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Arid Llano Estacado

Ecoregion in Llano Estacado, Great Plains in TX, NM

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The Arid Llano Estacado ecoregion is drier than the main portion of the Llano Estacado (25i) to the north. Its climate is transitional to the arid Chihuahuan Desert region (24) to the southwest. Across the region in New Mexico and Texas, yearly precipitation is less than that of the Llano Estacado (25i); there is also less winter precipitation and an absence of snow cover to provide soil moisture. This can cause the caliche layer to be closer to the surface in Ecoregion 25k, increasing the general droughty condition of the soil and making tilled agriculture more difficult than in the Llano Estacado (25i). The arid conditions are reflected in the land use, which is dominated by livestock grazing. The shortgrass prairie of grama and buffalo grasses is susceptible to overgrazing, and a broken grass cover allows the invasion of shrubs such as mesquite and lotebush. Oil and gas production activities are widespread.

— EPA

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