Physiographic features

This site typically occurs on till plains, lake plains, outwash plains, and sand plains where they are on flats, slight rises, and on slightly convex slopes adjacent to shallow depressions. It occurs on some drainageways; flooding on these drainageways is rare to occasional with a brief duration. Additionally, it occurs on some lake shores. The subsurface hydrology of this site has been considered more determinative of the plant community than landform or soils variability; further investigation and documentation of the landform/ soils/ hydrology/ plant relationship is needed. Slope is typically less than 3 percent but ranges to 6 percent.

Landform: till plain, lake plain, outwash plain, sand plain, drainageway, lakeshore

*On lake shores, prolonged inundation can occur periodically due to high lake levels. During these periods of inundation, the Limy Subirrigated ES does not apply to the lake shore soils.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

MLRA 53B is considered to have a continental climate – cold winters and hot summers, low humidity, light rainfall, and much sunshine. Extremes in temperature are characteristic of the MLRA. The climate is the result of this MLRA’s location in the geographic center of North America. There are few natural barriers on the northern Great Plains. The air masses move unobstructed across the plains and account for rapid changes in temperature.

Annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 20 inches per year. The normal average annual temperature is about 41° F. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from about 4° F (Powers Lake, ND) to about 10° F (Pollock, SD). July is the warmest month with temperatures averaging from about 67° F (Powers Lake, ND) to about 72° F (Pollock, SD). The range of normal average monthly temperatures between the coldest and warmest months is about 62° F. This large annual range attests to the continental nature of this MLRA's climate. Winds average about 11 miles per hour annually, ranging from about 13 miles per hour during the spring to about 10 miles per hour during the summer. Daytime winds are generally stronger than nighttime and occasional strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 50 miles per hour.

Growth of native cool-season plants begins in late March and continues to early to mid-July. Native warm- season plants begin growth in mid-May and continue to the end of August. Greening up of cool-season plants can occur in September and October when adequate soil moisture is present.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Climate stations used

• (1) GARRISON [USW00094041], Garrison, ND

• (2) WILDROSE 3NW [USC00329400], Wildrose, ND

• (3) TIOGA 1E [USC00328737], Tioga, ND

• (4) POWERS LAKE 1N [USC00327281], Powers Lake, ND

• (5) ROSCOE [USC00397277], Roscoe, SD

• (6) LEOLA [USC00394891], Leola, SD

• (7) GACKLE [USC00323309], Gackle, ND

• (8) WILTON [USC00329455], Wilton, ND

Influencing water features

The Limy Subirrigated site does receive additional water from a seasonal high-water table. The high level of carbonates near the surface indicates that the soils formed with a dominantly upward direction of water movement through the soil. During the growing season, water table depths typically are 1.5 to 3.5 feet during April through June. As a result of evapotranspiration and reduced precipitation, the water table lowers to 4 to 6 feet during July and August. It commonly starts to rise again in the fall (commonly at 2.5 to 5 feet during September through November). Surface infiltration rates range from moderately slow to rapid. Permeability through the profile typically ranges from moderately slow to moderately rapid, but it is very rapid in the substratum of some coarse-textured soils. Water loss on this site is through evapotranspiration.

Soil features

Soils associated with this site are in the Mollisol and Entisol orders. The Mollisols are classified further as Aeric Calciaquolls. The Entisols are classified further as Aeric Endoaquents. These soils were developed under prairie vegetation. Typically, they formed in glacial till, glaciolacustrine sediments, glaciofluvial deposits, or eolian deposits; a few formed in alluvium along drainageways.

The common features of soils in this site are a highly calcareous subsoil within a depth of 16 inches (typically, immediately below the surface layer) and a seasonal high-water table which contributes additional water for transpiration. This site is somewhat poorly drained – soil matrix colors are brown or yellow (not gray) within a depth of 30 inches; redoximorphic features (primarily concentrations) typically occur at a depth between 18 and 30 inches. These soils are very deep. Since sub-surface hydrology and calcium carbonate accumulation are the primary factors used in identifying this site, all textures are included. Therefore, soil physical properties associated with texture vary widely.

Soil salinity is none to slight (E.C. <8 dS/m) to a depth 16 inches in the non-saline phases; in saline phases (Salinized Sate), E.C. exceeds 8 and may exceed 16 in some areas. Sodicity is typically low (SAR <5) to a depth >16 inches in the non-saline state but may be >5 in saline phases. Both salinity and sodicity commonly increase with depth in moderately fine to moderately coarse textured soils.

Soil reaction typically is neutral to moderately alkaline (pH 6.6 to 8.4) in the surface layer and slightly or moderately alkaline (pH 7.4 to 8.4) below. Calcium carbonate content is typically less than 15 percent in the surface layer (in a few soils, it may be <5%). It is commonly 15 to 45 percent in the highly calcareous subsoil; however, in sandy soils, this layer may have 5 to 15 percent carbonates. Calcium carbonate content decreases in the substratum.

Soils on this site are moderately susceptible to highly susceptible to wind erosion. The soil surface is stable and intact. Sub-surface soil layers are non-restrictive to water movement and root penetration.

Major soil series correlated to the Limy Subirrigated site are Bearden, Divide, Fram, Hamerly, Karlsruhe, Mauvais, Moritz, Ulen, and Wyndmere.

Access Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx) for specific local soils information.

Figure 8. Diagram depicts water movement, capillary rise on high water table soils. In silt loam soils, this rise can reach eight to nine feet above the water table. In sandy soils, which have larger pore sizes between soil particles, the capillary rise is less, perhaps reaching 1.5 to 2 feet above the water table. Water movement toward the surface due to capillary rise provides a continuous supply of soluble salts which accumulate in the root zone or at the soil surface as the capillary water evaporates.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Animal Community – Wildlife Interpretations

Landscape

The MLRA 53B landscape is characterized by nearly level to rolling till plains including kettle holes, kames, moraines, and small glacial lakes. The MLRA is located within the heart of the Prairie Pothole (Coteau) Region with temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetlands throughout the MLRA. MLRA 53B has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers, low humidity, light rainfall, and much sunshine. Extremes in temperature are common and characteristic of the MLRA. This area supports natural prairie vegetation characterized by western wheatgrass, needle and thread, green needlegrass, and big bluestem. Little bluestem is an important species on sloping and shallow soils. Prairie cordgrass, northern reedgrass, and sedges are important species on wet soils. Western snowberry, chokecherry, plum, stiff goldenrod, blacksamson echinacea, and prairie rose are commonly interspersed throughout the area.

Complex and intermingled ecological sites create diverse grass and shrub land habitats. Ecological sites are interspersed with moderate to high densities of depressional wetlands. MLRA 53B includes headwaters to tributaries of the Missouri River, including the Big Muddy River, White Earth River, Painted Woods Creek and Apple Creek in North Dakota and Spring Creek in South Dakota. Numerous unnamed creeks and drainageways drain into the James River in North and South Dakota which are in MLRA 55B. These habitats provide critical life-cycle components for many wildlife species including aquatic species.

Historic Communities/Conditions within MLRA 53B:

The northern mixed-grass prairie was a disturbance-driven ecosystem with fire, herbivory, and climate functioning as the primary ecological drivers, either singly or often in combination. The high density of wetland and associated native grassland historically supported an abundance of waterfowl and other marsh dependent birds. Many species of grassland birds, small mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and herds of roaming American bison, elk, and pronghorn were historically among the inhabitants adapted to this semi-arid region. Roaming herbivores, as well as several small mammal and insect species, were the primary consumers linking the grassland resources to large predators (such as the wolf and mountain lion) and smaller carnivores (such as the coyote, bobcat, red fox, and raptors). Extirpated species include free-ranging American bison, elk, black and grizzly bear, gray wolf, and peregrine falcon (breeding). Extinct from the region is the Rocky Mountain locust.

Present Communities/Conditions within MLRA 53B:

Following European influence, domestic livestock grazing, elimination of fire, energy development, and other anthropogenic factors influenced plant community composition and abundance. Approximately 34% of the native grassland in MLRA 53B remains intact but grassland continues to be converted to annual cropping systems. Annual cropping, wetland drainage, wind energy, woody encroachment, and transportation corridors are the main contributors to habitat fragmentation, which reduces habitat quality for area-sensitive species. The fragmented landscape reduced or eliminated ecological drivers (fire) and introduced exotic plant species including smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and leafy spurge - further impacting plant and animal communities. Loss of fire allowed woody species to expand onto historically grassland sites. The loss of these ecological drivers greatly influenced the remaining native plant communities and wildlife species presence, moving towards a more fragmented but diverse landscape; but in many cases a more homogeneous grassland dominated by cool-season exotic grass species develops.

The high density of wetlands provides habitat for large numbers and species of waterfowl and waterbirds. MLRA 53B is a major contributor to the annual production of waterfowl and waterbirds within the Central Flyway. Many wildlife species found in MLRA 53B are those that have adapted to annual crop production. Some wildlife species in this area are white-tailed deer, coyote, red fox, American badger, raccoon, beaver, striped skunk, American mink, white-tailed jackrabbit, Eastern turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl, and numerous species of grassland-nesting birds and pollinating insects. Numerous fish species inhabit the lakes and creeks within the MLRA.

National wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas, and state wildlife management areas along with North Dakota Department of Trust Lands and South Dakota State School Lands provide herbaceous and woody cover for wildlife. In addition, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) jointly manage one large manmade reservoir, Lake Audubon (16,612 acres), for waterfowl and fish production. The USFWS manages approximately 56,000 acres in National Wildlife Refuges and 59,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas including 5,526 acres of wilderness area within the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge and 4,201 acres of wilderness area within the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The NDGFD manages approximately 47,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks manages approximately 12,000 acres of Game Production Areas in the southern end of the MLRA.

Wildlife species presence is often determined by site characteristics including grass and forb species, hydrology, aspect, and other associated ecological sites. Home ranges of most species are larger than one ecological site or are dependent upon more than one ecological site for annual life requisites. Ecological sites offer different habitat elements as the annual life requisites change. Habitat improvement and creation must be conducted within the mobility limits of a known population for the species.

Insects play an important role providing ecological services for plant community development. Insects that are scavengers or aid in decomposition provide the food chain baseline sustaining the carnivorous insects feeding upon them. Many insects provide the ecological services necessary for pollination, keeping plant communities healthy and productive. Insects provide a protein food source for numerous species including grassland-nesting birds and their young.

Species of Concern within MLRA 53B:

The following is a list of species considered “species of conservation priority” in the North Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan (2015) and South Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan (2014); and species listed as “threatened, endangered, or petitioned” under the Endangered Species Act within MLRA 53B at the time this section was developed:

Invertebrates: Dakota skipper, Dakota stonefly, Iowa skipper, monarch butterfly, northern sandy tiger beetle, Ottoe skipper, regal fritillary, yellow-banded bumble bee, and western bumble bee.

Birds: American avocet, American bittern, American kestrel, American white pelican, Baird’s sparrow, bald eagle, black-billed cuckoo, black tern, bobolink, burrowing owl, canvasback, chestnut-collared longspur, Dickcissel, ferruginous hawk, Franklin’s gull, grasshopper sparrow, greater prairie-chicken, horned grebe, horned lark, lark bunting, LeConte’s sparrow, lesser scaup, loggerhead shrike, long-billed curlew, marbled godwit, Nelson’s sparrow, northern goshawk, northern harrier, northern pintail, peregrine falcon (migration), piping plover (migration), red knot (migration), sharp-tailed grouse, short-eared owl, Sprague’s pipet, Swainson’s hawk, trumpeter swan, upland sandpiper, western meadowlark, willet, Wilson’s phalarope, whooping crane (migration), and yellow rail.

Mammals: Arctic shrew, big and little brown bats, Franklin’s ground squirrel, plains pocket mouse, Richardson’s ground squirrel, silver-haired bat, and swift fox (historical range).

Amphibians and Reptiles: Canadian toad, false map turtle, plains hognose snake, smooth green snake, and snapping turtle.

Fish and Mussels: Blacknose shiner, blue sucker, burbot, fathead chub, fragile papershell, northern pearl dace, northern redbelly dace, pink papershell, sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, and yellow sandshell.

Grassland Management for Wildlife in the MLRA 53B

Management activities within State and Transition models follow various community phase pathways. These management activities will impact wildlife, both positive and negative, but are essential for maintenance of healthy grassland ecosystems. Community phase, transitional, and restoration pathways are keys to long-term management within each State and between States. Timing, intensity, and frequency of these inputs can have dramatic positive or negative effects on local wildlife species. Ranchers and other land managers must always consider the long-term beneficial management effects of grassland and woodland resources in comparison to typically short-term negative effects to the habitats of individual species.

Ecological sites occur as intermingled complexes on the landscape with gradual or sometimes abrupt transitions. Rarely do ecological sites exist in large enough acreage to manage independently for wildlife. A management regime for one ecological site may negatively impact an adjacent site (e.g., alteration of a grazing regime within a Loamy Overflow ecological site to encourage tall warm-season grass development) may encourage exotic cool-season grasses to increase or dominate adjacent ecological sites.

Life requisites and habitat deficiencies are determined for targeted species, species guilds, or by land use. Deficiencies need to be addressed along community phase, transitional, and restoration pathways as presented in specific state-and-transition models. Ecological sites should be managed and restored within the site’s capabilities to provide sustainable habitat for targeted species or species guilds. Habitat fragmentation caused by the conversion to annual cropping, tree plantings, rural housing, and fragmentation due to transportation and electrical transmission corridors need to be considered when managing for target species.

With populations of many grassland-nesting birds in decline, it is important to maintain these ecological sites in a 1.0 Reference State (if found) or the 2.0 Native/Invaded State. Plant communities optimal for a guild of grassland species serve as a population source where the birth rate exceeds mortality. Species may use marginal plant communities; however, these sites may function as a population sink where mortality exceeds the birth rate.

Understanding preferred vegetative stature and sensitivity to woody encroachment is necessary to manage for the specific grassland species. Various grass heights may be used for breeding, nesting, or foraging habitat. While most species use varying heights, many have a preferred vegetative stature height. The following chart provides preferred vegetative stature heights and sensitivity to woody vegetation encroachment.

To see the chart please follow the hyperlink.

https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/ND/53B_Limy_Subirrigated_Narrative_FINAL_Ref_FSG.pdf

Limy Subirrigated Wildlife Habitat Interpretation:

Limy Subirrigated ecological sites are somewhat poorly drained. They are usually found on flats, slight rises, and slightly convex slopes adjacent to shallow depressions on till plains, lake plains, outwash plains, and sand plains; they also occur on some low terraces of drainageways and on lake shores. This site has a persistent water table strongly influencing vegetation production. These soils typically are calcareous in the surface layer and have a highly calcareous upper subsoil; they are dominated by tall and mid warm-season grasses and forbs. Little bluestem and big bluestem are the dominant mid and tall warm-season grasses. Associated ecological sites include Clayey, Saline Lowland, Loamy, Subirrigated, Wet Meadow, and Shallow Marsh.

Limy Subirrigated habitat features and components commonly support many edge-sensitive grassland bird species preferring medium- to tall-statured vegetation. Insects rely on associated forbs and grasses for survival. High insect populations provide food sources for birds and their young. Limy Subirrigated ecological sites provide quality forage for small and large herbivores. Dakota skippers use Limy Subirrigated ecological sites in MLRA 53B.

Limy Subirrigated ecological sites may be found in four plant community states (1.0 Reference State, 2.0 Native/Invaded State, 3.0 Invaded State, and 4.0 Go-Back State). Multiple plant community phases exist within State 2.0. These states occur primarily in response to grazing, drought, and non- use. Secondary influences include fire and anthropogenic disturbances.

Because there is no known restoration pathway from State 2.0 to State 1.0, it is important to intensively manage using tools in State 1.0 and State 2.0 community phase pathways to prevent further plant community degradation along Transitional Pathway T1A to Invaded Grass State 2.0.

As plant communities degrade within State 2.0, warm-season grasses, particularly short-statured and cool-season exotic grasses, increase while native forbs are reduced. This transition results in reduced structure, increased plant community homogeneity, and reduced insect populations resulting in a reduction of breeding, nesting, foraging, or winter habitat for grassland birds. When adjacent/intermingled ecological sites undergo the same transition, the result can be an expansive, homogenous landscape. Success along restoration pathway R3A and R4A to State 2.0 is very difficult and is dependent upon presence of remnant native grass populations or a successful native range planting.

Management along community phase, transition, or restoration pathways should focus upon attainable changes. Short- and long-term monetary costs must be evaluated against short- and long- term ecological services in creating and maintaining habitat of enough quality to support a sustainable population.

1.0 Reference State

Community Phase 1.1 Little Bluestem-Big Bluestem-Needlegrasses: This plant communities offers quality vegetative cover for wildlife; every effort should be made to maintain this ecological site within this community phase. This phase retains high functionality through continued maintenance including prescribed grazing with adequate recovery period as well as prescribed fire. Prescribed fire frequency maintains a grass-dominated plant community providing habitat for bird species sensitive to woody vegetation. Predominance of grass species in these communities favors grazers and mixed feeders (animals selecting grasses as well as forbs and shrubs). The structural diversity provides habitat for a wide array of migratory and resident birds.

Invertebrates: Insects play a role in maintaining the forb community and provide a forage base for grassland birds, reptiles, and rodents. Ecological services, historically provided by bison, are simulated by domestic livestock. These services include putting plant material and dung in contact with mineral soil to be used by lower trophic level consumers (such as invertebrate decomposers, scavengers, shredders, predators, herbivores, dung beetles, and fungal feeders).

Dakota skippers prefer this site due to host plants, such as little and big bluestem and harebell. Regal fritillary can make use of violet species and other nectar producing forbs on these sites. Monarch butterfly may use flowering forbs; however, few milkweed species are found on these sites to support caterpillar food. Bumblebees and other native bees utilize forbs as a nectar source; bare ground and nesting sites are available due to the dominance of bunch grasses. Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods, as well as prescribed fire to maintain the 1.1 phase, will have long term positive effects on ground dwelling insects.

Birds: This plant community provides quality nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by mid- to tallgrass-nesting birds. Prescribed fire maintains a grass-dominated plant community providing habitat for bird species sensitive to woody vegetation and limits litter accumulations. This plant community does not provide suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites, but do provide quality nesting, brood-rearing, and escape habitat. This site provides good hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: The diversity of grasses and forbs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including voles, mice, jackrabbits, and white-tailed deer. Tall- to mid-statured vegetation provides suitable food and thermal, protective, and escape cover for small and large herbivores.

Amphibians and Reptiles: This ecological site can provide habitat for the northern leopard frog and Canadian toad since this site is frequently found adjacent to Wet Meadow and Shallow Marsh ecological sites. It also provides habitat for the northern prairie skink and plains hog-nosed snake.

Fish and Mussels: This ecological site can be located adjacent to streams, rivers, or water bodies. These sites receive run-on hydrology from adjacent ecological sites and provide hydrology to Wet Meadow or Shallow Marsh ecological sites. Management on Limy Subirrigated sites, in conjunction with neighboring run-on sites, will have a direct effect on aquatic species in streams and/or tributaries receiving water from Limy Subirrigated and adjacent sites. Optimum hydrological function and nutrient cycling limit potential for sediment yield and nutrient loading to the adjacent aquatic ecosystems from Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 1.2 Little Bluestem-Needlegrasses/Forbs: The reduction/loss of big bluestem shifts this plant community from tall warm-season to a medium warm-season plant community. A return to normal precipitation and normal disturbance regime, via Community Phase 1.2A, can move this plant community back to a one dominated by tall warm-season grasses.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1; however, an increase in forbs provides a forage base for grassland birds, reptiles, and rodents.

Birds: A reduction in tall warm-season grasses with an increase in mid-statured grasses and forbs provides opportunities for grassland nesting birds preferring medium structure.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1 with a reduction of cover for large mammals.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

2.0 Native/Invaded State

Community Phase 2.1 Little Bluestem-Big Bluestem-Needlegrasses: Plant structure within Plant Community Phase 2.1 is very similar to 1.1 except for the invasion of minor amounts of cool-season exotic grasses, mainly Kentucky bluegrass.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.2 Little Bluestem-Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs: Heavy season-long grazing without adequate recovery periods or non-use along Community Phase Pathway 2.1A reduces tall, warm-season grasses while shorter, more grazing tolerant species increase. The reduction of vigor of warm-season grasses allows for the increase in exotic cool-season grasses (such as Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, or quackgrass). This community phase is often found in a mosaic in the pasture in an over-grazed/under-grazed pattern typical of properly stocked pastures grazed season long. Some areas will be impacted by heavy use while other areas will have a build-up of litter and a high amount of plant decadence. This mosaic of grazed and ungrazed areas provides a short to tall vegetative stature. Dependent upon the patch size of over-grazed vs. under- grazed, grassland nesting birds preferring short/mid-vegetative stature may prefer this plant community phase. Implementation of a prescribed grazing and prescribed burning system, via Community Phase Pathway 2.2A, will help shift the plant community back to 2.I.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1 dependent upon degree of exotic grass invasion. Invertebrates will respond to the amount of over-utilized vs. under-utilized area and the resultant vegetative stature. Reduced litter amounts on the over-utilized area will have an increase in bare ground will favor ground nesting insects; under-utilized areas will have a decrease in bare ground for ground-nesting insects but may have more pollen and nectar producing forbs.

Birds: Dependent upon the amount of over-utilized vs. under-utilized area, vegetative stature could favor short- to tall-grass bird species.

Mammals: Overall shorter stature vegetation reduces thermal, escape, and loafing cover.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.3 Shrubs/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs: Extended periods of non-use or light use, and no fire (via 2.1B or 2.2B) allow shrubs (such as western snowberry, chokecherry, and redosier dogwood) to dominate this site. Shade tolerant Kentucky bluegrass dominates the understory. This plant community is “at risk” to transition to State 3: Invaded State. Warm-season, native grasses may still be present but with reduced vigor and numbers not allowing for recovery without prescribed grazing and burning via Community Phase Pathway 2.3A.

Invertebrates: The invasion of woody vegetation reduces or eliminates habitat for all species of concern within MLRA 53B. Season-long pollen and nectar availability becomes limited on this site. Western snowberry and other shrubs will provide some early- to mid-season bloom period. Forbs (such as goldenrods, silverweed cinquefoil, and Flodman’s thistle) will provide limited pollen and nectar opportunities. Overall, pollinator plant diversity is low which limits season-long nectar and pollen production.

Birds: As low-statured western snowberry and other taller shrubs become dominant on this site, grassland-nesting birds sensitive to woody vegetation encroachment will be negatively impacted and discontinue use of this community phase. Bird species favoring shrub dominated communities will increase; but birds preferring woodland edge will have limited use since only low statured woody vegetation is available.

Mammals: Shrubs will provide increased year-round, low statured cover and browse for white-tailed deer and high litter amounts provide food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores, moose, and elk.

Amphibians and Reptiles: This site no longer provides life requisites for the northern prairie skink and plains hog-nosed snake due to the dominance of shrubs.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

3.0 Invaded State

Community Phase 3.1 Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs: Community Phase Pathway T2A is characterized by complete non-use or no grazing, light grazing, or heavy season-long grazing when exotic cool-season grasses are present as in Community Phase 2.0. Increase in plant litter under no use and/or no fire increase shade tolerant Kentucky bluegrass. Heavy grazing also favors grazing tolerant Kentucky bluegrass. This plant community phase is characterized by a dominance (>30%) of exotic cool-season grasses, such as smooth brome; native grasses represent less than 40% of the plant community. Restoration Pathway R3A, through prescribed burning and high levels of grazing management, requires remnant amounts of native warm- and cool-season and forbs to be successful. The remnant native community needs frequent prescribed burns and high levels of grazing management targeting the exotic cool-season grasses to improve competitiveness and increase vigor and density. Without intensive management, the remnant native plants will not increase adequately to transition back to State 2.0. Managers need to evaluate impacts to wildlife while implementing these management practices. Intensified management along the R3A Pathway will have significant short-term negative impacts on wildlife habitat; however, this is necessary to restore long-term native habitat functions.

Invertebrates: Exotic grasses limit use by beneficial insects found in States 1.0 and 2.0. However, when western snowberry is a major component; it provides early- to mid- season pollen and nectar sources. Although forbs are a minor component in this community, they still offer mid- to late-season pollen and nectar opportunities. Increased litter and lack of grazing leads to limited contact between plant material and mineral soil resulting in a cooler micro-climate, which is unfavorable to most insects. Lack of bare soil limits ground-nesting sites for native bees and other ground-nesting insects.

Birds: The homogeneous community phase, dominated by exotic plant species, provides limited habitat and life requisites for most obligate grassland-nesting birds. Lack of plant diversity and stature, along with increased litter and the tendency of Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome to lay down, limits use by many grassland-nesting birds. Sharp-tailed grouse may use this plant community for lek sites and nesting cover; western snowberry may provide winter cover, dependent upon density.

Mammals: Litter accumulation and exotic grass cover favors thermal, protective, and escape cover for small rodents.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 2.3.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

4.0 Go-Back State

Community Phase 4.1 Annual/Pioneer Perennial/Exotics: Following cropland abandonment, these plant communities are dominated by early pioneer annual and perennial plant species. Plant species composition and production are highly variable. Weedy plants can provide pollinator habitat along with spring and summer cover for many mammals and birds, and their young. Dense weed cover can keep soils moist, increasing insect presence. Tall stature provided by some weeds, such as marsh elder and ragweed, offer thermal cover and seeds throughout winter for deer, small mammals, and over-wintering birds. The response by wildlife species will be dependent upon plant community composition, vegetative stature, patch size, and management activities (such as prescribed grazing, burning, inter-seeding, haying, or noxious weed control).

Successful restoration of native species along Transition Pathway R4A can result in a native grass and forb community in State 2.0. Over time, with no management, the exotic cool-season perennial grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and/or quackgrass) generally become established and dominate the community. Failed native grass planting, via Transition Pathway R4B, can result in an invaded plant community Invaded State 3.0.

Animal Community – Grazing Interpretations
This site is well adapted to managed grazing by domestic livestock. The predominance of herbaceous plants across all plant community phases best lends these sites to grazing by cattle, but other domestic grazers with differing diet preferences may also be a consideration depending upon management objectives. Often, the current plant community does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in the ecological site description). Because of this, a resource inventory is necessary to document plant composition and production. Proper interpretation of this inventory data will permit the establishment of a safe, initial stocking rate for the type and class of animals and level of grazing management. More accurate stocking rate estimates should eventually be calculated using actual stocking rate information and monitoring data.

NRCS defines prescribed grazing as “managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and/or browsing animals with the intent to achieve specific ecological, economic, and management objectives”. As used in this site description, the term ‘prescribed grazing’ is intended to include multiple grazing management systems (e.g., rotational grazing, twice-over grazing, conservation grazing, targeted grazing, etc.) provided that, whatever management system is implemented, it meets the intent of prescribed grazing definition.

The basic grazing prescription addresses balancing forage demand (quality and quantity) with available forage, varying grazing and deferment periods from year-to-year, matching recovery/deferment periods to growing conditions when pastures are grazed more than once in a growing season, implementation of a contingency (e.g., drought) plan, and a monitoring plan. When the management goal is to facilitate change from one plant community phase or state to another, then the prescription needs to be designed to shift the competitive advantage to favor the native grass and forb species.

Grazing levels are noted within the plant community narratives and pathways in reference to grazing management. “Degree of utilization” is defined as the proportion of the current years forage production that is consumed and/or destroyed by grazing animals (may refer to a single plant species or a portion or all the vegetation). “Grazing utilization” is classified as slight, moderate, full, close, and severe (see the following table for description of each grazing use category). The following utilization levels are also described in the Ranchers Guide to Grassland Management IV. Utilization levels are determined by using the landscape appearance method as outlined in the Interagency Technical Reference “Utilization Studies and Residual Measurements” 1734-3.

Utilization Level % Use Description
Slight (Light) 0-20 Appears practically undisturbed when viewed obliquely. Only choice areas and forage utilized.

Moderate 20-40 Almost all of accessable range shows grazing. Little or no use of poor forage. Little evidence of trailing to grazing.

Full 40-60 All fully accessable areas are grazed. The major sites have key forage species properly utilized (about half taken, half left). Points of concentration with overuse limited to 5 to 10 percent of accessible area.

Close (Heavy) 60-80 All accessible range plainly shows use and major sections closely cropped. Livestock forced to use less desirable forage, considering seasonal preference.

Severe > 80 Key forage species completely used. Low-value forages are dominant.

Hydrological functions

The duration of the seasonal high-water table within the rooting zone is the principal factor limiting herbage production on this site. The site is dominated by soils in hydrologic groups B and C with a few areas in group A. Infiltration varies from moderately slow to moderately rapid and runoff potential varies from negligible to low for this site depending on hydrologic group, surface texture, slope percent, slope shape, and ground cover. In many cases, areas with greater than 75% ground cover have the greatest potential for high infiltration and lower runoff. An exception would be where shortgrasses form a dense sod and dominate the site. Areas where ground cover is less than 50% have the greatest potential to have reduced infiltration and higher runoff (refer to Section 4, NRCS National Engineering Handbook for runoff quantities and hydrologic curves).

Hydrological manipulation (surface or tile drainage, pumping, surface water diversion, etc.) modifies this ecological site. Under natural conditions, this ecological site includes a wide range of soil textures; after hydrologic manipulation, soil texture often becomes a more significant factor in vegetative response. If the degree of manipulation allows soil texture to influence the plant community or if altered soil properties (i.e., salinization or the addition of fill material) results in vegetation change, a transition to a completely different ecological site may have occurred. The transition to an altogether different ecological site will depend upon severity of altered hydrology, soil properties, and corresponding vegetation. Due to the many variables (e.g., hydrology, type and success of drainage, etc.), impacts to the ecological site will be site-specific. As a result, each situation will require field investigation to determine what, if any, changes in ecological site designation is necessary and proceed accordingly.

Without restoring hydrologic function (which may include range planting), managers need to reference state and transition models within those sites. Hydrology will need to be fully restored in the associated Wet Meadow and Shallow Marsh ecological sites in for these sites to properly function. It is recommended that managers review the appropriate State and Transition Models prior to wetland restoration

Recreational uses

National wildlife refuges (NWR) (56,476 acres), waterfowl production areas (WPAs) (183,465 acres), state wildlife management areas (WMAs) (59,476 acres), Department of Trust Lands/State School Lands (284,695 acres), and the United State Army Corps of Engineers (65,619 acres) provide hunting, bird watching, hiking, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Audubon WMA, North Dakota, is the largest state managed, wildlife area covering 6,716 acres. The largest refuges managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife service are Audubon NWR (14,735 acres); Lostwood NWR (26,747 acres with 5,526 acres designated as wilderness area); Chase Lake NWR (4,385 acres, of which 4,201 acres were designated a wilderness area); and Long Lake NWR (22,300 acres). United States Bureau of Reclamation manages approximately 2,215 acres for fish and wildlife habitat. The Bureau of Land Management manages 6,042 acres in small, scattered tracts across the MLRA.

Bird watching: Prairie-dependent and migratory birds provide quality birding opportunities within this MLRA. NWRs, WPAs, and WMAs provide essential habitat for prairie-dependent bird species (such as Sprague's pipit and Baird's sparrow) along with some of the larger, showy members of the upland prairie including marbled godwit, upland sandpipes, and willet. MLRA 53B is in the heart of spring and fall bird migratory routes.

Chase Lake NWR is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans and has been identified by the American Bird Conservancy as one of the top 100 Globally Important Bird Areas in the United States. Lostwood NWR is designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Birding Conservancy and the Audubon Society. Long Lake NWR consists of a 15,000-acre saline basin that is 18 miles long and is appropriately named "Long Lake". The refuge was listed as a top 10 birding site by Wild Bird Magazine. It was also recently designated as both a Globally Important Bird Area and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site because of its importance as both a breeding and migratory stopover site for more than 20,000 shorebirds, annually.

Hunting/Fishing: MLRA 53B is a fall destination for thousands of waterfowl hunters. The density of prairie pothole wetlands, WPAs, state owned trust lands, and WMAs provide quality opportunities for waterfowl and upland game bird hunting. This MLRA also provides quality white-tailed deer hunting opportunities along with moose hunting opportunities.

Quality fishing (summer and winter fishing) opportunities are available in the MLRA. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks manages approximately 125 fishing lakes within the MLRA. Available species include yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill, and small mouth bass. Lake Audubon is the largest fishing lake within the MLRA. A portion of Lake Audubon, within the National Wildlife refuge system, provides ice fishing access only; there is no open-water fishing on the refuge portion of Lake Audubon.

Camping: The Bureau of Reclamation manages the Brekken-Holmes Recreation Area in the Turtle Lake area. The recreation area consists of approximately 675 water surface acres, 620 land acres, and 10 miles of shoreline. The Garrison Conservancy District provides primitive camping along the chain of lakes connected by the McClusky Canal diverting water eastward into central North Dakota. Nine state parks are located within the MLRA totaling 1,340 acres. Fort Stevenson State Park is the only State Park in the MLRA that provides boating access to Lake Sakakawea. Other numerous camping (primitive and improved) sites are available in numerous city and county parks.

Hiking: The North Country Trail dissects the MLRA east to west following the 76-mile section of the McClusky Canal; in addition is has 12 miles of off-road trails through the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, a road walk from Coleharbor to Riverdale and across Garrison Dam, and a short, off-road segment leading to the Western Terminus within Lake Sakakawea State Park. Hiking is also permitted on other state and federally owned lands. In addition, the Lostwood NWR and the Audubon NWR have 7 and 8 miles, respectively, of self-guided auto tours.

Wood products

There are no appreciable wood products on this site.

Other products

Seed harvest of native plant species can provide additional income on this site.

Other information

Site Development and Testing Plan
• North Dakota and South Dakota have had overlapping ecological site concepts for calcareous soils with risk of salinization. North Dakota had separated moderately saline phases of Aeric Calciaquolls from their non-saline to slightly saline phases. Components with E.C. >8 had been assigned to the Saline Lowland ecological site. Components with E.C. <8 dS/m were assigned to Limy Subirrigated. In South Dakota, components with an E.C. <4 dS/m were assigned to Limy Subirrigated and those with E.C. >4 dS/m were assigned to Saline Subirrigated (an ecological site that has not been recognized in North Dakota). Some investigation and considerable discussion have taken place attempting to resolve these differing concepts.

A primary issue has been the similarity of plant communities in the Reference State between Limy Subirrigated and Saline Subirrigated and the observation that salinity is spatially highly variable within a soil map unit. Saline Subirrigated allows an E.C. range as high as 16 dS/m. Big Bluestem and Indiangrass are particularly sensitive to salinity; production is likely significantly reduced at E.C. of 4 to 8 dS/m and most plants will die at E.C. >8 dS/m. It is believed that this likely constitutes a threshold; a pathway back to a less salt-affected state may not exist or is at least impractical from a management standpoint.

Questions have been raised as to soil survey mapping criteria – if ecological site (or range site) was the principle interpretive focus of soils assigned to Saline Subirrigation or if cropland and the impacts of salinity on salt-sensitive annual crops was the primary interpretive focus. This question has not yet been answered.

As a way to move forward and harmonize ESDs until further investigations can be conducted, a Saline State has been added to the STM for Limy Subirrigated with an enhanced narrative concerning salinization risk and related management strategies. The Saline Subirrigated ESD will not be used in MLRAs for which ND has responsibility until further investigations are completed and consistent soil/plant community criteria can be developed.
• Further investigation of areas of this site is recommended where it occurs on lake shores. These areas are periodically inundated for extended periods. When many of the soil surveys were completed, these soils were not inundated; currently many of them are inundated and have been for many consecutive years. The major component in this site affected by recent inundation is Mauvais. The MLRA map units needing investigation is:

 Wamduska-Mauvais complex, 0 to 9 percent slopes (map unit 2q83b)
• Components of the Mauvais soil series need to be re-linked to the Limy Subirrigated ES in NASIS; they are currently linked to the Subirrigated ES.
• Further investigation is needed on the wide range of soil textures and associated properties and their relationship to hydrology/plant dynamics.
• Further investigation in need on areas of this site associated with drainageways. Moritz soils occur along the outer edges of some channeled drainageways. The impact of occasional flooding on these areas needs evaluation.
• Further evaluation and refinement of the State-and-Transition model may be needed to identify disturbance driven dynamics. Additional states and/or phases may be required to address grazing response.
• Further documentation may be needed for plant communities in all states. Plant data has been collected in previous range-site investigations, including clipping data; however, this data needs review. If geo-referenced sites meeting Tier 3 standards for either vegetative or soil data are not available, representative sites will be selected for further investigation.
• Site concepts will be refined as the above noted investigations are completed.
• The long-term goal is to complete an approved, correlated Ecological Site Description as defined by the National Ecological Site Handbook.
• NASIS revisions needed:
o During the recently completed Ecological Site Description update, saline phases of Aeric Calciaquolls were reassigned from Saline Lowland to the Salinized State of Limy Subirrigated. Numerous components of Divide, Fram, and Hamerly need to be relinked.
o During the recently completed Ecological Site Description update, Mauvais soil was reassigned from Subirrigated to Limy Subirrigated; all Mauvais components need to be relinked.

This ESD is the best available knowledge. The site concept and species composition table have been used in the field and tested for more than five years. It is expected that as additional information becomes available revisions may be required.

Inventory data references

Information presented here has been derived from NRCS and other federal/state agency clipping and inventory data. Also, field knowledge of range-trained personnel was used. All descriptions were peer reviewed and/or field-tested by various private, state, and federal agency specialists.

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Contributors

Stan Boltz, NRCS Range Management Specialist; Michael D. Brand, State Land Dept., Director Surface Management; David Dewald, NRCS State Biologist; Paul Drayton, NRCS District Conservationist; Jody Forman, NRCS Range Management Specialist
Dennis Froemke, NRCS Range Management Specialist; Jeff Printz, NRCS State Range Management Specialist; Josh Saunders, NRCS Range Management Specialist; Kevin Sedivec, Extension Rangeland Management Specialist;
ND NRCS: David Dewald, Jonathan Fettig, Alan Gulsvig, Mark Hayek, John Kempenich, Chuck Lura, Jeff Printz, Steve Sieler, and Hal Weiser.
Darrell Vanderbusch, NRCS Resource Soil Scientist and Lee Voigt, NRCS Range Management Specialist.

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 3/31/2025