Wet Clay Flat
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T1B More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3B More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
-
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
This site occurs in gently sloping areas near the bottom of watersheds where water saturates glaciolacustrine deposits for much of the growing season. Soils are poorly- and very poorly-drained with clayey textures and parent materials. The water table is seasonally high (within 12 inches of the surface) and typically dries out in late summer and fall. This site is typically drier than the Clay site (401) and may be ponded in depressions. Mixed hardwoods and softwoods dominate the reference community, including black and red spruce, red maple, brown ash, and balsam fir.
Resilience management
This site is dominated by mixed hardwood and softwood species including red and black spruce, balsam fir, larch, red maple and brown ash. It is often logged, which sets the stand through a series of phases, beginning with herbaceous colonizers, then dense spruce and balsam fir saplings, and eventually to mature spruce-fir forest. Within 100 years, any balsam fir dies out and longer-lived species dominate the mature forest. Similar community dynamics occur within stands on this site as blowdowns or spruce budworm open up small patches of mature overstory trees for establishment by herbs and conifer saplings.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics driven by natural disturbances, processes, and pressures (may have some anthropogenic drivers). More research is needed to determine the extent of the Semi-natural state associated with this ecological site.
Submodel
Description
Shifts in ecological site composition, functionality, and dynamics that are primary driven by anthropogenic disturbances and pressures (may have some associated natural drivers). More research is needed to determine the extent of the cultural state associated with this ecological site.
Mechanism
climate change, hydrological alteration, significant increase in flooding events and annual precipitation, introduction of invasive species, pests, and pathogens
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
hydrologic alteration (barrier, obstruction, dam, diversion), landscape alteration, mechanical soil disturbance, landscape alteration, planting, seeding
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Cover Crop |
|
|
Land Clearing |
|
|
Precision Land Forming |
|
|
Irrigation Land Leveling |
|
|
Land Smoothing |
|
|
Infiltration Ditches |
|
|
Residue Management -Direct Seed |
|
|
Improve the plant diversity and structure of non-cropped areas for wildlife food and habitat |
|
|
Grazing management to improve wildlife habitat |
|
|
Harvest hay in a manner that allows wildlife to flush and escape |
Mechanism
remediation of hydrologic alteration, management of invasive species, pests, and pathogens, restoration of key native plant species, restoration of terrestrial and aquatic habitat
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
|
|
Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
|
|
Pathogen Management |
|
|
Invasive Plant Species Control |
|
|
Invasive Species Pest Management |
|
|
Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
|
|
Establish pollinator habitat |
|
|
High level Integrated Pest Management to reduce pesticide environmental risk |
|
|
Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
hydrologic alteration (barrier, obstruction, dam, diversion), landscape alteration, mechanical soil disturbance, landscape alteration, planting, seeding
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Plant an annual grass-type cover crop that will scavenge residual nitrogen |
|
|
Monitoring and Evaluation |
|
|
Conversion of cropped land to grass-based agriculture |
Mechanism
remediation of hydrologic alteration, seeding, planting, significant flooding events and increase in annual precipitation, compacted soil, establishment of key native plant species
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Critical Area Planting |
|
|
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
|
|
Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
|
|
Restoration and Management of Rare or Declining Habitats |
|
|
Multi-species Native Perennials for Biomass/Wildlife Habitat |
|
|
Establish pollinator habitat |
|
|
Habitat Development for Beneficial Insects for Pest Management |
|
|
Monitoring and Evaluation |
Mechanism
remediation of hydrologic alteration, seeding, planting, significant flooding events and increase in annual precipitation, compacted soil, establishment of key native plant species
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitats |
|
|
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management |
|
|
Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems |
|
|
Native Plant Community Restoration and Management |
|
|
Monitoring and Evaluation |
Model keys
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
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.