Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site FX053A99X701
Clay (Cl)
Last updated: 11/22/2023
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 053A–Northern Dark Brown Glaciated Plains
The Northern Dark Brown Glaciated Plains, MLRA 53A, is a large, agriculturally and ecologically significant area. It consists of approximately 6.1 million acres and stretches 140 miles from east to west and 120 miles from north to south, encompassing portions of 8 counties in northeastern Montana and northwestern North Dakota. This region represents part of the southern edge of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during maximum glaciation. It is one of the driest and westernmost areas within the vast network of glacially derived prairie pothole landforms of the Northern Great Plains and falls roughly between the Missouri Coteau to the east and the Brown Glaciated Plains to the west. Elevation ranges from 1,800 feet (550 meters) to 3,300 feet (1,005 meters).
Soils are primarily Mollisols, but Inceptisols and Entisols 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 (Soller, 2001). Underlying the till is sedimentary bedrock largely consisting of Cretaceous shale, sandstone, and mudstone (Vuke et al., 2007). The bedrock is commonly exposed on hillslopes, particularly along drainageways. Significant alluvial deposits occur in glacial outwash channels and along major drainages, including portions of the Missouri, Poplar, and Big Muddy Rivers. Large eolian deposits of sand occur in the vicinity of the ancestral Missouri River channel east of Medicine Lake (Fullerton et al., 2004). The northwestern portion of the MLRA contains a large unglaciated area containing paleoterraces and large deposits of sand and gravel known as the Flaxville gravel.
Much of this MLRA was glaciated towards the end of the Wisconsin age, and the maximum glacial extent occurred approximately 20,000 years ago (Fullerton and Colton, 1986; Fullerton et al., 2004). Subsequent erosion from major stream and river systems has created numerous drainageways throughout much of the MLRA. The result is a geologically young landscape that is predominantly a dissected till plain interspersed with alluvial deposits and dominated by soils in the Mollisol and Inceptisol orders. Much of this area is typic ustic, making these soils very productive and generally well suited to production agriculture.
Dryland farming is the predominant land use, and approximately 50 percent of the land area is used for cultivated crops. Winter, spring, and durum varieties of wheat are the major crops, with over 48 million bushels produced annually (USDA-NASS, 2017). Areas of rangeland typically are on steep hillslopes along drainages. The rangeland is mostly native mixedgrass prairie similar to the Stipa-Agropyron, Stipa-Bouteloua-Agropyron, and Stipa-Bouteloua faciations (Coupland, 1950, 1961). Cool-season grasses dominate and include rhizomatous wheatgrasses, needle and thread, western porcupine grass, and green needlegrass. Woody species are generally rare; however, many of the steeper drainages support stands of trees and shrubs such as green ash and chokecherry. Seasonally ponded, prairie pothole wetlands may occur throughout the MLRA, but the greatest concentrations are in the east and northeast where receding glaciers stagnated and formed disintegration moraines with hummocky topography and numerous areas of poorly drained soils.
Classification relationships
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: Glaciated Northern Grasslands Section 331L
• Subsection: Glaciated Northern Grasslands Subsection 331La
• 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 and Shrubland Formation (2.B.2)
• Division: Central North American 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 Mixedgrass Prairie Group (2.B.2.Nb.2.c)
EPA Ecoregions
• Level 1: Great Plains (9)
• Level 2: West-Central Semi-Arid Prairies (9.3)
• Level 3: Northwestern Glaciated Plains (42)
• Level 4: Glaciated Dark Brown Prairie (42i)
Glaciated Northern Grasslands (42j)
Ecological site concept
Clay is an ecological site of limited extent occurring on stream terraces and outwash fans. The distinguishing characteristic of this site is that it contains greater than 35 percent clay in the upper 4 inches of soil. Soils for this ecological site are typically moderately deep to very deep (more than 20 inches to bedrock), well drained, and derived from clayey alluvium or glaciofluvial deposits. Characteristic vegetation is western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), and green needlegrass (Nassella viridula).
Associated sites
FX053A99X032 |
Loamy (Lo) Loamy is on similar landscapes and slope positions as Clay but where clay content is 35 percent or less. |
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FX053A99X131 |
Shallow Clay (SwC) Shallow Clay is found adjacent to Clay where bedrock occurs near the soil surface. It typically occupies a backslope position downslope from the Clay ecological site. |
Similar sites
FX053A99X131 |
Shallow Clay (SwC) This site differs from Clay in that depth to bedrock or paralithic bedrock is less than 20 inches. |
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FX053A99X032 |
Loamy (Lo) This site differs from Clay in that its soils contain 35 percent or less clay in the surface 4 inches whereas in the Clay ecological site, the soil contains more than 35 percent clay in the surface 4”. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Pascopyrum smithii |
Legacy ID
R053AY701MT
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Ecosystem states
States 2 and 5 (additional transitions)
T1A | - | Introduction of non-native grass species, such as Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and crested wheatgrass. |
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T2A | - | Prolonged drought, improper grazing management, or a combination of these factors |
T2B | - | Displacement of native species by non-native invasive species (Crested Wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, noxious weeds, etc.) |
T2C | - | Conversion to cropland |
R3A | - | Range seeding, grazing land mechanical treatment, timely moisture, proper grazing management (management intensive and costly) |
T3B | - | Conversion to cropland |
T4A | - | Conversion to cropland |
T5A | - | Cessation of annual cropping |
T6A | - | Conversion to cropland |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
P2.1a | - | Drought, improper grazing management |
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P2.2a | - | Return to normal or above average precipitation, proper grazing management |