Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site R106XY079NE

Shallow Sandy

Last updated: 6/09/2025
Accessed: 12/06/2025

Home / Esd catalog / MLRA 106X / Ecological site R106XY079NE

USC

Metric

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.

Click to explore map

Figure 1. Mapped extent

Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 106X–Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills

Named the “Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills,” Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 is divided almost evenly between southeastern Nebraska (52%), and northeastern Kansas, (48%). The approximately seven-million-acre landscape covers all or parts of thirty counties between the two states. The northern border is located on the north end of Saunders County, Nebraska, and the MLRA extends into Douglas County, Kansas in the south. The Nebraska cities of Beatrice and Lincoln are the major population centers in the north, while Topeka and Lawrence in Kansas are the primary cities in the south. The Platte, Little Nemaha, and the North Fork of the Big Nemaha Rivers flow through the Nebraska side of the MLRA, while the Black Vermillion, the Soldier, and the Delaware Rivers are the major waterways on the Kansas side. The Big Blue River runs through both states, while the Salt Creek hydrologic system located near Lincoln, Nebraska provides habitat for the only known population of the Federally listed endangered Salt Creek Tiger Beetle.

This dissected glacial drift plain primarily consists of broad, smooth ridgetops, and slopes ranging from nearly level to steep. The elevation in MLRA 106 decreases from west to east, and ranges from nearly 1,650 feet to less than 790 feet above sea level. Stream valleys in this landscape are narrow and bordered by steep hills, with 10 to 20 feet of local relief. The river valleys are broader and may drop up to over 160 feet below the adjacent hilltops. The uplands are primarily comprised of glacial drift underlying a mantle of loess, while alluvial deposits are found in the stream and river valleys. Limestone and shale quarries are also located in MLRA 106. The predominant soil orders in this MLRA are mesic, udic, Mollisols, Alfisols, and Entisols. Loams and clays are the primary soil textures in this landscape.

Sixty-two percent of the land in this MLRA has been broken out of native prairie and farmed, while only 23 percent of the grasslands remain. Livestock grazing, primarily by cattle, is the main industry on these remnants. Corn, wheat, soybeans, and grain sorghum are the primary commodity crops, but a significant number of acres are also planted to alfalfa for harvest as hay. With annual precipitation averaging from 40 inches in the southeast, to 28 inches in the northwest, irrigation for crop production is not a critical factor in most years.

The historical matrix vegetation type is Tallgrass Prairie, and big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, sideoats, and blue grama make up the bulk of the warm season species. Historically, western wheatgrass was the dominant cool-season grass but today the dominant cool-season grasses are introduced grasses, smooth brome in the north and tall fescue in the south. Large and small patch vegetative communities are found primarily along the riparian zones, and on both upland and lowland saline sites. Woodlands make up about six percent of MLRA 106, consisting primarily of green ash, oak, hackberry, boxelder, and maple trees.

Wildlife flourishes in this combination of crop and grassland environments. In a landscape historically occupied by bison herds, white-tailed deer are now the most abundant wild ungulates. A variety of smaller species, including coyote, raccoon, opossum, porcupines, muskrat, beaver, squirrel, and mink thrive in the region. Native grassland bird populations are limited by the lack of contiguous native prairie and the fragmented habitat created by the farmland. The rivers, streams, and lakes harbor excellent fisheries, and migrating and local waterfowl use the wetland complexes. These complexes provide ideal habitat for wading and shore bird species as well.

This landscape serves as a backdrop for a disturbance driven ecosystem, evolving under the influences of herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Historically, these processes created a heterogeneous mosaic of plant communities and structure heights across the region. Any given site in this landscape experienced fire every three to four years. Fires were caused by lightning strikes and also were set by Native Americans, who used fire for warfare, signaling, and to refresh the native grasses. The Indigenous inhabitants understood the value of fire as a tool and that the highly palatable growth following a fire provided excellent forage for their horses and attracted grazing game animals such as bison and elk.

Land use patterns by post European settlers have fragmented the native grasslands through conversion to cropland, transportation corridors, and other developments. This has significantly altered the natural fire regime allowing encroachment by native and introduced shrubs and trees into the native prairie remnants throughout the MLRA. Aggressive fire suppression policies have exacerbated this process to the point that shrub and tree encroachment is a major ecological threat in the majority of both native and reseeded grasslands. Introduction of eastern red cedar as a windbreak species further facilitates invasion by this species. While eastern red cedar is native to the landscape, the historic population in MLRA 106 was limited to isolated pockets in rugged river drainageways that were protected from fire. Widespread plantings of windbreaks with eastern red cedar as a primary component have provided a seed source for the aggressive woody plant. The ensuing encroachment into the native grasslands degrades the native wildlife habit and causes significant forage loss for domestic livestock. Since it does not sprout from the roots, eastern red cedar is very susceptible to fire when under six feet tall. Management with prescribed fire is exceedingly effective if applied before this stage. Larger eastern red cedars can also be controlled with fire, but successful application requires the use of specifically designed ignition and holding techniques.

Classification relationships

►USDA-NRCS (2022)◄
Land Resource Region – M, Central Feed Grains and Livestock Region
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) – 106

►Fenneman (1916) Physiographic Regions ◄
Division – Interior Plains
Province – Central Lowland
Section – Dissected Till Plains

►USDA-USFS (2007) Ecoregions◄
Domain – Humid Temperate
Division – Prairie
Province – Prairie Parkland (Temperate)
Section – Central Dissected Till Plains (251C)

►EPA Ecoregions (Omernik 1997)◄
I – Great Plains (9)
II – Temperate Prairies (9.2)
III – Western Corn Belt Plains (9.2.3)
IV – Loess and Glacial Drift Hills (47i)

►Associated Counties◄
Nebraska: Butler, Cass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward

Kansas: Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wyandotte

Ecological site concept

The Shallow Sandy ecological site is located on upland landscapes and does not receive additional moisture from runoff or overflow. The typical slope range is from 6 to 30 percent but may be steeper. Soils are shallow (less than 20 inches) with surface textures of cobbly loam, loam, and silt loam that are 4 to 15 inches thick. These well drained to excessively drained soils are formed in residuum weathered from sandstone. The vegetation of the Reference Community consists of a mix of warm-season tall and mid grasses. Big bluestem and little bluestem are the dominant grasses. Switchgrass, Indiangrass, and sideoats grama are secondary species. This site is more intact than many other upland sites within the MLRA as it is better suited to grazing than to farming.

Associated sites

R106XY074NE	Clayey Upland The Clayey Upland ecological site is often located adjacent to the Shallow Sandy ecological site.
R106XY075NE	Loamy Upland The Loamy Upland ecological site is often located adjacent to the Shallow Sandy ecological site.

R106XY074NE

Clayey Upland

The Clayey Upland ecological site is often located adjacent to the Shallow Sandy ecological site.

R106XY075NE

Loamy Upland

The Loamy Upland ecological site is often located adjacent to the Shallow Sandy ecological site.

Similar sites

R106XY077NE	Shallow Limy The Shallow Limy ecological site is similar to the Shallow Sandy ecological site in terms of landscape position and presence of bedrock within 20 inches of the surface but Shallow Limy ecological sites typically occur on calcareous soils while Shallow Sandy ecological sites occur on non-calcareous soils that typically have a coarser surface texture.
R106XY031NE	Shallow Savannah The Shallow Savannah ecological site and Shallow Sandy ecological sites occur on similar landscape positions and both sites have the presence of bedrock within 20 inches of the surface. The soils of Shallow Savannah sites have sandy surface textures while the soils of Shallow Sandy sites have loamy surface textures.

R106XY077NE

Shallow Limy

The Shallow Limy ecological site is similar to the Shallow Sandy ecological site in terms of landscape position and presence of bedrock within 20 inches of the surface but Shallow Limy ecological sites typically occur on calcareous soils while Shallow Sandy ecological sites occur on non-calcareous soils that typically have a coarser surface texture.

R106XY031NE

Shallow Savannah

The Shallow Savannah ecological site and Shallow Sandy ecological sites occur on similar landscape positions and both sites have the presence of bedrock within 20 inches of the surface. The soils of Shallow Savannah sites have sandy surface textures while the soils of Shallow Sandy sites have loamy surface textures.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Andropogon gerardii (2) Schizachyrium scoparium

Download full description

Physiographic features

The Shallow Sandy is an upland site that supplies run off surface water to lower sites. Erosion can be a concern, particularly on sites with degraded vegetative communities.

Figure 2.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Upland > Hillslope
Runoff class	Medium to high
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	730 – 2,770 ft
Slope	6 – 40%
Water table depth	72 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

Like most Great Plains landscapes, the climate in this MLRA is under the sway of the continental effect. This creates a regime of extremes, with summer highs often in the triple digits and winter lows plunging well below zero. Blizzards can occur anytime between early fall and late spring, dropping the temperature more than 50 degrees in just a few hours. These events can pile up several feet of snow, often driven by winds in excess of 50 miles an hour. The resulting huge snow drifts can cause serious hardship for livestock, wildlife, and humans. Winters can be open, with bare ground for most of the season, or closed, with several feet of snow persisting until March. Most winters have a number of warm days interspersed with dropping temperatures, usually associated with approaching cold fronts. Spring brings violent thunderstorms, hail, and high winds. Tornadoes occur frequently.

About three-fourths of the precipitation falls as high intensity, convective thunderstorms from late spring through early autumn. The average annual precipitation gradient trends higher from northwest (28”) to southeast (40”), and the average annual temperature gradient trends higher from north (50°F) to south (55°F). Daily winds range from an average of 14 miles per hour during the spring to 11 miles per hour during the late summer. Occasional strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 80 miles per hour.

Native cool season plants begin growth in early April and continue to about mid-June. Native warm season plants begin growth in early June and continue to early August. Greenup of cool season plants may occur in September and October.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	158 days
Freeze-free period (average)	179 days
Precipitation total (average)	33 in

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) PAWNEE CITY [USC00256570], Pawnee City, NE
(2) CRETE [USC00252020], Crete, NE
(3) TECUMSEH 1S [USC00258465], Tecumseh, NE
(4) ASHLAND NO 2 [USC00250375], Ashland, NE
(5) MEAD 6S [USC00255362], Ithaca, NE
(6) RAYMOND 2NE [USC00257055], Raymond, NE
(7) TABLE ROCK 4 N [USC00258410], Table Rock, NE
(8) LINCOLN UNIV PWR PLT [USW00014971], Lincoln, NE
(9) VIRGINIA [USC00258875], Virginia, NE
(10) WAHOO [USC00258905], Wahoo, NE

Soil features

The soils associated with the Shallow Sandy ecological site are located on uplands. Slopes typically range from 6 to 40 percent but may be steeper. These soils were formed residuum weathered from noncalcareous sandstone. Soils are very shallow (less than 10 inches) to shallow (less than 20 inches) with cobbly loam, loam, or silt loam surface textures which are 4 to 15 inches thick. Soils are somewhat excessively drained. The underlying substratum is a reddish-brown sandstone. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high.

Hedville is the major soil series correlated to this site. Additional information can be found in the various soil survey reports. Contact the local USDA Service Center for soil survey reports that include more detail specific to your location or visit Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov).

Figure 7.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Residuum – sandstone
Surface texture	(1) Loam (2) Silt loam (3) Cobbly loam
Drainage class	Somewhat excessively drained
Permeability class	Slow
Depth to restrictive layer	4 – 20 in
Soil depth	4 – 20 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	8 – 13%
Surface fragment cover >3"	3 – 12%
Available water capacity (0-20in)	1.6 – 2.9 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-20in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (0-20in)	Not specified
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-20in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-20in)	5.6 – 7.3
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-20in)	8 – 13%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-20in)	3 – 12%

Ecological dynamics

The Shallow Sandy ecological site developed under Central Great Plains climatic conditions, light to severe grazing by bison and other large herbivores, sporadic natural or man caused wildfire, and other biotic and abiotic factors that typically influence soil and site development. This continues to be a disturbance driven site by herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Changes occur in the plant communities due to short term weather variations, impacts of native and exotic plant and animal species, and management actions.

One of the primary impacts to this site introduced by European settlement of North America is season long continuous grazing by domestic livestock. This management practice causes the repeated removal of the growing point and excessive defoliation of the leaf area of individual warm-season tall grasses. The resulting reduction of the plants ability to harvest sunlight depletes the root reserves, subsequently decreasing the root mass. This negatively impacts the ability of plants to compete for life sustaining nutrients resulting in declining vigor and eventual mortality. The space created in the vegetative community is then occupied by a species that avoids the negative grazing impacts by a growing season adaptation such as a cool season, shorter structure, or reduced palatability mechanism.

The State and Transition Model (STM) is depicted following this section and includes a Reference State (1), a Native/Invaded Grass State (2), and Native/Invaded Woody State (3). Each state represents the crossing of a major ecological threshold due to alteration of the functional dynamic properties of the ecosystem. The main properties observed to determine this change are the soil and vegetative communities, and the hydrologic cycle. The STM illustrates the common plant communities that can occur on the site and the transition pathways between communities (Bestelmeyer, 2010). The ecological processes will be discussed in more detail in the plant community descriptions following the diagram.

Each state may have one or more vegetative communities that fluctuate in species composition and abundance within the normal parameters of the state. Within each state, communities may degrade or recover in response to natural and man caused disturbances such as variation in the degree and timing of herbivory, presence or absence of fire, and climatic and local fluctuations in the precipitation regime.

Interpretations are primarily based on the Reference State and have been determined by study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, and areas under long term rotational grazing regimes. Trends in plant community dynamics have been interpreted from observation of heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal use pastures, and historical accounts, as have plant communities, states, transitional pathways, and thresholds.

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

2. Native/Invaded Grass State

3. Invaded Woody State

T1A	-	Heavy, season long continuous grazing
T1B	-	Woody encroachment and absence of fire and brush management.
T2A	-	Woody encroachment and absence of fire and brush management.
R3A	-	Prescribed burning and brush management.
R3B	-	Prescribed burning and brush management.

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Reference Community

1.2. Degraded Native Grass Community

1.3. At-Risk Community

1.4. Excessive Litter Community

1.1A	-	Continuous season long grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate growing season recovery periods.
1.1B	-	Prolonged absence (> 5 years) of herbivory and fire.
1.2A	-	Prescribed grazing with appropriate stocking rate and adequate growing season recovery periods.
1.2B	-	Continued grazing with inadequate growing season recovery periods.
1.2C	-	Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire.
1.3A	-	Prescribed grazing with appropriate stocking rate and adequate growing season recovery periods.
1.3B	-	Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire.
1.4A	-	Reintroduction of herbivory and fire.
1.4B	-	Reintroduction of herbivory and fire.
1.4C	-	Reintroduction of herbivory and fire.

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community

State 3 submodel, plant communities

3.1. Invaded Woody Community

State 1
Reference State

The Reference State (1) describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Shallow Sandy site where the natural processes are mostly intact. The Reference Community (1.1) is a representation of the native plant community phase that occupies a site that has been minimally altered by management. The Degraded Native Grass (1.2), the At-Risk (1.3), and the Excessive Litter (1.4) Communities result from management decisions that are unfavorable for a healthy Reference Community (1.1). High perennial grass cover and production allows for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.

Dominant plant species

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass

Community 1.1
Reference Community

Figure 8. Figure 10. Shallow Sandy ecological site, Reference Community (1.1), Washington County, KS, MLRA 106.

The Reference Community or Native Mixedgrass Prairie Community (1.1) is comprised of native, warm-season tall and mid grasses. This community serves as a description of the native plant community that naturally occurs on the site when the natural disturbance regimes are intact or closely mimicked by management practices. This phase is dynamic, with fluid relative abundance and spatial boundaries between the dominant structural vegetative groups. These fluctuations are primarily driven by different responses of the species to changes in precipitation timing and abundance, and to fire and grazing events. The potential vegetation consists of approximately 80 to 90 percent grasses and grass-likes, 5 to 10 percent forbs, and 0 to10 percent shrubs. Big bluestem and little bluestem are the primary species in this community. Secondary species include western wheatgrass, Indiangrass, sideoats grama, and blue grama. The site has a moderately diverse forb population. This plant community is less productive than on associated upland sites due to the shallowness of the site. Species diversity is somewhat limited as well. It is a resilient community and resistant to short term stresses such as drought and short periods of heavy stocking. The well-developed root systems support this resiliency when allowed adequate recovery periods between grazing events. When exposed to long term or frequent overgrazing events without adequate rest, this plant community will degrade. The annual vegetative production of this community averages about 2,500 pounds per acre.

Dominant plant species

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass

Figure 9. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1061, Mid and Tall Warm Season Grasses. This plant community is dominated by warm-season, tall and midgrasses in MLRA 106.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	0	5	25	35	20	10	5	0	0	0

Community 1.2
Degraded Native Grass Community

Figure 10. Shallow Sandy ecological site, Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2), Washington County, KS, MLRA 106.

In the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2), big bluestem loses productive capacity through loss of vigor and reproductive potential. Switchgrass and Indiangrass are reduced to minor components. Little bluestem and sideoats grama remain dominant but are also reduced in vigor as compared to the Reference Community (1.1). As growing season defoliation continues, the species tolerant of heavy grazing such as blue grama, hairy grama, western wheatgrass, and tall dropseed increase. Kentucky bluegrass and other non-native species may be present in trace amounts. The composition of the forb component favors less palatable species. The potential for encroachment by invasive woody species becomes more likely. This community phase signals a significant loss of production and occurs with continuous season long grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate, growing season recovery periods. While this plant community is less productive and less diverse than the representative plant community, it remains sustainable in regard to site and soil stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity.

Dominant plant species

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass

Community 1.3
At-Risk Community

In the At-Risk Community (1.3), the more palatable warm-season tall grasses have been reduced to minor populations and warm-season mid grasses have been reduced to subdominant status. This change occurs with continued defoliation during the critical growth periods of these warm-season tall and mid grasses. Warm-season short grasses and cool-season grasses have increased significantly. Composite dropseed, western wheatgrass, blue grama, and hairy grama are the dominant grass species and sideoats grama maintains a significant presence. Non-native grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, may be present as a minor functional group. Although forbs increase in abundance, diversity decreases. Soil health is affected by reduced efficiency in the nutrient, mineral, and hydrologic cycles as a result of decreases in plant litter and rooting depths. This may result in formation of a compacted layer in the pockets of deeper soil, and total annual vegetative production declines significantly. Without a management change, this community is at risk to transition to the Native/Invaded Grass State (2).

Dominant plant species

blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
composite dropseed (Sporobolus compositus), grass
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), grass
hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), grass

Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1069, MLRA 106 Warm/cool-season mix.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	1	4	10	23	26	17	8	6	4	1	0

Community 1.4
Excessive Litter Community

The Excessive Litter Community (1.4) develops when the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire are removed from the system for extended periods of time (five years or more). Litter significantly exceeds the amount expected on the site and the species present can tolerate a thatch layer. Individual plants tend to be clumped and there is an excessive amount of litter. Species that cannot tolerate an extensive litter layer have low vigor and reduced productivity. Once the undisturbed litter layer develops to a certain level, a significant amount of precipitation is held in this layer increasing evaporation, limiting soil available moisture, and simulating drought conditions. If herbivory or fire are not reintroduced, the plant community will experience a significant amount of death loss.

Dominant plant species

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Reference Community

Degraded Native Grass Community

A shift from the Reference Community (1.1) to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) occurs with continuous season long grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate growing season recovery periods.

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.4

Prolonged (more than five years) interruption of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will convert the Reference Community (1.1) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Degraded Native Grass Community

Reference Community

A shift from the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) toward the Reference Community (1.1) can be achieved through prescribed grazing. Applying grazing pressure during the growth period of the undesirable cool season grasses and allowing rest during the warm season growth period favors warm season species. This grazing regime will enable the more deeply rooted warm-season tall grasses to out compete the shallow rooted, warm-season short grasses and the cool-season grasses. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3

Maintaining continuous season long grazing or rotational grazing (or haying) with inadequate growing season recovery periods during the growing season further degrades the site from the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the At-Risk Community (1.3).

Pathway 1.2C
Community 1.2 to 1.4

Prolonged (more than five years) interruption of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will result in conversion of the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.2

Reversing the downward trend and moving the At-Risk Community (1.3) to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) can be achieved with prescribed grazing early and late in the growing season to reduce undesirable cool-season grasses. Targeting the rapid growth period of cool-season grasses with high intensity grazing events followed by rest will allow the native, warm-season tallgrasses to increase. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.4

Prolonged (more than five years) interruption of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will convert the At-Risk Community (1.3) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.1

Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the Excessive Litter Community (1.4) to return to the Reference Community (1.1).

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.2

Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the Excessive Litter Community (1.4) to return to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2).

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.4C
Community 1.4 to 1.3

Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the Excessive Litter Community (1.4) to return to the At-Risk Community (1.3).

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

State 2
Native/Invaded Grass State

The Native/Invaded Grass State (2) has transitioned from the Reference State (1) and much of the native warm season grass community has been replaced by less desirable plants. The loss of warm-season, tall and mid grasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of the grazing evasive plant communities. The Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community (2.1) is the primary community phase of the Native/Invaded Grass State (2).

Dominant plant species

blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
composite dropseed (Sporobolus compositus), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass

Community 2.1
Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community

The Shortgrass Sod/Invaded Grass Community (2.1) occurs when the site crosses a threshold and transitions from the Reference State (1). With continued grazing pressure, annual bromes, blue grama, hairy grama, Kentucky bluegrass, and composite dropseed will become the dominant plant species, with only trace remnants of the more palatable warm-season grasses such as little bluestem and sideoats grama. Continuous and heavy grazing pressure will maintain this plant community in a sod bound condition. Forb richness and diversity has decreased. In the areas with deeper soils, with the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, a compacted layer may form in the soil profile below the shallow replacement root systems. Appropriately timed prescribed fire and grazing management practices that allow for adequate periods of recovery between grazing events will favor warm-season tall and mid grasses.

Figure 12. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1067, Nebraska and Kansas Loess Drift Hills. Invaded cool season dominant.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	5	13	28	28	12	5	6	3	0	0

State 3
Invaded Woody State

The Invaded Woody State (3) has a canopy of at least 15 percent woody canopy cover. In the absence of fire and brush management, this site is very conducive to eastern red cedar seedling invasion, especially when adjacent to a seed source. Typical ecological impacts are a loss of native grasses, degraded forage productivity, and reduced soil quality. This state consists of the Invaded Woody Community (3.1). Disruption of natural fire regime and encroachment of exotic and invasive native woody species facilitates crossing the threshold to the Invaded Woody State (3). Prescribed burning, wildfire and brush management will move this state toward a grass dominated state. If the Invaded Woody State (3) transitioned from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) the land cannot transition to the Reference State (1) as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted prior to the woody encroachment to allow restoration to the Reference State (1). Total annual production during an average year varies significantly, depending upon the production level prior to encroachment and the percentage of canopy cover.

Dominant plant species

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), shrub
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass

Community 3.1
Invaded Woody Community

Figure 13. Shallow Sandy ecological site, Invaded Woody Community (3.1), Washington County, KS, MLRA 106.

The Invaded Woody Community (3.1) has at least a 15 percent canopy consisting of trees and shrubs. Smooth sumac and bur oak are some of the deciduous invaders, while eastern red cedar is the primary evergreen encroacher. Eastern red cedars can eventually dominate the site, resulting in a closed canopy monoculture which drastically reduces forage production and has limited value for either livestock grazing or wildlife habitat. Due to fire suppression over many years, this plant community will develop extensive ladder fuels which can lead to a removal of most tree species with a wildfire. With properly managed intensive grazing, encroachment of deciduous trees will be minimal; however, this will not impact encroachment of conifer species. The herbaceous component decreases proportionately in relation to the percent canopy cover, with the reduction being greater under a conifer overstory. Eastern red cedar control can usually be accomplished with prescribed burning while the trees are six feet tall or less and fine fuel production is greater than 1,500 pounds per acres. Larger eastern red cedars can also be controlled with prescribed burning, but successful application requires the use of specifically designed ignition and holding techniques (https://www.loesscanyonsburning group.com). Resprouting brush must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal to achieve effective treatment. The forb component will initially increase following tree removal. To prevent return to a woody dominated community, ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required. This plant community is resistant to change and resilient given normal disturbances. In higher canopy cover situations, the soil erosion will increase in relation to most of the plant communities from which this plant community originated. The water cycle is also significantly altered under higher canopy cover. Infiltration is reduced and runoff is typically increased because of a lack of herbaceous cover and the rooting structure provided by the herbaceous species. Total annual production during an average year varies significantly, depending on the production level prior to encroachment and the percentage of canopy cover.

Dominant plant species

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), shrub
blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Heavy continuous grazing or rotational grazing with inadequate growing season recovery periods (deferment) or haying without adequate recovery periods will cause the Reference State (1) to lose a significant proportion of warm-season tall and mid grasses and cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded State (2). Water infiltration and other hydrologic functions will be reduced due to the root matting presence of sod forming grasses. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, soil structure and biological integrity are catastrophically degraded to the point that recovery is unlikely. Once this occurs, it is highly unlikely that grazing management alone will return the community to the Reference State (1).

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Disruption of natural fire regime and the encroachment of exotic and invasive native woody species facilitates crossing the threshold from the Reference State (1) to the Invaded Woody State (3).

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Disruption of the natural fire regime and encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Native/Invaded State (2) to transition to the Invaded Woody State (3).

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (3) toward the Reference State (1). Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to the Invaded Woody State (3). Land that transitioned to the Woody Invaded State (3) from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) cannot transition to the Reference State (1) through removal of woody species as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted for restoration to occur.

Conservation practices

Brush Management
Prescribed Burning

Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 2

Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (3) toward the Native/Invaded Grass State (2). Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to the Invaded Woody State (3). Land that transitioned to the Woody Invaded State (3) from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) cannot transition to the Reference State (1) through removal of woody species as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted for restoration to occur.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Additional community tables

Interpretations

Animal community

LIVESTOCK – GRAZING INTERPRETATIONS:
Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the major income producing industries in the area. Rangeland in this area may provide yearlong forage for cattle, sheep, or horses. During the dormant period, the protein levels of the forage may be lower than the minimum needed to meet livestock (primarily cattle and sheep) requirements. The following table lists suggested stocking rates for cattle under continuous season long grazing under normal growing conditions. These are conservative estimates that should be used only as guidelines in the initial stages of the conservation planning process. Often, the current plant composition does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in this ecological site description). Because of this, a field visit is recommended, in all cases, to document plant composition and production. More precise carrying capacity estimates should eventually be calculated using this information along with animal preference data, particularly when grazers other than cattle are involved. With consultation of the land manager, more intensive grazing management may result in improved harvest efficiencies and increased carrying capacity.

Production and Carrying Capacity*
Community 1.1, Reference Community (1.1): 1,800 lbs/acre, 0.57 AUM/acre

*Based upon the following conditions: continuous season-long grazing with cattle under average growing conditions, 25 percent harvest efficiency. Air dry forage requirements are based on 3 percent of animal body weight or 790 lbs per animal unit (AU) per month (M). An AU is generally one mature cow of approximately 1,000 pounds and a calf as old as 6 months or their equivalent.

WILDLIFE INTERPRETATIONS:
A variety of small native rodents find refuge in the nooks and crannies formed by rocks. Inclusions of deep soil pockets, as well as scattered
small caves and rock outcrops, make this a preferred den site for prairie predators such as coyotes and foxes, as well as badgers. Reptiles, including lizards like the collared lizard, and others such as the common bull snake, make this site their home.

The rough topography provided by this site offers protection for many wildlife species during severe weather periods. The native forb species found growing on this site provide a variety of desirable food for birds and small mammals.

Hydrological functions

The primary soil series associated with the Shallow Sandy ecological site is Hedville. This is a somewhat excessively drained soil with medium to rapid runoff and moderate permeability. It is classified as a hydrologic group D soil. However, Hedville is most often found in a complex with other soils such as Lancaster, a hydrologic group B soil, or Edalgo, a hydrologic group C soil. This makes hydrology determinations for the site somewhat complex. Please refer to the NRCS National Engineering Handbook Section 4 (NEH-4) for runoff quantities and hydrologic curves when making hydrology determinations.

Recreational uses

The Shallow Sandy ecological site provides for a variety of outdoor activities including bird watching, hiking, and outdoor/wildlife photography. There are a variety of flowering plants in bloom throughout the growing season that provide much aesthetic appeal to the landscape. Recreation can be of value on this site, but considerations need to be taken into account for the somewhat steep, rocky, rough terrain.

Wood products

No appreciable wood products are produced on this site.

Other products

None of consequence.

Other information

Site Development and Testing Plan:
Future work is needed to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description. Additional data collection and evaluation may also be needed to develop this ESD to the Approved, then Correlated level. This could include field activities to collect low, medium, and high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Field reviews of the project plan should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Historical data references are supplemented by expert opinion from resource professionals.

Other references

Harms, R. 2009. Recovery outline for the Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana). Available online. http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/invertebrates/saltcreektiger/FinalRecoveryOutlineFeb2009.pdf. Accessed 1/02/2018.

High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. Available online. http://hpcc.unl.edu. Accessed 12/05/16.

Johnsgaard, P.A. 2001. “The Nature of Nebraska.” University of Nebraska Press.

Muhs, Daniel R., E. Bettis III, J. Aleinikoff, J. McGeehin, J. Beann, G. Skipp, B. Marshall, H. Roberts, W. Johnson, and R. Benton. "Origin and paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary loess in Nebraska: Evidence from stratigraphy, chronology, sedimentology, and geochemistry" (2008). USGS Staff -- Published Research, Paper 162. Available online. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/162. Accessed 12/05/16.

Personal communications with professional ecologists and wildlife experts.

Rolfsmeier, S.B. and G. Steinauer. 2010. "Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska" (version IV). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program.

Spomer, S. and L. Higley. 2001. The Salt Creek Tiger Beetle. In: Bio-graphica International. Available online. http://drshigley.com/lgh/sctb/default.htm. Accessed 1/02/2018.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. NRCS National Ecological Site Handbook. Available online. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232 Accessed January, 2014.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Section 4. Available online. https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=21422. Accessed August, 2011
USDA, NRCS. National Water and Climate Center, Portland, OR. Available online. http://wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.

USDA, NRCS.1997. National Range and Pasture Handbook.

USDA, NRCS. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center, Fort Collins, CO. Available online. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.

USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. Available online. http://plants.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.

USDA, NRCS Soil Surveys from: Butler, Saunders, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Nemaha, Johnson, Gage, Pawnee, Saline, Seward, Saunders and Richardson Counties in Nebraska; and Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas.

Contributors

Doug Whisenhunt
Nadine Bishop

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 6/09/2025

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)	Original Authors: Joseph May and Doug Whisenhunt Version V Authors: Anna Ferguson, Aaron Hird, Justin Linder, Dusty Schwandt, Doug Spencer, Chris Tecklenburg, Nadine Bishop, Jeff Nichols
Contact for lead author	jeffrey.nichols@usda.gov
Date	11/30/2024
Approved by	Suzanne Mayne-Kinney
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production