Desert Saltbush Scrub

Background

Description and distribution  Saltbush scrub occupies habitats that are generally moist, with a sandy loam soil, and a total salinity in the range of 0.2 - 0.7%. Atriplex polycarpa is the dominant species. Physiognomically, the community is often composed of a nearly uniform stand of shrubs about 1 meter tall forming a more complete cover than in Creosote Bush Scrub. Four-winged saltbush, Atriplex canescens var. Linearis, and screwbean mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana are common associates. Atriplex canescens shows greater dominance in dryer, coarser soils and occurs throughout the saltbush scrub habitat. Prosopis glandulosa reaches greater development in lower-elevation areas with a shallow water table or capillary fringe. Happlopappus acradenius ssp. Eremophylus is common in areas where P. glandulosa is dominant. Once common in the Plan area, this community now occurs only in small patches in the Willow Hole area, the Coachella Valley Preserve, and in scattered locales northwest of the Salton Sea. The total acreage in the Plan area is 5,572, of which <1% currently occurs on public land or private conservation land. Associated covered species. Species that are associated with this community are: flat-tailed horned lizard, Le Conte's thrasher, crissal thrasher, and Coachella Valley grasshopper. This community may be used during migration by riparian birds.