Sandy Floodplains
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 reference state is composed of multiple canopy species including American elm, slipery elm, green ash, and black ash. Minor components often include basswood, silver maple, and hackberry. The composition of early successional communities will be variable depending on seed sources and the severity of the disturbance. Early successional dominants commonly include American elm, slippery elm, American basswood, and willows. Mid-successional dominants include American elm, slippery elm, green ash, and black ash. (MN DNR, FFs59). Cottonwood is often a component of early stage communities. The understory community composition will vary depending upon the hydrology and flooding regime of the site.
Resilience management
Resilience management practices include monitoring and treating for invasive vegetation.
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) may be installed to improve drainage.
Soil tillage is the primary trigger to State 2. 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.
A few areas within this ecological site may have been converted to a grasses. Species will depend on specific site characteristics and landowner objectives. Seeded grasslands do offer some ecological benefits to wildlife, water quality, and soil health.
Submodel
Description
This state describes a wooded site that has been disturbed and exhibits altered species composition. Site disturbance may include altered hydrology, selective tree removal, site clearing, or invasive species. Numerous ruderal woodland and forest plant communities may occur on this ecological site depending on the type and severity of disturbance, the successional stage of the plant community, available seed sources, and management activities.
Submodel
Mechanism
Transition T1A is the conversion of the Reference State to agriculture. The triggers are site clearing, 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. Hydrological modifications, such as ditching and tiling, may be present.
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 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.
Ditching and tiling may be present on site altering the natural hydrology.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
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 timber harvest, 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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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.