Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F089XY019WI
Loamy Bedrock Uplands
Last updated: 9/27/2023
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): 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 a representation of fire-dependent communities.
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Wisconsin Central Sands (89)
USFS Subregions: Neillsville Sandstone Plateau (222Rb) and Lincoln Formation Till Plain - Mixed Hardwoods (212Qb)
Small sections occur in the Central Wisconsin Sand Plain (222Ra) Subregions
Relationship to Established Framework and Classification Systems:
Habitat Types of N. & S. Wisconsin (Kotar, 2002 & 1996): The sites of this ES keyed out to three habitat types: Pinus-Acer rubrum/Vaccinium-Hamamelis (PArVHa); Pinus/Vaccinium-Gaultheria (PVG); Pinus/Vaccinium-Rubus hispidus (PVRh)
Biophysical Settings (Landfire, 2014): This ES is largely mapped as North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland, Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland, Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest, and Eastern Cool Temperate Close Grown Crop.
WDNR Natural Communities (WDNR, 2015): This ES is most similar to the Mixed Hardwood Forest, Northern Dry-Mesic Forest, and Central Sands Pine-Oak Forest communities.
Ecological site concept
Loamy Bedrock Uplands formed on pediments, hillslopes, upland hills, and ridges, primarily in the northern portion of MLRA 89 where loamy materials were deposits during the Wisconsin glaciation and the bedrock is relatively shallow. This region has bedrock influence that is absent in most of the MLRA. These sites are characterized by shallow to moderately deep, well drained soils that formed primarily in loamy alluvium over loamy residuum weathered from the underlying interbedded sandstone and shale. Some sites have sandy residuum over sandstone underlying the loamy alluvium, and others may have other loamy materials, such as loess or silty alluvium. Precipitation and runoff from adjacent uplands are the primary sources of water, but groundwater discharge can be a significant contribution. Soils range from very strongly acid to slightly acid.
Current plant community is a dry-mesic forest dominated by varying mixtures of red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Q. alba) and red maple (Acer rubrum) with sporadic presence of white pine (Pinus strobus). Aspen-Paper birch (P. tremuloides – B. papyrifera) stands and red pine plantations also occur.
Loamy Bedrock Uplands differs from other sites based on moderate depth to bedrock, drainage, and loamy textures. Loamy Uplands have soils that are greater than 80 inches (200 cm) in depth. The bedrock both perches water and restricts root growth, which can cause trees to tip. Other well drained sites have sandy textures. Loamy textures tend to have higher pH and available water capacity than sand. The well-draining soil sets this site apart from other loamy sites.
Associated sites
F089XY004WI |
Loamy Floodplains Loamy Floodplains are found exclusively on floodplains in loamy alluvium underlain by sandy alluvium. Soils are somewhat poorly to poorly drained and are subject to flooding. These sites occur primarily along tributaries to the Yellow River in central Wood County and along the Lemonweir River. They may be adjacent to Loamy Bedrock Uplands. |
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F089XY008WI |
Wet Loamy Lowlands Wet Loamy Lowlands form in a loamy or silty mantle 10 to 40 inches (25 to 100 cm) thick overlying sandy residuum weathered from sandstone and shale. Bedrock contact may occur as high at 26 inches (66 cm). These soils are poorly drained, remain saturated for much the growing season, and are sometimes subject to ponding. They are exclusive to the northern third of the Wisconsin Central Sands MLRA, which was covered in loamy glacial deposits prior to the most recent glacial advance. They occur lower on the drainage sequence and are wetter than Loamy Bedrock Uplands. |
Similar sites
F089XY020WI |
Loamy Uplands Loamy Uplands consist of sandy deposits underlain by clayey lacustrine deposits or of loamy alluvium underlain by sandy outwash. They are moderately well to somewhat excessively drained. Because of they lack bedrock contact within 80 inches (200 cm), these sites sometimes have a much deeper water table and can hold more water. They may support vegetative communities with higher nutrient requirements than those of Loamy Bedrock Uplands. |
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F089XY016WI |
Dry Sandy Bedrock Uplands Dry 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. Because Loamy Bedrock Uplands sometimes have a mantle of sandy alluvium, the vegetative communities they support may sometimes be similar to those of Loamy Bedrock Uplands. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Pinus strobus |
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Shrub |
(1) Corylus |
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 | - | Grazing by livestock |
T2B | - | Site transitioned to agricultural production |
R3A | - | Removal of livestock grazing |
T3A | - | Site transitioned to agricultural production |
R4A | - | Site is restored to forest vegetation |
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 | - | 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. |