National Wind Erosion Research Network
Status
Retired
Location
The Bellevue National Wind Erosion Research Network site is located on Heart Rock Ranch near Bellevue, Idaho, and managed by The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the local land owners. The site is located approximately 90 km north of the Snake River, along the northern edge of the Snake River Plain. The site is at an elevation of 1475 m above sea level.
Climate
The Bellevue Network site has a semiarid continental climate. The site receives on average 330 mm annual rainfall and 1040 mm snowfall. Average annual temperature is 5.8°C, with daily average maximum temperature ranging from 29°C in summer (July) to -0.9°C in winter (January) and average minimum temperatures ranging from 8.8°C in July to -13.1°C in January.
Vegetation and soil
Vegetation at the Bellevue Network site is dominated by two sagebrush species, including mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle) and threetip sagebrush (Artemisia tripartita Rydb.), rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird, and grass species including Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.). The surface soil at the site has a fine-loamy texture with moderately-weak physical crusting. The soils are deep to a duripan, well drained, and have relatively slow permeability.
Management
Private ranch, grazed by cattle and native herbivores.
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