Valley Of The Gods 2
ca. 1910
1998
Description:
VALLEY OF THE GODS 2 Overall shrub composition, frequencies and groundcover have increased slightly in the 89 years between photographs. Rare blackbrush reproduction has occurred in this site. However, the wavyleaf oak plants present in 1910 are no longer found. This loss may have resulted from wind erosion of surface sand from the site as there appears to be more desert pavement in the 1999 photograph as compared to 1910. Cheatgrass is now found on this site. Because of the low precipitation rates and shallow, less productive soils that exist here, the site may be in a stable state. As such, improvements such as change in vegetation composition and frequencies are slow to occur. Some other plants occurring here are Mormon tea, cliffrose, Indian ricegrass, snakeweed, bush encelia, and pricklypear cactus.
Vegetative Community:
Salt Desert Shrub
Location:
San Juan