Cold Wet Mountain Meadow (CAREX)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1.1
Invasion of non-native meadow grasses
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Transition T2.1
Sustained improperly managed grazing
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Transition T2.2
Hydrologic alteration
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Restoration pathway R3.1
Rehabilitation actions
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Transition T3.1
Severe hydrologic alteration
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Restoration pathway R4.1
Rehabilitation actions
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Restoration pathway R4.2
Rehabilitation actions and significant passage of time
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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This represents the historical reference state in pristine conditions. Variability in depth to water table and seasonal fluctuations support native obligate wetland vegetation and vegetated communities include all historical functional and structural groups. The historical disturbance regime is intact and driven primarily by climate which influences drought and flood cycles. The resilience and resistance of the site is bolstered by negative feedbacks between vegetation establishment and hydrologic processes that maintains a dynamic equilibrium with geomorphological processes.
Description
This state is similar to the reference state yet includes a component of non-native species such as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), common timothy (Phleum pretense), and meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis). Ecological process and function have not been altered fundamentally by this low level of invasion, yet resistance and resilience are decreased. Erosion processes are still within a historical range of variation, yet with continued vegetation loss the site risks a transition to an alternative state. Variability in depth to water table and seasonal fluctuations support native vegetation and vegetated communities include all historical functional and structural groups, yet composition and richness may be reduced. The historical disturbance regime is intact and driven primarily by climate which influences drought and flood cycles. The resilience and resistance of the site is bolstered by negative feedbacks between vegetation establishment and hydrologic processes that maintains a dynamic equilibrium with geomorphological processes. This state is common due to widespread invasion of non-native meadow grasses in the Western US.
Description
Soil compaction, trampling and sustained overutilization has altered vegetated composition and increased bare ground. Relative to the current potential state, composition of wetland obligate sedges has been altered and may include a greater composition of grazing resistant Nebraska sedge or wetland facultative graminoids such as baltic rush. Non-native facultative wetland grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, timothy and meadow foxtail are increasing. Soil erosion and vegetation pedestalling is often present. Banks are moderately stable and hydrology may be altered somewhat, with slightly lowered water tables. This state may also include scenarios where an entrenched, confined floodplain has developed following restoration of an incised reach (from state 4 via restoration pathway 4.2).
Description
Where this site is hydrologically dependent on a stream network, sustained disturbance may lead to unstable stream banks and entrenched channels. Primary floodplains will become disconnected from the channel and evolve into terraces with significantly lowered water tables. This will often lead to the replacement of obligate wetland sedges with facultative wetland grasses such as tufted hairgrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Plant communities within this state will vary and may depend on water table levels, past disturbance history, drought and current management.
Mechanism
Sustained improperly managed grazing during times of year when soils are most susceptible to compaction, and when sedges are most prone to damage by trampling and over utilization.
Mechanism
This transition may be the result of several disturbances that lower water tables beyond depths that support obligate wetland vegetation, alter sediment supply and transport leading to scouring and channel incision, or directly increase flow velocities or flashiness. These may include: alteration of streamflow by irrigation or impoundment leading to a lowering of the water table during times of year when riparian woody vegetation is dependent; prolonged improperly managed livestock grazing; removal of beaver; direct manipulation of channel morphology (namely straightening for agricultural or development purposes); removal of large woody debris or large woody debris sources, from channels or adjacent forests and significant alterations of upland watershed vegetation altering peak discharge or sediment loads.
Mechanism
Restoration of hydrologic and biotic process and function through rehabilitation of channel and vegetation structure may be possible but will require considerable inputs, time and cost. This may require the placement of large woody debris, creation or removal of impoundments, alteration of water withdrawals, management changes to adjacent agricultural or grazing practices, or mechanical manipulation of stream channel courses among other intensive interventions. Restoration options will be highly site specific and may not be possible in many circumstances.
Mechanism
This transition may be the result of several disturbances that lower water tables beyond depths that support obligate wetland vegetation, alter sediment supply and transport leading to scouring and channel incision, or directly increase flow velocities or flashiness. These may include: alteration of streamflow by irrigation or impoundment leading to a lowering of the water table during times of year when riparian woody vegetation is dependent; prolonged improperly managed livestock grazing; removal of beaver; direct manipulation of channel morphology (namely straightening for agricultural or development purposes); removal of large woody debris or large woody debris sources, from channels or adjacent forests and significant alterations of upland watershed vegetation altering peak discharge or sediment loads.
Mechanism
Restoration of hydrologic and biotic process and function through rehabilitation of channel and vegetation structure may be possible but will require considerable inputs, time and cost. This may require the placement of large woody debris, creation or removal of impoundments, alteration of water withdrawals, management changes to adjacent agricultural or grazing practices, or mechanical manipulation of stream channel courses among other intensive interventions. Restoration options will be highly site specific and may not be possible in many circumstances.
Mechanism
Given time, if channel disturbances are removed and natural channel evolution processes are allowed to take place, the stream will form an entrenched floodplain at a lower depth than the original. The original floodplain will remain a low terrace, perched above the newly forming floodplain and supporting a lowered water table and facultative wetland plant species. The resulting riparian area will be more confined and of significantly less extent than originally. The capacity of the basin to capture and regulate water will be reduced considerably.
Model keys
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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.