Loamy Floodplain Forest
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 T3B More details
- Transition T4C More details
- Transition T4A More details
- Transition T4B More details
- Transition T5B More details
- Transition T5A 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
The historical reference state for this ecological site was old growth bottomland forest. Natural flooding cycles were the primary processes affecting this ecologic site. The understory was complex, with multiple layers of shade-tolerant species. A highly diverse ground flora was also present. Vines were common and went well into the canopy. Scattered open areas were common. Over the long term, these floodplains may become more elevated and/or isolated and accumulate more fine sediments, becoming more stable and enduring. Oaks, shellbark hickory and black walnut begin to accumulate in these later stages of succession. Catastrophic floods will often partially or completely knock down the early species and regenerate this site creating a mosaic of early to late successional floodplain forests.
Submodel
Description
Where this state remains, it has often been subjected to very selective timber harvests. While these forested areas may resemble the reference state, the diversity of tree species has been selectively (removal of oak and black walnut) altered.
Submodel
Description
Many acres of this ecological site have been converted to non-native grasslands of tall fescue and red clover. This state frequently transitions to a cropland state especially when commodity prices are high.
Submodel
Description
This state is subjected to uncontrolled grazing and high-graded timber harvests. The grazing will open up the understory and remove much of the diverse ground flora. This can lead to erosion of the topsoil during floods. Grazed units also often undergo timber harvest removing a wide variety of outstanding hardwood trees, further diminishing the structural and compositional diversity.
Submodel
Mechanism
Uneven-age timber management and selective harvesting will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
Clearing, grassland planting, grassland management and prescribed grazing will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
Poorly planned harvests (high-grading) and uncontrolled grazing will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
This state can be restored to a reference state by modifying or eliminating timber harvests, extending rotations, incorporating forest stand improvement and allowing long-term succession to occur.
Mechanism
Removing the grass sod, adding conservation tillage and conservation cropping system will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
Forest stand improvement and livestock exclusion will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
Clearing the timber, adding grassland planting, grassland management and prescribed grazing will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
Clearing timber, adding tillage and conservation cropping system will result in a transition to this state.
Mechanism
Tree planting, long-term succession (50 to 70 years), forest stand improvement, and livestock exclusion will result in a transition to this state.
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.