Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F093AY014MN
Clayey Upland
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 Resource (MN DNR) MHn44 - Northern Wet-Mesic Boreal Hardwood Conifer Forest, Mesic Hardwood Forest System, Northern Floristic Region
Ecological site concept
This site is a mesic hardwood or hardwood-conifer forest located on moraines, lake plains, till plains and drumlins. Soils are moderately well drained to well drained. Soils have a restrictive layer between 25 -80 inches and may have a seasonal wet layer depth of 0 - 18 inches. There is a lack of natural disturbance on this site. Clayey Uplands have good tree canopy composition including quaking aspen, paper birch, balsam fir, and red maple. The majority of this ecological site is at the southern and western ends of MLRA 93A while also more common than the loamy upland site.
Associated sites
F093AY005MN |
Wet Floodplain Soils wet layer depth is 0 - 15 inches (0 - 38 centimeters) and frequent flooding can occur in many areas. Dominant tree species include silver maple, black ash, green ash, and American elm. |
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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. |
Similar sites
F093AY012MN |
Sandy Upland Forest The Sandy Upland Forest ecological site is located on uplands with soils that are course textured and moderately well drained to somewhat excessively drained. Available water capacity ranges from 2-5 inches. This site is a dry to dry-mesic pine-hardwood woodland on sandy and loamy soils. Historically, fire was a common disturbance on this site unlike loamy upland sites. Soils are moderately well drained to somewhat excessively drained. Tree species include jack pine, red pine, white pine, spruce, and mixed hardwoods. |
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F093AY013MN |
Loamy Upland Shade tolerant and fire intolerant species like sugar maple, yellow birch, and American basswood are the iconic tree species of this ecosystem. Sugar maple in particular is a dominant species and tends to accumulate in all layers of the overstory and understory. Later successional, shade tolerant conifers like northern white cedar and white spruce are also present, which in part distinguishes this site. Water table depth is usually 18+ inches as compared to 0-18 inches on the clayey upland site. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Populus tremuloides |
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Shrub |
(1) Corylus cornuta |
Herbaceous |
(1) Maianthemum canadense |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
T1A | - | Site is logged |
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R2A | - | Restoration inputs; forest stand management |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A | - | Severe Disturbance |
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1.2A | - | Absence of disturbance (55-75 Years) |
1.3A | - | No severe disturbance > 75 Years |
1.3B | - | Severe site disturbance |
State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A | - | Invasive species established |
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2.2A | - | Eradication of invasive species |