Wet Lacustrine Forest

Description

Historic reference communities on these sites exhibited a complex and diverse mosaic of wetland and wet-mesic species based on microtopography, soils, flooding regime, and natural disturbances. Canopy species often included pin oak (Quercus palustris) and/ or swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) in the wetter portions of these sites. Other hardwood trees include silver maple (Acer saccharinum), green ash (Fagus pennsylvanica), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple (Acer rubrum). Areas of slightly high topography would exhibit more mesic forest species such as white oak (Quercus alba), northern red oak (Q. rubra), white ash (Fraxinus americana), sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica). Depending on microtopography and flooding/ponding regimes, the understory composition of these communities would vary. . Common species for the wetter sites include dogwoods, willows (Salix spp.), Osmunda, buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), alders (Alnus spp.) and hollies (Ilex spp.). A more wet-mesic understory community would be found on the higher portions of these sites. Natural influences to these communities include flooding, windthrow, drought, and fire which would cause temporary changes to the community structure.

Today, most sites have been disturbed (farmed, grazed, cleared, drained) and show a variety of ruderal/successional forest communities which often include maples, boxelder, hackberry, poplar,s willows and ashes. Mature, high-quality trees have usually been removed over the years and shade-tolerant, fast-growing species such as maple, and ash have become common on these sites. Diverse understory communities of native plants are rare due to the repeated disturbances which has spread invasive species.

Submodel

Description

This state reflects areas that have had anthropogenic disturbances such as clearing, selective harvest, unmanaged grazing, with no timber stand improvement management implemented. Quick growing trees such as maples and ashes quickly dominant these sites. Invasive non-native plant species are often found on these sites.

Management activities such as weed control, brush control, and planting of desired tree species will improve the quality of these sites;; however, restoration to the reference condition would require long-term management inputs.

Submodel

Description

These sites are subject to clearing, draining, and utilization for agricultural uses.
Sites can be managed as cropland or pastureland.
Numerous species may be planted depending on the landowners objectives.
The most common agricultural uses are cool season grass production (managed or unmanaged grazing regimes), hay production, or row crop production (corn - soybean rotation). The natural hydrology of these sites are often modified through ditching and tiling.

Submodel