Physiographic features

This site occurs on areas that receive additional water from adjacent slopes. It occurs in swales and on toe slopes on till plains, glacial lake plains, and sedimentary plains. On till plains, the parent material is fine-loamy till. Some areas have a mantle of silty loess deposits over the till. On lake plains, the parent material is silty or loamy glaciolacustrine sediments. On sedimentary plains, the parent material is loamy or silty slope alluvium from weathered residuum. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

MLRA 54 is considered to have a continental climate – cold winters and hot summers, low humidity, light rainfall, and much sunshine. Extremes in temperature are characteristic. 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 14 to 18 inches per year. The normal average annual temperature is about 42° F. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from about 13° F (Beach, ND) to about 16° F (Bison, SD). July is the warmest month with temperatures averaging from about 69° F (Beach, ND) to about 72° F (Timber Lake, SD). The range of normal average monthly temperatures between the coldest and warmest months is about 57° F. This large annual range attests to the continental nature of this MLRA's climate. Hourly winds are estimated to 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) FT YATES 4 SW [USC00323207], Fort Yates, ND

• (2) DUPREE [USC00392429], Dupree, SD

• (3) HETTINGER [USC00324178], Hettinger, ND

• (4) WATFORD CITY [USC00329233], Watford City, ND

• (5) MANDAN EXP STN [USC00325479], Mandan, ND

• (6) LUDLOW 3 SSE [USC00395048], Ludlow, SD

• (7) HEBRON [USC00324102], Hebron, ND

Influencing water features

This site receives significant additional water as overflow as run-on from adjacent slopes. Most of the additional water flows across the site during the months of April through June or after heavy summer thunderstorms. When surface inundation (over-land flooding) occurs, it is of very brief duration. Some soils in this site have a seasonal high-water table as shallow as 3.5 feet early in the growing season. Depth to the water table typically is more than 4 feet during most of the growing season. Surface infiltration is moderately slow to moderately rapid. Permeability throughout the profile is moderately slow to moderately rapid. Water loss is through evapotranspiration and percolation below the root zone.

Salinization Risk – Removal of perennial vegetation (e.g., annual cropping) above this ecological site (recharge area) results in increased water moving down through the soil profile. The potential salinization of the site can occur in any of the vegetative states; however, it is most prevalent in the State 4.0 Go-Back. This downward water movement leaches salts over time creating shallow saline groundwater immediately above a less permeable layer. Due to gravity, water moves downward through the soil profile then laterally through a porous layer, such as a coal or sand/gravel seam, transporting salts to the discharge area. Below the porous layer, is a less permeable layer such as soft sedimentary bedrock. Where shallow saline groundwater occurs, salts often concentrate at or near the soil surface through capillary rise (discharge area). In capillary rise, water moves from where the soil is saturated, or nearly so, to drier soil against the force of gravity. Evaporation at the soil surface dries the soil and “pulls” water by capillary flow from the wet soil zone. Because only pure water evaporates, salts are left behind.

Figure 10. Increased salinity levels will make establishment of grasses and forbs more difficult. Treatment of the recharge area is a requirement to reclaim these soils from salinization. Some salinized soils can be excessively wet making establishment of saline tolerant vegetation difficult.

Soil features

Soils associated with Loamy Overflow ES are in the Mollisol order and are classified further as Pachic Haplustolls and Pachic Argiustolls. These soils were developed under prairie vegetation. Typically, they formed in till, silty loess over till, glaciolacustrine sediments, or slope alluvium from residuum.

The common feature of soils in this site are the moderately fine to moderately coarse textures (soil forms a ribbon less than 2 inches long) to a depth of more than 40 inches and the run-on landscape position. The soils are very deep. They are well drained or moderately well drained – redoximorphic features, where present, are deeper than 3.5 feet. Surface and subsoil textures are typically loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, or fine sandy loam, but clay loam or sandy loam also occur.

Soil salinity is none to very slight (E.C. <4 dS/m) to a depth of more than 40 inches; below this, it may increase to moderate (E.C. 8 - <16 dS/m) in some soils. Sodicity is none or low (SAR <5). Soil reaction is moderately acid to slightly alkaline (pH 5.6 to 7.8) in the surface layer and upper part of the subsoil. A layer of calcium carbonate accumulation commonly occurs in the lower subsoil. Where present, it is below a depth of 16 inches and typically is deeper than 20 inches. Calcium carbonate content above that layer is none or low (<5%). In the layer of accumulation, it can be as high as 30 percent. Soil reaction in layers with carbonate accumulation is slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline (pH 7.4 to 8.4).

These soils are mainly susceptible to water erosion. The hazard of water erosion increases where vegetative cover is not adequate. Loss of the soil surface layer can result in a shift in species composition and/or production.

The major soil series which characterize the Loamy Overflow ecological site in MLRA 54 are Arnegard, Bowbells, Grassna, Makoti, Parshall, Roseglen, and Wilton. Also included is Grail (see Site Development and Testing Plan).

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

Table 4. Representative soil features

Animal community

Animal Community – Wildlife Interpretations

Landscape

The MLRA 54 landscape is characterized by moderately dissected rolling plains with areas of local badlands, buttes, and isolated hills. MLRA 54 is considered to have 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 mixed-grass prairie vegetation with prairie rose, leadplant, and patches of western snowberry interspersed throughout the area. Green ash, chokecherry, and buffaloberry occur in draws and narrow valleys creating woody riparian corridors. Complex intermingled ecological sites create diverse grass/shrub land habitats interspersed with varying densities linear, slope, depressional, and in-stream wetlands associated with headwater streams and tributaries to the Missouri River. These habitats provide critical life-cycle components for many wildlife species.

Historic Communities/Conditions within MLRA:

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). Many species of grassland birds, small mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and large 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, mountain lion, and grizzly bear) and smaller carnivores (such as the coyote, bobcat, red fox, and raptors). The black-tailed prairie dog was once abundant and provided ecological services by manipulating the plant and soil community, thus providing habitat for the black-footed ferret, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, mountain plover, swift fox, small mammals, and amphibians and reptiles. Extirpated species include free-ranging American bison, grizzly bear, gray wolf, black-footed ferret, mountain plover, and peregrine falcon (breeding). Extinct from the region is the Rocky Mountain locust.

Present Communities/Conditions within MLRA:

Following European influence, domestic livestock grazing, elimination of fire, energy development, and other anthropogenic factors influenced plant community composition and abundance. Agriculture, transportation corridors, and energy development are the main factors contributing to habitat fragmentation, reducing habitat quality for area-sensitive species. These influences fragmented the landscape; reduced or eliminated ecological drivers (fire); and introduced exotic species including smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and leafy spurge. This further impacted plant and animal communities. The loss of the bison, black-tailed prairie dogs, and fire as primary ecological drivers greatly influenced the character of the remaining native plant communities and the associated wildlife, moving towards a less diverse and more homogeneous landscape.

Included in this MLRA are the isolated Killdeer Mountains (limestone capped residual butte) containing bur oak, quaking aspen, green ash, paper birch, and American elm. Except for floodplain forests within the MLRA, the Killdeer Mountains contain the largest deciduous forest in southwestern North Dakota.

Some wildlife species in this area are mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, coyote, red fox, bobcat, prairie rattlesnake, American badger, raccoon, North American porcupine, beaver, striped skunk, American mink, white-tailed jackrabbit, black-tailed prairie dog, Eastern and Merriam’s turkey, golden eagle, ferruginous hawks, sharp-tailed grouse, black-billed magpie, and numerous species of grassland-nesting birds and pollinating insects.

Presence of wildlife species is often determined by ecological site characteristics including grass and forb species, hydrology, aspect, and other associated ecological sites. The home ranges of a majority species are larger than one ecological site or are dependent on 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 unique to MLRA:

Bald eagle: Bald Eagles prefer large rivers, lakes, reservoirs, or wetlands that are bordered by mature stands of trees or a single large tree. Bald eagles use the Missouri River system, including Lakes Sakakawea and Oahe, and associated tributaries. Mature trees, including cottonwoods, provide nesting sites adjacent to aquatic and upland foraging sites.

Dakota skipper: The extreme northern portion of this MLRA provides limited Dakota skipper habitat. Dakota skipper habitat within MLRA 54 is considered Type B habitat. Type B habitat is described as rolling native-prairie terrain over gravelly glacial moraine deposits dominated by bluestems and needlegrasses with the likely presence of bluebell bellflower, wood lily, blacksamson echinacea, upright prairie coneflower, and blanketflower. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service lists two critical habitat units within the MLRA in McKenzie County, North Dakota.

Golden eagle: The Lake Sakakawea breaks, bluffs, and rock outcroppings within the northwest portion of the MLRA are key areas for golden eagle nesting. Grasslands, shrublands, and black-tailed prairie dog towns are used for foraging.

Black-footed ferret: Black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced as an experimental population in the southern portion of the MLRA located on the Cheyenne Sioux Indian Reservation. Since reintroduction between 1991 and 1996, black-footed ferrets have been documented on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation approximately 20 miles north of the reintroduction site. Black-footed ferrets rely exclusively on prairie dog towns for shelter, breeding, and food sources (prairie dogs and other species within the town).

Least tern (Interior): Least terns are found on the Missouri River system in MLRA 54. Sparsely vegetated sandbars within the free-flowing portions of the Missouri River or shorelines of Lake Oahe and Sakakawea are used for nesting and foraging.

Species of Concern within the MLRA:

The following is a list of species considered “species of conservation priority” in the North Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan (2015); “species of greatest conservation need” in the Montana State Wildlife Action Plan (2015) and the South Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan (2014); and “species listed as threatened, endangered, or petitioned” under the Endangered Species Act within MLRA 54 at the time this section was developed:

Invertebrates: Dakota skipper, little white tiger beetle, monarch butterfly, Ottoe skipper, regal fritillary, yellow-banded bumble bee, and western bumble bee.

Birds: American Kestrel, Baird’s sparrow, bald eagle, black-billed cuckoo, black tern, bobolink, Brewer’s sparrow, burrowing owl, chestnut-collared longspur, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, grasshopper sparrow, greater sage-grouse, lark bunting, loggerhead shrike, least tern, long-billed curlew, marbled godwit, McCown’s longspur, mountain plover, northern goshawk, northern harrier, northern pintail, peregrine falcon (migration), piping plover, prairie falcon, red knot (migration), red-headed woodpecker, sharp-tailed grouse, short-eared owl, Sprague’s pipit, Swainson’s hawk, trumpeter swan, upland sandpiper, western meadowlark, willet, Wilson’s phalarope, and whooping crane (migration).

Mammals: Big and little brown bats, long-eared bat, long-legged bat, northern long-eared bat, Townsend’s big-eared bat, western small-footed bat, black-footed ferret, black-tailed prairie dog, dwarf shrew, gray wolf, hispid pocket mouse, Merriam’s shrew, northwestern moose, sagebrush vole, silver-haired bat, and swift fox.

Amphibians/Reptiles: Common snapping turtle, Great Plains toad, false map turtle, greater short-horned lizard, milk snake, northern leopard frog, plains hognose snake, plains spadefoot, smooth green snake, and smooth softshell and spiny softshell turtle.

Fish and Mussels: Blue sucker, burbot, flathead chub, fragile papershell, northern redbelly dace, paddlefish, pallid sturgeon, pearl dace, pink papershell, shortnose gar, sickle-fin chub, sturgeon chub, and sauger.

Grassland Management for Wildlife in the MLRA

Management activities within the community phase pathways impact wildlife. Community phase, transitional, and restoration pathways are keys to long-term management within each state and between states. Significant inputs must occur to cross the threshold between states (e.g., State 3.0 to 2.0) requiring substantial economic inputs and management (mechanical, reseeding, prescribed fire, woody vegetation removal, grazing intensity, etc.). 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 effects of management on the habitat in comparison to potential short-term negative effects to individuals.

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. Ecological sites that support a dominance of herbaceous vegetation (Loamy/Clayey) can be located adjacent to ecological sites that support medium to tall shrubs (Loamy Overflow). Conversely, ecological sites that are dominated by short- to mid-statured grasses (Claypan) can be adjacent to sites with bare soil only supporting minor amounts of short grasses and forbs (Thin Claypan).

Management of these complex ecological sites can provide a heterogeneous or a homogenous landscape. Grassland bird use declines as the plant community transitions to a homogenous state. Managers should recognize ecological sites and the complexes they occur in to properly manage the landscape. A management regime for one ecological site may negatively impact an adjacent site; for example, alteration of a grazing regime within a Loamy Overflow ecological site to encourage understory growth may encourage exotic cool-season grasses to increase or dominate an adjacent ecological site.

Life requisites and habitat deficiencies are determined for targeted species. Deficiencies must 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. Managers also should consider habitat provided by adjacent/intermingled ecological sites for species with home ranges or life requisites that cannot be provided by one ecological site.

With populations of many grassland-nesting birds in decline, it is important to maintain these ecological sites in a 1.0 Reference State (rarely found intact) or the 2.0 Native/Invaded. 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, foraging, or winter 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 view the chart, click on the hyperlink:
https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/ND/54_Loamy_Overflow_Narrative_Final_Ref_FSG.pdf

Loamy Overflow Wildlife Interpretation:

Loamy Overflow ecological sites are very productive given climatic conditions within MLRA 54. Loamy Overflow sites support diverse stature and high diversity of grasses, forbs, and shrubs for wildlife. Ecological sites associated with the Loamy Overflow sites in MLRA 54 include Claypan, Sandy, Loamy, Wet Meadow, Thin Loamy, and Subirrigated. In combination, these sites provide a generally unfragmented landscape within the MLRA. However, in Plant Community Phases 2.4 and 4.1, this complex plant communities provide limited habitat for many edge-sensitive grassland bird species. These sites may provide habitat for bird species tolerant to or preferring woody vegetation.

Located in concave run-on landscape positions, Loamy Overflow vegetative features support grassland-nesting birds, notably species preferring medium to tall vegetative stature. These sites serve as food sources and provide nesting, brooding, escape, and winter cover for birds and their young. Plant communities found in the Invaded Wooded State 4.0 may provide nesting sites for woodland and shrubland bird species. Insects thrive on the moist soil and highly productive forbs and grasses, providing excellent foraging areas for birds.

Due to linear shape and landscape position, Loamy Overflow sites provide important travel corridors. Wild turkey, deer, elk, small mammals, and passerine birds use this ecological site to move across the landscape for food, cover and water. In the 4.0 Invaded Wooded State, this ecological site provides an extension of the forest found in the Steep-Sided Wooded Draw, and woody riparian ecological sites.

Loamy Overflow sites in State 4.0 provide excellent loafing, escape, and winter cover for small and large herbivores. When associated with and Steep-Sided Wooded Draw ecological sites, they provide primary habitat for elk in MLRA 54.

Loamy Overflow ecological sites may be found in five plant community states (1.0 Reference State, 2.0 Native/Invaded State, 3.0 Invaded State, 4.0 Invaded Wooded State and 5.0 Go Back State) within a local landscape. Multiple plant community phases exist states 1.0 and 2.0. Today, these states occur primarily in response to grazing, drought, and non-use. Secondary influences include anthropogenic disturbances, fire, and occasional prairie dog occupation. Ecological services, historically provided by bison, are simulated by domestic livestock.

Because there is no known restoration pathway from State 2.0 to State 1.0, it is important to intensively manage using tools in the Community Phase Pathways of State 1.0 and State 2.0. Management along these pathways prevent further plant community degradation along T2A Transitional Pathway to Invaded State 3.0 or the T2B and T3A Transitional Pathways to the 4.0 Wooded Invaded State thresholds. Native wildlife generally benefits from the heterogeneous composition and stature of grass species found in States 1 and 2. As plant communities degrade within State 2.0, warm-season grasses (particularly tall- to mid-statured grasses) decrease along with a reduced native forb composition. This transition results in reduced stature and increased plant community homogeneity. When adjacent/intermingled ecological sites undergo the same transition, the result can be an expansive, homogenous landscape.

Success along Restoration Pathway R3A 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 species’ mobility limits. 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 phases within the State 3.0 show dramatic increased homogeneity of exotic cool-season grasses and further reduction in native forbs. Reduced forb diversity limits insect populations, negatively affecting grassland-nesting bird foraging opportunities. Increased exotic-grass litter 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 within State 3.0.

Management along community phase, transition, or restoration pathways should focus on attainable changes. Short- and long-term monetary costs must be evaluated against short- and long-term ecological services in creating and maintaining quality vegetative communities to support sustainable wildlife populations.

1.0 Reference State

Community Phase 1.1 Needlegrasses-Big Bluestem-Western Wheatgrass: This plant community offers excellent 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. Fire frequency maintains a grass dominated plant community providing habitat for bird species sensitive to woody vegetation. Predominance of grass species in this community 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. 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 do not prefer this site due to limited host plants, such as little bluestem and prairie dropseed. Regal fritillary can make use of violet species on this site. Monarch butterfly may use flowering forbs on this site; however, few milkweed species are found on this site to support caterpillar food. Bumblebees and other native bees utilize forbs as a nectar source; however, bare ground and nesting sites are limited due to the dominance of sod forming grasses.

Birds: This plant community provides quality nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by mid- to tall- grass nesting birds. Fire frequency maintains a grass dominated plant community providing habitat for bird species sensitive to woody vegetation. In years with reduced precipitation or drought, nesting recruitment may be compromised. This plant community does not provide suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites and nesting habitat but does provide excellent 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, rodents, jackrabbits, pronghorn, elk, and deer. Tall- to mid- statured vegetation provide suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small mammals.

Amphibians and Reptiles: This ecological site and associated plant communities provides habitat for smooth green snakes. This ecological site can provide habitat for the northern leopard frog and Great Plains toad if freshwater habitats (such as stock water ponds) are located in or adjacent to the site. The short-horned lizard may not use to this site, since they prefer shorter statured grass and sandy soils. This ecological site provides limited habitat for the plains hog-nosed snake (prefer sandy soils) and plains spadefoot (prefer gravelly or sandy soils).

Fish and Mussels: This ecological site can be directly associated with Riparian Complex ecological sites or water bodies. This site receives run-on hydrology from adjacent ecological sites. Management on Loamy Overflow sites, in conjunction with neighboring run-on sites, will have a direct effect on aquatic species in streams and/or tributaries receiving water from Loamy Overflow 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 Western Wheatgrass/Forbs/Needlegrasses: Long-term drought, with or without heavy grazing, or prairie dog occupation (along Community Phase Pathway 1.1A) causes this community shift. Tall, warm-season grasses have been reduced while cool-season, mid- stature grasses and forbs that are more tolerant to grazing or prairie dog occupation begin to dominate this community phase.

Invertebrates: Increase in forbs will provide additional nectar sources for pollinating insects. Increased bare ground and prairie dog burrow sites provide increased nesting sites for bumble bees and other ground-nesting insects.

Birds: A shift from tall- to mid-statured grass will favor grassland nesting birds preferring short- to mid-statured vegetation. Foraging opportunities may increase due to increased insect activity. If occupied by prairie dogs or driven by continued heavy grazing, vegetative stature becomes very short which favors burrowing owls, chestnut-collared longspur, and McCown’s longspur. Prairie dog towns provide abundant prey populations for grassland raptors. The lack of grass and forb stature limits use by many grassland bird species. State and Plant Community Phase 2.3 with no known return pathway to State 1.0 due to the presence of exotic cool-season grasses.

Mammals: The shift from tall- to mid-statured grass will reduce protective and thermal cover for small mammals. Suitable food, thermal, shelter, and escape cover (reduction in litter) for most mammals becomes limited. The loss of diversity of grasses and forbs reduces nutrition levels for small and large herbivores, including rodents, white-tailed jackrabbits, and deer. Grazers, such as pronghorn, use prairie dog towns for foraging and loafing.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Prairie dog towns provide habitat for both amphibians and reptiles. Tiger salamanders, prairie rattlesnakes, and other snake species will use the burrow systems of prairie dogs for shelter and denning.

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

Community Phase 1.3 Western Snowberry-Chokecherry/Grasses: Prolonged fire return intervals with light or no grazing results in increased woody vegetation leading to a shrub dominated plant community. However, this woody plant community has a patchy landscape appearance and is still dominated by grasses. The shift to shrubs, will accompany a shift to woody tolerant bird species. Return of fire or grazing shifts this plant community to a 1.2 Community Phase (via Community Phase Pathway 1.3A).

Invertebrates: A switch to woody vegetation may not have significant impact on pollinating insects. Early season and mid-season flowering shrubs (such as western snowberry and chokecherry, respectively) provide nectar. Forbs provide a season long food source. Shrubs will increase opportunities for wood nesting species. Increased bare ground may provide increased nesting sites for bumble bees and other ground nesting insects.

Birds: The shift in vegetation in Plant Community Phase 1.3 will favor grassland nesting birds tolerant to woody vegetation, such as western snowberry. However, when trees and shrubs approach the upper density within this plant community, grassland nesting birds may be eliminated from the site.

Mammals: The shift to an increased shrub and tree component in Plant Community Phase 1.3 will provide high nutrition levels and quality cover for many mammals. Deer may use these areas for foraging, loafing, escape, and winter cover. As the density of shrubs and trees increase within this plant community, pronghorn use will diminish or be eliminated.

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 1.4 Chokecherry/Green Ash/Western Snowberry/Sprengel’s Sedge: Lack of fire and lack of grazing disturbances, along Community Phase Pathway 1.3B, shifts the competitive edge to woody vegetation. This site has a limited herbaceous understory with Sprengel’s sedge, northern bedstraw, and starry false lily of the valley. This plant community is a transition zone between herbaceous dominated and woodland dominated vegetative types. Consisting of scattered patches of woody vegetation located in drainage patterns surrounded by herbaceous vegetation, this plant community provides wildlife travel corridors. It does not constitute large tracts of continuous, linear, forest-like vegetation. This plant community provides escape, loafing, and/or winter cover.

Invertebrates: This plant community still has a large component of flowering shrubs providing early season nectar plants for pollinating insects. Forb and shrub areas within and adjacent to this site provide season-long nectar sources. Bare ground and wood are readily available for bumble bees and other ground and wood nesting insects.

Birds: As density of trees and shrubs increases, bird species favoring woodland edge (such as the wild turkey, American robin, gray catbird, eastern and western kingbirds, brown thrasher, black- capped chickadee, common grackle, brown-headed cowbird, and downy woodpecker) may begin to occupy this site. Grassland nesting birds that are not tolerant of woody species may abandon this plant community. These sites provide excellent sharp-tailed grouse brood and winter thermal cover. The presence of woody plant species may attract mammalian and avian predators. Brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds on adjacent grassland ecological sites may increase.

Mammals: The mosaic of herbaceous and woody vegetation, as a linear feature on the landscape, provides escape, loafing and winter cover for deer. As a transition zone from an herbaceous plant community to a woody plant community, the plant community is used as a travel corridor and provides thermal and protective cover for many mammalian species. Species that can use or tolerate woodland edge (such as fox squirrels, American porcupine, and bats) will benefit from this community phase.

Amphibians and Reptiles: This community phase may no longer provide habitat for Great Plains toad. Species such as the plains hog-nosed snake and smooth green snake may occupy these types of woodland vegetative types.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1; however, the bare soil found under the tree and shrub canopy reduces infiltration and nutrient cycling. Run-off, sediment yield, and nutrient load increase from the site, negatively impacting receiving water bodies.

2.0 Native/Invaded State

Community Phase 2.1 Needlegrasses-Big Bluestem-Western Wheatgrass: This plant community develops through Transition pathway T1A due to changes in management and the presence of exotic, cool-season grasses. The threshold between States 1.0 and 2.0 is crossed when Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, or other exotic species become established. This plant community phase has a very similar appearance and function to the Plant Community 1.1, except it has a minor amount of cool-season exotic grasses and forbs. This phase functions at a high level for native wildlife; therefore, managers should consider the State 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 life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.2 Western Wheatgrass-Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs: Heavy continuous season-long grazing along Community Phase Pathway 2.1A leads to mid-statured grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and western wheatgrass. Tall, warm-season grasses are a minor component. Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods along Community Phase Pathway 2.2A is an efficient, effective method to regain the tall, warm-season grass components found in Community Phase 2.1.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Birds: Heavy continuous season-long grazing or heavy seasonal grazing reduces invertebrate forage and cover. Generally, mid-to short-statured species prevail with minor amounts of tall- statured grasses serving mid- to short-grass nesting birds. Species preferring mid-grass stature will be generally successful with normal to above normal precipitation. Implementing prescribed grazing management along the 2.2A Community Phase Pathway will move this community to a more favorable stature for bird species preferring mid- to tall-stature vegetation. Located in natural drainageways, this plant community does not provide suitable sharp-tailed grouse lek site development. Diverse prey populations provide good hunting opportunity 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 life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.3 Annual Forbs/Bare Ground/Blue Grama/Fetid Marigold (Prairie Dog Town): This plant community is a result of ecological services provided by long-term black-tailed prairie dog occupation coupled with the introduction of exotic cool-season grasses and annual forbs (along Community Phase Pathway 2.2B). Black-tailed prairie dogs provide primary ecological services to transition to and maintain Plant Community Phase 2.3. Utilizing one or more tools in Community Phase Pathway 2.3A (e.g., removal of black-tailed prairie dogs, control of exotic perennial forbs, implementation of prescribed grazing) can move this community back to Phase 2.1, but this may require significant management and economic inputs.

Invertebrates: The loss of native forb diversity limits use by all pollinators. However, invasive forbs will provide limited seasonal use (dependent upon bloom period). Bare ground, burrows, and short plant stature provide nest sites for bumblebees and other ground-nesting insects. Burrowing owls place dung around their burrow entrance, attracting dung beetles and other insects as a food source.

Birds: Burrowing owl and McCown’s longspur rely on the stature and composition that this plant community provides. Presence of black-tailed prairie dogs provided diverse prey populations for grassland raptors including burrowing owls, prairie falcons, and ferruginous hawks. Burrowing owls nest in abandoned prairie dog burrows.

Mammals: Suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover (reduction in litter) for most mammals becomes limited. The loss of grass and forb diversity reduces nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including voles, mice, rodents, white-tailed jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, and deer. Except for black-tailed prairie dog, this plant community provides little habitat for mid-sized or small herbivores. Nonetheless, black-tailed prairie dog towns provide important habitat for many mammal species including small rodents. Grazers, such as pronghorn, use prairie dog towns for foraging and loafing.

Amphibians/Reptiles: Prairie dog towns provide habitat for both amphibians and reptiles. Tiger salamanders, prairie rattlesnakes, and other snake species will use the burrow systems of prairie dogs for shelter and denning.

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

Community Phase 2.4 Chokecherry/Green Ash/Western Snowberry/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses: This plant community phase occurs with prolonged intervals of no fire and no or light use. Exotic cool-season grasses, along with a significant increase in woody vegetation (such as chokecherry, western snowberry, and green ash), begin to dominate the site. This community is similar to that of Community Phase 1.4 but has now been colonized by exotic cool-season grasses, dependent upon canopy density. Sprengel’s sedge may still be present with a dense canopy overstory, whereas Kentucky bluegrass may invade with a sparce canopy.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.4.

Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.4.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.4.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.4.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.4.

3.0 Invaded State

Community Phase 3.1 Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Shrubs/Forbs: This plant community occurs along Transition Pathway T2A, characterized by complete rest from grazing and elimination of fire. Exotic cool-season grasses exceeding 30% cross the threshold from State 2.0 to State 3.0. This plant community phase is characterized by a co-dominance of Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome. Forbs are present but species diversity is lacking. Five to fifteen percent of the plant community is made up of western snowberry, American plum, chokecherry, and prairie rose.

Frequent prescribed burns and high levels of grazing management along Restoration Pathway R3A are necessary to improve competitiveness and increase vigor and density of the remnant native plant community. The R3A pathway will have significant short-term negative impacts on wildlife cover. However, this is necessary to restore long-term native vegetation functions for various species’ habitat needs.

Invertebrates: 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. The lack of nectar producing plants limits forage opportunities for bumblebees, regal fritillary, monarch butterfly, and other pollinating species. When western snowberry and other flowering shrubs are in the mosaic with exotic cool-season grasses, forage opportunities for bumblebees, regal fritillary, monarch butterfly, and other pollinating species are enhanced.

Birds: Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome dominated plant communities do not provide quality habitat for grassland nesting birds. This invaded, homogenous state does not provide the needed plant stature, diversity, or food sources (invertebrates) for successful nesting and brood rearing. The tendency of Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome to lay down also limits adequate nesting sites. When western snowberry is part of the plant community, grassland-nesting woody tolerant bird species may use the site. When western snowberry and other shrubs dominate, the site provides escape, brood, and winter cover for sharp-tailed grouse.

Mammals: Dominated by exotic, cool-season grasses and western snowberry, this plant community phase provides forage, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores including voles, mice, rodents, and jackrabbits. This short- to mid-statured plant community reduces the site’s value as a travel corridor for large ungulates.

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

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. However, dominant, sod-forming, cool-season grasses decrease infiltration, reduce residence time, and increase water yield; subsequently, this increases runoff and nutrient loading to adjacent aquatic ecosystems.

4.0 Invaded Wooded State

Community Phase 4.1 Green Ash/Chokecherry-Western Snowberry/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses: Resulting from pathways T2B and T3A, elimination of fire and grazing are the major contributors to this community phase crossing the threshold from an herbaceous plant community to a community dominated by shrubs and hardwoods. Loamy Overflow sites did not historically support a woody plant community. Unlike community phase 1.4, this plant community exists as a continuous linear woody feature.

Wooded draws are an important vegetative type used by many large herbivorous mammals. Multi-level canopy, high edge-to-area ratio, and prevalence of preferred forage species provides high quality wildlife habitat. Within this MLRA, woody draws (such as those in Community Phase 4.1) receive various levels of seasonal use by Rocky Mountain elk and deer. In general, woody draws provide important travel corridors, security cover, foraging, loafing, and parturition (birthing) areas.

Invertebrates: Dominated by early season flowering shrubs, pollinating insects may need adjacent herbaceous and forb-dominated ecological sites for mid- to late-season pollen sources. Lower trophic level consumers (such as invertebrate decomposers, scavengers, shredders, predators, herbivores, dung beetles, and fungal-feeders) will use woody plant material, leaves, and a limited number of grasses in contact with mineral soil. The woody component of this site is not conducive to use by the Dakota skipper, regal fritillary, or monarch butterfly. Woody plant material is available for wood nesting bees. These wind-protected, moist plant communities provide favorable habitat for flying insects (flies, mosquitoes, moths, etc.). Favorable climatic conditions can lead to large hatches of insects providing forage.

Birds: This site no longer provides habitat for grassland nesting bird species due its woody vegetation dominance. Bird species that use and benefit from woodland edge (such as wild turkey, black-billed cuckoo, red-headed woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, gray catbird, and loggerhead shrike) can be found in this community phase. These sites provide excellent sharp-tailed grouse brood cover and winter thermal cover. Wildlife use increases as the depth of snow increases during the winter, thereby becoming critical to the sustainment of winter resident bird populations. The presence of woody plant species may increase mammalian and avian predation and increase brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds on adjacent grassland ecological sites.

Mammals: Nearly all bat species use Community Phase 4.1 for roost sites and forage. Small herbivores that can use or tolerate woodland edge (such as least chipmunks, American porcupine, and cotton-tail rabbit) will benefit from this plant community phase.

Shrubs and trees provide security and thermal cover used by elk and deer for foraging, loafing, and rearing young-of-the-year. Multi-layer shrub/tree communities provide concealment protection from predators during parturition. Plant species provide highly nutritious forage during peak lactation, one of the most energy demanding time periods of the year for female ungulates.

Elk utilizes Community Phase 4.1 as a source of cover during daylight hours, only emerging early/late in the day to forage in adjacent grasslands, then returning to the relative security provided by this plant community to ruminate and loaf during daylight hours. At times of drought, elk forage heavily on western snowberry found within Community Phase 4.1.

Deer utilize Community Phase 4.1 as primary foraging areas during all seasons of the year. Research at southwestern North Dakota found utilization of chokecherry and western snowberry by mule deer peaks during the fall accounting for 20 to 25% of their total dietary intake. In addition, mule deer also utilize rose, gooseberry, and Saskatoon serviceberry during the growing season. Winter white-tailed deer diets are dominated by chokecherry, western snowberry, Saskatoon serviceberry, rose, and various species of gooseberry. However, utilization of green ash as a forage by elk and deer was minimal accounting for <3% total dietary intake during all seasons.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.4. Increased continuity provides improved dispersal opportunities.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1; however, the bare soil found under the tree and shrub canopy reduces infiltration and nutrient cycling. Run-off, sediment yield, and nutrient load increase from the site, negatively impacting receiving water bodies.

5.0 Go-Back State

Community Phase 5.1 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. 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.

Successful restoration of native species along Transition Pathway R5A results in a native grass and forb community in State 2.0. Failed restoration to native species through Restoration Pathway R5B results in Invaded State 3.0. Wildlife species response will be dependent upon plant community composition, vegetative stature, patch size, and management activities (such as prescribed grazing, burning, interseeding, haying, or noxious weed control).

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 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

Water is the principal factor limiting herbage production on this site. The site is dominated by soils in hydrologic groups B and C, but some soils in group A also occur. Infiltration and runoff potential for this site varies from negligible to medium depending on soil hydrologic group 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).

Recreational uses

The largest acreage of public land available for recreation in the MLRA is owned and managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS) within the Little Missouri, Grand River, and Cedar River National Grasslands in South Dakota and the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota (687,398 acres). These areas are available for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, horse and bike riding, nature viewing, etc. In addition, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages (40,264 acres) in North and South Dakota with the same recreational opportunities as the USFS lands.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USAE) owns 496,162 acres of land and water located on and adjacent to Lake Sakakawea and Lake Oahe. The North Dakota and South Dakota Game and Fish Departments manage the fisheries resources. These two Missouri River reservoirs provide excellent fishing and water recreation opportunities. In addition, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages a national fish hatchery below Garrison Dam.

The USFWS manages 36,858 acres in the National Wildlife Refuge system while the North Dakota and South Dakota wildlife management agencies manage 72,218 acres as wildlife or game management areas. The North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana Department of Trust Lands manage 486,482 acres. These areas provide hunting, bird watching, hiking, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. North Dakota Wildlife Management Areas along the shoreline of Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River account for 60,000 acres of the approximately 72,218 acres of land managed by the states for wildlife habitat in MLRA 54. Located in the northern portion of the MLRA, the Killdeer Mountain WMA is the largest tract of state-owned land managed for wildlife habitat at approximately 7,000 acres.

The largest refuge managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife service is Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge totaling approximately 4,000 acres. United States Bureau of Reclamation manages approximately 11,000 acres at Lake Tschida and 8,460 acres at Bowman-Haley Lake for fish and wildlife habitat. The National Park Service manages the Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site; the North Dakota Historical Society manages the Double Ditch Indian Village site.

Bird watching: Public and private grasslands within MLRA 54 provide essential habitat for prairie- dependent bird species such as Sprague's pipits, western meadowlark, and Baird's sparrow along with some of the larger, showy members of the upland prairie include marbled godwits, upland sandpipers, willets, and sharp-tailed grouse. Publicly owned lands provide excellent birding opportunities. MLRA 54 is in the Central Flyway.

Hunting/Fishing: MLRA 54 is a fall destination for thousands of pheasant and upland game bird hunters. This MLRA also provides excellent deer (white-tailed and mule), pronghorn, and coyote hunting opportunities. Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe, Lake Tschida, and the Missouri River provide excellent year-round fishing opportunities. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks manage approximately 40 fishing lakes within the MLRA. Available species include yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout, and smallmouth bass. Chinook salmon are stocked in Lake Sakakawea.

Camping: Numerous state operated campgrounds are located along the shores of Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe, Missouri River, and Shadehill Reservoir. Primitive camping is allowed on Grand River and Cedar River National Grasslands in South Dakota and the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota. Other numerous camping (primitive and improved) sites are available in numerous city and county parks.

Hiking/Biking/Horseback Riding: Hiking is permitted on most state and federally owned lands. Developed hiking and biking trails can be found on Harmon Lake (13.1 miles), Roughrider Trail (Morton County, 16.5 miles), Missouri River State Natural Area (5 miles), Ft. Abraham Lincoln State Park (8 miles), Cross Ranch State Park (14 miles), Grand River National Grasslands (7 miles), Lake Sakakawea State Park (5 miles), and Lewis & Clark State Park (5 miles). In addition, extensive biking and walking trails are found in local county and city parks. Ft. Abraham Lincoln State Park has 6 miles of horseback trails.

Wood products

No appreciable wood products are present on the site.

Other products

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

Other information

Site Development and Testing Plan
• The slope range for this site is currently 0 to 6 percent. In several areas, plant communities similar to Loamy Overflow have been observed on slopes exceeding 6 percent. These areas generally are a minor component, but some may make up more than 15 percent of the spatial extent of a map unit. Further investigation and documentation of the vegetation of these areas is recommended.
• Further evaluation is recommended on soils in areas of reclaimed coal mines that meet the slope percent and slope criteria for the Loamy Overflow ecological site. Determining CaCO3 content should be part of any investigations. Since these soils are reclaimed, range plantings should be periodically revisited to see what species establish and respond to management.
• A review is needed of the landform and slope shapes populated for Pachic Haplustolls in NASIS. These components should be linked to Loamy Overflow if they have linear-concave slope shapes, but linked to Loamy if they have linear-linear slope shapes. Pachic Haplustolls in complexes have generally been linked correctly; many that occur as consociations have not been linked correctly and need revision.
• A minor component of Grail soils has been assigned to the Loamy Overflow ecological site in 50 map units in this MLRA. These Grail components have a silt loam or silty clay loam (<35% clay) surface soil (ranging in thickness from 8 to 18 inches). An argillic horizon (35 to 50% clay) occurs immediately below the surface layer; this horizon forms a ribbon >2 inches long. These components occur on the run-on landscape positions described in the Physiographic Features section above and in upland drainageways with frequent, very brief flooding. Major components (consociations) of Grail have been assigned to the Clayey ecological site. Grail soils are Pachic Vertic Argiustolls. In previous discussions with South Dakota ecological site specialists, a Clayey Overflow was suggested as a potential new ecological site. Further investigation is needed to determine the best ecological site assignment for these components and any potential revisions that may be needed in ESDs.
• 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.
• 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 Frequently flooded components of Arnegard and Grail should be reviewed should they be in Loamy Terrace?
o One component of Bowbells with <6% slope needs to be relinked from Loamy to Loamy Overflow and one which is in complex with soils lower on the landscape needs to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Loamy.
o Saline phases of Arnegard, Grail, and Parshall series are currently linked to the Saline Lowland ecological site. Drainage classes of these soils are moderately well drained or well drained. These saline phases commonly developed due to cultivation (seeps). Range planting considerations need to include factors other than the presence of accumulated salts (recharge area, etc.). Linking of these components needs revision. These components need relinking to the appropriate upland ESD: Loamy or Loamy Overflow.
o Some Grail components should be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Clayey.
o Four Mandan components (2 major) and six Wilton components (2 major) need to be relinked from Loamy to Loamy Overflow.
o Three channeled, frequently flooded components (2 major) of Havrelon need to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Riparian Complex or Loamy Terrace.
o Two minor channeled, frequently flooded components of Banks need to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Sandy Terrace or Riparian Complex.
o One minor component of Morton needs to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Loamy.
o Five minor components of Straw, rarely flooded need to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Loamy Terrace.
o One minor, occasionally flooded Trembles component needs to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Sandy Terrace.
o Some Parshall components need to be relinked from Sandy to Loamy Overflow.
o Frequently flooded, Trembles (moderately well or well drained) need to be relinked from Loamy Overflow to Riparian Complex or Sandy Terrace.

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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Vinton, M.A. and E.M. Goergen. 2006. Plant-soil feedbacks contribute to the persistence of Bromus inermis in tallgrass prairie. Ecosystems 9: 967-976.

Whitman, W.H., H. Hanson, and R. Peterson. 1943. Relation of drought and grazing to North Dakota range lands. North Dakota Agricultural Experimentation Bulletin 340.

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Contributors

ND NRCS: David Dewald, Jonathan Fettig, Jody Forman, Mike Gerbig, Alan Gulsvig, Mark Hayek, Jeanne Heilig, John Kempenich, Chuck Lura, Jeff Printz, Steve Sieler, and Hal Weiser.

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 3/31/2025

Acknowledgments

NRCS would like to acknowledge the United State Forest Service (USFS) and National Park Service (NPS) for access to USFS properties and technical assistance in ESD development. USFS: Jack Dahl, Nickole Dahl, and Chad Prosser.