails are subject to wind and water erosion. <br /> Total annual production ranges from 700 to 1600 pounds of air-dry weight with a <br /> Represenative Value of 1,100 pounds. <br /> 13 <br />