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Description
The Ozark Highland constitutes the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Uplift. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet on the southeast edge of the Ozark escarpment, to about 1,600 feet in the west, adjacent to the Burlington Escarpment of the Springfield Plateau. The underlying bedrock is mainly horizontally bedded Ordovician-aged dolomites and sandstones that dip gently away from the uplift apex in southeast Missouri. Cambrian dolomites are exposed on deeply dissected hillslopes. In some places, Pennsylvanian and Mississippian sediments overlie the plateau. Relief varies, from the gently rolling central plateau areas to deeply dissected hillslopes associated with drainageways such as the Buffalo, Current, Eleven Point and White Rivers.
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-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Alfisol
- Bedrock >40"
- CHERT PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- <12" loess
- CHERT MUDSTONE UPLAND WOODLAND Cherty mudstone residuum
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- >12" loess
- Fragipan or claypan
- FRAGIPAN UPLAND WOODLAND MW Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- >12" loess
- No root restriction
- LOW-BASE LOAMY UPLAND WOODLAND Ultic
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- >12" loess
- No root restriction
- LOAMY UPLAND WOODLAND Alfic
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
- <12" loess
- <15% slope
- CALCAREOUS DOLOMITE UPLAND WOODLAND Bedrock 20-40"
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
- <12" loess
- >15% slope
- CALCAREOUS DOLOMITE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- <12" loess
- Cherty dolomite residuum
- Alfisol
- CHERT UPLAND WOODLAND Bedrock >40"
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- <12" loess
- Cherty dolomite residuum
- LOW-BASE CHERT UPLAND WOODLAND Ultisol
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Ultisol
- LOW-BASE CHERT PROTECTED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Alfisol
- Bedrock 20-40"
- No loess
- CHERT DOLOMITE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- <12" loess
- LOAMY DOLOMITE UPLAND WOODLAND Dolomite residuum
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Alfisol
- Bedrock 20-40"
- Thin loess
- LOAMY DOLOMITE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- TALUS FOOTSLOPE FOREST Colluvium
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- <12" loess
- LOW-BASE SANDSTONE UPLAND WOODLAND Sandstone residuum
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- >12" loess
- LOAMY PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Footslopes & High Terraces
- Alfic & Ultic
- MW, W Drained
- DRY FOOTSLOPE FOREST Low AWC (skeletal, or fragipan)
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Footslopes & High Terraces
- Alfic & Ultic
- MW, W Drained
- LOAMY FOOTSLOPE FOREST High AWC (loamy or clayey)
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Footslopes & High Terraces
- Alfic & Ultic
- WET FOOTSLOPE FOREST SWP, P Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Terraces, Floodplain Steps
- Argillic horizon
- LOAMY TERRACE FOREST MW to Well Drained
-
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Key Characteristics
- Terraces, Floodplain Steps
- Argillic horizon
- WET TERRACE FOREST Poorly to SWP Drained
-
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Key Characteristics
- Upland Drainageways
- Historic Forest (GLO)
- WET UPLAND DRAINAGEWAY FOREST SWP, P Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Drainageways
- Historic Forest (GLO)
- GRAVELLY/LOAMY UPLAND DRAINAGEWAY FOREST MW, W Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Terraces, Floodplain Steps
- No argillic horizon
- LOAMY FLOODPLAIN STEP FOREST MW to Well Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Terraces, Floodplain Steps
- No argillic horizon
- WET FLOODPLAIN STEP FOREST Poorly to SWP Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Low Floodplains
- LOAMY FLOODPLAIN FOREST High AWC (fine-loamy, fine-silty)
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Low Floodplains
- SANDY/GRAVELLY FLOODPLAIN FOREST Low AWC (skeletal, sandy, coarse-loamy)
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Sinkholes
- LOAMY SINKHOLE WOODLAND Well drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- <12" loess
- Cherty dolomite residuum
- Alfisol
- CHERT DOLOMITE UPLAND WOODLAND Bedrock 20-40"
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Sandstone residuum
- LOW-BASE SANDSTONE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- >12" loess
- LOAMY EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
- <12" loess
- >15% slope
- CALCAREOUS DOLOMITE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Alfisol
- Bedrock 20-40"
- No loess
- CHERT DOLOMITE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Ultisol
- LOW-BASE CHERT EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Alfisol
- Bedrock 20-40"
- Thin loess
- LOAMY DOLOMITE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Sandstone residuum
- LOW-BASE SANDSTONE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- >15% slope
- Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
- <12" loess
- Alfisol
- Bedrock >40"
- CHERT EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
- <15% slope
- >12" loess
- Fragipan or claypan
- FRAGIPAN UPLAND FLATWOODS SWP Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
- >12" loess
- CLAYPAN SUMMIT PRAIRIE Fragipan or claypan
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Footslopes & High Terraces
- WET FOOTSLOPE SAVANNA Mollic
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
- >12" loess
- LOAMY UPLAND PRAIRIE No root restriction
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock <20"
- Steep slopes dominant (upper slope range to 70%)
- DOLOMITE PROTECTED CLIFF N, E aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock <20"
- Steep slopes dominant (upper slope range to 70%)
- DOLOMITE EXPOSED CLIFF S, W aspects
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock <20"
- Steep slopes minor
- SHALLOW DOLOMITE UPLAND GLADE/WOODLAND Dolomite residuum
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Drainageways
- WET UPLAND DRAINAGEWAY PRAIRIE Historic Prairie (GLO)
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock <20"
- Steep slopes minor
- SHALLOW SANDSTONE UPLAND GLADE/WOODLAND Sandstone residuum
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Sinkholes
- PONDED SINKHOLE WETLAND Somewhat Poorly Drained
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
- Bedrock >20"
- Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
- <12" loess
- <15% slope
- CHERT UPLAND SAVANNA Bedrock >40"
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Ecological site keys
MLRA 116A
I.
Upland Summits, Shoulders or Backslopes
A.
Bedrock <20"
1
Steep slopes dominant (upper slope range to 70%)
2
Steep slopes minor
i.
SHALLOW DOLOMITE UPLAND GLADE/WOODLAND
Dolomite residuum
... R116AY020MO – Shallow Dolomite Upland Glade/Woodland
ii.
SHALLOW SANDSTONE UPLAND GLADE/WOODLAND
Sandstone residuum
... R116AY027MO – Shallow Sandstone Upland Glade/Woodland
B.
Bedrock >20"
1
Mollisol or Mollic Subgroup
i.
>12" loess
ii.
<12" loess
a.
<15% slope
1)
CALCAREOUS DOLOMITE UPLAND WOODLAND
Bedrock 20-40"
... F116AY009MO – Calcareous Dolomite Upland Woodland
b.
>15% slope
1)
CALCAREOUS DOLOMITE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST
N, E aspects
... F116AY010MO – Calcareous Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest
2)
CALCAREOUS DOLOMITE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
S, W aspects
... F116AY047MO – Calcareous Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland
2
Alfisol or Ultisol (not in Mollic subgroup)
i.
<15% slope
a.
>12" loess
1)
Fragipan or claypan
2)
No root restriction
b.
<12" loess
1)
CHERT MUDSTONE UPLAND WOODLAND
Cherty mudstone residuum
... F116AY003MO – Chert Mudstone Upland Woodland
2)
LOAMY DOLOMITE UPLAND WOODLAND
Dolomite residuum
... F116AY018MO – Loamy Dolomite Upland Woodland
3)
Cherty dolomite residuum
a)
Alfisol
4)
LOW-BASE SANDSTONE UPLAND WOODLAND
Sandstone residuum
... F116AY023MO – Low-Base Sandstone Upland Woodland
ii.
>15% slope
a.
Cherty dolomite residuum, or cherty slope alluvium
1)
>12" loess
2)
<12" loess
a)
Alfisol
(1)
Bedrock 20-40"
(a)
Thin loess
(1)
LOAMY DOLOMITE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST
N, E aspects
... F116AY019MO – Loamy Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest
(2)
LOAMY DOLOMITE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
S, W aspects
... F116AY051MO – Loamy Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland
(b)
No loess
(1)
CHERT DOLOMITE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST
N, E aspects
... F116AY016MO – Chert Dolomite Protected Backslope Forest
(2)
CHERT DOLOMITE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
S, W aspects
... F116AY048MO – Chert Dolomite Exposed Backslope Woodland
(2)
Bedrock >40"
(a)
CHERT PROTECTED BACKSLOPE FOREST
N, E aspects
... F116AY002MO – Chert Protected Backslope Forest
(b)
CHERT EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
S, W aspects
... F116AY062MO – Chert Exposed Backslope Woodland
b)
Ultisol
(1)
LOW-BASE CHERT PROTECTED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
N, E aspects
... F116AY013MO – Low-Base Chert Protected Backslope Woodland
(2)
LOW-BASE CHERT EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
S, W aspects
... F116AY049MO – Low-Base Chert Exposed Backslope Woodland
b.
Sandstone residuum
1)
LOW-BASE SANDSTONE PROTECTED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
N, E aspects
... F116AY045MO – Low-Base Sandstone Protected Backslope Woodland
2)
LOW-BASE SANDSTONE EXPOSED BACKSLOPE WOODLAND
S, W aspects
... F116AY053MO – Low-Base Sandstone Exposed Backslope Woodland
II.
Upland Drainageways
A.
WET UPLAND DRAINAGEWAY PRAIRIE
Historic Prairie (GLO)
... R116AY026MO – Wet Upland Drainageway Prairie
B.
Historic Forest (GLO)
2
GRAVELLY/LOAMY UPLAND DRAINAGEWAY FOREST
MW, W Drained
... F116AY037MO – Gravelly/Loamy Upland Drainageway Forest
III.
Sinkholes
IV.
Footslopes & High Terraces
B.
Alfic & Ultic
2
MW, W Drained
V.
Terraces, Floodplain Steps
A.
Argillic horizon
B.
No argillic horizon
VI.
Low Floodplains
A.
SANDY/GRAVELLY FLOODPLAIN FOREST
Low AWC (skeletal, sandy, coarse-loamy)
... F116AY042MO – Sandy/Gravelly Floodplain Forest
B.
LOAMY FLOODPLAIN FOREST
High AWC (fine-loamy, fine-silty)
... F116AY041MO – Loamy Floodplain Forest
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