The Reference State describes the range of vegetative communities that occur on the Wet Land site where the range of natural variability under historic conditions and disturbance regimes is mostly intact. The Reference Community is the only recognized plant community in the Reference State. This state is very resistant to any change that does not affect the associated water table.
Ditching has been a traditional management tool on this ecological site. Draining a wetland effectively changes the hydrology of the site and allows it to more closely resemble a Subirrigated ecological site. Once ditched, significant inputs are required to restore and maintain the high water table.
This state is a result of ditching or other draining mechanisms that alter the hydrology of the site to the point that a major reclamation effort is required to return to the reference state.
Significant ditching or draining the Reference State shifts this site to the drier Subirrigated ecological site.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase () icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
