331De Little Belt Foothills

Landscape Characteristics:

Foothills, terraces, and fans that formed in shale, siltstone, and terrace deposits. Elevations range from 3500 to 5000 feet. Drainage density is moderate.

Climate:

Mean annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 19 inches, about 40 to 50 percent falling as snow. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are frigid and typic ustic.

Potential Vegetation:

Foothills prairie/Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass

Relationships of Dominant Map Unit Components:

Landform Geology Soil Taxa
Foothills Shale/siltstone Haploborolls/Calciborolls/Argiborolls
Terraces/fans Terrace deposits/alluvium Argiborolls/Calciborolls

Disturbance and Land Use:

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