Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F088XY015MN
Loamy Upland Wet-Mesic Mixed 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 Other Established Classifications:
MN DNR Native Plant Community (MN DNR, 2003); the reference community of this Provisional Ecological Site is most similar to:
MHn35 Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest
Ecological site concept
Loamy Upland Wet-Mesic Mixed Forest sites typically occur on flats, rises, and lake plains. These sites typically exist on soils with loamy textures of loam, sandy loam, sandy clay loam or fine sandy loam within a depth of 50 centimeters.
Associated sites
| 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. Parent material is calcareous fine to loamy textured glacial till, stratified material and occasionally sandy. Soils are somewhat poorly to poorly drained soils with grey soil color or grey-mottles shallow within the soil profile indicative of high local water tables. |
|---|
Similar sites
| F088XY014MN |
Clayey Upland Wet-Mesic Hardwood Forest These sites occur on summit, shoulders and backslope hillslope positions on moraines and till plains, and occasionally on gentle to steeper sloping areas of glacial lake plains. These sites typically exist on soils with fine textured clayey and silty textures of clay, silty clay, silty clay loam, silt loam, very fine sandy loam or loamy very fine sand within a depth of 50 centimeters. The underlying parent material is generally fine or medium textured glacial till; or fine textured clayey or silty glacial lacustrine sediments with generally less than 5 percent rock fragments within a depth of 100 centimeters. . |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Acer saccharum |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Cornus |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Aralia nudicaulis |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
| T1A | - | Mechanical removal of tree species for timber harvest. |
|---|
State 1 submodel, plant communities
| 1.1A | - | Lack of fire/blow downs (35-95 years) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2A | - | Increased low intensity fire frequency and blow downs (<35 years) |
| 1.2B | - | Lack of fire/blow downs (95-195 years) |
| 1.3B | - | Stand replacing fire |
| 1.3A | - | Increased low intensity fire frequency and blow downs (<95 years) |
State 2 submodel, plant communities
| 2.1A | - | Planting of desired species and herbicide use. |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2A | - | Harvest of tree species upon desired growth stage. |