Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site RX141X507
Calcareous Till Toeslope
Last updated: 10/03/2024
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): 141X–Tug Hill Plateau
MLRA 141 is entirely in New York and makes up about 1,173 square kilometers (3,037 square kilometers). It consists of a relatively small but unique upland that lies just off the eastern end of Lake Ontario and west of the Black River Valley and Adirondack Mountain region. It is essentially a north- and east-facing glaciated cuesta scarp and is underlain by thick Wisconsin till and small areas of outwash. Most of the plateau is woodland, so forestry and recreation are the primary uses, but small isolated dairy operations and hobby farms are located around the perimeter.
The area is bordered on the east by the Black River Valley, on the north by the St. Lawrence Lowland, on the west by the Ontario Lowland, and on the south by the Upper Mohawk Valley. The northern and eastern boundaries of MLRA 141 are distinct where they contact the physiographically dissimilar southwestern part of MLRA 142 (St. Lawrence-Champlain Plain). The western and southern boundaries are also distinct where they contact the physiographically dissimilar MLRA 101 (Ontario-Erie Plain and Finger Lakes Region).
Ecological site concept
This site occurs on deep, poorly- to somewhat poorly-drained loam soils derived from calcareous bedrock. Bedrock is greater than 20 inches below the mineral soil surface. This site is found on footslope and toeslope positions that receive additional water and nutrients from higher areas of the watershed. The vegetation is characterized by northern hardwoods, particularly sugar maple, basswood, ash, and northern white cedar. These are productive soils with some rich site indicators in the understory, including blue cohosh, Christmas fern, and royal fern. These soils are often farmed.
Associated sites
RX141X506 |
Calcareous Till Slope Calcareous Till Slope ecological sites may be positioned adjacent to or transition into Calcareous Till Toeslope ecological sites. |
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Similar sites
RX141X506 |
Calcareous Till Slope Calcareous Till Slope ecological sites may have similar vegetative composition, soil properties, and physiographic features as Calcareous Till Toeslope ecological sites. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Acer saccharum |
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Shrub |
(1) Cornus rugosa |
Herbaceous |
(1) Cystopteris bulbifera |
Legacy ID
F141XY507NY
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