Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F114XA101IN
Wet Lacustrine Forest
Last updated: 9/26/2024
Accessed: 11/21/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 114X–Southern Illinois and Indiana Thin Loess and Till Plain
MLRA 114 makes up about 4,550 square miles (11,795 square kilometers. The three parts of this MRLA are mostly in the Till Plains Section of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains. The western third of the western part is in the Highland Rim Section of the Interior Low Plateaus Province of the Interior Plains. The eastern half of the eastern part is in the Kanawha Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province of the Appalachian Highlands. Both large and small tributaries of the Ohio River dissect the nearly level to very steep glaciated uplands in this area. The major streams and rivers have well defined valleys with broad flood plains and numerous stream terraces. The flood plains along the smaller streams are narrow. Broad summits are nearly level to gently sloping. Elevation ranges from 320 feet (100 meters) on the southernmost flood plain along the Ohio River to 1,250 feet (380 meters) on the highest ridges. Local relief is mainly 10 to 50 feet (3 to 15 meters), but it can be 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) along drainage ways and streams. Also, the Ohio River bluffs are as much as 300 feet (90 meters) above the river valley floor.
Classification relationships
222 Eastern Broadleaf Forest (Continental) Province.
The following NatureServe Explorer Ecological System has a high level of probability to match the ecological site found on these soils. Field verification and ESD development is needed prior to using this information for conservation planning and/or restoration initiatives: Scientific Name: North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods/ Unique Identifier: CES202.700.
Ecological site concept
The Wet Lacustrine Forest ecological site is on lake plains, terraces, outwash plains or local areas on till plains and formed in lacustrine parent materials. The soils in this group somewhat poorly drained to poorly drained. Sites generally occur on nearly level to depressional areas of stream terraces, till plains, and glacial lake plains. Sites may incur frequent flooding and/or ponding.
The characteristic vegetation of the site is that of a flatwoods type dominated by pin oak and swamp white oak. Silver maple, red maple, sweetgum and green ash are common on these sites. Topography and seasonal fluctuation of water (ponding) on these sites may create a diverse vegetative community that gradients from wet-mesic upland tree species to zones of flood-tolerant lowland tree species. Inundation of the site generally occurs in the spring and depending on the length of inundation, may leads to a sparse understory.
Associated sites
F114XA102IN |
Lacustrine Terrace Forest Lacustrine Terrace Forest. These sites are located on terraces in MLRA 114A and include soils that are somewhat poorly drained to moderately well drained. Sites will exhibit more upland tree, shrub and understory species than F114AY101IN. |
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Similar sites
F114XA501IN |
Wet Till Flatwoods The Wet Till Flatwoods will exhibit similar species, such as pin oak, sweetgum, swamp white oak, etc. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Quercus palustris |
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Shrub |
(1) Cornus |
Herbaceous |
(1) Carex |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
T1A | - | Clearing; selective harvest; large scale natural disturbance |
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T1B | - | Tree and brush removal; tillage; seeding; cropping system maintained |
R2A | - | timber stand improvement activities; brush and weed control |
T2A | - | Tree/brush removal; tillage; cropping system maintained |
T3A | - | Abandonment of site. Successional ruderal vegetation. |
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
3.1.A | - | Seeding of grass species; weed control |
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3.2.A | - | Tillage; seeding |