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Ecological site R150AY013LA

Clayey Terrace Prairie

Last updated: 9/22/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024

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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): 150A–Gulf Coast Prairies

MLRA 150A is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain in Texas (83 percent) and Louisiana (17 percent). It makes up about 16,365 square miles (42,410 square kilometers). It is characterized by nearly level plains that have low local relief and are dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. Elevation ranges from sea level to about 165 feet (0 to 50 meters) along the interior margin. It includes the towns of Crowley, Eunice, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Houston, Bay City, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Robstown, and Kingsville, Texas. Interstates 10 and 45 are in the northeastern part of the area, and Interstate 37 is in the southwestern part. U.S. Highways 90 and 190 are in the eastern part, in Louisiana. U.S. Highway 77 passes through Kingsville, Texas. The Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and the Fannin Battleground State Historic Site are in the part of the area in Texas.

Classification relationships

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 150A

Ecological site concept

These sites are low broad flats having clayey-textured soils in MLRA 150A. This site was historically tallgrass prairie but is now predominantly utilized for pasture and cropland. This area is in the thermic soil temperature regime.

Associated sites

R150AY012LA	Loamy Terrace Prairie The Loamy Terrace Prairie Site has lighter surface textures.
R150AY014LA	Loamy Terrace Ridge The Loamy Terrace Ridge Site has lighter surface textures and will be found on higher elevations. Mima or Pimple Mounds may be present on the Clayey Prairie Site.

R150AY012LA

Loamy Terrace Prairie

The Loamy Terrace Prairie Site has lighter surface textures.

R150AY014LA

Loamy Terrace Ridge

The Loamy Terrace Ridge Site has lighter surface textures and will be found on higher elevations. Mima or Pimple Mounds may be present on the Clayey Prairie Site.

Similar sites

R150AY740TX	Northern Blackland This site shows an intact grass community with small clumped dispersal of woody species. The soils are very deep, richly black in color, and characterized by their shrink-swell nature. The sites are widely distributed across the uplands and terraces throughout the region.

R150AY740TX

Northern Blackland

This site shows an intact grass community with small clumped dispersal of woody species. The soils are very deep, richly black in color, and characterized by their shrink-swell nature. The sites are widely distributed across the uplands and terraces throughout the region.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	Not specified
Herbaceous	(1) Schizachyrium scoparium (2) Andropogon gerardii

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Physiographic features

This area is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain. It is characterized by nearly level plains that have low local relief and are dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico, consisting of Pleistocene age deposits of deltaic and lagoonal clays and loams. At the eastern edge, a cap of mixed loess and alluvium occurs on most soils. The loess was derived from the flood plain along the Mississippi River. Areas of this site may contain remnant mima, or pimple mounds, which are characterized by low circular or oval domes composed of coarser-textured material. The basal diameter varies from 10 to more than 100 feet and the height from 1 to about 6 feet. Most of these mounds have been leveled to improve production efficiencies however, there are areas where they still exist.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Coastal plain > Terrace
Runoff class	High
Flooding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days)
Flooding frequency	Rare to occasional
Elevation	80 ft
Slope	1%
Water table depth	6 – 72 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The climate of MLRA 150A is humid subtropical with mild winters. The average annual precipitation in the northern two-thirds of this area is 45 to 63 inches. It is 28 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area and 30 to 45 inches in the southwestern third of the area. The precipitation is fairly evenly distributed, but it is slightly higher in late summer and midsummer in the western part of the area and slightly higher in winter in the eastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 66 to 72 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 325 days and ranges from 290 to 365 days, increasing in length to the southwest.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	235-239 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	273-310 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	59-61 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	234-243 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	271-351 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	58-61 in
Frost-free period (average)	238 days
Freeze-free period (average)	296 days
Precipitation total (average)	60 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range

Bar

Line

Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) EUNICE [USC00162981], Eunice, LA
(2) CROWLEY 2 NE [USC00162212], Crowley, LA
(3) JENNINGS [USC00164700], Jennings, LA
(4) LAKE CHARLES [USW00003937], Lake Charles, LA

Influencing water features

Water table depths will fluctuate according to season. Typically the water table will be highest during the winter and early spring when warm-season vegetation is not drawing moisture from the soil. Although ponding is not shown as a characteristic for the soils of this site, ponding may occur for brief to long periods during the growing season on micro-lows and influence the plant community. Some soils associated with this site are hydric or have hydric inclusions and may be wetlands.

Soil layers at 6 to 20 inches from the surface exhibit an increase in finer soil particle size percentage (clay), which can form an impermeable layer. This reduces infiltration and percolation of water. The inhibition of water movement through the soil results in wetter soil surface conditions and poor drainage. Originally, the reference plant community consisted of tallgrass species with deep roots that penetrate the soil when the soil dries and cracks during normal dry cycles. Once the roots have formed in the cracks they provide continuous pore spaces to provide internal drainage of the soil.

Wetland description

This site has hydric soils. Onsite investigation is necessary to determine exact local conditions.

Soil features

The representative soil features of this site are characterized by soils that have a very-dark, grayish-brown to black loamy or clayey noneffervescent surface from 18 to 30 inches thick over grayish, very slowly permeable clayey subsoils found on flat coastal plains. These soils hold moderate amounts of water and are moderately fertile. Runoff is high and erosion is negligible. These soils are poorly drained. Soils correlated to this site include: Judice, Midland, and Mowata.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Alluvium – igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock (2) Fluviomarine deposits – igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Surface texture	(1) Silty clay (2) Silty clay loam
Family particle size	(1) Fine
Drainage class	Poorly drained
Permeability class	Very slow
Soil depth	80 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-60in)	10 – 12 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-60in)	10%
Electrical conductivity (0-60in)	2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-60in)	6
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-24in)	5.1 – 7.3
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-60in)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-60in)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

The pre-settlement plant community of the Clayey Terrace Prairie was a tallgrass prairie. Soils, climate, fire, and grazing by native wild herbivores were the major influences on the plant community. Historically, bison were the primary large ungulates that grazed the site. There are historic records that fires commonly occurred, but none that definitively describe the frequency, timing, or intensity of fires. It has been postulated fires occurred as frequent as every 2 to 5 years.

Under the influences mentioned above, this prairie was dominated by tallgrasses. Major tallgrass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), yellow Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides). Perennial forbs are an important part of the composition and include ashy sunflower (Helianthus mollis), button snake root (Eryngium yuccifolium), gayfeather (Liatris spp.), and goldenrod (Solidago spp.). The species composition varies to include species from several families and will vary along the moisture gradient. The micro-highs and lows contribute to the diverse plant community; the micro-highs are slightly drier and the micro-lows slightly wetter. Elevation differences between highs and lows range from 6 to 15 inches. Vegetation tolerant of moist soil grows on the lower elevations of the while less water-tolerant vegetation grows on the higher elevations.

Excessive grazing by domestic livestock contributes to the reduction or elimination of eastern gamagrass, big bluestem, yellow Indiangrass, switchgrass, and little bluestem. As the site transitions, species such as brownseed paspalum (Paspalum plicatulum), bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), knotroot bristlegrass (Setaria parviflora), smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus), and shorter-stature species increase. In addition to site transition due to excessive grazing, farming has had a significant influence. Not only has the site changed through the loss of native plant communities from cultivation, but also through the change in soils, hydrology, and topography by land leveling, ditching, and leveeing. Continued overuse by livestock, lack of fire, or abandonment of cropping allows woody plants to invade. These woody pioneers include eastern baccharis (Baccharis halamifolia), hackberry (Celtis sp.), ash (Fraxinus sp.), and Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera).

As the plant community transitions from the Tallgrass Prairie Community (1.1) to the other states, changes occur in plant composition, biomass production, litter accumulation, and water infiltration and storage. These changes influence most treatment alternatives including the ability to use fire as a management tool. The resulting increase in woody plant density signifies that a threshold has been crossed. Once this threshold is crossed, restoration back towards the reference plant community becomes much more difficult and expensive. Even though a plant community similar can establish, the reference community may never be fully restored. Although a combination of practices such as brush management, re-seeding, prescribed grazing, and fire are required for restoration. Also, the expansive soil disturbance associated with transition to a converted state removes soil microenvironmental factors that can prevent total restoration.

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference

2. Encroached

3. Converted

T1A	-	Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time
T1B	-	Clearing of native vegetation, followed by planting of improved forage species or annual crops
R2A	-	Reintroduction of fire and regular disturbance return intervals
T2A	-	Clearing of vegetation, followed by planting improved forage species or annual crops
T3A	-	Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time

State 1
Reference

The Reference state is considered to be representative of pre-Euro settlement conditions. Climate, fire, and grazing by native wild herbivores were the major ecological drivers. There are historical records that fires commonly occurred, but none that definitively describe the frequency, timing, or intensity of fires. It has been postulated fires occurred as frequently as every 2 to 5 years. Historically, bison were the primary large ungulates that grazed the site.

Dominant plant species

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), grass
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass

Community 1.1
Tallgrass Prairie

Figure 7. 1.1 Tallgrass Prairie

This plant community historically covered 2.5 million acres that once dominated southwest Louisiana. This community historically covered 2.5 million acres that once dominated southwest Louisiana and is the reference plant community. Currently, less than 100 acres remain, making it one of the most endangered ecosystems. Most of the few remaining remnants of prairie in Louisiana are found on narrow strips of land along railroad tracks, small areas outside the reach of tillage, within grazing systems, and wildlife refuges. Despite the small size of these remnants, most contain a high diversity of native tallgrass prairie flora. Nearly 1,000 plant species have been identified in the Coastal Prairie and almost all are perennials. Conversion of these sites occurred over most of the region by plowing and planting crop species or repeated and severe overgrazing, a practice which favors nonnative, sod-forming plants. Restoration is difficult as soil microbial communities are largely not well understood and seed sources for the quantities of species are difficult to locate. Historic disturbances included fire and grazing by bison. Their grazing was intense but were followed by long periods of recovery. The bison grazing accelerated nutrients cycling, removed any decadent plants, and promoted species diversity. Fire set by storms or Native Americans recycled minerals and nutrients retarded the invasion of woody species, and increased the quality of the plants. Bison would have been attracted to these burned areas. The combined effect of fire and grazing over long periods kept the prairie functioning. This disturbance-driven community was always evolving with shifts in species composition by time of year, climatic variability, and disturbance.

Community 1.2
Early Woody Succession

Figure 8. 1.2 Early Woody Succession

This community is characterized by a diverse species composition of grasses and forbs with an increasing composition of woody species that are immature and low stature, specifically baccharis, ash, sweetgum and pines. If this community is not properly managed, and no brush management measures are taken, it will transition into a Woodland State (2). Control of woody species will require input of extensive resources. Conservation practices can include prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, mowing, disking, or herbicide treatments to manage undesired plants. Removing or reducing woody plants by disking or mowing should be implemented early before mechanical treatments are not effective. If a managed woodland is the desired community, proper management is required. Some Invasive woody species, such as Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera), will invade and grow and produce seeds in as few as 3 years. This phase can be beneficial habitat for some wildlife species. Woody invasive species grow quickly and plant densities and size can be difficult and expensive to control. Restoration potential to grassland sites becomes increasingly problematic as this vegetation state matures.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Tallgrass Prairie

Early Woody Succession

Lack of brush management and fire will transition the reference community to the Early Woody Succession Community (1.2).

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Early Woody Succession

Tallgrass Prairie

Brush management and return of regular fire will remove the woody species and restore the tallgrass prairie.

State 2
Encroached

The Encroached state is characterized by an increase in long-lived woody plants. Changes in disturbance frequency has allowed woody plants do dominate ecological processes, such as rates of runoff and infiltration, shading, litter accumulation, nutrient cycling and biomass production.

Dominant plant species

eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia), tree
hackberry (Celtis), tree
ash (Fraxinus), tree

Community 2.1
Ash/Sweetgum/Pine/Oak Woodland

This community has crossed a threshold to a more mature Woodland State. Ash, sweetgum, pine, and oak species make up the overstory unless Chinese tallow has become well established. If it has, it will create a closed woody canopy in a very few years. As the tallow trees mature and densities increase, the understory is shaded out and forage species disappear. These stands become unproductive for forage. Restoration to a productive grassland or becomes more difficult and expensive. Residual tallow seed will repopulate stands without continued woody management. Before complete canopy closure and die-off occur, this phase can provide beneficial habitat for some wildlife species.

Community 2.2
Hardwoods/Mixed Forest

This community represents a forest of desirable hardwoods and/or pines. This phase represents a managed stands of tree species. This phase can provide beneficial habitat for some wildlife species. If dual use of timber production and grazing is desired, proper grazing use must be employed to minimize disturbance to tree species. If timber production is desired, periodic brush management may be required to minimize competition from undesirable woody plants. Due to rainfall, drainage and soil properties, harvest limitations exist and will require attention for the conservation of the natural resources.

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Continued, unabated growth by woody species will transition the woodland into a forest.

State 3
Converted

Community 3.1
Converted Grassland

Figure 9. 3.1 Converted Grassland

Figure 10. 3.1 Converted grassland with native tallgrass species and management

This community is characterized by a typical hay production field. The species composition generally consists of a single grass species that is managed for forage production. These communities are typically harvested for stored forage although grazing may occur. These sites are productive for forage and can provide ecological benefits such as control of soil erosion. Allowing for adequate rest and regrowth of desired species is required to maintain productivity. Maintenance of monoculture stands also requires control of unwanted species which will require pest management and nutrient management to maintain the needed fertility. Some attempts are made to restore the native reference plant community. Due to the large numbers of plant species, and the variability within communities, the exact mixture and number of species will vary greatly. Many of the reference species seeds are not available for purchase. Therefore, full restoration to the reference community may not be fully possible, but a similar community with the same disturbance regime can be replicated. This community is disturbance dependent; primarily fire. Other methods for maintenance include prescribed grazing and brush management. There is an equilibrium that must be reached between maintaining species composition and disturbance. If a site is destructively grazed, trafficked in saturated soil conditions, utilized as a feeding area, mechanically disturbed, and plant crowns and/or roots are destroyed, the transition process to a Woodland State (2) will occur.

Figure 11. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Figure 12. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). LA0010, Common Bermuda/White Clover. Common Bermudagrass Overseeded with White Clover.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	1	5	20	21	21	16	11	3	2	0	0

Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). LA0011, Common Bermudagrass/Ryegrass. Common Bermudagrass Overseeded with Ryegrass.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	12	16	16	20	12	10	4	2	0	4

Figure 14. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). LA0012, Bahia. Bahiagrass.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	0	5	15	24	27	17	10	2	0	0

Figure 15. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). LA0015, Bahia/Ryegrass. Bahiagrass Overseeded with Ryegrass.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
1	2	8	11	11	15	20	18	7	3	1	3

Figure 16. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). LA0021, Bermuda/White Clover/Ryegrass. Ryegrass, Clover Overseeded in a Common Bermudagrass Sod.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
2	2	14	32	16	10	8	6	4	2	0	4

Figure 17. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). LA0024, Ryegrass. Ryegrass Planted on a Prepared Seedbed.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
10	17	27	36	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10

Community 3.2
Cropland

Figure 18. 3.1 Cropland (Rice)

Figure 19. 3.1 Cropland (Soybeans)

This community is characterized by a crop production field. Annual plantings for forage production would also be included in this phase, which may include cool-season annual grasses, legumes, and warm-season forage species. Vegetable crops are generally grown on a small scale. On fields with an adequate water source capable of being utilized for rice production, crawfish may be included in the rotation or as a standalone crop. Often two or more crops will be grown in a multiyear rotation, this breaks pest cycles and some crops produce higher amounts of residue, which is left on the soil to improve soil quality. Maintenance of monoculture crop stands also requires control of unwanted species, which will require pest management and nutrient management to maintain the needed fertility.

Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2

Converted Grassland

Cropland

The land manager's decision to farm is the driver for transition to the Cropland Community (3.2).

Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1

Cropland

Converted Grassland

The land manager's decision to plant grass for grazing, hay, or restoration is the driver for transition to the Converted Grassland Community (3.1).

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Lack of prescribed grazing, fire, and brush management will transition the Grassland State (1) to the Woodland State (2).

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Planting introduced forages in the form of crops or grasses will transition the site to the Converted State (3).

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Restoration back to reference conditions requires brush management to remove the overstory canopy followed by prescribed grazing and return of regular fire intervals.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Planting introduced forages in the form of crops or grasses will transition the site to the Converted State (3).

Transition T3A
State 3 to 2

Without pest management and brush management to remove woody species, the Converted Grassland (3.1) or Cropland (3.2) can transition into a Woodland State (2).

Additional community tables

Table 5. Community 3.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Warm Season perennial Grasses			1975–4740
	bahiagrass	PANO2	Paspalum notatum	2686–4740	–
	Bermudagrass	CYDA	Cynodon dactylon	1975–3476	–
2	Cool Season Grasses			3792–5451
	common oat	AVSA	Avena sativa	3792–5451	–
	Italian ryegrass	LOPEM2	Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum	3792–5451	–
3	Warm Season Annual Grasses			1000–3239
	pearl millet	PEGL2	Pennisetum glaucum	1000–3239	–
Forb
5	Cool Season Legume			1501–2054
	white clover	TRRE3	Trifolium repens	1501–2054	–

Interpretations

Animal community

The Coastal Prairie communities support a wide array of animals. Cattle and many species of wildlife make extensive use of the site. White-tailed deer may be found scattered across the prairie and are found in heavier concentrations where woody cover exists. Feral hogs are present and at times abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Attwater’s pocket gophers are abundant and have an important impact on the ecology of the site. The badger is present but not abundant in locations at the southern extent of the site. Locally unique species alligators and bullfrogs.

The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Two important endangered species occur in the area, the whooping crane and Attwater’s prairie chicken. Many other species of avian predators including northern harriers, ferruginous hawks, red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, kestrels, and, occasionally, swallow-tailed kites utilize the vast grasslands. Many species of grassland birds use the site, including blue grosbeaks, dickcissels, eastern meadowlarks, several sparrows, including, vesper sparrow, lark sparrow, savannah sparrow, grasshopper sparrow, and Le Conte’s sparrow.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

This site description was developed as part of the provisional ecological site initiative using historic soil survey manuscripts, available range site descriptions, and low intensity field sampling

Other references

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Contributors

Ken Spaeth, RMS, NRCS, Fort Worth, TX
Stuart Gardner, RMS, NRCS, Lafayette, LA
D. Charles Stemmans II, ESI, NRCS, Opelousas, LA
Johanna Pate, RMS, NRCS, Fort Worth, TX
Jon Wiedenfeld, SS, NRCS, Rosenberg, TX

Approval

Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	09/24/2023
Approved by	Bryan Christensen
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.

Ecosystem states

1. Reference

2. Encroached

3. Converted

T1A	-	Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time
T1B	-	Clearing of native vegetation, followed by planting of improved forage species or annual crops
R2A	-	Reintroduction of fire and regular disturbance return intervals
T2A	-	Clearing of vegetation, followed by planting improved forage species or annual crops
T3A	-	Absence of disturbance and natural regeneration over time