Glacial Depression
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition 1A More details
- Transition 1B More details
- Restoration pathway 2A More details
- Transition 2A More details
- Restoration pathway 3A More details
- Restoration pathway 3B More details
- Transition 3A More details
- Restoration pathway 4A More details
- Restoration pathway 4C More details
- Restoration pathway 4B More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This is the reference or diagnostic plant community for the site. In reference conditions, this site was dominated by herbaceous prairie species, specifically bluejoint, prairie cordgrass, and big bluestem. Herbaceous species dominance is maintained by a short fire return interval that works in conjunction with the soil moisture regime. The soils are saturated to ponded in the early part of the growing season, but dry later creating a lot of fine fuel to carry fire. Removal of fire from the system allowed trees to invade and eventually dominate the site. Restoration back to the reference state is possible with the removal of drainage (if needed) and regular fire at a 2-5 year interval. Conversion to agriculture was accomplished via improved drainage by ditches and field tile along with tillage. Restoration back to the reference state is possible with the removal of drainage, seeding of appropriate species, and regular fire at a 2-5 year interval.
Submodel
Description
Absence of fire or lack of woody species management will move this site to a woodland state dominated by oak species, specifically pin oak and swamp white oak. The understory would contain many of the prairie species until the canopy closed. Woody understory species would include sassafras and dogwood.
Submodel
Description
This site has largely been converted to agricultural use. Roughly 75% of the historic acres are now in row crop agricultural use. Most common is a corn and soybean rotation of various types. Roughly 5% of the site is not used to grow hay or cool season forage and used for grazing.
Submodel
Description
Abandoned agricultural lands move into the old field state. This state is dominated at the outset by cool season grasses, mostly fescue, and weedy, opportunistic forbs. Absent management or fire, the site will progress to a shrub dominated phase then to that of a mesic forest.
Submodel
Mechanism
Drainage via ditch or field tile, tillage, and regular agricultural practices.
Mechanism
Tree removal, seeding of appropriate species and fire.
Mechanism
Site preparation, removal of drainage (if needed), seeding, and regular application of fire.
Mechanism
No management. Agricultural practices abandoned and succession allowed to take place
Mechanism
Remove trees/brush, remove or block off drainage, seeding, and fire.
Mechanism
Forestry practices to include planting of appropriate tree species, timber stand improvement practices and no fire.
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
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.