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Select an ecological site
Select an ecological site using the list, keys, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page. -
2
Explore the ecological site description
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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Viewing 13 of 13
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site occurs along major rivers and streams which, in absence of dams and man-made structures, would experience regular flooding
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site occurs in open wetland areas dominated by shrubs and/or herbaceous species, too wet for tree cover to exceed 40 percent under natural conditions
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils poorly to very poorly-drained, meeting hydric conditions
- Soil surface consists of greater than 40 inches (100 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils poorly to very poorly-drained, meeting hydric conditions
- Soil surface with less than 40 inches (100 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits
- Soils formed in shallow till, with densely compacted, gravelly layer usually within 20 inches (50 cm) of mineral soil surface
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils poorly to very poorly-drained, meeting hydric conditions
- Soil surface with less than 40 inches (100 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits
- Soils not formed in till, lacking dense subsurface layer
- Soils not ponded for extended periods
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils poorly to very poorly-drained, meeting hydric conditions
- Soil surface with less than 40 inches (100 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits
- Soils not formed in till, lacking dense subsurface layer
- Soils ponded for most or all of the year
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site occurs in exposed areas high in rock outcrop with little soil available for plants, too harsh for significant tree cover
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
- Bedrock within 20 inches (50 cm) of mineral soil surface
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
- Bedrock deeper than 20 inches (50 cm) below mineral soil surface
- Soils sandy throughout, typically on eskers and other glacial outwash
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
- Bedrock deeper than 20 inches (50 cm) below mineral soil surface
- Soils loamy on the surface, may have sandy subsurface horizons
- Soils with a sandy subsurface horizons and a loamy surface horizon, typically on eskers and other glacial outwash
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
- Bedrock deeper than 20 inches (50 cm) below mineral soil surface
- Soils loamy on the surface, may have sandy subsurface horizons
- Soils loamy on surface and throughout the profile
- Soils formed in glacial till
- Soil pH mostly less than 6.0
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
- Bedrock deeper than 20 inches (50 cm) below mineral soil surface
- Soils loamy on the surface, may have sandy subsurface horizons
- Soils loamy on surface and throughout the profile
- Soils formed in glacial till
- Soil pH mostly above 6.0
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
- Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
- Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
- Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
- Bedrock deeper than 20 inches (50 cm) below mineral soil surface
- Soils loamy on the surface, may have sandy subsurface horizons
- Soils loamy on surface and throughout the profile
- Soils formed in lakebed sediments with few rock fragments
Ecological site map
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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
MLRA 146
1a.
Site occurs along major rivers and streams which, in absence of dams and man-made structures, would experience regular flooding
... F146XY011ME – Floodplain
1b.
Site does not occur along major rivers and streams, or if it does occur along major rivers and streams, the site does not experience regular flooding
2a.
Site occurs in open wetland areas dominated by shrubs and/or herbaceous species, too wet for tree cover to exceed 40 percent under natural conditions
... F146XY021ME – Marsh
2b.
Site supports greater than 40 percent tree cover under natural conditions
3a.
Soils poorly to very poorly-drained, meeting hydric conditions
4a.
Soil surface consists of greater than 40 inches (100 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits
... F146XY031ME – Mucky Peat Bottom
4b.
Soil surface with less than 40 inches (100 cm) of organic mucky peat deposits
5a.
Soils formed in shallow till, with densely compacted, gravelly layer usually within 20 inches (50 cm) of mineral soil surface
... F146XY032ME – Loamy Till Bottom
5b.
Soils not formed in till, lacking dense subsurface layer
3b.
Soils somewhat poorly- to excessively-drained with non-hydric conditions
7a.
Site occurs in exposed areas high in rock outcrop with little soil available for plants, too harsh for significant tree cover
... F146XY051ME – Rockland
7b.
Site not as above, with sufficient soil to support greater than 40 percent tree cover
8b.
Bedrock deeper than 20 inches (50 cm) below mineral soil surface
9b.
Soils loamy on the surface, may have sandy subsurface horizons
10a.
Soils with a sandy subsurface horizons and a loamy surface horizon, typically on eskers and other glacial outwash
... F146XY072ME – Loamy Over Sandy
10b.
Soils loamy on surface and throughout the profile
11b.
Soils formed in glacial till
Ecological site photos
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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.
