Wet Footslope/Drainageway Forests
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
Site is cleared, tilled, seeded, and managed for crop production
More details -
Transition T1B
Site incurs large-scale disturbance and altered plant community
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
Restoration of natural hydrology; establishment of desired species; exclusion of anthropogenic disturbances; eradication of invasive species; long-term timber stand management
More details -
Transition T3A
Site cleared, soil tillage, crop establishment, and continued agriculture management
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Wet Footslope/Drainageway Forests reference state is a mature, hardwood forest with multiple canopy species including American elm, sugar maple, slippery elm, and ash. The understory on high-quality sites is diverse and boasts a variety of native herbaceous and grass species. In absence of large-scale natural or anthropogenic disturbances, this ecological site is generally stable. Small gap regeneration occurs commonly. Common species in early and mid-successional stage communities include maple, elm, and ash.
Resilience management
Resilience management practices include monitoring for invasive vegetation, applying herbicides as needed, and excluding grazing and logging.
Submodel
Description
The Tillage State contains the Row Crop Community and the Seeded Grassland Community. This state describes areas currently in crop production or areas that were tilled but now are seeded to grass. Pathway mechanisms include preparing the site, planting desired species, applying herbicide, applying fertilizer, and harvesting. Hydrological modifications (tiling and ditching) are commonly installed to improve drainage.
Soil tillage alters dynamic soil properties, including bulk density, structure, organic carbon content, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Intensive tillage negatively impacts soil ecological functions. Conservation practices help mediate soil health impacts. Conservation tillage minimizes soil disturbance and improves soil structure and soil health. A cover crop rotation builds soil structure, improves infiltration rates, reduces runoff and erosion, and protects water quality.
Some areas have been converted to a warm-season grasses under a NRCS conservation program. Plantings may include native grasses and forbs that benefit wildlife and pollinators. Non-native, cool-season grasses are also feasible for this site. Common species include reed canarygrass (Phalaris arunidinacea L.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Seed mix selection will depend on site characteristics and landowner objectives. Seeded grasslands are not as species rich or biologically diverse as native grasslands; however, they still offer ecological benefits to wildlife, water quality, and soil health.
Resilience management
Prescribed fire is a resilience management practice on warm-season grasslands.
Seeding, fertilizing, and controlling weeds and brush are resilience management practices for cool-season grasslands.
Submodel
Description
This state describes a wooded site that has been disturbed and exhibits altered forest species composition. Numerous ruderal communities may occur on this ecological site depending on the type and severity of disturbance, the length of disturbance, available seed sources, ongoing disturbances (selective harvest, grazing), and management activities. Fast-growing, shade tolerant trees are typical. Tree species often include maple, box elder, hackberry, ash, and elms. Invasive non-native species are often present and can become dominant without management intervention.
Submodel
Mechanism
Transition T1A is the conversion of the Reference State to agriculture. The triggers are site clearing, hydrological modifications (ditching/tiling), soil tillage. and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Resilience management practices include common agricultural practices such as seeding, fertilizing, and managing invasive plants with herbicides or field cultivation.
Constraints to recovery
Site clearing and soil tillage preclude recovery of the former state.
Mechanism
Transition T1B is a transition from a mature deciduous forest to a disturbed (ruderal) forest. Triggers include altered hydrology, timber harvest, surface site disturbance, grazing, and introduction of non-native species. The native plant community is altered, and these areas do not exhibit the ecological function or vegetative composition of State 1.
Mechanism
Restoration to the Reference State may be feasible for some sites with long-term management inputs including restoration of natural hydrology, establishment of desired species, forest stand management (selective thinning), and control of invasive species.
Triggers include intentional plant establishment (planting desired species), absence of disturbance (site protected from grazing and other site altering disturbances), timber stand improvement inputs, and eradication of invasive plant species.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
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Brush Management |
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Tree/Shrub Site Preparation |
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Tree/Shrub Establishment |
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Forest Stand Improvement |
Mechanism
Transition T3A is the transition of a disturbed forest state to agriculture production. This is a common pathway in MLRA 103.
The mechanisms of change include site clearing, hydrological modifications (ditching/tiling), site preparation, tillage, and intentional plant establishment (crop seeding). Continued resilience management practices are necessary and include weed control (herbicide application), disturbance management (field cultivating), and harvest management.
Constraints to recovery
Soils tillage and the transition to agriculture preclude recovery of the former state.
Model keys
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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.