Potential Natural Vegetation Group (PNVG):

Soils are shallow to bedrock or clayey restrictive layer present ( 4 to 10 inches average). Precipitation is usually winter snow. Soils are frequently saturated to the surface in the winter. Soil moisture regime is frigid. Vegetation Description Potential native plant community is dominated by low sagebrush and Sandberg bluegrass. Bottlebrush squirreltail and Thurbers Needlegrass are other important grasses. A variety of forbs may be present. Eventual cover might be 60 % grass, 10 % forbs and 30 % shrub, but some areas may show bare ground. Stiff sagebrush may be associated with low sagebrush in some areas at the center of the range, and completely replaces low sage in central Oregon and Washington. Disturbance Description Fire kills low sage for long periods of time. Cheatgrass and Medusahead grasses are likely to invade site when disturbed. Shallow soils and exposed rock limits fire