Flaggy Floodplain Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1C More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Transition T3B More details
- Transition T4C More details
- Restoration pathway T4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Transition T5B More details
- Restoration pathway T5A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
As a cottonwood/maple floodplain, this state has a reference plant community which is categorized as floodplain forest and includes trees, forbs grasses and sedges. Long term succession and sediment accumulation can cause this state to shift into state 1.2. Catastrophic floods and blow-down can cause a shift back towards the 1.1 reference community. In addition, frequent fires followed by periods of no fire can cause this state to shift to the managed forest state to form.
Submodel
Description
Where this state remains, it has often been subjected to very selective timber harvests. While these forested areas may resemble the reference state, the diversity of tree species has been selectively (removal of oak and walnut) altered. Reducing harvests and extending rotations will cause a transition to community phase 2.2. Eliminating harvests, implementing selective thinning, and allowing long tern succession may allow a return to the reference state where hydrologic regimes are least altered.
Submodel
Description
Many acres of this ecological site have been converted to non-native grasslands of tall fescue and red clover. This state frequently transitions to a cropland state especially when commodity prices are high. A return to a near-reference state from this state is not recommended. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state is possible through long-term commitments of time and money.
Submodel
Description
This state is subjected to uncontrolled grazing and high-graded timber harvests. The grazing will open up the understory and remove much of the diverse ground flora. This can lead to erosion of the topsoil during floods. Grazed units also often undergo timber harvest removing a wide variety of outstanding hardwood trees, further diminishing the structural and compositional diversity
Submodel
Description
Some areas of this ecological site have been converted to row crop agriculture. They often transition to a grassland state. A return to the near-reference state is not practical from this state. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state may be possible through long-term commitments of time and money.
Although corn and soybeans are common, many different crops may be grown.
Submodel
Mechanism
Forest stand improvement; long term succession (10-20 plus years)
Mechanism
Tree planting; long term succession; forest stand improvement; access control.
Mechanism
Tree planting long term succession; forest stand improvement; access control
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.