Wet Floodplain Prairie
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 T2A More details
- Transition T2B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
- Restoration pathway R4A More details
- Restoration pathway T4A 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
This state is typical of wet prairies or sedge meadows that are not connected to groundwater (not seepage communities or fens) and that experience full horizon saturation (endosaturation), at least briefly throughout the growing season. Long duration flooding regimes are common during some years. Two phases can occur that will transition back and forth depending on fire and flooding frequencies. Longer fire and flooding free intervals will allow woody species to increase such prairie willow, dogwoods and false indigo. When fire and flooding intervals shorten these woody species will decrease or be eliminated. This state is very rare. Nearly all sites have been converted to intensive agriculture cropland along with some cool season grassland or have reverted to wet savannas/woodlands.
Submodel
Description
Degraded reference states that have experienced fire suppression and flooding reduction for 20 or more years will transition to this state. With fire suppression and reduced flooding, woody species such as silver maple, American elm and eastern cottonwood will begin to increase transitioning this state from a prairie to a Woody Invaded Prairie. Native ground cover will also decrease. Transition from this state to cool season grasslands (State 3) or intensive cropland (State 4) was very common (Woodland Health, 2004).
Submodel
Description
Conversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as tall fescue, white clover, and red top has been common in this area. Occasionally, these pastures will have scattered bur oaks or pecan. Transitioning to a Cropland State to help eliminate non-native grassland species and then restoring to a reference state is usually the easiest and most useful method of restoration from this state.
Submodel
Description
This is the dominant state that exists currently with intensive cropping of corn, soybeans, and wheat occurring. A return to the reference state may be difficult and costly, requiring a very long term series of management options. Many different crops can be grown on these sites depending on landowner objectives.
Submodel
Mechanism
Fire suppression greater than 20 years; woody invasion; reduced flooding
Mechanism
Tillage; vegetative seeding; grassland management; drainage water management.
Mechanism
Tillage; conservation cropping system; drainage water management.
Mechanism
Woody removal; tillage; vegetative seeding; grassland management
Mechanism
Vegetative seeding; prescribed fire; restore natural hydrology.
Mechanism
Vegetative seeding; prescribed fire; restore natural hydrology
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.