Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F140XY018NY
Moist Lake Plain
Last updated: 10/01/2024
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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): 140X–Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskill Mountains
This area is primarily in the Southern New York Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province of the Appalachian Highlands. The top of the dissected plateau in this MLRA is broad and is nearly level to moderately sloping. The narrow valleys have steep walls and smooth floors. The Catskills in the east have steep slopes. Elevation is typically 650 to 1,000 feet on valley floors; 1,650 to 2,000 feet on the plateau surface; and 3,600 feet or more in parts of the Catskills.
The average annual precipitation in most of this area is 30 to 45 inches. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the summer, but most of the precipitation in this area occurs as snow. The average annual temperature is 40 to 50 degrees F.
The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Inceptisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. Frigid soils are found within the higher elevations.
This area supports forest vegetation, particularly hardwood species. Beech-birch-maple and elm-ash-red maple are the potential forest types. The extent of oak species increases from east to west, particularly in areas of shallow and dry soils. In some areas conifers, such as white pine, are important. Aspen, hemlock, northern white-cedar, and black ash grow on the wetter soils. In some parts of the area, sugar maple has potential economic significance. Some of the major wildlife species in this area are white-tailed deer, cottontail, turkey, pheasant, and grouse.
Classification relationships
USDA NRCS:
LRR: R - Northeastern Forage and Forest Region
MLRA 140 - Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskills Mountains
NY Natural Heritage Program Plant Community Classification:
PA Natural Heritage Program Plant Community Classification:
Red oak - mixed hardwood forest
International Vegetation Classification Associations:
Red oak - yellow birch / cinnamon fern Forest (CEGL006000 )
Ecological site concept
Landform/Landscape Position:
The site occurs on lake plains and terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent.
Soils:
The site consists of very deep, moderately well or somewhat poorly drained soils formed in silty glaciolacustrine or eolian deposits. Representative soils are Scio, Rhinebeck, and Tonawanda.
Vegetation:
The reference community is mixed hardwood forest characterized by red oak, yellow birch, white oak, sugar maple, hickories, American beech, highbush blueberry, American witchhazel, , sessile-leaved bellwort, and cinnamon fern.
Associated sites
| F140XY021NY |
Dry Outwash |
|---|---|
| F140XY017NY |
Well Drained Lake Plain |
Similar sites
| F140XY022NY |
Moist Outwash |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Quercus rubra |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Lindera benzoin |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Osmunda cinnamomea |
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