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• ~ Technical Guide
<br />Section IL-F Ioodland
<br />Resource Areas 34,35,
<br />'':iflTl'~T'I' ~) - ~le;*,et.r.tinn AtLnchr~r_nt; 47,48,49,51,69,70
<br />i•larch 1, 1966
<br />UNITED STATES DEPARTifE;dI' OF AGRICULTURE
<br />Soil Conservation Service
<br />Colorado
<br />PIPJYOR - JUIJIPER
<br />SITE DESCRLI'TIOiIS
<br />Range in Elevation: 5,000 - 7,500 feet - San Luis Valley 8,000-9,000
<br />Precip1itation Range:' 12 to 15 inches
<br />Avcra;6e Annual Temperature: 49° - 53° F
<br />FrostllFrcc Period: 60 - 120 days
<br />General Description of the type: The pinyon - juniper type woodland occurs at the
<br />lowest elevations of the coniferous woodland types in Colorado. It is the
<br />transition zone between ;,rasslands and the montane forests, At the lower limits
<br />the t}~pe may consist o scattered to almost pure stands of Utali juniper on the
<br />lJestern slope, and one seeded juniper on the Eastern slope. As the type blends
<br />into the Ponderosa pine or oal:brusli types, pinyon pine and Rocl;y if°untain juni-
<br />per become the dominant species, Between the extremes pinyon and the various
<br />junipers constitute a true plant association,
<br />Ass°ciated Overstory plants: E:;cept for stunted ponderosa pine near the upper
<br />elevations of the type there are no associated trees in the type,
<br />Associated Undcrstory plants:
<br />Upper Limits
<br />tfountain malio~any, Indian rice grass, mutton grass, sedges, prarie junegrass,
<br />big sagebrush (west slope), service berry, cliff rose,
<br />Lower Limits
<br />Indian rice grass, blue grama, galleta, cheat grass, Fendler three awn, Rabbit-
<br />brush, Snakeweed, Fleabane.
<br />Effects of Aspect and Position: At upper limits of type it prefers south and west
<br />facing slopes, On slopes the density is usually less than on :latter areas,
<br />t`lesa tops, moderately sloping lands, and valley floors usually have more .tense
<br />stands,
<br />Site Index: P!o site index curves are available for these species, While some
<br />stands will reach heights o: over 35 feet, many stands do not reach over 20
<br />feet, Because of the uniformity of the type no site index will be used,
<br />Light tolerance: To secure reproduction some shade is needed, but the best growth
<br />is made in full sunlight,
<br />Uses of the Species: Junipers arc a good source of fence posts, Pinyon pine is a
<br />good fuel wood species and good for Christmas trees, Some trees on areas of
<br />deeper soils are balled and burlapped as ornamental trees, Pinyon nuts in
<br />good seed years are also a valuable product,
<br />D-4
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