Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Ecological site F120AY022KY

Ponded Alluvial Flats

Last updated: 10/01/2024
Accessed: 12/22/2024

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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): 120A–Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys, Southern Part

120A—Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys, Southern Part

This area is primarily in Kentucky (83 percent) and Illinois (17 percent). A very small part is in Indiana. The area makes up about 8,905 square miles.

Physiography:
This area is in the Highland Rim Section of the Interior Low Plateaus Province of the Interior Plains. Tributaries of the Ohio River dissect the nearly level to very steep uplands. 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. Elevation ranges from 345 feet (105 meters) on the flood plain along the Ohio River to about 950 feet (290 meters) on the highest ridges. Local relief varies widely within the area.

Soils:
Most of the soils are Udalfs. Most of the soils have a mesic soil temperature regime, a udic soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. The soils in the area formed in loess or in sandstone, shale, siltstone, or limestone residuum. Fragiudalfs (Hosmer, Loring, and Zanesville series) and Fraglossudalfs (Sadler and Grenada series), which have a fragipan, and Hapludalfs (Wellston and Frondorf series) are the dominant soils on ridgetops and side slopes. Fragiudults (Tilsit series) and Hapludults (Gilpin and Shelocta series) are in the northern part of the area. Hapludolls (Huntington series), Eutrudepts (Nolin, Lindside, and Chagrin series), and Endoaquepts (Melvin and Newark series) are loamy soils on flood plains along the major streams. Endoaquepts and Epiaqualfs (Karnak and McGary series) are clayey soils in slackwater areas along the major rivers. Dystrudepts (Cuba and Steff series), Eutrudepts (Haymond and Wilbur series), Fluvaquents (Wakeland series), and Endoaquepts (Stendal series) are loamy soils on flood plains of local origin. Hapludalfs (Wheeling and Elk series) and Fragiudalfs (Otwood and Lawrence series) are loamy soils on terraces along the major streams.

Classification relationships

Wet Bottomland Hardwood Forest (Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Natural Communities of Kentucky, Evans, Hines, Yahn, 2009)

Ecological site concept

The Ponded Alluvial Flats ecological site occur in depression and ponded floodplain sites. Representative soils include ponded versions of Bonnie and Karnak, and Melvin.

The communities described in this provisional document reflect plant communities that are likely to be found on these soils and have not been field verified. This PES describes hypotheses based on available data of many different scales and sources and has not been developed utilizing site-specific ecological field monitoring. This PES does not encompass the entire complexity or diversity of these sites. Field studies would be required to develop a comprehensive and science-based restoration plan for these sites.

State 1, Phase 1.1: Forested Wetland
Plant species dominant: bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) – black willow (Salix nigra) / common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) / duckweed (Lemna spp.) – America water plantain

State 2, Phase 2.1: Wetland
Plant species dominant:
black willow / buttonbush / duckweed

Associated sites

F120AY020KY	Wet Alluvial Flats Wet Alluvial Flats

F120AY020KY

Wet Alluvial Flats

Wet Alluvial Flats

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Taxodium distichum (2) Salix nigra
Shrub	(1) Forestiera acuminata
Herbaceous	(1) Lemna (2) Alisma subcordatum

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Physiographic features

These sites are in floodplains and ponded for long periods of time.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) River valley > Flood plain
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days) to very long (more than 30 days)
Flooding frequency	Frequent
Ponding duration	Long (7 to 30 days) to very long (more than 30 days)
Ponding frequency	Frequent
Elevation	98 – 107 m
Slope	0 – 2%
Ponding depth	0 – 61 cm
Water table depth	0 – 15 cm
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

MLRA climate summary: The average annual precipitation in most of this area is 45 to 54 inches (1,145 to 1,370 millimeters). About 60 percent of the precipitation falls during the freeze-free period. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer. Snowfall is common in winter. The average annual temperature is 55 to 58 degrees F (13 to 14 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 210 days and ranges from 190 to 230 days. The longer freeze-free periods occur along the Ohio River. From: Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin (U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296, 2006)

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	160-169 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	182-194 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	1,194-1,245 mm
Frost-free period (actual range)	158-174 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	181-195 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	1,143-1,245 mm
Frost-free period (average)	165 days
Freeze-free period (average)	188 days
Precipitation total (average)	1,219 mm

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) LEITCHFIELD 2 N [USC00154703], Leitchfield, KY
(2) HENDERSON 8 SSW [USC00153762], Henderson, KY
(3) DIXON SPRINGS AG CTR [USC00112353], Golconda, IL
(4) OWENSBORO 1 W [USC00156091], Owensboro, KY

Influencing water features

Water features include ponded areas.

Wetland description

National Wetland Inventory classification (Cowardin 1979):
Class: Palustrine
Subclass: Forested, Scrub-shrub, and/or Emergent
Water regime: Seasonally-flooded, Semipermanently-flooded

Soil features

These soils are very poorly drained and poorly drained alluvium that are ponded for a long or very long duration. Representative soils include ponded versions of Bonnie and Karnak, and Melvin.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium
Surface texture	(1) Silty clay loam (2) Silt loam
Family particle size	(1) Fine-silty
Drainage class	Very poorly drained to poorly drained
Soil depth	183 cm
Surface fragment cover <=3"	0%
Surface fragment cover >3"	0%
Available water capacity (0-101.6cm)	19.81 – 25.4 cm
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm)	4.1 – 6.7
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	0 – 6%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	0%

Ecological dynamics

Ponded Alluvial Flats, F120AY022KY

The communities described in this provisional document reflect plant communities that are likely to be found on these soils and have not been field verified. This PES describes hypotheses based on available data of many different scales and sources and has not been developed utilizing site-specific ecological field monitoring. This PES does not encompass the entire complexity or diversity of these sites. Field studies would be required to develop a comprehensive and science-based restoration plan for these sites.

State 1, Phase 1.1: Forested Wetland
Plant species dominant: bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) – black willow (Salix nigra) / common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) / duckweed (Lemna spp.) – America water plantain

State 2, Phase 2.1: Wetland
Plant species dominant:
black willow / buttonbush / duckweed

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 7. Group 22

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Site Development and Testing Plan
Future work is needed, as described in a future project plan, to validate the information presented in this provisional ecological site description. Future work includes field sampling, data collection and analysis by qualified vegetation ecologists and soil scientists. As warranted, annual reviews of the project plan can be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD are necessary to approve a final document.

Other references

Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C.A. Carpenter, and W.H.McNab. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections for the conterminous United States. [Map. presentation scale 1:3,500,000, colored; A.M. Sloan, cartographer] Gen. Tech. Report WO-76D. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. ( https://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/misc/73326-wo-gtr-76d-cleland2007.pdf )

Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, and K. Snow. 2003. Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of US Terrestrial Systems. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. ( https://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/pcom_2003_ecol_systems_us.pdf ).

Cowardin, L.M., 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior.

KSNPC [Kentucky State Natural Preserve Commission] 2009. Natural Communities of Kentucky. Working Draft. Frankfort, KY.

NatureServe 2020. NatureServe Explorer: An Online Encyclopedia of Life [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. ( http://explorer.natureserve.org )
Soil Survey Staff-USDA-NRCS [United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service] 2016. National Soils Information Service (NASIS Data Model Version 7.3.4) Lincoln, NE. ( https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/survey/tools/?cid=nrcs142p2_053552).

USDA-NRCS [United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service]. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296. (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_051845.pdf).

USNVC [United States National Vegetation Classification]. 2019. United States National Vegetation Classification Database, V2.03. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Vegetation Subcommittee, Washington DC. ( http://usnvc.org ).

Approval

Greg Schmidt, 10/01/2024

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	12/22/2024
Approved by	Greg Schmidt
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F120AY022KY

Ponded Alluvial Flats

Last updated: 10/01/2024 Accessed: 12/22/2024

General information

MLRA notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 10/01/2024
Accessed: 12/22/2024