WET MEADOW
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1 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
This state is representative of the natural variability under pre-Euro settlement conditions. This site is highly productive and vegetation is tolerant of saturation in the soil profile. Vegetation serves as an indicator of soil moisture gradient. Species classified as obligate or facultative wet occur closest to the perennial stream channel. Moving perpendicular to the stream channel vegetation become more tolerant of dry soil conditions. Community phase changes are primarily driven by drought, fire is not common.
Submodel
Description
This state is characterized by lowering of the water table and disconnection from the natural floodplain due to anthropogenic impacts such as road building, water diversion and up-stream channelization. Vegetation is dominated by basin big sagebrush. Understory is typically native perennial grass including basin wildrye, bluegrass and other native perennial grasses. Non native species may be present, but are not dominant.
Characteristics and indicators
This state is characterized by bank destabilization and channelization. The vegetation of this state may resemble another ecological site concept called loamy bottom, R025XY003NV. An important distinction between a drained state of a wet meadow and a loamy bottom is the proximity to a perennial stream. A true loamy bottom is not associated with a perennial stream.
Resilience management
The drained state of the wet meadow is very stable. The ability to restore this state back to the reference state is dependent geomorphic characteristics and disturbance history. Resilience management includes maintaining cover of perennial native species and preventing dominance by non-native annuals.
Mechanism
Trigger: Significant anthropogenic disturbance (road building, water diversion and up-stream channelization) resulting in introduction of non-native species and loss of seasonal flooding.
Slow variable: Lowering of the water table and loss of seasonal flooding allows dryland species to establish and out compete native species that prefer saturation in the soil profile. This transition may also be coupled with drought and/or inappropriate grazing management.
Threshold: Seasonal flooding is spatially and temporally truncated. Seasonal high water table is below 60cm or completely absent. Soil moisture is not sufficient to support vegetation characteristic of the reference state.
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.