Loamy Floodplain Forest

Description

The reference state for this ecological site was old growth bottomland forest. Natural flooding cycles were the primary processes affecting this ecologic site. Maximum tree age was likely 150 to 200 years. 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. A change to more frequent, higher-intensity floods on the modern landscape creates more frequent canopy gaps, and introduces or helps to maintain more flood-tolerant species such as sycamore, eastern cottonwood, green ash and hackberry.

Over the long term, these floodplains may become more elevated and/or isolated and accumulate more fine sediments, becoming more stable and enduring. Oak, 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. Reducing harvests and extending rotations will cause a transition to community phase 2.2. Eliminating harvests, implementing selective thinning, and allowing long tern succession may allow a return to the reference state where hydrologic regimes are least altered.

Submodel

Description

Many acres of this ecological site have been converted to non-native grasslands of tall fescue and red clover. If the site experiences poor grassland management a shift to community phase 3.2 will occur. This phase has diminished ground cover, reduction in productivity, and an increase in oak sprouting and non-native species invasion. This state frequently transitions to a cropland state especially when commodity prices are high. A return to a near-reference state from this state is not recommended. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state is possible through long-term commitments of time and money.

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. A return to the near-reference state will require a long-term commitment including the elimination of grazing, planting of trees and perhaps shrub and herbaceous species, and very limited targeted timber harvests and thinning.

Submodel

Description

Some areas of this ecological site have been converted to row crop agriculture. They often transition to a grassland state. A return to the near-reference state is not practical from this state. Transitioning to a Managed Forest state may be possible through long-term commitments of time and money.

Submodel