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Select an ecological site using the list, keys, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page. -
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Next, learn more about the selected ecological site and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site occurs along major rivers and streams and experiences regular flooding, or would in the absence of dams and other water control structures ES 110 Floodplain Riparian Complex (ESG 1—Floodplains)
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which are too wet to support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 2—Open Wetlands)
- Soils mostly muck --- ES 210—Marsh Wetland Complex
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which are too wet to support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 2—Open Wetlands)
- Soils mostly peat or mucky peat
- Soil pH mostly greater than 4.5 throughout site --- ES 220—Semi-acidic Peat Wetland Complex
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which are too wet to support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 2—Open Wetlands)
- Soils mostly peat or mucky peat
- Soil pH mostly less than 4.5 throughout site --- ES 230—Acidic Peat Wetland Complex
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 3—Wooded Wetlands)
- Most soils on the site have less than 16 inches (40 cm) organic deposits on surface
- Soil texture coarser than silty clay (silty to sandy)
- Soil textures coarse-silty to coarse-loamy often with a densely compacted horizon within 43 inches (108 cm) of the soil surface
- Soils are a complex of both poorly- and very poorly-drained, with water table less than 12 inches below soil surface. High northern white cedar cover --- ES 301—Loamy Till Swamp
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 3—Wooded Wetlands)
- All soils are very poorly-drained with greater than 16 inches (40 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits on the surface --- ES 302—Mucky Peat Swamp
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 3—Wooded Wetlands)
- Most soils on the site have less than 16 inches (40 cm) organic deposits on surface
- Soil texture coarser than silty clay (silty to sandy)
- Soils sandy in texture (often intermixed with organic soils) --- ES 303—Acidic Swamp
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 3—Wooded Wetlands)
- Most soils on the site have less than 16 inches (40 cm) organic deposits on surface
- Soils are clay or silty clay in texture --- ES 304—Wet Clay Flat
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
- Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 3—Wooded Wetlands)
- Most soils on the site have less than 16 inches (40 cm) organic deposits on surface
- Soil texture coarser than silty clay (silty to sandy)
- Soil textures coarse-silty to coarse-loamy often with a densely compacted horizon within 43 inches (108 cm) of the soil surface
- All soils are poorly-drained and water table within 18 inches of soil surface. Red and/or black spruce dominate with low northern white cedar cover --- ES 305—Wet Loamy Flat
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is clay (fine or fine-silty) --- ES 401—Clay, (ESG 4—Clay Forests)
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material lacks calcareous members, with pH mostly below 6.0
- Loamy surface soils underlain by loamy subsoils
- Soils moderately well- to well-drained, including somewhat poorly-drained components mapped with drier components
- Site occurs on gentle to steep slopes (greater than 5%) lacking significant organic matter accumulation --- ES 501—Loamy Slope
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material lacks calcareous members, with pH mostly below 6.0
- Loamy surface soils underlain by loamy subsoils
- Soils somewhat-poorly drained, including poorly-drained soils that are mapped with somewhat poorly-drained components
- Site occurs on poorly- to somewhat poorly-drained toeslope of a large watershed where nutrients and water accumulate --- ES 502—Loamy Till Toeslope
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material lacks calcareous members, with pH mostly below 6.0
- Loamy surface soils underlain by loamy subsoils
- Soils somewhat-poorly drained, including poorly-drained soils that are mapped with somewhat poorly-drained components
- Site occurs on relatively flat expanses with less than 5% slope, rather than the toeslope of a large watershed --- ES 503—Loamy Flat
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material lacks calcareous members, with pH mostly below 6.0
- Loamy surface soils underlain by loamy subsoils
- Soils moderately well- to well-drained, including somewhat poorly-drained components mapped with drier components
- Site occurs in protected coves and drainageways with very thick, dark surface A horizon greater than 12 inches (30 cm), very high in organic matter --- ES 504—Enriched Loamy Cove
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material lacks calcareous members, with pH mostly below 6.0
- Loamy surface soils underlain by sandy or sandy-skeletal strata --- ES 505—Loamy over Sandy
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material includes some calcareous members, with predominant pH over 6.0
- Site occurs on moderately well- to well-drained backslopes --- ES 506—Loamy Calcareous Slope
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
- Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
- Soil parent material includes some calcareous members, with predominant pH over 6.0
- Site occurs on poorly- to somewhat poorly-drained toeslope of a large watershed where nutrients and water accumulate --- ES 507—Calcareous Till Toeslope
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is sandy or sandy-skeletal --- (ESG 6—Sandy Forests)
- Soil well-drained or drier --- ES 601—Dry Sand
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
- Predominant soil texture is sandy or sandy-skeletal --- (ESG 6—Sandy Forests)
- Soil moderately well-drained or somewhat poorly-drained --- ES 602—Sandy Toeslope
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
- Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
- Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
- Shallow soils less than 20 inches (50 cm) deep, or a combination of shallow and moderately deep soils 20-40 inches (100 cm) deep, over bedrock --- ES 701—Shallow Till, (ESG 7—Shallow Forests)
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Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.
Ecological site keys
Dichotomous key to MLRA 141 Ecological Sites
1a.
Site occurs along major rivers and streams and experiences regular flooding, or would in the absence of dams and other water control structures ES 110 Floodplain Riparian Complex (ESG 1—Floodplains)
... RX141X110 – Floodplain Riparian Complex
1b.
Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur near major rivers and streams it is not influenced by regular flooding events (even in the absence of dams)
2a.
Soils poorly- and/or very poorly-drained throughout site
3a.
Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which are too wet to support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 2—Open Wetlands)
4b.
Soils mostly peat or mucky peat
5a.
Soil pH mostly greater than 4.5 throughout site --- ES 220—Semi-acidic Peat Wetland Complex
... RX141X220 – Semi-acidic Peat Wetland Complex
5b.
Soil pH mostly less than 4.5 throughout site --- ES 230—Acidic Peat Wetland Complex
... RX141X230 – Acidic Peat Wetland Complex
3b.
Wetland area consisting of multiple associated plant communities, most of which support greater than 20% tree cover --- (ESG 3—Wooded Wetlands)
6a.
All soils are very poorly-drained with greater than 16 inches (40 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits on the surface --- ES 302—Mucky Peat Swamp
... RX141X302 – Mucky Swamp
6b.
Most soils on the site have less than 16 inches (40 cm) organic deposits on surface
7b.
Soil texture coarser than silty clay (silty to sandy)
8a.
Soils sandy in texture (often intermixed with organic soils) --- ES 303—Acidic Swamp
... RX141X303 – Acidic Swamp
8b.
Soil textures coarse-silty to coarse-loamy often with a densely compacted horizon within 43 inches (108 cm) of the soil surface
9a.
All soils are poorly-drained and water table within 18 inches of soil surface. Red and/or black spruce dominate with low northern white cedar cover --- ES 305—Wet Loamy Flat
... RX141X305 – Wet Loamy Flat
9b.
Soils are a complex of both poorly- and very poorly-drained, with water table less than 12 inches below soil surface. High northern white cedar cover --- ES 301—Loamy Till Swamp
... RX141X301 – Semi-rich Loamy Swamp
2b.
Soils somewhat poorly-drained or drier, or, a combination of poorly-drained soils with drier soils in a complex throughout site
10a.
Site occurs in exposed areas high in rock outcrop with little soil available for plants, too harsh to support greater than 20% tree cover --- ES 801—Rockland, (ESG 8—Rockland)
... RX141X801 – Rockland
10b.
Site capable of producing greater than 20% persistent tree cover
11a.
Shallow soils less than 20 inches (50 cm) deep, or a combination of shallow and moderately deep soils 20-40 inches (100 cm) deep, over bedrock --- ES 701—Shallow Till, (ESG 7—Shallow Forests)
... RX141X701 – Shallow Till
11b.
All soil components greater than 20 inches deep (50 cm)
12a.
Predominant soil texture is sandy or sandy-skeletal --- (ESG 6—Sandy Forests)
13b.
Soil moderately well-drained or somewhat poorly-drained --- ES 602—Sandy Toeslope
... RX141X602 – Sandy Toeslope
12b.
Predominant soil texture is finer than sandy
14a.
Predominant soil texture is clay (fine or fine-silty) --- ES 401—Clay, (ESG 4—Clay Forests)
... RX141X401 – Clay
14b.
Predominant soil texture is coarser than clay --- 15 (ESG 5—Loamy Forests)
15a.
Soil parent material includes some calcareous members, with predominant pH over 6.0
16a.
Site occurs on poorly- to somewhat poorly-drained toeslope of a large watershed where nutrients and water accumulate --- ES 507—Calcareous Till Toeslope
... RX141X507 – Calcareous Till Toeslope
16b.
Site occurs on moderately well- to well-drained backslopes --- ES 506—Loamy Calcareous Slope
... RX141X506 – Calcareous Till Slope
15b.
Soil parent material lacks calcareous members, with pH mostly below 6.0
17a.
Loamy surface soils underlain by sandy or sandy-skeletal strata --- ES 505—Loamy over Sandy
... RX141X505 – Loamy over Sandy
17b.
Loamy surface soils underlain by loamy subsoils
18a.
Soils somewhat-poorly drained, including poorly-drained soils that are mapped with somewhat poorly-drained components
19a.
Site occurs on poorly- to somewhat poorly-drained toeslope of a large watershed where nutrients and water accumulate --- ES 502—Loamy Till Toeslope
... RX141X502 – Loamy Till Toeslope
19b.
Site occurs on relatively flat expanses with less than 5% slope, rather than the toeslope of a large watershed --- ES 503—Loamy Flat
... RX141X503 – Loamy Flat
18b.
Soils moderately well- to well-drained, including somewhat poorly-drained components mapped with drier components
20a.
Site occurs in protected coves and drainageways with very thick, dark surface A horizon greater than 12 inches (30 cm), very high in organic matter --- ES 504—Enriched Loamy Cove
... RX141X504 – Enriched Loamy Cove
20b.
Site occurs on gentle to steep slopes (greater than 5%) lacking significant organic matter accumulation --- ES 501—Loamy Slope
... RX141X501 – Loamy Slopes
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
