Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F093AY001MN
Flooded Peatland
Last updated: 9/06/2024
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): 093A–Superior and Rainy Stony and Rocky Till Plains and Moraines
The Superior Stony and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills, Western Part is located and completely contained in northeastern Minnesota. This area has both the highest and lowest elevations in the state, as well as some of the state’s most rugged topography (Ojakangas and Matsch, 1982). The MLRA was glaciated by numerous advances of the Superior, Rainy, and Des Moines glacial lobes during the Wisconsin glaciation as well as pre-Wisconsin glacial periods. The geomorphic surfaces in this MLRA are geologically very young (i.e., 10,000 to 20,000 years) and dominated by drumlin fields, moraines, small lake plains, outwash plains, and bedrock-controlled uplands (USDA-NRCS, 2022).
There are thousands of lakes scattered throughout the region that were created by these glacial events. Most of these lakes are bedrock-controlled in comparison to adjacent glaciated regions where glacial drift deposits are much thicker and the lakes occur in depressions atop the glacial drift (Ojakangas and Matsch, 1982). In contrast to adjacent MLRAs, the depth to the predominantly crystalline or sandstone bedrock in MLRA 93A is relatively shallow because the most recent glacial events were more erosional than depositional (Ojakangas and Matsch, 1982).
Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Superior Stony and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills, Western Part (93A)
USFS Subregions: Northern Superior Uplands Section (212L); North Shore Highlands Subsection (212Lb)
Relationship to Other Established Classifications:
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), FPn63-Northern Cedar Swamp, Forested Rich Peatland System, Northern Floristic Region
MN DNR WFn53-Northern Wet Cedar Forest, Wet Forest System, Northern Floristic Region
Ecological site concept
This site is a conifer-dominated swamp on very poorly drained peat soils. Soils are saturated, very deep, very poorly drained and flooding occurs occasional to very frequent . Typical site settings include margin of streams and river channels plus lake basins and margins of large peatlands. The canopy is often dominated by northern white cedar, black spruce, and balsam fir. The understory includes ericaceous shrubs, multiple species of sedge, and sphagnum. The plant community structure and composition will vary depending on microtopography and the depth and frequency of flooding.
Associated sites
F093AY004MN |
Peatland Peatland. This site characterized by a shrub-graminoid plant community. The site is potentially ponded. Does not typically occurs at the margin of stream and river channels. |
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F093AY003MN |
Acid Peatland Acid Peatland. Ponding can occur and pH ranges from 3.5-5.5 at 20 inches in depth. Noticeable lack of diverse shrub and graminoid layer due to the acidic pH. Does not typically occurs at the margin of stream and river channels |
Similar sites
F093AY004MN |
Peatland Peatland. This site characterized by a shrub-graminoid plant community. The site is potentially ponded. Does not typically occurs at the margin of stream and river channels. |
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F093AY003MN |
Acid Peatland Acid Peatland. Ponding can occur and pH ranges from 3.5-5.5 at 20 inches in depth. Noticeable lack of diverse shrub and graminoid layer due to the acidic pH. Does not typically occurs at the margin of stream and river channels |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Thuja occidentalis |
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Shrub |
(1) Ledum groenlandicum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Carex |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Disturbances such as roads or beaver activity occur that impound water. Increased stream bank degradation and/or invasive species may be observed. |
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T2A | - | Restoration of natural hydrology and reduction of invasive species through remediation. |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1B | - | Stand-replacing disturbance; canopy removal |
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1.2A | - | No severe site disturbances 70+ years |
1.2B | - | Large-scale disturbance |
1.3A | - | No major disturbance (35-75 years) |
State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A | - | Increase in flooding/ponding length |
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2.1B | - | Beaver dam off-site restricts water flow or contributes to ponding on-site. |
2.2A | - | Reduced flooding/ponding length. |
2.2B | - | Increase in long-term flooding/ponding. |
2.3A | - | Reduction of flooding/ponding occurrence and length. |