Closed Upland Depression
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1-2 More details
- Transition T1-3 More details
- Transition T1-4 More details
- Transition T1-5 More details
- Restoration pathway R2-1 More details
- Transition T2-3 More details
- Transition T2-4 More details
- Transition T2-5 More details
- Restoration pathway R3-1 More details
- Restoration pathway R3-2 More details
- Transition T3-4 More details
- Transition T3-5 More details
- Restoration pathway R4-1 More details
- Restoration pathway R4-2 More details
- Restoration pathway R4-3 More details
- Transition T4-5 More details
- Restoration pathway R5-1 More details
- Restoration pathway R5-2 More details
- Restoration pathway R5-3 More details
- Restoration pathway R5-4 More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The Reference State is dynamic and transitions between three vegetation communities. At any given time, a single wetland in the Reference State could have all three communities present or be dominated by a single community. The three communities that make up the Reference State are the Saturated Soil Perennial Community, Moist Soil Perennial Community, and Moist Soil Annual Community. The spatial border between the three communities is directly linked to the duration and depth of ponding. This is driven seasonally, and by local rainfall events. Implementation of management practices like grazing, herbicide application, disking, shredding, haying, etc. can also influence community presence. Some of these areas may pond water long enough to drown out vegetation, leaving bare soil during dry cycles or sparse annual vegetation.
Implementation of management actions (e.g., prescribed fire, disking, haying, grazing, herbicide application) or the lack of disturbance can result in community phase changes within the reference state. In the absence of historical intensive grazing by bison and elk herds, and the disruption of the fire regime, land managers have intentionally engaged in practices to create and maintain a more disturbed phase within the reference state to achieve wildlife management goals.
The Reference State can transition to four other states as a result of human alteration (e.g., ditching or excavating concentration pits), very severe disturbance (e.g., plowing), and/or naturally occurring ecological processes. These other states include the Grassy Invaded State, Cattail/Bulrush Invaded State, Cropped Wetland State, and Drained Wetland State.
Submodel
Description
The Grassy Invaded State is dominated by reed canarygrass and generally occurs in areas that have little or no disturbance. Sites in the Grassy Invaded State may have been seeded to reed canarygrass or naturally colonized. Annual haying and/or moderate grazing throughout the growing season with sufficient rest can promote dominant stands of reed canarygrass. Excessive sedimentation and/or areas in the wetland that have been land leveled with fill material can also promote the Grassy Invaded State. It has been hypothesized that the nutrient loads associated with sediment promotes vigorous growth of reed canarygrass. Saturated conditions and ponding generally less than 12 inches for prolonged periods also encourage Grassy Invaded State growth. Under average climatic conditions, this community can be correlated to the Fillmore and Scott soil components of Closed Upland Depressions. The Fillmore soil is the major component of Fillmore map units and the Scott soil is the major component of Scott map units. Therefore this may be the dominant community of these delineations. It can rarely be found as a minor inclusion in Massie map units. This community does occur in Massie map units when the associated watershed is significantly modified resulting in a more seasonal or temporary water regime.
Submodel
Description
The Cattail/Bulrush Invaded State contains hybrid cattails and/or river bulrush. It generally occurs in wetlands that have little or no disturbance and ponding is deep, for long periods, and/or frequent. Hydrology of these sites generally promotes ponded conditions as a result of a highly functional watershed or supplemental water from irrigation runoff. Because of how wet these sites are, they are not routinely disturbed with grazing, disking, or haying. Sites that promote the Cattail/Bulrush Invaded State can have high sediment loads that provide excessive nitrogen and phosphorus. Under average climatic conditions in wetlands with intact watersheds, this community can be correlated to the Massie and Scott soil components of Closed Upland Depressions. The Massie soil is the major component of Massie map units and the Scott soil is the major component of Scott map units. Therefore this may be the dominant community of these delineations. It can rarely be found as a minor inclusion in Fillmore map units. Excessive irrigation runoff that results in a more semi-permanent water regime can allow this community to persist on Fillmore map units.
Submodel
Description
This state is actively cultivated and generally contains hydrologic modifications, such as concentration pits, excavation of surface drains or road ditches, and/or placement of fill material. Despite active cultivation and, generally, the presence of wetland modifications, these sites continue to pond water and grow hydrophytes.
Description
This state is actively cultivated and generally contains significant hydrologic modifications, such as concertation pits, excavation of surface drains or road ditches, and/or placement of fill material. Hydrologic modifications are so significant that hydrophytes rarely grow and ponding rarely occurs except, potentially, in a concentration pit. These sites are also generally cultivated.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when the duration and intensity of disturbance is significantly reduced and where the hydrology promotes saturated conditions. Sites that have had a significant deposition of culturally accelerated sediment above the native soil profile can also transition to the Grassy Invaded State. This transition can also occur when sites are seeded to reed canarygrass.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when disturbance is decreased to little or none and/or culturally accelerated sedimentation occurs. On areas that would normally be Moist Soil Annual or Moist Soil Perennial under average climatic conditions, ponding duration and frequency is increased through watershed restoration activities or as a result of excessive irrigation runoff. On areas that would normally be Saturated Soil Perennial, no change in hydroperiod is required.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when the site is plowed or disked and planted to a commodity crop. The transition almost always requires wetland or watershed modifications. Some examples include excavation of concentration pits, construction of surface drains, placement of fill material within the hydric soil, and/or excessive sedimentation above the natural soil profile. Despite active cultivation and, generally, the presence of wetland modifications, the Cropped Wetland State continues to occasionally pond water and grow hydrophytes.
Mechanism
The Drained Wetland State will result when significant wetland modifications are constructed to facilitate production agricultural practices. These sites rarely pond water outside of concentration pits.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when the site receives a variety of disturbance treatments. A transition out of this state often requires a combination of spraying and disking treatments. The first spraying treatment kills a majority of the adult plants. A follow-up disking treatment kills the remaining adult plants and prepares the seedbank for germination of reed canarygrass seeds. A follow-up chemical treatment kills the sprouting seedlings. Maximum label rates of glyphosate approved for use over water have demonstrated good success. Both aerial and ground rig treatments have been successful for application. If sites are too wet to be successfully disked, heavy grazing in combination with chemical applications can be substituted. Restoration of hydrology may also be required to promote desired vegetation communities. If there is a large sediment load, heavy equipment can be used to excavate the material out of the wetland. Sediment surveys should be completed to determine the amount and location of the deposition.
Mechanism
The transition from the Grassy Invaded Site to the Bulrush/Cattail Invaded State often results from an increase in hydroperiod. Ponding depth, duration, and/or frequency increase as a result of the extended hydroperiod. Cattail/Bulrush sites often also have an accumulation of sediment and are not routinely disturbed.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when the site is plowed or disked, and planted to a commodity crop. Usually, hydrologic modifications (e.g., concertation pits, excavation of surface drains or road ditches, and/or placement of fill material) are constructed to negatively impact hydroperiod and facilitate cultivation of crops. Despite active cultivation and, generally, the presence of wetland modifications, the Cropped Wetland State continues to occasionally pond water and grow hydrophytes.
Mechanism
The Grassy Invaded State will transition to the Drained Wetland State if significantly modified to facilitate production agriculture practices. Common wetland modifications include excavation of concentration pits or surface drains, placement of fill material in the wetland or excessive sedimentation into the wetland. The Drained Wetland State sites rarely pond water outside of concentration pits.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when the site receives a variety of disturbance treatments implemented over multiple years. If the site would naturally be Moist Soil Annual or Perennial, ponding duration and frequency is reduced. The transition from gravity to pivot irrigation or alternations in the watershed (i.e., excavation of road ditches) that reduce runoff to the wetland can promote this transition. If there is a large sediment load, heavy equipment can be used to excavate the material out of the wetland. Sediment surveys should be completed to determine the amount and location of the deposition. Once in the Reference State, the Saturated Soil Perennial Community usually dominates if no change in hydroperiod occurred. If a change in hydroperiod occurred, the site usually transitions to Moist Soil Annual Community due to increased disturbance.
Mechanism
The transition from the Bulrush/Cattail Invaded State to the Grassy Invaded State often results from a decrease in hydroperiod. Sites that are not routinely disturbed and have an accumulation of sediment will often transition to the Grassy Invaded State.
Mechanism
This transition occurs when the site is plowed or disked, and planted to a commodity crop. Generally, hydrologic modifications (e.g., concertation pits, excavation of surface drains or road ditches, and/or placement of fill material) are constructed to negatively impact hydroperiod and facilitate cultivation of crops. Despite active cultivation and, generally, the presence of wetland modifications, the Cropped Wetland State site continues to pond water and grow hydrophytes such as barnyardgrass and smartweeds.
Mechanism
State 3 will transition to State 5 if significantly altered by hydrologic modifications to facilitate production agricultural practices. The Drained Wetland State sites rarely pond water outside of concentration pits.
Mechanism
This transition occurs as a result of the site no longer being cultivated. If hydrologic modifications are on site, wetland restoration is usually required. Wetland restoration actions often include filling concentration pits, plugging surface drains, and/or removing culturally accelerated sediment. After the site is no longer cultivated and restored, annual disturbance through grazing or other treatments can be implemented to maintain the Reference State. The Moist Soil Annual Community is the most likely community after cultivation and restoration due to the extreme disturbance caused by these activities.
Mechanism
The transition of wetlands in the Cropped Wetland State to the Grassy Invaded State often occurs on those sites that are no longer cropped, but are not routinely disturbed. If hydrologic modifications are on site, wetland restoration is usually required. This transition takes several years to occur post restoration because the extreme disturbance due to cultivation and restoration generally promotes the Moist Soil Annual Community initially.
Mechanism
The transition of wetlands in the Cropped Wetland State to the Bulrush/Cattail Invaded State often occurs on those sites that are no longer cropped, but are not routinely disturbed. For this transition to occur, the hydroperiod must be significantly increased and result in ponded water on the site. Hydroperiod can be increased by wetland restoration, an increase in natural precipitation for an extended period, or a change in surrounding land that increases runoff to the site (e.g., converting neighboring fields from dryland to gravity irrigation, or diverting a ditch into the wetland). Establishment of this state generally takes several years to occur post restoration because the extreme disturbance due to cultivation and restoration generally promotes the Moist Soil Annual Community initially.
Mechanism
Transition from the Cropped Wetland Site to the Drained Wetland State is often the result of either constructing new wetland hydrologic modifications or maintenance of existing wetland drainage features. As a result of these features, sites have reduced wetland function and rarely pond water or grow hydrophytes.
Mechanism
This transition occurs as a result of wetland restoration and change in landuse. Wetland restoration actions often include filling concentration pits, plugging surface drains, and/or removing culturally accelerated sediment. After restoration, disturbance regime and ponding frequency and duration will drive the vegetation state that occurs on the site. The Moist Soil Annual Community is the most likely community immediately after restoration due to the extreme disturbance caused by restoration.
Mechanism
This transition occurs as a result of wetland restoration and change in landuse. Wetland restoration actions often include filling concentration pits, plugging surface drains, and/or removing culturally accelerated sediment. After restoration, disturbance regime and ponding frequency and duration will drive the vegetation state that occurs on the site. The Moist Soil Annual Community is the most likely community immediately after restoration due to the extreme disturbance caused by restoration.
Mechanism
This transition occurs as a result of wetland restoration and change in landuse. Wetland restoration actions often include filling concentration pits, plugging surface drains, and/or removing culturally accelerated sediment. After restoration, disturbance regime and ponding frequency and duration will drive the vegetation state that occurs on the site. The Moist Soil Annual Community is the most likely community immediately after restoration due to the extreme disturbance caused by restoration.
Mechanism
Transition from the Drained Wetland State to the Cropped Wetland State is often the result of wetland modifications failing, but the site remaining cropped. This has occurred when concentration pits have silted in resulting in lost storage capacity, or when tile drains have collapsed. With the reduced function of these modifications, wetland features will often pond water and grow hydrophytes.
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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.