Ponded Floodplain Prairie
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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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 depressional prairies and marshes that experience full horizon saturation (endosaturation) for extended periods during the growing season. Long duration flooding regimes are common during some years.
Two phases can occur that will transition back and forth depending on ponding and flooding frequencies. Longer ponding and flooding intervals with periods of open water will reduce woody species such prairie willow, dogwoods and false indigo. When ponding and flooding intervals shorten these woody species will increase or re-establish.
This state is very rare. Nearly all sites have been converted to intensive agriculture cropland along with some cool season grassland.
Submodel
Description
Degraded reference states that have experienced reduced ponding and flooding reduction for 20 or more years will transition to this state.
With reduced ponding and flooding, woody species such as willow, silver maple and dogwood 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.
Submodel
Description
Conversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as Reed canarygrass, white clover, and red top occurs infrequently. 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
With extensive drainage, this is the dominant state that exists currently with intensive cropping of corn and soybeans occurring. Farmed wetlands are common. A return to the reference state may be difficult and costly, requiring a very long term series of management options.
Submodel
Model keys
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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.