Major Land Resource Area 097X
Southwestern Michigan Fruit and Vegetable Crop Belt
Accessed: 10/07/2024
Next steps
-
1
Select an ecological site
Select an ecological site using the list, keys, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page. -
2
Explore the ecological site description
Next, learn more about the selected ecological site and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.
Ecological site list
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Beaches and Sand dunes within 2 km of Great Lakes, sometimes subject to strong wind, waves, and fog; or River Mouths subject to variation in water levels of Great Lakes, including storm surges.
- Sites not in river mouths.
- Large/older forested dunes.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan).
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- No water table (well drained or drier).
- Slope < 15%.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Non-hydric Soil.
- pH < 5.5 or Spodosol or Ultic subgroup.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Hydric Soil.
- pH < 5.5 or Spodosol or Ultic subgroup.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Hydric Soil.
- pH ≥ 5.5 or Mollisol. --- Wet Sandy Depression
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- No water table (well drained or drier).
- Slope ≥ 15%.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Non-hydric Soil.
- pH ≥ 5.5 or Mollisol.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
- No water table
- Slope ≥ 15%.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
- No water table
- Slope < 15%.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Non-hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Floodplain.
- Non-Hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Floodplain.
- Hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Histosol or Histic Subgroup.
- pH of the top 50 cm ≥ 5.0 or euic if pH unknown.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically infrequent fire (except locally) and mean annual snowfall roughly >160 cm, east of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or northeast of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan.
- Non-Floodplain.
- Histosol or Histic Subgroup.
- pH of the top 50 cm < 5.0 or dysic if pH unknown.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Beaches and Sand dunes within 2 km of Great Lakes, sometimes subject to strong wind, waves, and fog; or River Mouths subject to variation in water levels of Great Lakes, including storm surges.
- Sites not in river mouths.
- Large/older forested dunes.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan).
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- No water table (well drained or drier).
- Slope < 15%.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Non-hydric Soil.
- pH ≥ 5.5 or Mollisol.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- No water table (well drained or drier).
- Slope ≥ 15%.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Floodplain.
- Non-Hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Floodplain.
- Hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Beaches and Sand dunes within 2 km of Great Lakes, sometimes subject to strong wind, waves, and fog; or River Mouths subject to variation in water levels of Great Lakes, including storm surges.
- Sites not in river mouths.
- Storm wave washed or active windblown dunes
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Beaches and Sand dunes within 2 km of Great Lakes, sometimes subject to strong wind, waves, and fog; or River Mouths subject to variation in water levels of Great Lakes, including storm surges.
- Sites in river mouths.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
- Seasonal water table present (moderately well Drained or wetter).
- Hydric Soil.
- pH ≥ 5.5 or Mollisol. --- Wet Sandy Depression
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
- Slope < 15%.
- Non-hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
- Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
- Slope < 15%.
- Hydric Soil.
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Inland, not subject to immediate coastal influences.
- Historically frequent fire (widespread) and and annual snowfall roughly <160 cm, west of Trail Creek, (LaPorte County, Indiana) inland, or southwest of Galien River, (Berrien County, Michigan) near Lake Michigan
- Non-Floodplain.
- Histosol or Histic Subgroup.
Ecological site map
Basemap
Find me
Find point
Full screen
Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.
Ecological site keys
Ecological site photos
Print Options
Sections
Font
Other
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase () icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.