Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F088XY009MN
Floodplain Terrace Forest
Last updated: 8/12/2024
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 088X–Northern Minnesota Glacial Lake Basins
MLRA 88 consists of the lake beds of glacial Lakes Agassiz, Upham, and Aitkin. These vast glacial lake beds were formed by meltwaters associated with the last glaciation of the Wisconsin age. The large, flat, wet landscapes are filled with lacustrine lake sediments, wave-washed glacial till, and vast expanses of organic soils. This area is entirely in Minnesota and makes up about 11,590 square miles (30,019 square kilometers).
The western boundary of MLRA 88 with MLRA 56B is gradual. MLRA 56B is a portion of the Red River Valley that was formed by glacial Lake Agassiz and is dominantly prairie. The southern boundary of MLRA 88 with MLRA 57 consists of distinct moraines that formed from the glacial drift sediments of Late Wisconsin age. The eastern and southeastern boundaries are with portions of MLRAs 90A and 93A. These MLRAs are in a distinct glaciated region of sediments of the Rainy and Superior Lobes, and much of MLRA 93A is bedrock controlled (USDA-Ag Handbook 296, 2022).
Classification relationships
Relationship to Established Framework and Classification Systems:
Habitat Types of N. Wisconsin (Kotar, 2002): Acer-Tsuga/Dryopteris-Hydrophyllum (ATDH), Acer-Tsuga/Athyrium-Onoclea (ATAtOn)
Biophysical Settings (Landfire, 2014): Laurentian-Acadian Floodplain Forest, Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp
Hierarchical Framework Relationships:
MLRA 88- Northern Minnesota Glacial Lake
Basins(USDA Agricultural Handbook 296, 2022)
USFS / MN DNR Sub-regions: 212Mb Agassiz Lowlands, 212Ma Littlefork Vermillion, 212nd Tamarack Lowlands , and 212Nb St Luis Moraines (Cleland et al, 2007)
Ecological site concept
The Floodplain Terrace Forest ecological site accounts for approximately 13,000 acres in MLRA 88. Sites are located on floodplain terraces throughout the MLRA. These sites are characterized by very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that form in sandy to loamy alluvium. Sites are subject to flooding in spring and fall. Soils remain saturated for long duration during growing season and some sites meet hydric soil requirements. Stream inflow, precipitation, runoff from adjacent uplands, and groundwater discharge are the primary sources of water. Soils range from slightly acid to neutral. Vegetation supported by these sites must be tolerant of frequent floods. Damage to vegetation may also occur due to winter ice jams evident by scaring on trees.
Associated sites
F088XY007MN |
Wet Depressional Forest These sites occur in shallow wetland basins, closed depressions and along drainage ways, and are generally in narrow transition zones between mineral uplands and peatlands. Soil surface layers are typically mucky-modified surface textures or muck less than 8” thick over variable parent materials. |
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F088XY008MN |
Wet Mixed Forest These sites occur on footslope and toeslope hillslope positions, drainageways surrounded by uplands or on the edge of uplands grading to very poorly drained peatland soils. These sites typically exist on loamy and occasionally sandy moraines and till plains. |
Similar sites
F088XY006MN |
Floodplain Forest Wet These sites are present on occasionally or annually flooded sites on flats and floodplains of streams and rivers. Soils consist of stratified alluvium which vary widely from silty clay to fine sandy loam soils on the occasionally flooded river terraces to coarser textured alluvium on the active floodplain sites. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Acer saccharum |
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Shrub |
Not specified |
Herbaceous |
(1) Onoclea sensibilis |
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Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A | - | Major flooding event depositing new sediment. |
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1.2A | - | Long period without major flooding. |