Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forest

Description

The reference plant community is categorized as a riverfront forest. The two community phases within the reference state are dependent on seasonal and catastrophic flooding. Long-term sediment accumulation can promote site stabilization that encourages a mature overstory canopy to develop. A catastrophic flood event removes much of the vegetation, resetting the site to an earlier stage of succession where willows and hydrophytic herbaceous vegetation dominate the site. Windthrow, beaver predation, and periodic insect and disease outbreak have less impact in the reference phases, but do contribute to overall species composition, diversity, cover, and productivity.

Submodel

Description

Agricultural drainage, land-clearing, urban development, stream channelization, and levee construction in the watershed has drastically changed the natural hydrologic cycle of Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forests. Upland soil erosion and excessive sedimentation from floodwaters alters the historic vegetative composition, while exotic species are able to inhabit and continuously spread, reducing native diversity and ecosystem stability (Nelson 2010; Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2010).

Submodel

Description

The cool-season pasture state occurs when the reference state has been anthropogenically-altered for livestock production. Early settlers harvested the trees for timber and fuel and seeded such non-native cool-season species as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), converting the woodland to pasture (Smith 1998; IDNR 2013). Over time, as lands were continually grazed by large herds of cattle, the non-native species were able to spread and expand across the site, reducing the native species diversity. However, these sites are difficult to maintain due to frequent flooding and low available water capacity.

Submodel

Description

The Midwest is well-known for its highly-productive agricultural soils, and as a result, much of the MLRA has been converted to cropland, including portions of this ecological site. The continuous use of tillage, row-crop planting, and chemicals (i.e., herbicides, fertilizers, etc.) have effectively eliminated the reference community and many of its natural ecological functions in favor of crop production. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) are the dominant crops for the site. These areas are likely to remain in crop production for the foreseeable future.

Submodel

Description

The combination of natural and anthropogenic disturbances occurring today has resulted in a number of ecosystem health issues, and restoration back to the historic reference condition is likely not possible. Many natural forest communities are being stressed by non-native diseases and pests, habitat fragmentation, permanent changes in hydrologic regimes, and overabundant deer populations on top of naturally-occurring disturbances (severe weather and native pests) (Flickinger 2010; Nelson 2010). However, these habitats provide multiple ecosystem services including carbon sequestration; clean air and water; soil conservation; biodiversity support; wildlife habitat; as well as a variety of cultural activities (e.g., hiking, hunting) (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005; Flickinger 2010). Therefore, conservation of bottomland forests should still be pursued. Habitat reconstructions are an important tool for repairing natural ecological functioning and providing habitat protection for numerous species of Sandy/Loamy Floodplain Forests. Therefore ecological restoration should aim to aid the recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. A successful restoration will have the ability to structurally and functionally sustain itself, demonstrate resilience to the ranges of stress and disturbance, and create and maintain positive biotic and abiotic interactions (SER 2002). The reconstructed forest state is the result of a long-term commitment involving a multi-step, adaptive management process.

Submodel