Physiographic features

This site occurs on glacial lake beaches and beach ridges and on outwash plains. On outwash plains, it is on rises, ridges, and knolls. The parent material is beach deposits or glaciofluvial deposits. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Climatic features

MLRA 56A is considered to have a continental climate – cold winters and relatively hot summers, low to moderate humidity, light rainfall, and much sunshine. Extremes in temperature may also abound. The climate is the result of this MLRA’s location near the geographic center of North America. There are few natural barriers on the northern Great Plains and air masses move freely across the plains and account for rapid changes in temperature.

Annual precipitation typically ranges from 18 to 23 inches per year. The average annual temperature is about 40°F. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from about 1°F (Pembina, North Dakota (ND) to about 11°F (Wheaton, Minnesota (MN). July is the warmest month with temperatures averaging from about 68°F (Pembina, ND) to about 73°F (Wheaton, MN). The range of normal average monthly temperatures between the coldest and warmest months is about 65°F. This large annual range attests to the continental nature of this area's climate. Winds are estimated to average about 13 miles per hour annually, ranging from about 15 miles per hour during the spring to about 11 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 cool season plants begins in early to mid-March, slowing or ceasing in late June. Warm season plants begin growth about mid-May and continue to early or mid-September. Greening up of cool season plants may occur in September and October when adequate soil moisture is present.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Climate stations used

• (1) VICTOR 4 NNE [USC00398652], Rosholt, SD

• (2) PARK RIVER [USC00326857], Park River, ND

• (3) GRAFTON [USC00323594], Grafton, ND

• (4) WHEATON [USC00218907], Wheaton, MN

• (5) AGASSIZ REFUGE [USC00210050], Grygla, MN

• (6) PEMBINA [USW00014924], Pembina, ND

Influencing water features

This site does not receive additional water as runoff from adjacent slopes; it is on a run-off landscape position. Neither does it receive additional water from a seasonal high-water table. Depth to the water table is deeper than 6 feet throughout the growing season. Infiltration is moderately rapid to very rapid. Permeability below the surface layer is rapid or very rapid. Water loss is through percolation below the root zone and evapotranspiration.

Soil features

Soils associated with Very Shallow ES are in the Mollisol order. The Mollisols are classified further as Entic Hapludolls. These soils were developed under prairie vegetation. They formed in glacial lake beach deposits or glaciofluvial deposits. Where these soils have been cultivated, the surface layer may no longer be dark enough or thick enough to meet mollic epipedon criteria.

The common feature of soils in this site is the very shallow depth (<14 inches) to layers high in coarse sand and gravel (15 to 60 percent gravel). In some soils this layer contains significant amounts (>25%) of shale fragments. Due to the high amounts of gravel, these soils are very droughty and have limited plant production. The soils are excessively drained. The thin surface soil is typically sandy loam, loam, gravelly sandy loam, or gravelly loam. The gravelly surface textures are most common on soils that have been cultivated. A few areas are cobbly at the surface.

Salinity and sodicity are none. Soil reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline. Calcium carbonate content is none to low in the surface soil and low to moderate below. Some soils have layers of calcium carbonate accumulation in the upper part of the gravelly layers (typically as coatings on undersides of rock fragments).

The soil surface is very unstable but intact. Sub-surface soil layers are restrictive to root penetration. These soils are mainly susceptible to water erosion. The hazard of water erosion increases on slopes greater than about 15 percent. Very low available water capacity caused by the shallow rooting depth strongly influences the soil/water/pant relationship. Loss of the soil surface layer can result in a shift in species composition and/or production. Crypto-biotic crusts may be present.

Major soil series correlated to the Very Shallow site are Coe and Sioux.

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 56A landscape is characterized by a nearly level glacial lake plain bordered on the east and west by outwash plains, till plains, gravelly beaches, and dunes. MLRA 56A 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 tall-grass prairie vegetation with bur oak, green ash, and willow growing in drainageways. This area is formed in silty and clayey lacustrine sediments from the former Glacial Lake Agassiz. Complex intermingled ecological sites create diverse grass/shrub land habitats interspersed with varying densities of linear, slope, depressional, and in-stream wetlands associated with headwater streams and tributaries to the Red River of the North. MLRA 56A is located within the boundaries of the Prairie Pothole Region and is an ecotone between the humid east and the sub-humid west regions. The primary land use is annual cropland (~80%). The Red River Valley is known for its exceptional fertility with major crops including corn, soybeans, small grains, and sugar beets.

By the mid-19th century, the majority of the Red River Valley had been converted from tall-grass prairie to annual crop production. To alleviate crop production loss from wetlands and overland flow, a system of shallow surface ditches, judicial ditches, and road ditches removes surface water in spring and during high rainfall events. The major soils are poorly drained with extensive areas of saline soils. Tile drainage systems have been or are being extensively installed throughout MLRA 56A for sub-surface field drainage to enhance annual crop production.

The east and west side of the Red River Valley formed in a complex pattern of sandy beach material, stratified inter-beach material, lacustrine silts, and lake washed glacial till. The soils vary from excessively drained on ridges to very poorly drained organic basins. Surface ditches serve to drain some of the area, although much of the area lacks adequate drainage for maximum crop production. Calcareous fens and saline seeps can occur at the base of beach ridges and result in rare plant communities. Native vegetation was mixed- and tall-grass prairie with scattered woodland and brush.

Historic Communities/Conditions within MLRA 56A:

The northern tall- and 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). Frequent and expansive flooding along the Red River and its tributaries provided abundant opportunities for Native Americans to harvest wild rice. American bison roamed MLRA 56A wintering along the Red River and migrating west into MLRA 55A and 55B for parts of the season. 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 region. Roaming herbivores, as well as several small mammal and insect species, were the primary consumers linking the grassland resources to large predators (such as the wolf and American black bear) and smaller carnivores (such as the coyote, bobcat, red fox, and raptors). Extirpated species include free-ranging American bison and gray wolf (breeding). Extinct from the region is the Rocky Mountain locust.

Present Communities/Conditions within MLRA 56A:

MLRA 56A has the most conversion to cropland of any MLRA within Region F-Northern Great Plains. European influence has impacted remaining grassland and shrubland by domestic livestock grazing, elimination of fire, removal of surface and subsurface hydrology via artificial drainage, and other anthropogenic factors influencing plant community composition and abundance.

Extensive drainage has taken place. Streams have been straightened (removing sinuosity) and riparian zones have been converted to annual crop production. These anthropogenic impacts have reduced flood water detention and retention on the landscape, increasing storm water runoff, sediment, and nutrient loading to the Red River and its tributaries. The installation of instream structures has reduced aquatic species movement within the MLRA.

Annual cropping is the main factor 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, Kentucky bluegrass, and leafy spurge which further impacted plant and animal communities. The loss of the bison 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 approximately 70,000 acres of the United States Forest Service, Sheyenne National Grassland (southern portion of MLRA) with an additional 65,000 acres of intermingled privately owned land of sandy soils providing a large tract of intact tall grass prairie within the MLRA. United Fish and Wildlife Service refuges and waterfowl production areas, along with and state wildlife management areas cover approximately 67,000 acres within the MLRA. Two of three largest cities in North Dakota are located within the MLRA.

USDA conservation programs have seeded thousands of cropland acres in riparian zones to native herbaceous vegetation. Natural succession is replacing the planted native herbaceous vegetation to native woody vegetation re-establishing native wooded riparian areas on previously cropland. Most of the plantings have been along the Red River and its tributaries in the northern portions of the MLRA within the United States. These areas are privately owned and protected from annual agricultural production with perpetual conservation easements.

Some characteristic wildlife species in this area are:

Birds: Mallard, blue-winged teal, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, ring-necked pheasant, western meadowlark, killdeer, eastern and western kingbird, American crow, common yellowthroat, downy and hairy woodpecker, clay-colored sparrow, vesper sparrow, Savannah sparrow, and brown-headed cowbird.

Mammals: Northern short-tailed shrew, white-tailed jackrabbit, snowshoe hare, Franklin’s ground squirrel, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, northern pocket gopher, plains pocket gopher, western harvest mouse, deer mouse, meadow vole, meadow jumping mouse, western jumping mouse, coyote, red fox, raccoon, American badger, striped skunk, white-tailed deer, North American beaver, and moose.

Reptiles/Amphibians: American toad, Great Plains toad, northern leopard frog, chorus frog, tree frog, tiger salamander, plains garter snake, and common garter snake.

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 most species are usually larger than one ecological site or are dependent upon more than one ecological site for annual life requisites. Ecological sites offer different habitat elements as the annual life requisites change. Habitat improvement and creation must be conducted within the mobility limits of a known population for the species.

Insects play an important role providing ecological services for plant community development. Insects that are scavengers or aid in decomposition provide the food chain baseline sustaining the carnivorous insects feeding upon them. Many insects provide the ecological services necessary for pollination, keeping plant communities healthy and productive. Insects provide a protein food source for numerous species including grassland-nesting birds and their young. Extensive use of insecticides for specialty crops (such as potatoes, sugar beets, and other crops) has greatly reduced insects within this MLRA.

Species of Concern within MLRA 56A:

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 Minnesota State Wildlife Action Plan, Conservation Focus Areas, Target Species (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 56A at the time this section was developed:

Invertebrates: Arogos skipper, Assiniboia skipper, Dakota skipper, dusted skipper, Leonard’s skipper, monarch butterfly, Poweshiek skippering, red-tailed leafhopper, regal fritillary, and Uhler’s Arctic.

Birds: American kestrel, American bittern, bobolink, American white pelican, bald eagle, black-billed cuckoo, chestnut-collared longspur, Dickcissel, grasshopper sparrow, greater prairie-chicken, Henslow’s sparrow, LeConte’s sparrow, loggerhead shrike, marbled godwit, Nelson’s sparrow, northern harrier, northern pintail, red-headed woodpecker, sharp-tailed grouse, short-eared owl, Swainson’s hawk, upland sandpiper, western meadowlark, willet, Wilson’s phalarope, and yellow rail.

Mammals: Arctic shrew, big brown bat, eastern spotted skunk, gray fox, little brown bat, northern grasshopper mouse, plains pocket mouse, prairie vole, pygmy shrew, Richardson’s ground squirrel, and river otter.

Amphibians/Reptiles: Canadian toad, common snapping turtle, northern prairie skink, and plains hognose snake.

Fish: Blacknose shiner, blue sucker, burbot, chestnut lamprey, finescale dace, hornyhead chub, largescale stoneroller, logperch, northern pearl dace, northern redbelly dace, pearl dace, shortnose gar, sickle-fin chub, sliver chub, silver lamprey, trout-perch, and yellow bullhead.

Mussels: Black sandshell, creek heelsplitter, creeper, mapleleaf, pink heelsplitter, pink papershell, threeridge, and Wabash pigtoe.

Grassland Management for Wildlife in MLRA 56A:

Management activities within the community phase pathways have both short and long term positive and negative impacts on 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 (grazing intensity, reseeding, prescribed fire, woody vegetation removal, etc.). Timing, intensity, and frequency of these inputs can have dramatic positive or negative effects on vegetative structure impacting local wildlife species’ habitats. 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 individual species.

Ecological sites occur as intermingled complexes on the landscape with gradual or sometimes abrupt transitions. Rarely do ecological sites exist in large enough acreage to manage independently. Ecological sites supporting a dominance of herbaceous vegetation (Wet Meadow, Subirrigated Sands) can be located adjacent to ecological sites that support trees (Choppy Sands and Loamy Overflow).

Management of these complex ecological sites can provide a heterogeneous or a homogenous landscape. Grassland bird use reduces as the plant community transitions to a homogenous state or increases in woody vegetation. Managers need to 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 (e.g., alteration of a grazing regime within a Choppy Sands 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 need to be addressed along community phase, transitional, and restoration pathways as presented in specific state-and-transition models. Ecological sites should be managed and restored within the site’s capabilities to provide sustainable habitat. Managers also must 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 or the 2.0 Native/Invaded State. Plant communities optimal for a guild of grassland species serve as a population source where the birth rate exceeds mortality. Species may use marginal plant communities; however, these sites may function as a population sink where mortality exceeds the birth rate.

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

To see the chart please follow the hyperlink. (
https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/ND/56A_Very_Shallow_Narrative_FINAL_Ref_FSG.pdf )

Very Shallow Wildlife Habitat Interpretation:

Very Shallow ecological sites are excessively drained and have coarse sand and/or gravel within 14 inches of the surface. These sites are usually found on beach ridges and outwash plains with slopes ranging up to 25 percent. Needlegrasses are the dominant mid cool- season grasses. Associated ecological sites include Shallow Gravel, Loamy, Sands, and Limy Subirrigated. This site, typically, is not associated with or occur near riparian, wetland, or water features.

Due to the high amounts of gravel and coarse sand, these soils are very droughty and have limited plant production. Very Shallow habitat features and components commonly support grassland-nesting birds that prefer short-statured vegetation and bare ground. Insects rely on associated forbs and grasses for survival. Insect populations provide food sources for birds and their young. Very Shallow ecological sites provide forage for small and large herbivores.

Very Shallow ecological sites may be found in four plant community states (1.0 Reference State, 2.0 Native/Invaded State, 3.0 Invaded State, and 4.0 Go-Back State) within a local landscape. Multiple plant community phases exist within States 1.0 and 2.0. Today, these States occur primarily in response to drought, fire, grazing, non-use, and other anthropogenic disturbances.

Because there is no known restoration pathway from State 2.0 to State 1.0, it is important to intensively manage using tools in State 1.0 and State 2.0 Community Phase Pathways to prevent further plant community degradation along the T2A Transitional Pathway to State 3.0. Native wildlife generally benefits from the heterogeneous grasslands found in Community Phases 1.1 and 2.1 that include grass and forb species of varying stature and density. As plant communities degrade within State 2.0, Kentucky bluegrass increases while native forbs are reduced. When Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30%, the site transitions to 3.0 Invaded State. This transition results in reduced stature and increased plant community homogeneity. When adjacent (and/or intermingled) ecological sites undergo the same transition, the result can be an expansive, homogenous landscape.

Success along Restoration Pathway 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 other ecological sites within the mobility limits of the species. Species with limited mobility, such as Dakota skippers, must exist near the plant community to utilize restored sites. Mobile species (such as grassland-nesting birds) can easily locate isolated, restored plant communities.

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

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

1.0 Reference State

Community Phase 1.1 Needle and Thread-Blue Grama/Sedges: These plant communities offer vegetative cover for wildlife; every effort should be made to maintain this ecological site within this community phase. Even though production is limited due to droughty soil conditions, these phases retain high functionality through continued maintenance including prescribed grazing (with adequate recovery period), as well as prescribed burning. Prescribed burning frequency maintains a grass-dominated plant community providing habitat for bird species reliant on a diverse plant community (structure and native composition). Predominance of grass species in these communities favors grazers and mixed-feeders (animals selecting grasses as well as forbs and shrubs). The structural diversity provides habitat for a migratory and resident birds that prefer short, open density plant structure. Plant structure within Plant Community Phase 2.1 is very similar to 1.1 except for the invasion of minor amounts of cool-season exotic grasses, mainly Kentucky bluegrass.

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

Lack of host plants, such as little bluestem, limits use by Dakota skippers. Violet species are not common on this site, not supporting the needed habitat for the regal fritillary. Monarch butterfly may use flowering forbs; however, few milkweed species are found on these sites to support caterpillar food. Bumblebees and other native bees utilize forbs as a nectar source; bare ground and nesting sites are available due to the dominance of bunch grasses.

Birds: These plant communities provide nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by short-grass nesting birds. These plant communities can provide suitable areas for sharp- tailed grouse lek sites; however, coarse soils and steep slopes may reduce suitability. This site is not preferred nesting, brood-rearing, and loafing habitat. This site provides limited hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: The diversity of grasses and forbs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including voles, mice, jackrabbits, and white-tailed deer. Short- to mid-statured vegetation provides limited food and thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores, but no thermal, protective, or escape cover for large ungulates.

Amphibians and Reptiles: These ecological sites are not typically found near Wet Meadow or Shallow Marsh ecological sites; therefore, they do not provide habitat for the northern leopard frog and Canadian toad. These sites do not provide habitat for the northern prairie skink and plains hog-nosed snake.

Fish and Mussels: These ecological sites are not typically located adjacent to streams, rivers, or water bodies. These sites do not receive run-on hydrology from adjacent ecological sites and provide limited hydrology to adjacent down-slope ecological sites, such as Shallow Gravel and Loamy. Management on Very Shallow sites, in conjunction with neighboring run-on sites, will have an indirect effect on aquatic species in streams and/or tributaries receiving water from adjacent sites. Optimum hydrological function and nutrient cycling limit potential for sediment yield and nutrient loading to the adjacent aquatic ecosystems from Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 1.2 Blue Grama/Sedges/Forbs: Multiyear drought with or without heavy long-term grazing (via Community Phase Pathway 1.1A) causes an evident increase in short grasses and sedges and a corresponding decrease in mid-grass species. The reduction in bunch grasses and the increase in warm season-grasses and sedges decrease bare ground and create a shorter statured plant community. Forb diversity is somewhat reduced; but forbs (such as field sagewort, silverleaf Indian breadroot, white heath aster, common yarrow, and blazing star) provide nectar and pollen. Prairie sagewort becomes the principal shrub. Return to average precipitation and reduced grazing with adequate recovery periods (via Community Phase Pathway 1.2A) will shift the competitive edge back to a green needlegrass dominated plant community.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. Wind-pollinated prairie sagewort provides nesting sites for native bees and larval food butterfly species. Forb species may produce fewer flowers reducing overall pollen and nectar sources during periods of multiyear drought.

Birds: A shift to shorter statured grasses provides nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by short-statured grassland nesting birds. This plant community provides suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites, dependent upon slope steepness. This site provides hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1; however, the increases in short-statured, sod-forming warm season grasses and sedges reduce plant diversity and thermal, escape, and protective cover for small mammals. Foliage and stems of prairie sagewort provide browse for jackrabbits, cottontails, ground squirrels, and various mice species.

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

Fish and Mussels: The increase in sod-forming grasses and sedges will increase run-off and provide increased hydrology to adjacent down-slope ecological sites, such as Shallow Gravel and Loamy.

2.0 Native/Invaded State

Community Phase 2.1 Needle and Thread-Blue Grama/Sedges: This plant community develops through Transition Pathway T1A due to changes in management and the presence of exotic, cool-season grasses. Lack of fire or heavy season-long grazing can facilitate this transition. 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 Reference State of Community 1.1, except it has a minor amount of exotic cool-season 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 the 3.0 Invaded State. There is no known Community Phase Pathway back to 1.0 Reference State from 2.0 Native/Invaded State.

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 Blue Grama/Sedges/Forbs: Multiyear drought, with or without heavy long-term grazing, and invasion of cool-season grasses - generally Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, and/or quackgrass (via Community Phase Pathway 2.1A) causes an evident increase in short grasses and sedges and a corresponding decrease in mid-grass species. The reduction in bunch grasses and the increase in warm season-grasses, sedges, and cool-season exotic grasses decrease bare ground and create a shorter statured plant community. Prairie sagewort becomes the principal shrub. Return to average precipitation and reduced grazing with adequate recovery periods (via Community Phase Pathway 2.2A) will shift the competitive edge back to a green needlegrass and western wheatgrass dominated plant community.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. Multiyear drought may limit flower amount and timing.

Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. In addition, the mosaic of overgrazed/undergrazed pattern provides both mid- and short-statured grasses which provide nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by short- to mid-statured grassland nesting birds.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. However, depending upon the amount of overgrazed vs. undergrazed area, vegetative stature in the undergrazed areas could limit thermal and escape cover for mammals, especially small mammals.

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

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2.

Community Phase 2.3 Blue Grama/Sedges/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses: Extended periods of non-use or very light grazing, and no fire, results in a blue grama/sedges plant community with a marked increase in cool-season exotic grasses (mainly Kentucky bluegrass). Forb diversity is reduced with white heath aster, goldenrod and white sagebrush being the common forbs. Wild rose, prairie sagewort, and broom snakeweed become the principal shrubs. The amount of bare ground decreases as sod-forming, cool- and warm-season grasses and sedges, along with exotic cool-season grasses, increase. Long-term prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods will shift the competitive edge back to mid-statured warm-season bunch grasses via Community Pathway 2.3A or 2.3B.

Invertebrates: Pollen and nectar sources become limited as this site becomes dominated by white heath aster, goldenrod and white sagebrush. Early-season pollen is provided by white sagebrush, while white heath aster and goldenrod provide late-season pollen sources. Warm-season sod-forming grasses and sedges, along with Kentucky bluegrass, limit nesting sites for ground nesting bees.

Birds: This homogenous landscape provides limited structural diversity or insect production for grassland nesting birds. Grassland nesting birds preferring increased plant litter and short-statured vegetation will benefit, but long-term continued rest (via Transition Pathway T2A) reduces nesting habitat for most species. This plant community provides suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites depending on degree of slope. This site provides hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: Large herbivores’ life requisites will not be met in this plant community. Short- statured vegetation provides suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small ground dwelling mammals and rodents.

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

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2.

3.0 Invaded State

Community Phase 3.1 Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs: The elimination of fire and grazing (via Transitional Pathway T2A) allows Kentucky bluegrass to dominate this site. Native grasses may still be present but with reduced vigor and numbers not allowing for recovery without prescribe grazing and burning (via Restoration Pathway R3A). Overall plant diversity is reduced.

Invertebrates: This plant community is dominated by cool season sod-forming grasses and increased plant litter limits bare ground for ground nesting bee species. Forbs and shrubs are limited to common yarrow, silverleaf Indian breadroot, white heath aster, prairie sagewort, and prairie rose. Forbs and shrubs will provide limited early- and late-season pollen and nectar. Overall, pollinator plant diversity is low, limiting season-long nectar and pollen production.

Birds: This homogenous landscape provides limited structural diversity or insect production for grassland nesting birds. Grassland nesting birds preferring increased plant litter will benefit, but long-term continued rest reduces nesting habitat for most species.

Mammals: High litter amounts provide food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores. Large herbivores’ life requisites will not be met in this plant community.

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

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2.

4.0 Go-Back State

Community Phase 4.1 Annual/Pioneer Perennial/Exotics: This plant community is 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 dependent upon duration of disturbance. Weedy plants can provide pollinator habitat along with spring and summer cover for many mammals and birds, and their young. Tall stature provided by some annual weeds offers thermal cover and seeds throughout winter for deer, small mammals, and over-wintering birds. The response by wildlife species will be dependent upon plant community composition, vegetative stature, patch size, and management activities (such as prescribed grazing, burning, inter-seeding, haying, or noxious weed control).

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

Animal Community – Grazing Interpretations

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

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

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

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

Utilization Level % Use Description

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

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

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

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

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

Hydrological functions

Available water is the principal factor limiting forage production on this site. This site is dominated by soils in hydrologic group A. Infiltration varies from moderately rapid to very rapid; runoff potential varies from negligible to medium depending upon surface texture, slope percent, slope shape, and ground cover. In many cases, areas with greater than 75% ground cover have the greatest potential for high infiltration and lower runoff. An exception would be where short grasses form a strong 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

Hunting and Bird Watching: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages approximately 4,000 acres of National Wildlife Refuges for hiking and bird watching and approximately 24,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas for public hunting, hiking, and bird watching. States within MLRA 56A manage approximately 39,000 acres of wildlife management areas for multiple use including hunting, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, berry picking, and other non-motorized uses. Of the 39,000 acres, approximately 21,400 are in Minnesota with approximately 16,000 acres in North Dakota and approximately 1,700 acres in South Dakota.

In North Dakota, the United States Forest Service manages 70,000 acres on the Sheyenne National Grassland for multiple uses including camping, hunting, photography, backpacking birdwatching, biking, horseback riding, and other non-motorized recreation. The Sheyenne National Grassland is also managed for livestock grazing. The Choppy Sands and Sands ecological sites dominate the Grassland. It is the only National Grassland in the tallgrass prairie region of the United States. The grassland provides habitat for greater prairie chickens as well as several other sensitive species, such as the Dakota skipper and regal fritillary. It also contains one of largest populations of the western prairie fringed orchid which is listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fishing: Approximately 20 lakes are managed for public fishing MLRA 56A. Most of these lakes offer boat docks and ramps. These lakes contain various sport fish including walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, crappie, and bluegill. The Red River runs from south to north through the center of the MLRA. The Red River is best known for channel catfish but also has walleye, sauger, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. The Red River is 550 miles long from its source in the southern end of the MLRA near Breckenridge, Minnesota to Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. Between North Dakota and Minnesota, there are 32 public access points along the Red River with 18 having boat ramps.

Camping: Four state parks or recreation areas provide of modern and primitive camping facilities. Minnesota hosts the Buffalo River State Park and Red River State Park. North Dakota hosts the Icelandic State Park and Turtle River State Park. These Parks provide hiking, biking, birding, canoeing, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Many local parks and private parks provide modern and primitive camping opportunities. Limited primitive camping is also available on North Dakota Game and Fish Department Wildlife Management Areas.

Hiking/Biking/Horseback Riding: Hiking is permitted on most state and federally owned lands. Developed hiking and biking trails can be found the four state parks. The Grand Forks Greenway has over 22 miles of trails while municipalities along the Red River have extensive walking and hiking trails. A 30-mile segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail leads hikers through the Sheyenne National Grassland’s unique landforms and plant communities. This trail has three trailheads along its route; it is a graveled, marked trail. The entire North Country National Scenic Trail stretches from Crown Point, New York to Lake Sakakawea near Garrison, North Dakota.

Canoeing/Kayaking: The Red River has six designated canoe/kayaking trails. Public access, with limited rentals, is available at these segments. Sheyenne River Water Trail has a segment within the MLRA Sheyenne National Grasslands. Canoe/kayak rentals are available at Icelandic State Park.

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

• Further evaluation and refinement of the State-and-Transition model is needed to identify disturbance driven dynamics. Additional states and/or phases may be required to address grazing response.
• Further documentation may be needed for plant communities in all states. Plant data has been collected in previous range-site investigations, including clipping data; however, this data needs review. If geo-referenced sites meeting Tier 3 standards for either vegetative or soil data are not available, representative sites will be selected for further investigation.
• Site concepts will be refined as the above noted investigations are completed.
• The long-term goal is to complete an approved, correlated Ecological Site Description as defined by the National Ecological Site Handbook.
• NASIS revisions needed:
o One major component of Corliss should be relinked from Sandy to Very Shallow (gravelly coarse sand at <10 inches).

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.

Those involved in developing this site description include: Stan Boltz, NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist; Bernadette Braun, USFS Rangeland Management Specialist; Stacey Swenson, USFS Rangeland Management Specialist; Jeff Printz, NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist; Dr. Kevin Sedivec, Extension Rangeland Management Specialist; Dr. Shawn Dekeyser, North Dakota State University; Rob Self, The Nature Conservancy; Lee Voigt, NRCS Area Rangeland Management Specialist; Dr. Mark Gonzales, USFS Hydrologist; David Dewald, NRCS State Biologist; Keith Anderson, NRCS Soil Scientist, Fred Aziz; NRCS Area Resource Soil Scientist; and Steve Sieler, NRCS Soil Scientist.

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Contributors

ND NRCS: Keith Anderson, Fred Aziz, Stan Boltz, David Dewald, Jonathan Fettig, Alan Gulsvig, Mark Hayek, Chuck Lura, Jeff Printz, Steve Sieler, Lee Voigt, and Hal Weiser.

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 5/21/2025