Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R058DY004SD
Wet Meadow
Last updated: 7/18/2024
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 058D–Northern Rolling High Plains, Eastern Part
The Northern Rolling High Plains, Eastern Part (MLRA 58D) is shared between South Dakota (65 percent), Montana (21 percent), and North Dakota (14 percent). The MLRA is approximately 2,755 square miles. The small towns of Buffalo and Camp Crook, South Dakota, and Marmarth, North Dakota, are all within the boundary of this MLRA, and Baker, Montana, is on the northern most edge. Portions of the Little Missouri National Grassland and Custer National Forest are also in the MLRA. Portions of the Little Missouri River and the headwaters of major tributaries that eventually form the Grand and Moreau Rivers in South Dakota are also in this area.
The Northern Rolling High Plains, Eastern Part consists of Cretaceous marine and continental sediments of shale, siltstone, and sandstone. The continental and marine Hell Creek Formation is under approximately 85 percent of the MLRA, and the Fox Hills Sandstone forms the southern boundary of the MLRA. Tertiary deposits are in scattered areas throughout the MLRA. These deposits consist of the Paleocene Ludlow and Tongue River Formations, the Oligocene White River Group, and the Miocene Arikaree Group. These Tertiary deposits are resistant and positioned above the Cretaceous beds. Ponderosa pine growing in areas of these Tertiary formations further distinguishes these formations from the other formations in the MLRA. Pleistocene and Holocene river sand and gravel deposits are also on the valley floors and on the terraces along the larger rivers in the area. A large Quaternary eolian deposit is directly south of the town of Buffalo.
The average elevation of MLRA 58D ranges from 2,300 feet to 4,000 feet, increasing gradually from east to west. Harding Peak is the highest point at 4,019 feet. In places, flat-topped, steep-sided buttes rise sharply above the gently rolling plains below.
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Alfisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, and Mollisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a frigid soil temperature regime, an ustic soil moisture regime that borders on aridic, and mixed mineralogy. They are shallow to very deep, generally well drained, and loamy or clayey.
Annual precipitation is 14 to 17 inches and can fluctuate widely from year to year. Most rainfall occurs early in the growing season. Some high-intensity thunderstorms occur mid to late summer. The native vegetation in this MLRA consists primarily of grasses and forbs with a small component of trees and shrubs along streams. Ponderosa pine grow on the upper slopes and on the top of some of the higher buttes. Open grasslands are characterized by western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, blue grama, and buffalograss. Wyoming big sagebrush grows on clayey soils in the western part of the MLRA.
More than four-fifths of the MLRA is privately owned ranches running cattle, sheep, or both. Less than 5 percent of the area is federally owned. The major resource concerns are water quality, wind erosion, and water erosion (USDA, NRCS. 2006. Ag Handbook 296).
Classification relationships
USDA
Land Resource Region G—Western Great Plains Range and Irrigated Region:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 58D—Northern Rolling High Plains, Eastern Part.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Level IV Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States:
Northwestern Great Plains—43:
Forested Buttes—43d.
Sagebrush Steppe—43e.
USDA Forest Service
Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of Conterminous United States:
Great Plains - Palouse Dry Steppe Province—331:
Missouri Plateau Section—331M.
Sagebrush Steppe Subsection—334Mi.
Ecological site concept
The Wet Meadow ecological site is of limited extent in MLRA 58D. It’s a run-in site on oxbows, and flood plains. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. The soils are very deep, poorly drained, and formed in clayey or silty alluvium. The surface layer is 5 to 15 inches in depth with silt loam to silty clay textures. A permanent water table fluctuates between the surface and a depth of 36 inches. Ponding occurs for 4 to 8 weeks in the spring of the year.
Vegetation in Reference State (1.0) dominated by prairie cordgrass, reedgrass, sedges, and rushes.
Associated sites
| R058DY007SD |
Saline Lowland The Saline Lowland ecological site is found on similar landscapes as the Wet Meadow ecological site. The plant communities in the Saline Lowland will be more saline-tolerant. |
|---|---|
| R058DY002SD |
Wet Land The Wet Land ecological site is found adjacent to or intermixed with the Wet Meadow ecological site. The Wet Land ecological site will have a permanent water table within 18 inches of the soil surface, the Wet Meadow will have a permanent water table within 72 inches of the soil surface. |
Similar sites
| R058DY002SD |
Wet Land The Wet Land ecological site will have less prairie cordgrass; and less upland grasses than the Wet Meadow ecological site. |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Spartina pectinata |
Physiographic features
The Wet Meadow ecological site is found in level or nearly level sedimentary floodplains. A water table generally occurs at or within 36 inches of the surface.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Oxbow
(2) Flood plain |
|---|---|
| Runoff class | Negligible to medium |
| Flooding duration | Long (7 to 30 days) |
| Flooding frequency | None to frequent |
| Ponding duration | Long (7 to 30 days) to very long (more than 30 days) |
| Ponding frequency | Occasional to frequent |
| Elevation | 701 – 1,219 m |
| Slope | 0 – 2% |
| Ponding depth | 0 – 15 cm |
| Water table depth | 0 – 183 cm |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
Climatic features
The climate in MLRA 58D is typical of the drier portions of the Northern Great Plains where sagebrush steppes to the west yield to grassland to the east. Average annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 17 inches with most falling in the early growing season. Some high intensity, convective thunderstorms occur in the summer. Precipitation in winter occurs as snow. Temperatures show a wide range between summer and winter and between daily maximums and minimums. This wide range is due to the high elevation and dry air, which permit rapid incoming and outgoing radiation. Outbreaks of cold air from Canada in winter move rapidly from northwest to southeast and account for extreme minimum temperatures. Extreme storms may occur during the winter but have the most severe effect on ranching operations during late winter and in spring.
The normal average annual temperature is about 44 °F. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from about 12 °F (Marmarth, North Dakota) to about 20 °F (Baker, Montana). July is the warmest month with temperatures averaging from about 70 °F (Marmarth, North Dakota) to about 76 °F (Baker, Montana). The range of normal average monthly temperatures between the coldest and warmest months is about 55 °F. Wind speeds are estimated to average about 11 miles per hour (mph) annually, ranging from about 13 mph during the spring to about 10 mph during the summer. Daytime winds are generally stronger than nighttime winds. Strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts of more than 50 mph.
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. Cool-season plants may green-up in September and October if adequate soil moisture is present.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (characteristic range) | 97-111 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (characteristic range) | 121-129 days |
| Precipitation total (characteristic range) | 381-432 mm |
| Frost-free period (actual range) | 93-115 days |
| Freeze-free period (actual range) | 120-132 days |
| Precipitation total (actual range) | 356-432 mm |
| Frost-free period (average) | 104 days |
| Freeze-free period (average) | 125 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 406 mm |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Figure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
Figure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7. Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
-
(1) BAKER 1 E [USC00240412], Baker, MT
-
(2) LADNER 9SW [USC00394671], Camp Crook, SD
-
(3) BUFFALO ASOS [USW00094037], Buffalo, SD
-
(4) BUFFALO 13 ESE [USW00094081], Reva, SD
-
(5) REDIG 11 NE [USC00397062], Buffalo, SD
-
(6) CAMP CROOK [USC00391294], Camp Crook, SD
-
(7) HOOVER [USC00393945], Newell, SD
Influencing water features
Wetland description
System: Palustrine
Subsystem: N/A
Class: Emergent Wetland
Subclass: Persistent
(Cowardin et al., 1979)
Soil features
Soils common to the Wet Meadow ecological site have a silt loam to silty clay surface layer that is 5 to 15 inches thick. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Soils are deep (greater than 20 inches) and formed in alluvium. The texture of the subsurface layer’s ranges from silt loam to silty clay. Subsurface layers are nonrestrictive to water movement and root penetration. The soils in this site are poorly drained and have a very slow infiltration rate. Ponded water conditions and slow permeability strongly influences the soil-water-plant relationship.
This site should show no evidence of rills, wind-scoured areas, or pedestalled plants. The soil surface is stable and intact.
The major soils correlated to the Wet Meadow ecological site include, Lallie and Regan.
Lallie is also correlated to the Wet Land ecological site when there is a permanent water table within 1 to 2 feet of the surface.
Regan is also correlated to the Saline Lowland when it has a saline local phase.
More information can be found in the various soil survey reports. Contact the local USDA Service Center for soil survey reports that include more detail specific to your area of interest, or use the internet to access USDA’s Web Soil Survey.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
mudstone
(2) Alluvium – siltstone |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Silt loam (2) Silty clay loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Poorly drained |
| Permeability class | Slow to moderate |
| Soil depth | 203 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 0% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 0% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
12.7 – 20.32 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 15% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 4 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 5 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
6.1 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 5% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 10% |
Ecological dynamics
The Wet Meadow ecological site developed under the Northern Great Plains climatic conditions; light to severe grazing by bison and other large herbivores; sporadic, natural or human-caused wildfire (often of light intensities); and other biotic and abiotic factors that typically influence soil and site development. Changes occur in the plant communities due to short-term weather variations, effects of native and exotic plant and animal species, and management actions. While the following plant community descriptions are typical of the transitions between communities, severe disturbances, such as periods of well below average precipitation and the introduction of non-native cool-season grasses, can cause significant shifts in plant communities and species composition.
The plant community upon which interpretations are primarily based is the Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass Plant Community (1.1). This plant community has been determined by studying rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, and areas under long-term rotational grazing regimes. Trends in plant community dynamics ranging from heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal use pastures, and historical accounts also have been used. Plant communities, states, transitional pathways, and thresholds have been determined through similar studies and experience.
Ecological changes occur on this site primarily because of continuous grazing without adequate recovery opportunities between grazing events, and non-use and lack of fire. Continuous grazing will cause species such as spikerush, mountain rush (Baltic rush), and native bluegrass to increase. Introduced species such as Kentucky bluegrass and creeping meadow foxtail will begin to invade and dominate, as will reed canarygrass. Grasses such as prairie cordgrass and northern reedgrass will decrease in frequency and production and can eventually be removed from the site. Non-use (extended rest over years) or lack of fire will cause litter levels and plant decadence and mortality to increase.
The following state-and-transition diagram illustrates the common plant communities on the site and the transition pathways between communities. The ecological processes are discussed in more detail in the plant community descriptions following the diagram.
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
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State
The Reference State (1.0) represents what is believed to show the natural range of variability that dominated the dynamics of the Wet Meadow ecological site prior to European settlement. This site is dominated by a mixture of cool- and warm-season grasses and grass-likes. In pre-European settlement times, the primary disturbances included grazing by large ungulates and small mammals, drought, and a fluctuating water table. Favorable growing conditions occurred during the spring and the warm months of June through August. Today, a similar state can be found in areas where proper livestock use has occurred.
Dominant plant species
-
prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), grass
-
spikerush (Eleocharis), grass
-
mountain rush (Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis), grass
-
northern reedgrass (Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa), grass
-
Rocky Mountain bulrush (Schoenoplectiella saximontana), grass
Community 1.1
Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass
Interpretations are based primarily on the Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass Plant Community. This is also considered to be the Reference Plant Community (1.1). Potential vegetation is about 55 percent grasses, 40 percent sedges and rushes, 5 percent forbs, and 0 to 2 percent shrubs and trees. Prairie cordgrass is the dominant tall warm-season grass occupying this plant community. Northern reedgrass is the dominant tall cool-season species. A variety of sedges and rushes occur throughout this community, as well as, switchgrass and fowl bluegrass. Key forbs include Maximillian sunflower, Canada goldenrod, and cinquefoil. This plant community is diverse, stable, and productive, and is well adapted to the Northern Great Plains. The high-water table supplies much of the moisture for plant growth. Community dynamics, nutrient cycle, water cycle, and energy flow are functioning properly. Plant litter is properly distributed with very little movement offsite and natural plant mortality is very low. The diversity in plant species allows for the variability of both the fluctuations of water table and reoccurring flooding. This is a sustainable plant community in terms of soil stability, watershed function, and biologic integrity.
Figure 8. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 4338 | 4766 | 5184 |
| Forb | 146 | 202 | 258 |
| Shrub/Vine | – | 50 | 106 |
| Tree | – | 26 | 56 |
| Total | 4484 | 5044 | 5604 |
Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). SD5808, Northern Rolling High Plains, lowland cool-season/warm-season codominant. Cool-season, Warm-season codominant, Lowland.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Community 1.2
Spikerush-Mountain Bulrush/Prairie Cordgrass
This plant community will slowly develop from the adverse effects of continuous season-long grazing which includes grazing at moderate to heavy stocking levels for the full growing season, each year, and without change in season of use, or adequate recovery periods between each grazing event during the growing season. This plant community is approximately 45 percent grasses, 45 percent grass-like species, 10 percent forbs, and 0 to 3 percent shrubs and trees. Recognition of this plant community will enable the land user to implement key management decisions before a significant ecological threshold is crossed. Prairie cordgrass has been reduced in this plant community, but still persists in fair amounts. Spikerush and mountain rush (Baltic rush), as well as, other grass-likes have increased and become the dominant species. Northern reedgrass has been significantly reduced. Switchgrass may be removed at this stage. Creeping meadow foxtail can typically invade along drainageways if an upstream seed source is present. Forb species would include asters, goldenrod and cinquefoil as well as a possible invasion of Canada thistle. Plant production and frequency have been reduced. The water cycle, nutrient cycle and energy flow are slightly reduced but continue to adequately function.
Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 3172 | 3570 | 3934 |
| Forb | 191 | 294 | 420 |
| Shrub/Vine | – | 39 | 84 |
| Tree | – | 20 | 45 |
| Total | 3363 | 3923 | 4483 |
Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). SD5808, Northern Rolling High Plains, lowland cool-season/warm-season codominant. Cool-season, Warm-season codominant, Lowland.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Community 1.3
Decadent Plants/Excessive Litter
This plant community develops after an extended period (10 to 20 years or more) of non-use or exclusion of fire. Eventually litter levels become high enough to reduce native grass vigor, diversity, and density. Years of accumulated litter will tend to make this community wetter. Mountain rush (Baltic rush) and bulrush will increase. Hydrophytic forbs will also increase. Bluegrasses such as fowl bluegrass and Kentucky bluegrass as well as creeping meadow foxtail can flourish in this environment and will become a major component of this plant community. This plant community is resistant to change without prescribed grazing and fire. The combination of both grazing and fire is most effective in moving this plant community towards the Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass Plant Community (1.1). Soil erosion and runoff is low. Once this plant community is reached, time and external resources will be needed to see any immediate recovery.
Figure 12. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 3250 | 3708 | 4153 |
| Forb | 112 | 157 | 202 |
| Shrub/Vine | – | 39 | 84 |
| Tree | – | 19 | 45 |
| Total | 3362 | 3923 | 4484 |
Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). SD5806, Northern Rolling High Plains, lowland cool-season dominant. Cool-season dominant, lowland.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Continuous season-long grazing without change in season of use, or adequate recovery periods between grazing events; or excessive haying will shift the Prairie Cordgrass-Northen Reedgrass Plant Community (1.1) to the Spikerush-Mountain Bulrush/Prairie Cordgrass Plant Community (1.2).
Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3
Non-use and no fire for an extended period of time will allow for litter build-up and a shift the Reference Plant Community (1.1) to the Decadent Plants/Excessive Litter Plant community (1.3).
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Long-term prescribed grazing including proper stocking rates, change in season of use, and adequate time for recovery following grazing event; or forage harvest management will shift the Spikerush-Mountain Rush/Prairie Cordgrass Plant Community (1.2) to the Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass Plant Community (1.1).
Conservation practices
| Forage Harvest Management | |
|---|---|
| Prescribed Grazing |
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1
Prescribed grazing or prescribed burning followed by prescribed grazing will move this plant community toward the Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass Plant Community (1.1). This would require long-term management with prescribed grazing and prescribed burning under controlled conditions.
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Burning | |
|---|---|
| Prescribed Grazing |
State 2
Native/Invaded
The Native/Invaded State (2.0) is dominated by native and non-native cool-season grasses and grass-like plants. The non-native cool-season grasses are primarily Kentucky bluegrass, quackgrass, and possibly creeping meadow foxtail on reed canarygrass. This state is the result of the invasion of non-native cool-season grasses in combination with continuous season-long grazing, or excessive haying. The species that invaded may have also been seeded or escaped from adjacent haylands. The Native/Invaded State (2.0) is very resilient and resistant to change.
Dominant plant species
-
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
-
mountain rush (Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis), grass
-
spikerush (Eleocharis), grass
-
prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), grass
-
northern reedgrass (Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa), grass
Community 2.1
Kentucky Bluegrass/Spikerush-Mountain Rush
This plant community developed with heavy continuous season-long grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events. Various bluegrasses, Spikerush, and mountain rush (Baltic rush) dominate the community. Kentucky bluegrass will invade on drier portions of the community. Prairie cordgrass will tend to persist in trace amounts, greatly reduced in vigor. Goldenrod, dogbane, and cinquefoil have increased. A significant amount of production and diversity has been lost when compared to the Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass Plant Community (1.1). Loss or reduction of native cool- and warm-season grasses, and the forb component have negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. It will take an extended period of time to restore this plant community back to Reference State (1.0) with improved management. Renovation in most cases would not be practical, as well as, very costly.
Figure 14. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 1995 | 2423 | 2847 |
| Forb | 247 | 351 | 448 |
| Shrub/Vine | – | 15 | 34 |
| Tree | – | 13 | 34 |
| Total | 2242 | 2802 | 3363 |
Figure 15. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). SD5806, Northern Rolling High Plains, lowland cool-season dominant. Cool-season dominant, lowland.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Heavy, continuous season-long grazing without adequate recovery periods between grazing events; or excessive haying; and the invasion of non-native cool-season grasses will transition the Reference State (1.0) to the Native/Invaded State (2.0). This transition is most likely to occur from the Spikerush-Mountain Rush/Prairie Cordgrass Plant Community (1.2).
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
Long-term prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods following each grazing event and proper stocking, over long periods of time; prescribed burning; and forage harvest management will move the Native/Invaded State (2.0) to the Spikerush-Baltic Rush/Prairie Cordgrass Plant Community (1.2). This plant community may eventually return to Reference Plant Community (1.1) or associated successional communities assuming an adequate seed and vegetative source is available. This process may take greater than 20 years.
Conservation practices
| Prescribed Burning | |
|---|---|
| Forage Harvest Management | |
| Prescribed Grazing |
Additional community tables
Table 9. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall Warm-Season Grasses | 1009–1765 | ||||
| prairie cordgrass | SPPE | Spartina pectinata | 1009–1513 | – | ||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 151–252 | – | ||
| mat muhly | MURI | Muhlenbergia richardsonis | 50–101 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool-Season Grasses | 1261–2018 | ||||
| northern reedgrass | CASTI3 | Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa | 504–757 | – | ||
| American mannagrass | GLGR | Glyceria grandis | 252–504 | – | ||
| American sloughgrass | BESY | Beckmannia syzigachne | 252–504 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 101–252 | – | ||
| fowl bluegrass | POPA2 | Poa palustris | 50–101 | – | ||
| rough bentgrass | AGSC5 | Agrostis scabra | 50–101 | – | ||
| 3 | Other Native Grasses | 0–252 | ||||
| rough barnyardgrass | ECMU2 | Echinochloa muricata | 0–101 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–101 | – | ||
| foxtail barley | HOJU | Hordeum jubatum | 0–50 | – | ||
| 4 | Grass-Likes | 1009–2018 | ||||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 252–504 | – | ||
| Sartwell's sedge | CASA8 | Carex sartwellii | 252–504 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 252–504 | – | ||
| clustered field sedge | CAPR5 | Carex praegracilis | 252–404 | – | ||
| woolly sedge | CAPE42 | Carex pellita | 202–404 | – | ||
| spikerush | ELEOC | Eleocharis | 151–252 | – | ||
| Grass-like (not a true grass) | 2GL | Grass-like (not a true grass) | 50–252 | – | ||
| flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 50–101 | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses | – | ||||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | Forbs | 151–252 | ||||
| Canada goldenrod | SOCA6 | Solidago canadensis | 50–101 | – | ||
| dogbane | APOCY | Apocynum | 50–101 | – | ||
| Maximilian sunflower | HEMA2 | Helianthus maximiliani | 50–101 | – | ||
| wild mint | MEAR4 | Mentha arvensis | 50–101 | – | ||
| Rydberg's sunflower | HENUR | Helianthus nuttallii ssp. rydbergii | 50–101 | – | ||
| western dock | RUAQ | Rumex aquaticus | 0–50 | – | ||
| Forb, native | 2FN | Forb, native | 0–50 | – | ||
| showy prairie gentian | EUEXR | Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum | 0–50 | – | ||
| Flodman's thistle | CIFL | Cirsium flodmanii | 0–50 | – | ||
| cinquefoil | POTEN | Potentilla | 0–50 | – | ||
| blue-eyed grass | SISYR | Sisyrinchium | 0–50 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Shrubs | 0–101 | ||||
| false indigo bush | AMFR | Amorpha fruticosa | 0–50 | – | ||
| willow | SALIX | Salix | 0–50 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–50 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 8 | Trees | 0–50 | ||||
| cottonwood | POPUL | Populus | 0–50 | – | ||
| Tree | 2TREE | Tree | 0–50 | – | ||
Table 10. Community 1.2 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall Warm-Season Grasses | 588–981 | ||||
| prairie cordgrass | SPPE | Spartina pectinata | 392–588 | – | ||
| mat muhly | MURI | Muhlenbergia richardsonis | 118–196 | – | ||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 78–118 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool-Season Grasses | 588–1373 | ||||
| American sloughgrass | BESY | Beckmannia syzigachne | 196–392 | – | ||
| fowl bluegrass | POPA2 | Poa palustris | 196–392 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 118–275 | – | ||
| rough bentgrass | AGSC5 | Agrostis scabra | 118–196 | – | ||
| American mannagrass | GLGR | Glyceria grandis | 0–118 | – | ||
| northern reedgrass | CASTI3 | Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa | 0–78 | – | ||
| 3 | Other Native Grasses | 196–588 | ||||
| foxtail barley | HOJU | Hordeum jubatum | 78–196 | – | ||
| rough barnyardgrass | ECMU2 | Echinochloa muricata | 0–196 | – | ||
| reed canarygrass | PHAR3 | Phalaris arundinacea | 0–196 | – | ||
| Grass, annual | 2GA | Grass, annual | 39–196 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 39–78 | – | ||
| 4 | Grass-Likes | 1373–1765 | ||||
| spikerush | ELEOC | Eleocharis | 392–785 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 392–588 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 392–588 | – | ||
| flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 196–392 | – | ||
| clustered field sedge | CAPR5 | Carex praegracilis | 196–392 | – | ||
| Sartwell's sedge | CASA8 | Carex sartwellii | 39–196 | – | ||
| Grass-like (not a true grass) | 2GL | Grass-like (not a true grass) | 39–196 | – | ||
| woolly sedge | CAPE42 | Carex pellita | 78–196 | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses | 0–196 | ||||
| creeping meadow foxtail | ALAR | Alopecurus arundinaceus | 0–196 | – | ||
| Kentucky bluegrass | POPR | Poa pratensis | 0–196 | – | ||
| quackgrass | ELRE4 | Elymus repens | 0–196 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | Forbs | 196–392 | ||||
| Canada goldenrod | SOCA6 | Solidago canadensis | 118–314 | – | ||
| cinquefoil | POTEN | Potentilla | 118–196 | – | ||
| common dandelion | TAOF | Taraxacum officinale | 118–196 | – | ||
| curly dock | RUCR | Rumex crispus | 118–196 | – | ||
| dogbane | APOCY | Apocynum | 118–196 | – | ||
| blue-eyed grass | SISYR | Sisyrinchium | 118–196 | – | ||
| Flodman's thistle | CIFL | Cirsium flodmanii | 78–118 | – | ||
| western dock | RUAQ | Rumex aquaticus | 39–78 | – | ||
| Forb, native | 2FN | Forb, native | 39–78 | – | ||
| Forb, introduced | 2FI | Forb, introduced | 39–78 | – | ||
| wild mint | MEAR4 | Mentha arvensis | 0–39 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Shrubs | 0–78 | ||||
| false indigo bush | AMFR | Amorpha fruticosa | 0–39 | – | ||
| willow | SALIX | Salix | 0–39 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–39 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 8 | Trees | 0–39 | ||||
| cottonwood | POPUL | Populus | 0–39 | – | ||
| Tree | 2TREE | Tree | 0–39 | – | ||
Table 11. Community 1.3 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall Warm-Season Grasses | 392–785 | ||||
| prairie cordgrass | SPPE | Spartina pectinata | 196–392 | – | ||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 196–392 | – | ||
| mat muhly | MURI | Muhlenbergia richardsonis | 0–78 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool-Season Grasses | 588–1373 | ||||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 196–392 | – | ||
| fowl bluegrass | POPA2 | Poa palustris | 196–392 | – | ||
| northern reedgrass | CASTI3 | Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa | 39–196 | – | ||
| American mannagrass | GLGR | Glyceria grandis | 39–196 | – | ||
| rough bentgrass | AGSC5 | Agrostis scabra | 78–118 | – | ||
| American sloughgrass | BESY | Beckmannia syzigachne | 0–78 | – | ||
| 3 | Other Native Grasses | 196–981 | ||||
| reed canarygrass | PHAR3 | Phalaris arundinacea | 0–392 | – | ||
| Grass, annual | 2GA | Grass, annual | 78–196 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 39–196 | – | ||
| foxtail barley | HOJU | Hordeum jubatum | 39–78 | – | ||
| rough barnyardgrass | ECMU2 | Echinochloa muricata | 0–78 | – | ||
| 4 | Grass-Likes | 785–1177 | ||||
| clustered field sedge | CAPR5 | Carex praegracilis | 196–392 | – | ||
| Sartwell's sedge | CASA8 | Carex sartwellii | 196–392 | – | ||
| spikerush | ELEOC | Eleocharis | 196–392 | – | ||
| woolly sedge | CAPE42 | Carex pellita | 196–392 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 39–196 | – | ||
| flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 118–196 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 39–196 | – | ||
| Grass-like (not a true grass) | 2GL | Grass-like (not a true grass) | 39–196 | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses | 0–392 | ||||
| Kentucky bluegrass | POPR | Poa pratensis | 0–392 | – | ||
| quackgrass | ELRE4 | Elymus repens | 0–392 | – | ||
| creeping meadow foxtail | ALAR | Alopecurus arundinaceus | 0–392 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | Forbs | 118–196 | ||||
| wild mint | MEAR4 | Mentha arvensis | 78–118 | – | ||
| curly dock | RUCR | Rumex crispus | 78–118 | – | ||
| dogbane | APOCY | Apocynum | 0–78 | – | ||
| Flodman's thistle | CIFL | Cirsium flodmanii | 39–78 | – | ||
| Maximilian sunflower | HEMA2 | Helianthus maximiliani | 39–78 | – | ||
| showy prairie gentian | EUEXR | Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum | 39–78 | – | ||
| Rydberg's sunflower | HENUR | Helianthus nuttallii ssp. rydbergii | 39–78 | – | ||
| western dock | RUAQ | Rumex aquaticus | 39–78 | – | ||
| Forb, native | 2FN | Forb, native | 39–78 | – | ||
| Forb, introduced | 2FI | Forb, introduced | 39–78 | – | ||
| blue-eyed grass | SISYR | Sisyrinchium | 0–78 | – | ||
| Canada goldenrod | SOCA6 | Solidago canadensis | 39–78 | – | ||
| cinquefoil | POTEN | Potentilla | 39–78 | – | ||
| common dandelion | TAOF | Taraxacum officinale | 0–78 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Shrubs | 0–78 | ||||
| false indigo bush | AMFR | Amorpha fruticosa | 0–39 | – | ||
| willow | SALIX | Salix | 0–39 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–39 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 8 | Trees | 0–39 | ||||
| cottonwood | POPUL | Populus | 0–39 | – | ||
| Tree | 2TREE | Tree | 0–39 | – | ||
Table 12. Community 2.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Tall Warm-Season Grasses | 140–420 | ||||
| mat muhly | MURI | Muhlenbergia richardsonis | 140–280 | – | ||
| prairie cordgrass | SPPE | Spartina pectinata | 0–140 | – | ||
| switchgrass | PAVI2 | Panicum virgatum | 0–28 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool-Season Grasses | 560–981 | ||||
| fowl bluegrass | POPA2 | Poa palustris | 280–420 | – | ||
| American sloughgrass | BESY | Beckmannia syzigachne | 280–420 | – | ||
| rough bentgrass | AGSC5 | Agrostis scabra | 140–280 | – | ||
| western wheatgrass | PASM | Pascopyrum smithii | 56–140 | – | ||
| American mannagrass | GLGR | Glyceria grandis | 0–28 | – | ||
| 3 | Other Native Grasses | 280–841 | ||||
| foxtail barley | HOJU | Hordeum jubatum | 140–280 | – | ||
| rough barnyardgrass | ECMU2 | Echinochloa muricata | 0–280 | – | ||
| reed canarygrass | PHAR3 | Phalaris arundinacea | 0–280 | – | ||
| Grass, annual | 2GA | Grass, annual | 140–280 | – | ||
| Grass, perennial | 2GP | Grass, perennial | 0–56 | – | ||
| 4 | Grass-Likes | 701–981 | ||||
| spikerush | ELEOC | Eleocharis | 280–701 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 280–420 | – | ||
| shortbeak sedge | CABR10 | Carex brevior | 280–420 | – | ||
| flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 140–280 | – | ||
| clustered field sedge | CAPR5 | Carex praegracilis | 140–280 | – | ||
| Sartwell's sedge | CASA8 | Carex sartwellii | 28–56 | – | ||
| woolly sedge | CAPE42 | Carex pellita | 28–56 | – | ||
| Grass-like (not a true grass) | 2GL | Grass-like (not a true grass) | 28–56 | – | ||
| 5 | Non-Native Cool-Season Grasses | 420–981 | ||||
| quackgrass | ELRE4 | Elymus repens | 0–981 | – | ||
| creeping meadow foxtail | ALAR | Alopecurus arundinaceus | 0–981 | – | ||
| Kentucky bluegrass | POPR | Poa pratensis | 420–560 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | Forbs | 280–420 | ||||
| Canada goldenrod | SOCA6 | Solidago canadensis | 112–280 | – | ||
| curly dock | RUCR | Rumex crispus | 140–280 | – | ||
| cinquefoil | POTEN | Potentilla | 140–224 | – | ||
| blue-eyed grass | SISYR | Sisyrinchium | 112–168 | – | ||
| dogbane | APOCY | Apocynum | 84–140 | – | ||
| common dandelion | TAOF | Taraxacum officinale | 84–112 | – | ||
| Flodman's thistle | CIFL | Cirsium flodmanii | 56–84 | – | ||
| Forb, native | 2FN | Forb, native | 56–84 | – | ||
| Forb, introduced | 2FI | Forb, introduced | 56–84 | – | ||
| wild mint | MEAR4 | Mentha arvensis | 0–28 | – | ||
| western dock | RUAQ | Rumex aquaticus | 0–28 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Shrubs | 0–28 | ||||
| false indigo bush | AMFR | Amorpha fruticosa | 0–28 | – | ||
| willow | SALIX | Salix | 0–28 | – | ||
| Shrub (>.5m) | 2SHRUB | Shrub (>.5m) | 0–28 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 8 | Trees | 0–28 | ||||
| cottonwood | POPUL | Populus | 0–28 | – | ||
| Tree | 2TREE | Tree | 0–28 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife Interpretations
MLRA 58D lies within the drier portion of the northern mixed-grass prairie ecosystem where sagebrush steppes to the west yield to grassland steppes to the east. Prior to European settlement, this area consisted of diverse grass- and shrubland habitats interspersed with varying densities of depressional instream wetlands and woody riparian corridors. These habitats provided critical life cycle components for many users. Many species of grassland birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and herds of roaming bison, elk, and pronghorn were 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 predators such as the gray wolf, mountain lion, and grizzly bear, and smaller carnivores such as the coyote, bobcat, fox, and raptors. The prairie dog was once abundant; however, the species remains a keystone species within its range. The black-footed ferret, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, mountain plover, and swift fox were associated with prairie dog complexes.
Historically, the northern mixed-grass prairie was a disturbance-driven ecosystem with fire, herbivory, and climate functioning as the primary disturbance factors either singly or in combination. Following European settlement, livestock grazing, cropland conversion, elimination of fire, energy development, and other anthropogenic factors influenced species composition and abundance. Introduced and invasive species further impacted plant and animal communities. The bison was a historical keystone species but had been extirpated in this area as a free-ranging herbivore. The loss of the bison and reduction of prairie dog populations and fire as ecological drivers greatly influenced the character of the remaining native plant communities and altered wildlife habitats. Human development has reduced habitat quality for area-sensitive species.
Within MLRA 58D, the Wet Meadow ecological site provides upland/wetland complex cover with an associated forb component. It was typically part of an expansive grassland landscape that included combinations of Shallow Loamy, Shallow Clayey, Thin Loamy, Thin Claypan, Sandy, Sandy Claypan, Loamy, Loamy Terrace, Sandy Terrace, and Clayey ecological sites.
The Wet Meadow ecological site has remained relatively intact but may be subject to haying under drier conditions. This site has sufficient hydrology to support hydrophytic vegetation and wildlife species associated with saturated soil conditions. This site receives subsurface water from adjacent upland sites. The site provides important wetland habitat for birds, small rodents, bats, mammalian predators, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. These sites also provide forage sites for greater sagegrouse broods.
Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass (1.1)
The predominance of hydrophytic vegetation, including a high diversity of sedges and other grass-like species, favors shorebirds (e.g. plovers, sandpipers, and snipe) and wetland associated songbirds. This plant community provides habitat for salamanders, various frog and toad species, and various snake species. Invertebrates are an important component of the food web. Raptors such as northern harrier, short-eared owl, Swainson’s hawk, and American kestrel will use this site. Prey populations are limited to small mammals such as water shrew and meadow vole and invertebrates. When associated with ecological sites dominated by big sagebrush, greater sage-grouse will use this site for brood rearing and foraging habitat.
Spikerush-Mountain Rush/Prairie Cordgrass (1.2) and Kentucky Bluegrass/Spikerush-Mountain Rush (2.1):
Resulting from continuous season-long grazing without adequate recovery periods this site becomes dominated by shorter grass-like hydrophytes with increased forb diversity. The predominance of hydrophytic vegetation, still favors shorebirds (e.g. plovers, sandpipers, and snipe) and wetland associated songbirds. Insect pollinators become more abundant at this site. This plant community provides habitat for salamanders, various frog and toad species, and various snake species. Invertebrates are an important component of the food web. Raptors such as northern harrier, short-eared owl, Swainson’s hawk, and American kestrel will use this site. Prey populations are limited to small mammals such as water shrew and meadow vole and invertebrates. Invertebrate and vertebrate prey species are more vulnerable to predation due to the shorter stature of this plant community. When associated with ecological sites dominated by big sagebrush, greater sage-grouse will use this site for brood rearing and foraging habitat.
Decadent Plants/Excessive Litter (1.3): Resulting from non-use and no fire, this site becomes dominated by decadent plants and excessive amounts of plant litter. Increased amounts of decadent plant material result in limited foraging and nesting habitat for shorebirds and wetland associated songbirds. Insect pollinators continue to use this site. This plant community continues to provide habitat for salamanders, various frog and toad species, and various snake species. Invertebrates are an important component of the food web. Raptors such as northern harrier, short-eared owl, Swainson’s hawk, and American kestrel will use this site. Prey populations are limited to small mammals such as water shrew and meadow vole and invertebrates. Invertebrate and vertebrate prey species are less vulnerable to predation due to the amount of decadent plant material and litter buildup. Excessive litter buildup will limit use by greater sage-grouse for brood rearing and foraging habitat.
Grazing Interpretations
The following list suggests annual, initial stocking rates for average growing conditions. These estimates are conservative and should be used only as guidelines in the initial stages of conservation planning. Commonly, the current plant composition does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in this ecological site description). Therefore, a resource inventory is necessary to document plant composition and production. More accurate estimates of carrying capacity should eventually be calculated using the following stocking rate information along with animal preference data and actual stocking records, particularly when grazers other than cattle are involved. In consultation with the land manager, a more intensive grazing management program that results in improved harvest efficiencies and increased carrying capacity may be developed.
The following suggested initial stocking rates are based on 912 lb/acre (air-dry weight) per animal-unit-month (AUM) with a 25 percent harvest efficiency of preferred and desirable forage species (refer to USDA-NRCS, National Range and Pasture Handbook). An AUM is defined as the equivalent amount of forage required by a 1,000-pound cow, with or without calf, for one month.
Plant Community: Prairie Cordgrass-Northern Reedgrass (1.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 4,500*
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): Variable*
Plant Community: Spikerush-Mountain Rush/Prairie Cordgrass (1.2)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 3,500*
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): Variable*
Plant Community: Decadent Plants/Excessive Litter (1.3)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 3,500*
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): Variable*
Plant Community: Kentucky Bluegrass/Spikerush-Mountain Rush (2.1)
Average Production (lb/acre, air-dry): 2,500*
Stocking Rate (AUM/acre): Variable*
* Total annual production and stocking rates are highly variable and require onsite sampling.
Total onsite annual production may contain vegetation deemed undesirable or untargeted by the grazing animal. Therefore, AUM values may need to be reduced to reflect only preferred or desirable forage species.
Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the major income-producing industries in the area. Rangeland in this area may provide yearlong forage for livestock. During the dormant period, the forage for livestock likely has insufficient protein to meet livestock requirements. Added protein allows ruminants to better utilize the energy stored in grazed plant materials. A forage quality test (either directly or through fecal sampling) should be used to determine the level of supplementation needed.
Hydrological functions
This site is dominated by soils in hydrologic groups B and D. Infiltration and runoff potential for this site varies from moderate to high depending on soil hydrologic group, slope, and ground cover. Refer to the USDA-NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Part 630, for hydrologic soil groups, runoff quantities, and hydrologic curves.
Recreational uses
This site provides opportunities for hunting upland game species and waterfowl. The wide variety of plants that bloom from spring until fall have aesthetic value that appeals to visitors.
Wood products
No appreciable wood products are typically present on this site.
Other products
Harvesting the seeds of native plants can provide additional income on this site.
Other information
Revision Notes: “Previously Approved” Provisional
This provisional ecological site description (ESD) has passed quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) to ensure the it meets the 2014 NESH standards for a provisional ecological site description.
This ESD is an updated “Previously Approved” ESD that represented a first-generation tier of documentation that, prior to the release of the 2014 National Ecological Site Handbook (NESH), met all requirements as an “Approved” ESD as laid out in the 1997 National Range and Pasture Handbook (NRPH). The document fully described the reference state and community phase in the state-and-transition model. All other alternative states are at least described in narrative form. The “Previously Approved” ESD has been field-tested for a minimum of 5 years and is a proven functional document for conservation planning. The “Previously Approved” ESD may not contain all tabular and narrative entries as required in the current “Approved” level of documentation, but continued refinement toward an “Approved” status is expected.
Site Development and Testing Plan
Future work, as described in an official project plan, is necessary to validate the information in this provisional ecological site description. The plan will include field activities for low-, medium-, and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of the data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. Final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews are required to produce the final document.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented here has been derived from NRCS clipping data and other inventory data. Field observations and experience were also used. Those involved in developing this site description include: Stan Boltz, RMS, NRCS; Dave Dewald, Wildlife Biologist, NRCS; Jody Forman, RMS, NRCS; Dennis Froemke, RMS, NRCS; Cheryl Nielsen, RMS, NRCS; Jeff Printz, RMS, NRCS; Mike Stirling, RMS, NRCS; and Darrell Vanderbusch, Soil Scientist, NRCS.
Other references
Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C.A. Carpenter, and W.H McNab. 2007. Ecological subregions: Sections and subsections of the conterminous United States. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-76D. https://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/misc/73326-wo-gtr-76d-cleland2007.pdf (accessed 31 January 2019).
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deep-water habitats of the United States. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service FWS/OBS-79/31.
High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. 2018. http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/ (accessed 6 April 2018).
High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. 2018. http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/ (accessed 6 April 2018).
Larson, G.E. and J.R. Johnson. 1999. Plants of the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains. South Dakota State University, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences and Agriculture Experiment Station, Bulletin 732, Brookings, SD.
Toledo, D., M. Sanderson, K. Spaeth, J. Hendrickson, and J. Printz. 2014. Extent of Kentucky bluegrass and its effect on native plant species diversity and ecosystem services in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 7(4):543–522. Weed Science Society of America.
Soil Survey Staff. 2020. Official soil series descriptions. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/home/?cid=nrcs142p2_053587 (accessed 29 January 2020).
Soil Survey Staff. 2019. Web Soil Survey. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx (accessed 13 December 2019).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1997. National range and pasture handbook, rev. 1, 2003. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1043055.pdf (accessed 7 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. Agriculture Handbook 296. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_050898.pdf (accessed 17 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2012. National engineering handbook, part 630. Hydrology chapters from e-Directives. https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=21422 (accessed 17 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2014. National ecological site handbook, 1st ed. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232 (accessed 27 January 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. Climate data. National Water and Climate Center. http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ (accessed 2 December 2018).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2020. Electronic field office technical guide. https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov (accessed 29 January 2020).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2018. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov (accessed 25 May 2018.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2020. PLANTS database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC. http://plants.usda.gov (accessed 30 January 2020).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2018. EPA level III and level IV ecoregions of the conterminous United States. https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/level-iii-and-iv-ecoregions- conterminous-united-states (accessed 26 April 2018).
Contributors
Stan C. Boltz
Travis Patient
Rick L. Peterson
Approval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 7/18/2024
Acknowledgments
This ecological site description was updated by Rick L. Peterson on February 4, 2020.
The ESDs were available for QC review by Mark Hayek, Emily Helms, Ryan Beer, and Mitch Faulkner.
All ecological sites were then reviewed and approved at the Provisional Level by David Kraft, Regional ESS, Salina, KS in September 2020.
Non-Discrimination Statement
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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) | Stan Boltz |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | stanley.boltz@sd.usda.gov, 605-352-1236 |
| Date | 05/07/2010 |
| Approved by | Suzanne Mayne-Kinney |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
None. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
0 to 5 percent is typical. During periods of above average precipitation and run-on, this site may be ponded for longer than normal durations, and typical vegetation may be temporarily reduced, creating areas of bare ground for relatively short periods of time. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Litter falls in place. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil aggregate stability ratings should typically be 5 to 6, normally 6. Surface organic matter adheres to the soil surface. Soil surface fragments will typically retain structure indefinitely when dipped in distilled water. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
The dark surface horizons should be 12 to 30 inches thick with mollic (dark) colors when moist. Structure typically is medium to fine granular in the upper horizon. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Deep rooted species (tall rhizomatous cool- and warm-season grasses and grass-likes) with fine and coarse roots positively influences infiltration. Infiltration is somewhat limited naturally due to poor drainage and relatively low permeability. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None – when dry, B horizons can be hard and appear to be compacted, but no platy structure will be present. -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Tall warm-season grasses = Grass-likes >Sub-dominant:
Mid/tall cool-season grasses >Other:
ForbsAdditional:
Due to differing root structure and distribution, Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass do not fit into reference plant community F/S groups. Other F/S groups may occur in minor amounts. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Little evidence of decadence or mortality. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Production ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds per acre (air-dry weight), with the reference value being 4,500 pounds per acre (air-dry weight). -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
State and local noxious weeds; Kentucky bluegrass may be prevalent during dry cycles, but will typically not dominate the site. Most invasive species will occupy the perimeter of this site. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All species exhibit high vigor relative to climatic conditions. Do not rate based solely on seed production. Perennial grasses and grass-likes should have vigorous rhizomes or tillers.
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.