Island Sandhills
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1 More details
- Transition T2 More details
- Restoration pathway R1 More details
- Transition T3 More details
- Restoration pathway R3 More details
- Restoration pathway R2 More details
- Transition T4 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
Saltgrass, coyote brush, salt fat hen, poison oak and bush lupine typically dominate upland areas whereas the intergrade between histic 016XA001 and this site includes some groundwater fed wetland species, primarily Eleocharis and Juncus species. Wetland vegetation may expand upslope somewhat during very wet years and then contract to the lower elevation during years of poor rainfall. Some amount of organic matter accumulation within this zone is likely, but not to the extent demonstrated in 016XA001.
Submodel
Description
This state is most likely to occur in the form of small exclusions in odd field corners and other unmanaged areas. Following reclamation and the introduction of disturbance favored, grazing-adapted annual species, most of the drier portions of the ecological site would come to be dominated by such species with decreasing amounts of saltgrass in areas left ungrazed. Shrub species would be mostly reduced to trace amounts in such areas due to active control. At the lower elevation of this ecological site, facultative annual wetland species would likely compete heavily at the drying fringe, reducing the extent of dominance by historic species, but not excluding them altogether.
Submodel
Description
Active agricultural use, primarily for Bermuda grass production. The current typical grass crop is likely following previous annual wheat and other small grain cultivation.
Description
Developed with structures and attending infrastructure. While restoration is conceptually possible, it has not been demonstrated economically feasible. Compared to other ecological sites within the LRU, this ecological site presents fewer immediate hazards to structures and lesser likelihood of full restoration and therefore are less likely to be targeted for restoration.
Mechanism
Levee installation, land levelling, burning, and cultivation; introduction of grazing-adapted annual vegetation species and brush control.
Mechanism
Levee installation, land levelling, burning, and annual cultivation; introduction of grazing-adapted annual vegetation species and brush control.
Mechanism
Restoration of natural hydrology, reintroduction of native species and control of competing non-native vegetation.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Range Planting |
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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Wetland Restoration |
Mechanism
Levee installation, land levelling, burning, and annual cultivation; introduction of grazing-adapted annual vegetation species and brush control. Primary difference between T2 and T3 is the degree of surface disturbance and loss of soil organic matter resulting from annual tillage.
Mechanism
Removal of cultivation practices, restoration of natural hydrology, reintroduction of native species and control of competing non-native vegetation.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Range Planting |
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Drainage Water Management |
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) |
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Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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Wetland Restoration |
Mechanism
Removal of cultivation practices.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Wetland Enhancement |
Model keys
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Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.