342Ad Bighorn Intermontane Basin

Landscape Characteristics:

Dissected plains, hills, terraces, and fans that formed in shale, siltstone, and sandstone overlain by some alluvium and lacustrine sediment. Elevations range from 3700 to 4700 feet. Drainage density is moderate.

Climate:

Mean annual precipitation ranges from 5 to 12 inches. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are mesic and ustic aridic. Winters are very dry.

Potential Vegetation:

Sagebrush steppe with some Foothills prairie

Relationships of Dominant Map Unit Components:

Landform Geology Soil Taxa
Plains/hills Sedimentary Torriorthents/Camborthids
Fans/terraces Alluvium Camborthids/Calciorthids

Disturbance and Land Use:

The primary natural disturbance is drought. Land use is predominantly livestock grazing and irrigated cropland.