Ecological dynamics

18-Poorly Drained (Wet) Alluvium

Individual sites deserve a detailed understanding before conservation and restoration practices are implemented; therefore, it should be noted that the communities described in this provisional document reflect plant communities that are likely to be found on these soils and have not been extensively field verified. Therefore, 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 also does not encompass the entire complexity of these sites. Field studies are required for detailed conservation planning or to develop a comprehensive and science-based native plant restoration plan for these sites.

Initial soil mapunits in this project include: Dunning, Melvin

Forest Vegetation as listed in Official Soil Series Description:
Dunning: Native forest is water-tolerant hardwoods such as red maple, sycamore, gums, boxelder, willow, pin oak, water oak, swamp white oak, and cottonwood, interspersed with glades of cane, grass, and sedge.
Melvin: Native vegetation consists of water-tolerant hardwoods, chiefly water oak, pin oak, and swamp white oak, American sycamore, black willow, alder, sweet and blackgums, red maple, box elder, and cottonwood. Some areas were in canebrakes.

Only two tree species can be selected for entry into the database as dominants; however, multiple tree species may be dominant on these sites and it will vary depending on aspect, soil depth, seed sources, management, and disturbance history.

This PES grouping includes soils generally found along streams and in low lying areas adjacent to water bodies. Soils are classified as very poorly and poorly drained soils. The natural vegetation of these sites will vary in relationship to the setting, patterns of drainage, disturbances, and previous vegetation communities. Most of these sites within MLRA 122 are now being utilized for agricultural purposes and have been ditched or tiled.

State 1. (Reference):

State 1, Phase 1.1:
Plant species dominants: pin oak (Quercus palustris) - swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) / common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) / sedges (Carex spp.) - giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea)

Wetland oaks were likely part of the historic reference community for these sites but most have been logged out. The existing communities today are dominated by sycamore, cottonwood, boxelder, silver maple, elms, and green ash. Maples, ashes, elm, boxelder, and other shade-tolerant, fast-growing hardwoods will dominant post-disturbance without management. The flooding regime characteristic of individual soil mapunits will greatly influence the forest community as well and soil mapunits currently in this group may be further split based on future field evaluations.

Understory species include paw paw, spicebush, and dogwoods. The herbaceous layers are variable depending on substrate, flooding frequency, flooding duration, drainage, and topography. Additional field work is required to refine this grouping of soils and may result in multiple ecological site descriptions being developed.

State: 2. Pasture
State 2, Phase 2.1: Managed Pasture. Plant species dominants: Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue)

Pasture plant species are dependent on seeding, weed control, concurrent land uses, on-going levels of disturbance, and landowner goals. Individual site and soil characteristics, along with management activities, will influence production levels.

Many species of grass, both warm and cool season, are available and suitable for these sites. Common forage species include tall fescue, orchard grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, timothy, and various species of clover.

Management of pasture sites should follow conservation planning standards and protocols which include watershed protection, soil health, and adequate forage species.

Transitioning this state to a reference condition would require long-term timber stand improvement practices to control non-native vegetation and manage for desired hardwood species.


State: 3 – Transitional (Abandoned) Field
State 3, Phases 3.1: maples (Acer spp.) –green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) / roses (Rosa spp.) – berries (Rubus spp.) / fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)

Tree species regeneration on these sites will depend on the severity and duration of disturbance, soil characteristics, available water, adjacent plant communities, seed sources, post-disturbance management inputs, and presence or absence of continued site disturbances. Pioneer tree species that are common in MLRA 122 on wet sites include sycamore, cottonwood, green ash, silver maple, boxelder, red maple, and willows.

Restoration to the reference site (State 1) would require substantial and long-term inputs including planting, timber stand improvement practices, and weed control. Hydrological changes to the site would have to be assessed and restored.





State 4: Phase 4.1. Abandoned Croplands

Plant species dominant: henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) – mouse-eared chickweed (Cerastium L.)

Abandonment of cropland would result in many weed species taking over the site. Initially, annual weeds would be predominate followed by grasses, shrubs and finally, pioneers trees.

It would require years of management, plantings, and weed control to establish successional communities that could transition to a reference community. Due to the drainage issues on these soils, many have been tiled or ditched extensively to facilitate crop production, so hydrological restoration would also be required.

State: 5. Cropland

Phase 5.1: Plant species dominants: Zea spp. – Glycine spp.
Plants on these sites will be dependent upon seeding and management. Most common crops are corn and soybeans. Due to the drainage issues of these soils, most sites have been tiled or ditched to facilitate crop production.

Restoration of these sites would require a return to the natural hydrologic state and extensive, long-term restoration efforts.