Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F124XY006OH
Wet Lowland and Depression
Last updated: 9/26/2024
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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): 124X–Western Allegheny Plateau
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 124—Western Allegheny Plateau (USDA-NRCS, 2006)
MLRA 124, Western Allegheny Plateau extends from and includes western PA just north of Pittsburgh through southeastern OH to and includes northeastern KY. This area is primarily in the Kanawha Section of the Appalachian Province of the Appalachian Highlands. This MLRA is on an unglaciated dissected plateau with narrow level valley floors, rolling ridgetops, and hilly to steep slopes with dendritic stream drainages. A notable exception is the broad, Teays Valley, and other glacio-fluvial and glacio-lacustrine features attributed to nearby Pleistocene glaciation. Elevation ranges from 660 to 1310 feet (200 to 400 meters). The geology is predominantly cyclic beds of sandstone, siltstone, clay, shale and coal of Pennsylvanian age. Soils are dominated by Udalfs, Udults, and Ochcrepts with a mesic temperature regime in combination with five parent materials, residuum, colluvium, alluvium, eolian, and extra-glacial material of glacio-fluvial and glaciolacustrine mesic materials. The climate is predominately a humid continental to temperate, with 940 to1145 millimeters (37 to 45 inches) of precipitation. Average annual temperature is 8 to 13 degree C (46 to 56 degrees F) with a freeze-free period averaging 185 days. Much of the areas is either forest or in farms, principally for hay and pasture, with fruits and vegetables grown locally. Coal and gas extraction are important industries in the northern part of the MLRA.
Classification relationships
USDA-NRCS (USDA 2006):
Land Resource Region (LRR): N—East and Central Farming and Forest Region
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 124—Western Allegheny Plateau
USDA-FS (Cleland et al. 2007):
Province: 221 - Eastern Broadleaf Province
Section: 221E - Southern Unglaciated Allegheny Plateau
Subsection: 221Ea - Pittsburgh Low Plateau
221Eb - Teays Plateau
221Ee - Unglaciated Muskingam Plains
221Ef - Western Hocking Plateau
221Eg - Lower Scotio River Plateau
221En - Kinniconick and Licking Knobs
Section: 221H - North Cumberland Plateau (in Part)
Subsection: 221Hb - Kinniconick and Licking Knobs
221He - Miami - Scioto Plain - Tipton Till Plain
Ecological site concept
Within the dissected plateau of the unglaciated Western Allegheny Plateau, the Wet Lowland and Depression ecological site is set in a variety of wetland landscapes ranging from bottomlands, valley basins, and depressions. The ecological site is derived from calcareous to acid mixed sedimentary geology primarily composed of limestone, sandstone, shale, siltstone. The seasonably high water table is generally at 0 to 23 centimeters (0 to 9 inches) below the surface. Parent materials include recent slackwater alluvium, colluvium, lacustrine, and glacio-lacustrine material. These landscapes tend to be flat or only gently sloping. The substrate is mineral soil but may have a component of organic material. The sites are very poorly-drained to poorly-drained. The flooding frequency is none to rare and the ponding frequency is none to frequent. Representative soils include: Andover, Canadice, Ginat, (Jimtown), Killbuck, Knowlton, Lorain, Mullins, Peoga, Purdy, Purdy Variant, Sebring . Reference plant communities include: Maple - Ash - Elm Swamps and Pin Oak Mixed Hardwood Depression Forests.
Similar sites
F124XY008OH |
Wet Floodplain and Drainageway Wet Floodplain and Drainage share wetland characteristics. However, Wet Lowland and Depression flood none or rarely. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Acer rubrum |
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Shrub |
(1) Carpinus caroliniana |
Herbaceous |
(1) Arisaema triphyllum |
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