Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R052XY062MT
Swale (Se) Dry Grassland
Last updated: 7/11/2019
Accessed: 11/13/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 052X–Brown Glaciated Plains
The Brown Glaciated Plains, MLRA 52, is an expansive and agriculturally and ecologically significant area. It consists of around 14.5 million acres and stretches across 350 miles from east to west, encompassing portions of 15 counties in north-central Montana. This region represents the southwestern limit of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and is considered to be the driest and westernmost area within the vast network of glacially derived prairie pothole landforms of the northern Great Plains. Elevation ranges from 2,000 feet (610 meters) to 4,600 feet (1,400 meters).
Soils are primarily Mollisols, but Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols are also common. Till from continental glaciation is the predominant parent material, but alluvium and bedrock are also common. Till deposits are typically less than 50 feet thick, and in some areas glacially deformed bedrock occurs at or near the soil surface (Soller, 2001). Underlying sedimentary bedrock largely consisting of Cretaceous shale, sandstone, and mudstone (Vuke et al., 2007) is commonly exposed on hillslopes, particularly along drainageways. Significant alluvial deposits occur along glacial outwash channels and major drainages, including portions of the Missouri, Teton, Marias, Milk, and Frenchman Rivers. Large glacial lakes, particularly in the western half of the MLRA, deposited clayey and silty lacustrine sediments (Fullerton et al., 2013).
Much of the western portion of this MLRA was glaciated towards the end of the Wisconsin age, and the maximum glacial extent occurred approximately 20,000 years ago (Fullerton et al., 2004). The result is a geologically young landscape that is predominantly a level till plain interspersed with lake plains and dominated by soils in the Mollisol and Vertisol orders. These soils are very productive and generally are well suited to dryland farming. Much of this area is aridic-ustic. Crop-fallow dryland wheat farming is the predominant land use. Areas of rangeland typically are on steep hillslopes along drainages.
The rangeland, much of which is native mixedgrass prairie, increases in abundance in the eastern half of the MLRA. The Wisconsin-age till in the north-central part of this area typically formed large disintegration moraines with steep slopes and numerous poorly drained potholes. A large portion of Wisconsin-age till occurring on the type of level terrain that would typically be optimal for farming has large amounts of less-suitable sodium-affected Natrustalfs. Significant portions of Blaine, Phillips, and Valley Counties were glaciated approximately 150,000 years ago during the Illinoisan age. Due to erosion and dissection of the landscape, many of these areas have steeper slopes and more exposed bedrock than areas glaciated during the Wisconsin age (Fullerton and Colton, 1986).
While much of the rangeland in the aridic-ustic portion of MLRA 52 is classified as belonging to the “dry grassland” climatic zone, sites in portions of southern MLRA 52 may belong to the “dry shrubland” climatic zone. The dry shrubland zone represents the northernmost extent of the big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) steppe on the Great Plains. As similar soils occur in both southern and northern portions of the MLRA, it is currently hypothesized that climate is the primary driving factor affecting big sagebrush distribution in this area. However, the precise factors are not fully understood at this time.
Sizeable tracts of largely unbroken rangeland in the eastern half of the MLRA and adjacent southern Saskatchewan are home to the Northern Montana population of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), and large portions of this area are considered to be a Priority Area for Conservation (PAC) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013). This population is unique among sage grouse populations in the fact that many individuals overwinter in the big sagebrush steppe (dry shrubland) in the southern portion of the MLRA and then migrate to the northern portion of the MLRA, which lacks big sagebrush (dry grassland), to live the rest of the year (Smith, 2013).
Areas of the till plain near the Bearpaw and Highwood Mountains as well as the Sweetgrass Hills and Rocky Mountain foothills are at higher elevations, receive higher amounts of precipitation, and have a typic-ustic moisture regime. These areas have significantly more rangeland production than the drier aridic-ustic portions of the MLRA and have enough moisture to produce crops annually rather than just bi-annually, as in the drier areas. Ecological sites in this higher precipitation area are classified as the moist grassland climatic zone.
Classification relationships
NRCS Soil Geography Hierarchy
• Land Resource Region: Northern Great Plains
• Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 052 Brown Glaciated Plains
• Climate Zone: Dry Grassland
National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units (Cleland et al., 1997; McNab et al., 2007)
• Domain: Dry
• Division: Temperate Steppe
• Province: Great Plains-Palouse Dry Steppe Province 331
• Section: Northwestern Glaciated Plains 331D
• Subsection: Montana Glaciated Plains 331Dh
• Landtype association/Landtype phase: N/A
National Vegetation Classification Standard (Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2008)
• Class: Mesomorphic Shrub and Herb Vegetation Class (2)
• Subclass: Temperate and Boreal Grassland and Shrubland Subclass (2.B)
• Formation: Temperate Grassland, Meadow, and Shrubland Formation (2.B.2)
• Division: Great Plains Grassland and Shrubland Division (2.b.2.Nb)
• Macrogroup: Hesperostipa comata – Pascopyrum smithii – Festuca hallii Grassland Macrogroup (2.B.2.Nb.2)
• Group: Pascopyrum smithii – Hesperostipa comata – Schizachyrium scoparium – Bouteloua spp. Mixedgrass Prairie Group (2.B.2.Nb.2.c)
• Alliance: Pascopyrum smithii – Nassella viridula Northwestern Great Plains Herbaceous Alliance
• Association: Pascopyrum smithii – Nassella viridula Herbaceous Vegetation
EPA Ecoregions
• Level 1: Great Plains (9)
• Level 2: West-Central Semi-Arid Prairies (9.3)
• Level 3: Northwestern Glaciated Plains (42)
• Level 4: North Central Brown Glaciated Plains (42o) & Glaciated Northern Grasslands (42j)
Ecological site concept
This provisional ecological site occurs in the Dry Grassland climatic zone of MLRA 52. Map units shown in Figure 1 contain minor components of this ecological site, typically less than 10 percent of the map unit composition. This map is approximate, is not intended to be definitive, and may be subject to change. Onsite evaluations are necessary, particularly in boundary or intergrade areas where ecological sites from multiple climate zones may overlap. Swale Dry Grassland is an extensive ecological site on till plains, moraines, and fans in MLRA 52. Although present in the vast majority of soil map units, it is nearly always a minor component because it occurs on swale microfeatures. A swale is defined as a shallow, open depression in unconsolidated materials which lacks a defined channel but can funnel overland or subsurface flow into a drainageway (USDA-NRCS, 2016).
The distinguishing characteristic of this site is that it receives additional moisture via surface runoff from adjacent sites. Soils for this ecological site may range from moderately deep (between 20 to 40 inches to bedrock) to very deep (greater than 60 inches to bedrock), but are typically very deep and derived from local alluvium. This ecological site may occur on slopes of up to 15 percent, but most commonly occurs on slopes of 8 percent or less. Soil surface textures (0 to 4 inches) are typically loam to clay loam. In some areas, but not all, the soils have a mollic epipedon. This site is more productive than surrounding sites due to the increased available moisture. Characteristic vegetation is green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii). Thickspike wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus) becomes more common in the northern extent of MLRA 52. Other needlegrass (Hesperostipa) species show a similar pattern with shortbristle needle and thread, also known as western porcupine grass (Hesperostipa curtiseta), becoming more common north of the Milk River. The principal shrub on this site is silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana), which can be quite abundant in some areas.
Associated sites
R052XY032MT |
Loamy (Lo) Dry Grassland The Loamy site is on slopes of less than 15 percent on moraines and till plains upslope from and commonly surrounding the Swale site. |
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R052XY040MT |
Loamy-Steep (Lostp) Dry Grassland The Loamy Steep site is found on slopes of 15 percent or greater on hillslopes. The Swale site is found on concave slope positions where surface runoff is concentrated. |
R052XY001MT |
Clayey (Cy) Dry Grassland The Clayey site is on slopes of less than 15 percent on moraines and till plains upslope from and commonly surrounding the Swale ecological site. Soil horizon material contains greater than 35 percent clay. |
Similar sites
R052XY730MT |
Swale (Se) Dry Shrubland This site differs from Swale Dry Grassland in that it has slightly warmer annual temperatures and can support big sagebrush. |
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R052XY060MT |
Overflow (Ov) This site differs from the Swale site in that it is on flood plains rather than upland swales. It generally is on stream terraces adjacent to a losing stream reach and in some areas has a water table greater than 40 inches below the soil surface. |
R052XY032MT |
Loamy (Lo) Dry Grassland This site differs from the Swale site in that it is in higher topographical positions that do not receive additional moisture whereas the Swale site is in the bottoms of coulees or swales and receives additional moisture. |
Figure 2. Figure 4. Diagram of associated sites and hydrologic patterns
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
Not specified |
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