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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F093BY005MI
Moist Lowlands
Last updated: 9/27/2023
Accessed: 08/16/2024
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): 093B–Superior Stony and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills
The Wisconsin portion of this MLRA is a mixture of high-relief moraines and flat till plains with interspersed glacial meltwater deposits. It is bordered on the north by glaciolacustrine deposits of Glacial Lake Duluth and on the south by extensive pitted and unpitted outwash plains. The approximate land area is just under 600,000 acres (935 sq miles).
The Penokee-Gogebic Iron Range runs through the middle of the Wisconsin portion of this MLRA and into Michigian. The range is a hilly, bedrock-controlled moraine. The bedrock outcropping is composed of igneous and metamorphic materials and was created by inland folding and faulting of the ancient Superior continent when it collided with the Marshfield continent about 1.8 billion years ago (Dott & Attig, 2004). Volcanic and intrusive bedrock occurs in some places. This bedrock is overlain by a thin layer of glacial till deposited by the Chippewa Lobe.
To the north of the range is a former spillway for Glacial Lake Ontonagon. The flowing meltwater cut deep channels into the morainal systems. Glaciofluvial landforms here include old beaches and dunes. South of the range, along the southern edge of this MLRA, are rolling collapsed end moraines, pushed to their extent by the Chippewa and Ontonagon Lobes. The landscape is dotted with abundant kettle lakes and swamps, especially in the eastern portion. Ice-walled lake plains and eskers are also found along these collapsed moraines.
The climate is influenced by Lake Superior in areas near the lake, resulting in cooler summers, warmer winters, and greater precipitation – especially snowfall – compared to more inland locations. Historically, mixtures of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), and red pine (Pinus resinosa) covered the area. In wetter pockets (such as the swamps that dot the moraines to the south) white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), black spruce (Picea mariana), and tamarack (Larix laricina) were common (Finley, R., 1976).
Classification relationships
Relationship to Established Frameworks and Classification Systems:
Wetland Forest Habitat Types (Kotar, 2017): The sites in this ES keyed out to the following types: Acer rubrum- Abies balsamea/Cornus canadensis (ArAbCo), Acer rubrum- Abies balsamea/Vaccinium spp. – Coptis trifolia (ArAbVC), Tsuga canadensis/Maianthemum canadense – Coptis trifolia (TMC), and Acer saccharum – Tsuga canadensis/ Athyrium felix-femina – Onoclea sensibilis (ATAtOn).
Biophysical Setting (Landfire, 2014): This ES is mapped as Boreal Acidic Peatland System, Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp, Boreal White Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest – Inland, and Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest – Hemlock ; though, it is likely best represented by the latter.
WDNR Natural Communities (WDNR (2015): This ES is most similar to the Northern Hardwood Swamp and Northern Wet-mesic Forest.
Hierarchical Framework Relationships:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Superior Stoney and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills, Eastern Part (93B)
USFS Subregions: Winegar Moraines (212Jc)
Small sections occur in the Gogebic-Penokee Iron Range (212Jb) subregion
Wisconsin DNR Ecological Landscapes: North Central Forest
Ecological site concept
Moist Lowlands is a common ecological site throughout MLRA 93B, located on outwash terraces, stream terraces, moraines, and outwash and lake plains. These sites are characterized by very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in eolian, glaciofluvial, and till deposits. Precipitation and runoff from adjacent uplands are the primary sources of water, but groundwater discharge may be a significant contribution. Soils range from extremely acid to neutral.
The characteristic trait that distinguishes Moist Lowlands from other ecological sites is somewhat poor drainage. These sites have improved drainage over Wet Lowlands, but poorer drainage than upland sites.
Associated sites
F093BY004MI |
Wet Lowlands Wet Lowlands occur on depressions and drainageways and form in loamy till or loamy alluvium underlain by dense sandy till or sandy and gravelly outwash. These sites are poorly drained and will typically border Moist Lowlands. They occur slightly lower on the drainage sequence. |
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F093BY011MI |
Dry Uplands Dry Uplands are found in the sandiest, most permeable soils on the driest landscape positions. They are very deep and excessively drained and occur higher on the drainage sequence than Moist Lowlands. |
Similar sites
F093BY003MI |
Floodplains These sites occur exclusively on Floodplains and form in sandy and loamy alluvium. They are poorly to moderately well drained. Moist Lowlands occupy a unique position on the landscape; they are neither decidedly upland nor lowland, neither dry nor wet. Floodplain sites share this characteristic ambiguity and may sometimes host similar vegetative communities as Moist Lowlands, though Floodplain sites are subject to ponding and flooding whereas Moist Lowland sites are not. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Acer rubrum |
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Shrub |
(1) Corylus cornuta |
Herbaceous |
(1) Maianthemum canadense |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
T1A | - | Stand replacing disturbance |
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T1B | - | Clearing; agricultural production |
R2A | - | Natural restoration |
T2A | - | Clearing; agriculture production |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1.A | - | Large disturbance |
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1.2.A | - | Advanced regeneration response to canopy disturbance |