Physiographic features

This site occurs on rises, hills, and ridges on sedimentary plains and on escarpments. The parent material is weathered residuum (typically siltstone or shale) or a thin cap of glacial till over weathered residuum. Slopes range from 3 to 60 percent.

Landform: sedimentary plain, escarpment

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) LEOLA [USC00394891], Leola, SD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Influencing water features

This site does not receive additional water as runoff from adjacent slopes; it is on a run-off landscape position. Neither does it receive significant additional water from a seasonal high-water table. Depth to the water table typically exceeds 6 feet throughout the growing season. Surface infiltration is moderately slow to moderate. Surface infiltration and permeability above the siltstone or shale are moderately slow to moderate. Water loss is through evapotranspiration and percolation below the root zone.

Soil features

Soils associated with Shallow Loamy ES are in the Mollisol and Entisol orders. The Mollisols are classified further as Entic Haplustolls. The Entisols are classified further as Typic Ustorthents. These soils formed in weathered residuum or a thin cap of till or over residuum. They are well drained. The common features of soils in this site are a medium or moderately fine texture (forms a ribbon 1 to 2 inches long) and a shallow depth (10 to 20 inches) to soft sedimentary bedrock that affects root growth. Typically, the texture above the soft bedrock is loam, but silt loam, clay loam, and silty clay loam may also occur.

Above the soft bedrock, soil salinity is none or very slight (E.C. <2 dS/m); sodicity is typically none. Soil reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline (pH 6.1 to 8.4) in most soils and calcium carbonate content is none to high (0-35%).

These soils are mainly susceptible to water erosion and, to a lesser degree, wind erosion. The hazard of water erosion increases where vegetative cover is not adequate (and the slope is >15 percent). Low available water capacity coupled with high accumulations of lime strongly influences the soil-water-plant relationship. The bedrock affects water movement and root penetration. Loss of the soil surface layer can result in a shift in species composition and/or production.

Major soil series correlated to the Shallow Loamy site are Cabba and Werner.

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

Parent Material Kind: residuum, till-capped residuum
Parent Material Origin: siltstone, mudstone

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 use the hyperlink listed below:
https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/ND/53B_Shallow_Loamy_Narrative_FINAL_Ref_FSG.pdf

Shallow Loamy Wildlife Habitat Interpretation:

Shallow Loamy ecological sites are well drained, medium or moderately fine textured soils with a shallow depth (10 to 20 inches) to soft sedimentary bedrock (siltstone, shale, etc.). The site is usually found on crests, upper side slopes, and nose slopes of escarpments above river valleys or stream flood plains. It is dominated by mid- to short-statured warm-season grasses and forbs. Little bluestem is the dominant mid warm-season grass. Associated ecological sites include Claypan, Loamy Overflow, Loamy, Thin Claypan, Thin Loamy, Shallow Sandy, and Very Shallow. This complex of ecological sites provides habitat for many edge-sensitive, grassland bird species preferring medium- to short-statured vegetation.

Shallow Loamy habitat features and components commonly support grassland-nesting birds, notably sharp-tailed grouse lek sites. Insects rely on associated forbs and grasses for survival. High insect populations provide food sources for birds and their young. Shallow Loamy ecological sites provide quality forage for small and large herbivores.

Shallow Loamy 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) within a local landscape. Multiple plant community phases exist within all States. Today, these states occur primarily in response to drought, fire, grazing, non-use, and other 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 Pathway to prevent further plant community degradation along the T2A Transitional Pathway to 3.0 Invaded State. Native wildlife generally benefits from the heterogeneous grasslands found in States 1.0 and 2.0 that include grass and forb species of varying stature and density. As plant communities degrade within State 2.0, Kentucky bluegrass increases while native forbs are reduced. When Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30%, the site transitions to 3.0 Invaded State. This transition results in reduced stature and increased plant community homogeneity. When adjacent and/or intermingled ecological sites undergo the same transition, the result can be an expansive, homogenous landscape.

Success along Restoration Pathway R3 from State 3.0 to State 2.0 is very difficult and is dependent upon presence of a remnant native grass population. This concept also applies to wildlife, as the target species must either be present on adjacent State 1.0 or State 2.0 plant communities or on ecological sites within the mobility limits of the species. Species with limited mobility, such as Dakota skippers, must exist near the plant community to utilize restored sites. Mobile species (such as grassland-nesting birds) can easily locate isolated, restored plant communities.

Plant Community Phase 3.1 shows a dramatically increased homogeneity of exotic cool-season grasses and further reduction in native forbs. Reduced forb diversity limits insect populations, negatively affecting foraging opportunities for grassland-nesting birds. Increased exotic grass litter or dense sod can limit access to bare ground by nesting insects and can limit mobility by small chicks. A homogenous grassland landscape does not provide quality escape or winter cover. As a result, many species are not able to meet life requisites, especially non-migratory species.

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 density.

1.0 Reference State

Community Phase 1.1 Little Bluestem-Needlegrasses-Sideoats Grama: This plant community 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 may use this site due presence of host plants, such as little bluestem and blacksamson echinacea. Violet species are not common on this site, not supporting needed habitat for the regal fritillary. Monarch butterfly may use flowering forbs; however, few milkweed species are found on these sites to support caterpillar food. The ecological site does not provide habitat for the northern sandy tiger beetle which prefers dry, sandy dunes or sandy areas away from water. This plant community provides habitat for the Ottoe Skipper preferring mid to tall-statured grasses.

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 short-grass 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 can provide suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites and 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. Mid-statured vegetation provides suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small and large herbivores.

Amphibians and Reptiles: This ecological site is not found adjacent to Wet Meadow or Shallow Marsh ecological sites; therefore, it provides limited habitat for the northern leopard frog and Canadian toad. This site does not provide habitat for the northern prairie skink and plains hog-nosed snake.

Fish and Mussels: This ecological site commonly is located near (but not adjacent to) streams, rivers, or water bodies. It does not receive run-on hydrology from adjacent ecological sites but does provide hydrology to associated, down-slope ecological sites. Management on Shallow Loamy sites, in conjunction with neighboring run-on sites, will have an indirect effect on aquatic species in streams and/or tributaries receiving water from 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 Blue Grama-Needlegrasses/Forbs: Multiyear drought with or without heavy long-term grazing results in a marked increase in blue grama with corresponding decreases in green needlegrass and big bluestem. Forbs and shrubs (such as prairie sagewort, tarragon, stiff sunflower, blacksamson echinacea, and blazing star) become more prevalent. However, this plant community continues to support a diversity of season-long pollinator plants. A return to normal precipitation patterns and prescribed grazing system can return this plant community to Community Phase 1.1.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1A; however, increases in wind- pollinated prairie sagewort and western ragweed, along with long-term drought, may reduce overall nectar and pollen sources for insects.

Birds: A shift to shorter statured grasses (blue grama) provides quality nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by short- to mid- statured grassland nesting birds. This plant community provides suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites. Long-term drought reduces cover and plant stature favoring short-statured grassland nesting birds. This site provides good hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

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 secondary resource benefits as Community Phase 1.1.

2.0 Native/Invaded State

Community Phase 2.1 Little Bluestem-Needlegrasses-Sideoats Grama: This plant community develops through Transition Pathway T1A due to changes in management (chronic season-long or heavy late season grazing or complete rest from grazing and suppression of fire) and the presence of exotic, cool-season grasses. The threshold between states 1.0 and 2.0 is crossed when Kentucky bluegrass, crested wheatgrass, smooth brome, or other exotic species become established. This plant community phase has a very similar appearance and function to the Reference State of Community 1.1, except it has a minor amount of cool-season exotic grasses and forbs. Managers should consider the 2.0 community phase pathways to avoid transitioning to State 3.0.

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 secondary resource benefits as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.2 Blue Grama-Needlegrasses-Little Bluestem/Forbs: Multiyear drought, with or without heavy long-term grazing, results in marked increases in blue grama and forbs with corresponding decreases in little bluestem and sideoats grama; this creates a somewhat shorter statured plant community than Community Phase 2.1. Little bluestem will remain in the plant community with heavy long-term grazing under normal precipitation. Common forbs include goldenrod, white sagebrush, white heath aster, Indian breadroot, Cuman ragweed, and common yarrow. Dominated by bunch grass, the amount of bare ground remains like Community Phase 2.1. Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods and prescribed burning will shift the competitive edge back to tall-statured warm-season grasses via Community Pathway 2.2A.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 2.1 if little bluestem remains in the community. If little bluestem is removed due to long-term drought, Dakota skipper will not use the site.

Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2; however, the increase in Kentucky bluegrass and blue grama begins to favor grassland nesting birds that use short-statured vegetation. This plant community provides suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites. This site provides good hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. The diversity of grasses and forbs provide high nutrition levels for small herbivores. Short- to mid-statured vegetation provides suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores.

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

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar secondary resource benefits as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.3 Needlegrasses/Forbs/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses: Extended periods of non- use or very light grazing, and no fire, increase needlegrasses and exotic cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass (via Community Phase Pathway 2.1B and 2.2B). A marked increase of the exotic cool-season species (mainly Kentucky bluegrass) results in a corresponding decrease of native grasses, particularly the warm-season species. Forb diversity and the amount of bare ground decreases as sod-forming, exotic cool-season grasses increase. Long-term prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods will shift the competitive edge back to mid-statured warm- and cool- season bunch grasses via Community Pathway 2.3A. This community phase is at risk of transitioning to 3.0 Invaded State with continued periods of non-use or very light use, and no prescribed fire management.

Invertebrates: Goldenrod, white sagebrush, white heath aster, Indian breadroot, Cuman ragweed, pussytoes, and common yarrow provide limited pollen and nectar sources. Pollen and nectar sources are still available; however, self- or wind- pollinating white sagebrush and Cuman ragweed reduce pollen and nectar availability in this plant community. Kentucky bluegrass begins to limit nesting sites for ground nesting bees.

Birds: No use or light grazing begins to provide for a short homogenous landscape with limited structural diversity for grassland nesting birds. Grassland nesting birds preferring short-statured vegetation will benefit. This plant community can provide suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites depending on degree of slope. This site provides limited hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: Large herbivores’ life requisites will not be met in this plant community. Short-statured vegetation combined with non-use limits suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for large mammals. This plant community does provide habitat for small ground dwelling mammals and rodents.

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

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar secondary resource benefits as Community Phase 1.1.

3.0 Invaded State

Community Phase 3.1 Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs/Shrubs: The elimination of fire and grazing (via Transitional Pathway T2A) allows Kentucky bluegrass and other exotic cool-season grasses to dominate this site. Native grasses may still be present but with reduced vigor and numbers not allowing for recovery without prescribe grazing and burning (via Restoration Pathway R3A). Overall plant diversity is reduced. Native forbs generally decrease in production, abundance, diversity, and richness compared to that of State 1-Reference State and may include white heath aster, goldenrod, common yarrow, and white sagebrush.

Invertebrates: This plant community is dominated by cool season sod-forming grasses; increased plant litter limits bare ground for ground nesting bee species. Forbs and shrubs will provide limited early- and late-season pollen and nectar. Overall, pollinator plant diversity is low, limiting season- long nectar and pollen production. Lack of native grass host plants may eliminate life requisites for invertebrate species of concern in MLRA 53B.

Birds: This homogenous landscape provides limited structural diversity or insect production for grassland nesting birds. Grassland nesting birds preferring increased plant litter will benefit, but long- term continued rest reduces nesting habitat for most species.
Mammals: High litter amounts provide food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores. Large herbivores’ life requisites will not be met in this plant community.

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

Fish and Mussels: Runoff increases significantly from the plant community due to thick thatch and sod forming grasses - increasing yield and nutrient loading to adjacent ecological sites and nearby waterbodies.

4.0 Go Back State

Community Phase 4.1 Annual/Pioneer Perennial/Exotics: These plant communities are the result of severe soil disturbance (such as cropping, recreational activity, or concentrated livestock activity for a prolonged period). Following cessation of disturbances, the resulting plant community is 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. 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 Transitional 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 re-established and dominate the community. Successful range planting, via Transition Pathway R4A, can result in State 2.0. Prescribed grazing and/or fire will be needed to maintain this plant community within State 2.0. Failed native range planting, along Transitional Pathway R4B, will keep this plant community within 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 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 accessible range shows grazing. Little or no use of poor forage. Little evidence of trailing to grazing.

Full 40-60 All fully accessible 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

Available water is the principal factor limiting forage production on this site. This site is dominated by soils in hydrologic group D. Infiltration is typically moderate to moderately slow and runoff potential for this site varies from low to very high depending on surface texture, slope percent, and ground cover. In many cases, areas with greater than 75% ground cover have the greatest potential for high infiltration and lower runoff. An example of an exception would be where shortgrasses form a strong sod and dominate the site. Dominance by blue grama, Kentucky bluegrass, and/or smooth bromegrass will result in reduced infiltration and increased runoff. 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).

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

No appreciable wood products are found 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
• Further investigation is needed on areas with steep or very steep slopes. Slopes typically range to 60 percent with areas included in that have slopes as steep as 70 percent. Effective precipitation is less due to greater runoff as slope increases. Investigation and documentation of the plant communities and forage production on Sallow Loamy ecological sites with steep and very steep slopes is recommended.
• 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.
• Kloten soil series will be linked to 55B due to the shale bedrock, that soil fits the 55B Shallow Loamy concept better.
• Cabba & Werner series will be linked to 53B Shallow Loamy due to the soft bedrock materials (i.e., mudstone, etc.).

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.

Other references

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Contributors

Jeff Printz/Stan Boltz
Dennis Froemke, NRCS Range Management Specialist; Jeff Printz, NRCS State Range Management Specialist; Josh Saunders, NRCS Range Management Specialist;
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;
Kevin Sedivec, Extension Rangeland Management Specialist; Darrell Vanderbusch, NRCS Resource Soil Scientist; and Lee Voigt, NRCS Range Management Specialist.
ND NRCS: David Dewald, Jonathan Fettig, Alan Gulsvig, Mark Hayek, Chuck Lura, Jeff Printz, Steve Sieler and Hal Weiser

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 3/31/2025