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Ecological site R055DY037SD

Deep Marsh

Last updated: 4/22/2025
Accessed: 12/18/2025

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General information

Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 055D–Glacial Lake Dakota

MLRA 55D is in South Dakota (92 percent) and southeastern North Dakota (8 percent). It makes up about 3,059 square miles (7,923 square kilometers). This area, which is part of the glacial till plain region, consists of a large, glacial lake plain that was drained by the James River, which flows southward through the area. The MLRA is dominantly farmland converted from prairie, but some areas of grassland remain. Agricultural drainage practices have impacted shallow depressions in many areas.

MLRA 55D has distinct boundaries. Till plains are on all sides. MLRA 55B borders the area largely to the north and is also between the Lake Dakota Plain and two prominent coteaus—the Missouri Coteau on the west and the Prairie Coteau on the east. To the south is MLRA 55C (Southern Black Glaciated Plains), which has a mesic soil temperature regime.

This area is in the Central Lowland province of the Interior Plains. Elevation ranges from 1,250 to 1,330 feet (380 to 405 meters), generally increasing from south to north. The area is characterized by mostly level to moderately sloping lake plains with many depressions and drainages. Much of the area has integrated drainage; drainage channels are poorly to moderately defined.

The glaciolacustrine sediments of the Lake Dakota Plain range from sandy to clayey and are commonly stratified. Some areas of the lake plain are mantled with wind-deposited materials, which are moderately coarse textured or sandy. Alluvial deposits and low terraces are common along the James River and its major tributaries but also occur in narrow and discontinuous strips along other streams.

Classification relationships

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Southern Black Glaciated Plains (55D) (USDA-NRCS, 2022)

USFS Sub-region: Located mainly within unit 332Bc and 332Ba (Cleland et al., 2007).

Ecological site concept

The Deep Marsh ecological site typically represents the central portion of a wetland basin or depression on a glaciated prairie landscape with standing water up to 5 feet deep, and at least some tall, emergent vegetation like cattails, bulrushes and reeds. In most years there is at least some standing water but in drought years the basin surface may dry out yet retain groundwater within 1 foot of the surface. Ponded water conditions and very slow permeability strongly influences the soil-water-plant relationship. Most uncultivated wetland basins in this MLRA have concentric bands of distinctly different vegetation corresponding with changes in soil and water depth.

Associated sites

R055DY001SD	Shallow Marsh These sites occur in a basin or closed depression. Soils are very poorly drained and the site will pond water until early summer in most years. The central concept soil series are Baltic and Worthing, but other series are included.
R055DY004SD	Wet Meadow This site is in shallow depressions and on low-lying flats. It is poorly drained - a seasonal high water table is typically within a depth of 1.5 feet during the months of April through June; in depressions, it is frequently ponded (typically <1.5) in April and May. It typically has redoximorphic features within a depth of 18 inches. Some soils are highly calcareous. It is non-saline to slightly saline (E.C. <8) in the surface and subsoil layers. All textures are included in this site.
R055DY002SD	Linear Meadow These sites occur in drainageways or along the edges of closed depressions. Soils are poorly and very poorly drained and have a water table within 0 to 2 feet of the soil surface that persists longer than the wettest part of the growing season, typically until the month of August. The central concept soil series is Lawet, but other series are included
R055DY007SD	Saline Lowland This site is poorly drained or somewhat poorly drained and occurs on rims of depressions and adjacent flats. It has an accumulation of salts in the surface and subsoil layer (E.C. >8). Typically, this site does not have a claypan layer, but one is allowed if the soil is poorly drained. All textures are included in this site.

Similar sites

R055DY001SD	Shallow Marsh The Shallow Marsh site is in a similar landscape position, but the site ponds water until early summer in most years.

R055DY001SD

Shallow Marsh

The Shallow Marsh site is in a similar landscape position, but the site ponds water until early summer in most years.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Typha latifolia (2) Schoenoplectus acutus

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on concave shallow swales or depressions.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Slope shape across	(1) Concave
Slope shape up-down	(1) Concave
Landforms	(1) Lake plain > Depression
Ponding duration	Very long (more than 30 days)
Ponding frequency	Frequent
Elevation	1,310 – 1,970 ft
Slope	1%
Ponding depth	60 in
Water table depth	6 in

Climatic features

The average annual precipitation of MLRA 55D is 22 to 23 inches (549 to 594 millimeters). About 75 percent of the rainfall comes from high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. Winter precipitation is typically snow. The average annual snowfall is 25 to 50 inches (635 to 1,270 millimeters). Strong winds commonly deposit the snow unevenly across the landscape. The average annual temperature is 43 to 45 degrees F (6 to 7 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages about 135 days and ranges from 120 to 150 days.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	114-117 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	129-134 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	22-23 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	114-119 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	127-134 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	22-23 in
Frost-free period (average)	116 days
Freeze-free period (average)	131 days
Precipitation total (average)	23 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) BRITTON [USC00391049], Britton, SD
(2) COLUMBIA 8 N [USC00391873], Columbia, SD
(3) ANDOVER #2 [USC00390120], Andover, SD
(4) ABERDEEN [USW00014929], Aberdeen, SD
(5) CONDE [USC00391917], Conde, SD
(6) MELLETTE 4 W [USC00395456], Northville, SD
(7) TURTON [USC00398420], Turton, SD
(8) REDFIELD [USC00397052], Redfield, SD

Soil features

The common soil features of soils in this site are the fine sand to clay subsoil and slopes 0 to 1 percent. The soils in this site are very poorly drained and formed in local alluvium and glaciolacustrine deposits. Surface textures range from fine sandy loam to clay. The soils have a very slow infiltration rate. The soils show no evidence of rills, wind scoured areas, or pedestalled plants. The soil surface is stable and intact. Subsurface soil layers are nonrestrictive to water movement and root penetration. These soils are not susceptible to water erosion. Ponded water conditions and very slow permeability strongly influences the soil-water-plant relationship.

The central soil series concepts for this site include Ludden clay, ponded, Venlo fine sandy loam, ponded, and Castlewood silty clay, ponded.
Access Web Soil Survey (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm) for specific local soils information.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium (2) Glaciolacustrine deposits
Surface texture	(1) Clay (2) Silty clay (3) Fine sandy loam
Family particle size	(1) Clayey
Drainage class	Very poorly drained
Permeability class	Very slow
Soil depth	80 in
Available water capacity (Depth not specified)	0.11 – 0.23 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (Depth not specified)	25%
Electrical conductivity (Depth not specified)	4 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (Depth not specified)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (Depth not specified)	5.6 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

The information in this Ecological Site Description, including the state-and-transition model (STM), was developed based on historical data, current field data, professional experience, and a review of the scientific literature. As a result, all possible scenarios or plant species may not be included. Key indicator plant species, disturbances, and ecological processes are described to inform land management decisions.

The Deep Marsh Ecological Site typically represents the central portion of a wetland basin or depression on a glaciated prairie landscape with standing water up to 5 feet deep, and at least some tall, emergent vegetation like cattails, bulrushes and reeds. In most years there is at least some standing water but in drought years the basin surface may dry out yet retain groundwater within 1 foot of the surface. Within other classification systems, this ecological site generally corresponds with Stewart and Kantrud’s (1971) “Type IV wetland basin,” also called a “semi-permanent pond or lake”; and with the “Palustrine Emergent Semi-permanently Flooded to Intermittently Exposed Wetland” of Cowardin, et al. (1979).

Most uncultivated wetland basins in this MLRA have concentric bands of distinctly different vegetation corresponding with changes in soil and water depth. For example, while the center of the basin supports deep marsh vegetation, it is often surrounded by a zone of shallow marsh vegetation, which is in turn surrounded by a zone of wet meadow vegetation, eventually grading outward into upland soils and vegetation. Degree of slope, type of soils, and nature of the local hydrology tend to dictate the number and width of these concentric zones of vegetation.

Given the climatic extremes of the Great Plains with precipitation that ranges from drought to deluge, Deep Marsh wetland basins undergo cycles of flooding and draw-down with corresponding changes in vegetation. These hydrologic cycles and vegetation changes have been described in detail by Stewart and Kantrud (1971), who subdivided them into four phases: 1) Normal Emergent Phase. Historically, this phase of deep marsh vegetation consisted of scattered patches of broadleaf cattail or stands of bulrushes like hardstem, slender, softstem or prairie bulrush, interspersed with patches of open water supporting submerged or floating leaved aquatic plants like white water-crowfoot, common bladderwort, sago pondweed, water smartweed, and various duckweeds.

In wet years, the water depth in Deep Marsh basins would increase and subsequently drowned out the emergent cattails and bulrushes, leading to the 2) Open-water Phase. There may still be cattails and bulrushes on the periphery of the wetland basin during this phase, but the central portion of the basin would have open water with various submerged and floating-leaved aquatic plants, like those mentioned above. With the onset of drought, the wetland basin dries up and enters the 3) Drawdown Bare-soil Phase.

With the newly exposed and mostly bare soils, weedy annual and short-lived perennial plants like cockleburs, swamp ragwort, rough barnyardgrass, and foxtail barley invade the wetland basin. Prolonged drought alone (completely dry soils for two years) is also apparently enough to kill broadleaf cattail (Nelson and Dietz 1966). With the return of normal precipitation and runoff, water levels rise, inundating the standing annuals and other plants, leading to the 4) Natural Drawdown Emergent Phase. Seeds of emergent wetland plants like cattails and bulrushes are once again able to germinate and grow on any mudflats or areas of very shallow, standing water (the seeds of most emergent plant species cannot germinate in water deeper than a couple inches). After the drawdown (which also tends to kill any minnows or other aquatic animals) and reflooding, there is a pulse of nutrients from all the recently decomposing vegetation leading to an explosion of aquatic invertebrates. With the return of standing water, the germination of upland plant seeds and most emergent plant seeds is inhibited, while the germination of submerged and floating-leaved plant seeds are stimulated. With time, the young emergent cattails and bulrushes spread by rhizomatous growth into clonal patches and the cycle repeats itself. Van der Valk and Davis (1978) suggest that these wet-dry vegetation transitions can take from 5 to 30 years or more to complete a full cycle.

Ecological Dynamics of Deep Marshes

Besides the effects of wet-dry cycles, Deep Marsh habitats historically were subjected to substantial herbivory from muskrats, in particular; but also the grazing and trampling by large ungulates like bison and elk. Muskrats consume cattail and bulrush tubers as food, but also cut the stems for the construction of their mounds and dens. In most circumstances, muskrats maintain open water patches surrounding their mounds within a larger stand of cattails and bulrushes, but occasionally it is possible for muskrats to overpopulate and virtually eliminate the emergent cattails and bulrushes from a wetland basin (Errington et al. 1963). Prairie fires were a frequent phenomenon on the northern Great Plains and would burn wetland vegetation during drawdown conditions and even consume dry, dense, emergent vegetation standing over shallow water or ice (Kantrud 1986).

The invasion of Deep Marsh wetlands by narrowleaf cattail and hybrid cattail, has dramatically altered the ecology of these wetland basins. Narrowleaf cattail is presumed to be an exotic species in much, if not all of North America (Stukey and Salamon 1987), and appears to have been absent from the northern Great Plains until the 1920s and 1930s based upon the absence of this species in early floristic lists for the region (Rydberg 1896, Saunders 1899, Rosco & Clements 1900, Visher 1912, 1914, McIntosh 1931, Metcalf 1931). It appears to have been introduced into the Black Hills (Hayward 1928) and eastern South Dakota (Over 1932) by the late 1920s. Once introduced, narrowleaf cattail began to hybridize with the native broadleaf cattail and formed a new, taller, more aggressive, more persistent “hybrid cattail” (Typha X glauca). Our native broadleaf cattail is killed by water depths exceeding about 64 cm when kept submerged for most of the growing season. In contrast, narrowleaf and hybrid cattail require depths exceeding 100 cm for at least 1 year or more before they will drown (Steenis et al. 1959, Miklovic 2000). The roots and rhizomes of cattails require oxygen to survive, and obtain most of this oxygen through the aerenchyma tissue of cattail stems and leaves. Thus, the susceptibility to drowning of all cattail species can be enhanced by cutting, grazing or burning to remove these tissues followed by inundation (Nelson and Dietz 1966, Apfelbaum 1985).

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference

2. Invaded

3. Crop Production

4. Altered Production

T1A	-	Invasion of Non-native Vegetation, Flooding, Drought
T1B	-	Tillage, Drought
T1C	-	Drainage
R2A	-	Deep Water, Prescribed Grazing, Prescribed Fire, Drought, Time
T2A	-	Tillage, Drought
T2B	-	Drainage, Drought
R3A	-	Non use, Invasion of Non-native Vegetation, Flooding, Time, Seeding
R4A	-	Renovation/Restoration

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Broadleaf cattail, Bulrush, and Open Water Patches

1.2. Open Water, Submerged Plants, Cattails, and Bulrushes

1.3. Cocklebur, Swamp Ragwort, and Rough Barnyardgrass

1.4. Broadleaf Cattail and Bulrush

1.1A	-	Flooding, Herbivory
1.2A	-	Drought
1.3A	-	Normal Precipitation Patterns, Time
1.4A	-	Normal Precipitation Patterns, Time

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. Narrowleaf Cattail, Hybrid Cattail, Bulrush, and Phragmites

2.2. Open Water, Narrowleaf Cattails, and Hybrid Cattails

2.3. Foxtail Barley and Exotic Annuals

2.4. Narrowleaf Cattails, Hybrid Cattails, Phragmites, and Bulrush

2.1A	-	Deep Water, Herbivory, Flooding, Prescribed Grazing, Haying or Chopping, Fire
2.2A	-	Drought
2.3A	-	Normal Precipitation Patterns, Time
2.4A	-	Normal Precipitation Patterns, Time

State 3 submodel, plant communities

3.1. Annual Cropping System

State 4 submodel, plant communities

4.1. Annual Cropping System

State 1
Reference

The Reference State represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominates the dynamics of the ecological state prior to European settlement of North America. This site, in the Reference State (State 1), is dominated by cattails and grass-like vegetation. Drought and flooding are major drivers between plant community phases, while herbivory by native ungulates and other wildlife and fire played a more minor role. Invasion of non-native or hybrid cattails during the drawdown/bare soil phase will result in a transition to the Invaded State (State 2).

Dominant plant species

broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), grass
hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus), grass

Community 1.1
Broadleaf cattail, Bulrush, and Open Water Patches

Historically, this phase of deep marsh vegetation consisted of scattered patches of broadleaf cattail and/or stands of bulrushes like hardstem, slender, softstem or prairie bulrush, interspersed with patches of open water supporting submerged or floating leaved aquatic plants like white water-crowfoot, common bladderwort, sago pondweed, water smartweed, and various duckweeds.

Dominant plant species

broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), grass
hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus), grass
common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), other herbaceous

Community 1.2
Open Water, Submerged Plants, Cattails, and Bulrushes

The transition to an open water phase is due to increased precipitation during wet years. Flooding will drown out cattails and bulrushes in certain areas, but some will still be present on the periphery of the wetland basin during this phase. Herbivory by muskrats or other native ungulates may also help speed the transition to this state. The central portion of the basin will have open water with various submerged and floating-leaved aquatic plants, like those mentioned above.

Dominant plant species

coon's tail (Ceratophyllum demersum), other herbaceous
common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), other herbaceous
flatstem pondweed (Potamogeton zosteriformis), other herbaceous

Community 1.3
Cocklebur, Swamp Ragwort, and Rough Barnyardgrass

The transition from an open water phase or normal emergent phase due to drought will result in bareground. Weedy annuals and short-lived perennials will invade the basin. Species such as cockleburs, swamp ragwort, rough barnyardgrass, and foxtail barley will replace the cattails and bulrushes.

Dominant plant species

rough barnyardgrass (Echinochloa muricata), grass
cocklebur (Xanthium), other herbaceous

Community 1.4
Broadleaf Cattail and Bulrush

The return of normal precipitation and runoff will inundate the basin killing the annuals and other plants. Seeds of emergent wetland plants like cattails and bulrushes will be able to germinate and grow on mudflats or areas of very shallow standing water. As the water levels return to normal, cattails and bulrushes will colonize the site through rhizomatous growth and submerged and floating aquatic plants will be supported once again, leading to a transition back to the 1.1 Normal Emergent Community Phase with in the Reference State (State 1).

Dominant plant species

broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), grass
hardstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus), grass

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Excessive flooding results in an open water phase with mostly submerged species, and cattails and bulrushes around the periphery of the open water. Herbivory by muskrats or other native species may also decrease the amounts of cattails and lead to open water phases as well will shift this community to the 1.2 Open Water Phase within the Reference State (State 1).

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Drought leads to a drawdown phase, where open water changes to bareground. Annuals and short-lived perennials colonize the bareground areas will shift this community to the 1.3 Drawdown/Bare Soil Phase within the Reference State (State 1).

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.4

Normal precipitation and time allows cattails to recolonize areas and will shift this community to the 1.4 Natural Drawdown/Emergent Phase within the Reference State (State 1).

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.1

Natural Drawdown / Emergent Phase – The return of normal precipitation and runoff will inundate the basin killing the annuals and other plants. Seeds of emergent wetland plants like cattails and bulrushes will be able to germinate and grow on mudflats or areas of very shallow standing water. As the water levels return to normal, cattails and bulrushes will colonize the site through rhizomatous growth and submerged and floating aquatic plants will be supported once again, leading to a transition back to the 1.1 Normal Emergent Community Phase with in the Reference State (State 1).

State 2
Invaded

This state is characterized by a shift from broadleaf cattail dominance to narrowleaf (Typha angustifolia) and hybrid (Typha x glauca) cattail dominance – both more invasive cattail species. The transition leads to a more cattail dominated state, decreasing the amount of bulrush species present in this state, and also allowing for Phragmites to invade as well. This state incorporates the same drought and deluge cycles as the reference state, but this state is dominated by invasive and non-native vegetation.

Dominant plant species

narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), grass

Community 2.1
Narrowleaf Cattail, Hybrid Cattail, Bulrush, and Phragmites

This phase is dominated by narrowleaf and hybrid cattails with minor amounts of bulrush. Phragmites may also invade during this state. This phase has less open water and more continuous stands of cattails.

Dominant plant species

narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), grass
hybrid cattail (Typha ×glauca), grass

Community 2.2
Open Water, Narrowleaf Cattails, and Hybrid Cattails

This phase is similar to Reference State (State 1) condition except water must be deeper or cattails must be grazed cut or crush down and then inundated in order to reach a deep-water phase.

Dominant plant species

narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), grass
hybrid cattail (Typha ×glauca), grass

Community 2.3
Foxtail Barley and Exotic Annuals

The transition from an open water phase to the drawdown/bare ground phase occurs due to drought. The bare ground will be invaded by exotic weedy annuals and short-live perennials such as barnyardgrass, foxtail barley, and chenopods.

Dominant plant species

foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), grass
lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), other herbaceous

Community 2.4
Narrowleaf Cattails, Hybrid Cattails, Phragmites, and Bulrush

Once normal precipitation patterns have returned, the native wetland seedbank will try to recolonize the site with bulrushes and cattails, but windblown seeds from narrowleaf and hybrid cattails and Phragmites will most likely compete with the natives for space.

Dominant plant species

narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), grass
hybrid cattail (Typha ×glauca), grass
common reed (Phragmites australis), other herbaceous

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Deep water, herbivory, prescribed grazing, and/or flooding lead to an open water phase. Deeper water than than the Reference State (State 1) is needed to drown out narrowleaf and hybrid cattails. An alternative to deeper water is haying or chopping, fire, and/or crushing cattails prior to flooding to drown out those cattail species will shift this community to the 2.2 Open Water Phase within the Invaded State (State 2).

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.3

Drought leads to bareground, and exotic annual weeds compete with native annuals to colonize the bareground will shift this community to the 2.3 Drawdown/Bare Soil Phase within the Invaded State (State 2).

Pathway 2.3A
Community 2.3 to 2.4

Normal precipitation and time is needed to recolonize the basin with emergent vegetation. Native seed bank species compete with wind-blown seeds of narrowleaf cattail and Phragmites to colonize the area and will shift this community to the 2.4 Natural Drawdown/Emergent Phase within the Invaded State (State 2).

Pathway 2.4A
Community 2.4 to 2.1

Time allows cattails and other vegetation to return to a normal emergent phase with areas of open water and will shift this community back to the 2.1 Emergent Phase within the Invaded State (State 2).

State 3
Crop Production

This state is characterized by the production of annual crops. This community phase only occurs during extreme drought years when basin is dry enough to be cropped.

Dominant plant species

corn (Zea mays), grass
soybean (Glycine max), other herbaceous

Community 3.1
Annual Cropping System

This plant community developed with the use of a variety of tillage and cropping systems for the production of annual crops including corn, soybean, wheat, oats, and a variety of other crops.

Dominant plant species

corn (Zea mays), grass
soybean (Glycine max), other herbaceous

State 4
Altered Production

This state is characterized by the production of annual crops due to drainage by mechanical means. This state is highly altered and will never return to the Reference State (State 1).

Dominant plant species

corn (Zea mays), grass
soybean (Glycine max), other herbaceous

Community 4.1
Annual Cropping System

This plant community developed with the use of a variety of tillage and cropping systems for the production of annual crops including corn, soybean, wheat, oats, and a variety of other crops.

Dominant plant species

corn (Zea mays), grass
soybean (Glycine max), other herbaceous

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Invasion of non-native cattails and phragmites along with flooding and drought may lead to the Invaded State (State 2).

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Times of drought will dry out the site, which may allow tillage and annual cropping to commence and may lead to the Crop Production State (State 3).

Transition T1C
State 1 to 4

Drainage of basin may allow for the basin to be cropped and may lead to the Altered Production State (State 4). Restoration of this state may occur, but natural pathways have been altered and site will never return to Reference State (State 1).

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Deep water or drought may help the invaded phase return to a more native state within the Reference State (State 1). Narrowleaf and hybrid cattails cannot withstand deep water phases, or drought. A combination of many management types such as prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, and well-timed climate occurrences may allow the site to return to a non-native state (but not likely).

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Time and drought will dry out the site, which may allow tillage and annual cropping to commence and may lead to the Crop Production State (State 3).

Transition T2B
State 2 to 4

Drainage and drought of basin may allow for the basin to be cropped and may lead to the Altered Production State (State 4). Restoration of this state may occur, but natural pathways have been altered and site will never return to Reference State (State 1).

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2

Non-use and flooding will allow invasive water-loving plants to revegetate the site over time. Seeding with native vegetation may also speed this process.

Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 2

Restoration and renovation of the site by plugging ditches will return this site back to a vegetated state. The site will have been altered too much to allow a restoration back to the Reference State (State 1).

Additional community tables

Supporting information

Inventory data references

There is no NRCS clipping data and other inventory currently available for this site. Information presented here has been derived using field observations from range-trained personnel. Those involved in developing this site include: Stan Boltz, Range Management Specialist, NRCS; and Dave Ode, Botanist/Plant Ecologist (retired) State of South Dakota.

Data Source Sample Period State County
NONE

MLRA 55D was split from MLRA 55B in 2022. Many of the site concepts for this MLRA are borrowed from neighboring MLRA 55B pending further vegetation and soils validation.

This provisional site description concept was taken from the neighboring MLRA 102D Deep Marsh ESD. Additional work is needed to verify the concepts of this ESD in MLRA 55D, as well as to correlate the soils to the correct ESD in NASIS.

Other references

Aber, J.S., S.W. Aber, F. Pavri, E. Volkova, and R.L. Penner II. 2006. Small-format aerial photography for assessing change on wetland vegetation, Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 109.

Apfelbaum, Steven I. 1985. Cattail (Typha spp.) Management. Natural Areas Journal 5(3).

Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C. Carpenter, and W.H. McNab. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Coterminous United States. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76. Washington, DC.

Cowardin, Lewis M., Virginia Carter, Francis C. Golet, and Edward T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. US Fish and Wildilfe Service FWS/OBS-79/31. Washington, DC.

Cressey, Ryann. 2016. Changes in wetland conditions and wetland plant communities in the Prairie Pothole Region after 50 years. M.S. Thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.

Dix, Ralph L. and Fred E. Smeins. 1967. The prairie, meadow and marsh vegetation of Nelson County, North Dakota. Canadian Journal of Botany 45:

Errington, Paul L., Roger J. Siglin and Robert C. Clark. 1963. The decline of a muskrat population. Journal of Wildlife Management 27:

Hayward, Herman E. 1928. Studies of plants in the Black Hills of South Daktoa. Botanical Gazette 85(4):

Hubbard, Daniel E., David A. Beck, and Bryan D. Schultz. 1988. Chemical constituents and IVDDM of hybrid cattail from a South Dakota prairie pothole. Wetlands 8(2):

Kantrud, Harold A. 1986. Effects of vegetation manipulation on breeding waterfowl in prairie wetlands – a literature review. Fish and Wildlife Technical Report #3. US Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.

McIntosh, Arthur C. 1931. A botanical survey of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Black Hills Engineer 19(3):
.
Metcalf, Franklin P. 1931. Wild-Duck Foods of North Dakota Lakes. USDA Technical Bulletin No. 221, Washington, DC.

Miklovic, Stefanie. 2000. Typha angustifolia management implications for glacial marsh restoration. Restoration and Reclamation Review 6(2):

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Contributors

Lance Howe
Steve Winter
Landon Wolter

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 4/22/2025

Acknowledgments

Contact for Lead Authors: Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), Redfield Soil Survey Office Redfield, SD; Lance Howe (Lance.Howe@usda.gov), Soil Survey Office Leader, USDA-NRCS, Redfield, SD; Steve Winter (Steven.Winter@usda.gov), Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Redfield, SD; and Landon Wolter, Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Redfield, SD.

Additional Information Acknowledgment: Emily Helms (Emily.Helms@usda.gov), State Range Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Huron, SD; Jason Hermann (Jason.Hermann@usda.gov), Area Rangeland Management Specialist, USDA-NRCS, Redfield, SD; Dave Ode, Botanist/Plant Ecologist (retired) State of South Dakota.

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	04/22/2025
Approved by	Suzanne Mayne-Kinney
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production