Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F089XY005WI
Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands
Last updated: 9/27/2023
Accessed: 11/04/2024
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): 089X–Wisconsin Central Sands
The Wisconsin Central Sands (MLRA 89) corresponds closely to Central Sand Plains Ecological Landscape published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR, 2015). Much of the following brief overview of this MLRA is borrowed from that publication.
The Wisconsin Central Sands MLRA is entirely in Wisconsin. The total land area is 2,187,100 acres (3,420 square miles, 8858 square kilometers). It is bordered to the east by Johnstown-Hancock end moraines, which were pushed to their extent by the west side of the Green Bay Lobe (Clayton & Attig, 1999). It is bordered to the southwest by highly eroded, unglaciated valleys and ridges. The dominant feature of this MLRA is the remarkably flat, sandy plain, composed of lacustrine deposits and outwash sand, that was once the main basin of Glacial Lake Wisconsin. It also features extensive pine and oak barrens and wetland complexes.
Glacial Lake Wisconsin was fed primarily by glacial meltwater from the north and east. The lake deposited silt overlain by tens of meters of sand (Clayton & Attig, 1989). The silty layers are closer to the surface in some areas, where they impede drainage and contribute to the formation of extensive wetland complexes. It is believed that Glacial Lake Wisconsin drained within several days after a breach in the ice dam that supported it. The catastrophic flood that followed flowed to the south and carved the scattered buttes and mesas protruding from the sandy plain in the southern portion of this MLRA. Before vegetation established after glacial recession, strong winds formed aeolian sand dunes that now support xeric pine and oak stands within the Wisconsin Central Sands.
The surface of the northwestern portion is mostly undulating. The sandy surface sediment was mostly deposited by meltwater during the Wisconsin glaciation. Gentle hills are a result of underlying bedrock topography. Valleys and floodplains are formed by stream action. The underlying bedrock controls the water table elevation and contributes to the formation of numerous wetlands.
Historically, the Wisconsin Central Sands were dominated by large wetland complexes, sand prairies, and oak forests, savannas, and barrens. Some pine and hemlock forests were found in the northwest portion. The Wisconsin Central Sands was subject to frequent fires, leading to today’s need for prescribed burns to maintain the area.
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Wisconsin Central Sands (89)
USFS Subregions: Neillsville Sandstone Plateau (222Rb) and Central Wisconsin Sand Plain (222Ra)
Relationship to Established Framework and Classification Systems:
Habitat Types of S. Wisconsin (Kotar, 1996): The sites of this ES keyed out to two habitat types: Pinus/Vaccinium-Rubus hispidus (PVRh); Pinus/Vaccinium-Gaultheria (PVG)
Biophysical Settings (Landfire, 2014): This ES is largely mapped as North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest, Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest, and Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine Forest.
WDNR Natural Communities (WDNR, 2015): This ES is most similar to the White Pine-Red Maple Swamp and the Northern Wet-mesic Forest communities.
Ecological site concept
The Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands ecological site is characterized by moderately deep to deep, poorly drained soils formed in sandy alluvium overlying a thin layer of loamy residuum over interbedded sandstone and shale. This site is found along rivers and outwash channels in the northern portion of the MLRA, where the bedrock is shallow. They are subject to brief flooding in the spring and fall. Water is primarily received from precipitation and runoff from adjacent uplands, but groundwater discharge also contributes as a water source. Soils range from extremely acid to strongly acid. Sites are saturated for most of the growing season and meet hydric requirements. Some sites may be wetlands. Main limiting factors on this site are low available nutrient status and impeded water uptake by poorly oxygenated root systems.
Historically, this Ecological Site was dominated by a variety of plant communities, apparently reflecting differences in fire regime. Pine Barrens, Oak Barrens, Oak Savanna and mixed Pine - Oak forests were all represented (Finley,1976). Following European settlement most of the area was cleared of forest vegetation and converted to farming, although scattered woodlots remained. Current woodlots typically consist of mixed oak, primarily white oak (Q. alba) and Red oak (Q. rubra), white pine (Pinus strobus) and red maple (Acer rubrum).. There are also considerable areas of planted red pine (P. resinosa).
Even though this Ecological Site is classified as Poorly Drained, this condition is not uniform across the landscape. Species reflecting relatively high soil moisture, such as winterberry (Ilex verticillata), swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus) and cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinamomea), occur only sporadically. Some locations, however, are considerably more poorly drained and are evident by the presence of such species as sphagnum moss (Sphagnum spp.), speckled alder (Alnus crispa) and tamarack (Larix laricina).
Current vegetation is represented by woodlands typically consisting of mixed oak, primarily red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Q. alba), white pine (Pinus strobus) and red maple (Acer rubrum). There are also areas of planted red pine (P. resinosa).
Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands is differentiated from other ecological sites by drainage class and depth to bedrock. The depth to bedrock sets this site apart from Wet Sandy Outwash Lowlands and Wet Siliceous Sand Lowlands, which lack bedrock contact within 78.7 inches (200 cm) of the surface. The bedrock both perches the water table and restricts root growth, which can cause trees to tip. The poor drainage sets this ecological site apart from other sandy sites.
Associated sites
F089XY001WI |
Acidic Poor Fen Acidic Poor Fens consist of shallow to deep, highly decomposed herbaceous organic material. These sites are very poorly drained and remain saturated throughout the year. They are very strongly to extremely acidic. These sites are wetlands. These sites are found exclusively in the northwest portion of the Wisconsin Central Sands MLRA where the depth to bedrock is shallow. They occur lower on the drainage sequence and stay saturated for longer than Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands. |
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F089XY010WI |
Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands consist of sandy deposits derived from a mixture of outwash, alluvium, and lacustrine sources. They have contact with sandstone bedrock within 40 inches (102 cm) of the surface. These soils are somewhat poorly drained. These sites are found to the west of the Wisconsin River, mostly in Clark and Jackson counties where the depth of bedrock is shallow. They occur higher in the drainage sequence than Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands. |
F089XY016WI |
Dry Sandy Bedrock Uplands Sandy Bedrock Uplands sites form in sandy deposits derived from a mixture of outwash, alluvium, and residuum. Contact with interbedded sandstone and shale bedrock occurs within 39.3 inches (100 cm) of the surface. These soils are moderately well to excessively drained. The occur much higher in the drainage sequence than Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands |
Similar sites
F089XY003WI |
Sandy Floodplains Sandy Floodplains sites are found exclusively on floodplains in sandy alluvium. Most sites are somewhat poorly to poorly drained and are subject to flooding. These sites occur primarily along the Wisconsin, Lemonweir, Yellow, and Black Rivers and some of their tributaries. These sites have similar textures and drainage and host similar vegetative communities. |
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F089XY006WI |
Wet Sandy Outwash Lowlands Wet Sandy Outwash Lowlands consist of deep sandy deposits derived from a mixture of outwash, alluvium, and lacustrine sources. They are very poorly to poorly drained, remain saturated for much of the growing season, and are subject to frequent ponding. These sites are primarily found in the eastern half of the Wisconsin Central Sands MLRA. Their vegetative communities are very similar to those of Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands. |
F089XY007WI |
Wet Siliceous Sand Lowlands Wet Siliceous Sand Lowlands consist of deep sandy deposits sourced primarily from the weathering of sandstone high in silica. The weathered sand was deposited by rivers or glacial lakes. They are very poorly to poorly drained and remain saturated from much of the growing season. Some are subject to ponding. These sites are primarily found in the western half of the Wisconsin Central Sands |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Pinus strobus |
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Shrub |
(1) Acer rubrum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Vaccinium |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Clear cutting or stand replacing fire |
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R2A | - | Disturbance-free period 70+ years |
T2A | - | Livestock grazing commenced. |
T2B | - | Removal of forest vegetation and tilling. |
R3A | - | Removal of livestock grazing. |
T3A | - | Removal of forest vegetation and tilling. |
R4A | - | Cessation of agricultural practices, natural or artificial afforestation. |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A | - | Light to moderate intensity fires, blow-downs, ice storms. |
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State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A | - | Immigration and establishment of white pine and red maple. |
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2.2A | - | Immigration and establishment of white pine and red maple. |
2.3A | - | Immigration and establishment of white pine and red maple. |