Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F089XY010WI
Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands
Last updated: 9/27/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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 to maintain a representation of fire-dependent communities.
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Wisconsin Central Sands (89)
USFS Subregions: Central Wisconsin Sand Plain (222Ra), Neillsville Sandstone Plateau (222Rb), and Lincoln Formation Till Plain - Mixed Hardwoods (212Qb)
Relationship to Established Framework and Classification Systems:
Habitat Types of N. & S. Wisconsin (Kotar, 2002 & 1996): The sites of this ES keyed out to four habitat types: Pinus/Vaccinium-Rubus hispidus (PVRh); Pinus strobus-Acer rubrum/Vaccinium-Hamamelis (PArVHa); Pinus strobus-Acer rubrum/Vaccinium-Rubus hispidus (PArVRh); Pinus/Vaccinium-Gaultheria (PVG)
Biophysical Settings (Landfire, 2014): This ES is largely mapped as North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest, North-Central Oak Barrens Woodland, and Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine-Oak Forest.
WDNR Natural Communities (WDNR, 2015): This ES is most similar to the Central Sands Pine-Oak Forest and Northern Dry-mesic Forest communities.
Ecological site concept
The Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands ecological site is found in the northwest and southwest portion of MLRA 89 in depressions, drainageways, and flats on hills and pediments in areas where sandy sediments and shallow bedrock dominates. These sites are characterized by moderately deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in sandy materials over loamy residuum weathered from the underlying interbedded sandstone and shale. Sites are subject to occasional, brief ponding. Precipitation, runoff from adjacent uplands, and groundwater discharge are the primary sources of water. Soils range from extremely acid to strongly acid.
This Ecological Site is characterized by sandy soil where bedrock impedes drainage, causing periodic, or even long-term saturation of the rooting zone. However, in spite of this apparent abundance of water, the dominant vegetation does not differ significantly from that on similar—but excessively drained—sands. Apparently, the limiting factor is the low available nutrient status of the soils as well as impeded water uptake by poorly oxygenated root system. The shallow depth to bedrock also restricts root growth that makes these sites more vulnerable to tree tip.
Current woodlots typically consist of mixed oak, primarily northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis), black oak (Q. velutina), white oak (Q. alba), red maple (Acer rubrum), jack pine (P. banksiana) and white pine (Pinus strobus). There are also areas of planted red pine (P. resinosa).
Associated sites
F089XY001WI |
Acidic Poor Fen Acidic Poor Fens sites consist of shallow to very deep, highly decomposed herbaceous organic material, sometimes with bedrock contact within 60 inches (150 cm). These sites are very poorly drained and remain saturated throughout the year. They are very strongly to extremely acidic. These sites are wetlands. They occur in lower positions on the drainage sequence than Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands. |
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F089XY005WI |
Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands Wet Sandy Bedrock Lowlands sites consist of sandy alluvium underlain by loamy residuum. Bedrock occurs within 40 inches (100 cm) and perches the water table. Soils are poorly drained and subject to ponding. These sites are found in the northwestern portion of the Wisconsin Central Sands MLRA where the depth to bedrock is shallow. They occur in lower positions on the drainage sequence than Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands. |
F089XY016WI |
Dry Sandy Bedrock Uplands Sandy Bedrock Uplands form in sandy deposits derived from a mixture of outwash, alluvium, and residuum. Contact with interbedded sandstone and shale bedrock occurs within 40 inches (100 cm) of the surface. These soils are moderately well to excessively drained. They occur in higher positions on the drainage sequence than Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands. |
Similar sites
F089XY012WI |
Moist Siliceous Sandy Uplands Moist Siliceous Sand Uplands 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 somewhat poorly drained and are subject to neither flooding nor ponding. These sites are found west of the Wisconsin River. They support vegetative communities that are similar to those supported by Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands. |
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F089XY011WI |
Moist Sandy Outwash Uplands Moist Sandy Outwash Uplands consist of deep sandy deposits derived from a mixture of outwash, alluvium, and lacustrine sources. They are somewhat poorly drained and are subject to neither flooding nor ponding. They support vegetative communities that are similar to those supported by Moist Sandy Bedrock Uplands. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Pinus strobus |
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Shrub |
(1) Amelanchier |
Herbaceous |
(1) Pteridium aquilinum |
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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1.2A | - | Disturbance-free period 30+ years |
State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A | - | Establishment of shade tolerant species |
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2.2A | - | Establishment of shade tolerant species |
2.3A | - | Establishment of shade tolerant species |