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~„- <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />Soil Conservation Service. Colorado <br />Technical Guide <br />Section II E <br />RANGE SITE N0. Z87 ~ <br />Field Office <br />August 1975 <br />RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION <br />for <br />STONY FOOTHILLS <br />I, ~)i~At .r.~A'~ <br />- Land Resource Area: Central Desertic Basins, <br />' and Plateaus (34) <br />Southern Rocky Mountains <br />A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. Physiographic Features <br /> <br />Mountains, <br />(48) <br />Rough rocky breaks in~foothills and mesa country~on steep slopes, <br />generally between 1$ to 6$$. At higher elevations the site <br />occupies south and west exposures. At lower elevations it occurs <br />on north and east exposures. Elevation ranges from 5500 to 7500 <br />feet above sea level. <br />2. Llimatic.Features <br />Annual precipitation averages from 12 to 15 inches. Slightly more <br />than half of the moisture falls between April 1 and September 30. <br />Months receiving the highest precipitation are July, August, and <br />September. Growing season extends from April through the end of <br />September. <br />June is usually the most drauthy month. Cool season grasses are <br />favored and make their best growth following the spring thaw (about <br />.- April) when available moisture is greatest. These plants again', take <br />advantage of'late summer moisture if they are in healthy condition. <br />3. Native (potential) Vegetation <br />ey <br />~.: <br />`^ <br />r~ <br />r.+. <br />• <br />This site is a grassland plant community with small amounts of shrubs, <br />pinyon pine, and Utah juniper. Grasses such as Indian ricegrass, <br />native bunch bluegrasses, needle-and thread, galleta, blue grams, <br />Junegrass, squirreltail, and wheatgrasses make up the major part of <br />the plant cover. Pinyon and juniper are generally present. Browse <br />plants include big sage, mountain mahogany,.serviceberry, Morman tea, <br />and bitierbrush. Hany of the fortis such as daisies, asters, eriugnnums, <br />stemless goldenweed, phlox, penstemon, and herbaceous sage are asso- <br />ciated in the composition. Sites having ten percent or more crown <br />canopy of pinyon and/or juniper are woodland sites. • <br /> <br />