Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F093AY005MN
Wet Floodplain
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:
FFn67-Northern Floodplain Forest, Floodplain Forest System, Northern Floristic Region, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Ecological site concept
This site is a wet, deciduous, floodplain forest. Soils wet layer depth is 0 - 13 inches and occasional to frequent flooding can occur in many areas. Dominant tree species include silver maple, black ash, green ash, and American elm. Plant community composition, especially the ground layer is variable depending on the duration, 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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Similar sites
F093AY006MN |
Depressional Wet Hardwood Forest The Depressional Wet Hardwood Forest site is developed primarily from low lying mineral soils, but can have up to sixteen inches (41 centimeters) of organic surface. They occur on small to moderate sized closed depressions and shallow, low gradient drainage networks, surrounded by an upland forest matrix. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Acer saccharinum |
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Shrub |
(1) Ribes americanum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Laportea canadensis |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Site disturbance; invasive species |
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R2A | - | Restoration; weed control; forest management |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A | - | Severe natural disturbance |
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1.2A | - | Absence of disturbances |