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Ecological site R150BY648TX

Southern Coastal Sand

Last updated: 9/22/2023
Accessed: 12/21/2024

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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.

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Figure 1. Mapped extent

Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 150B–Gulf Coast Saline Prairies

MLRA 150B is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain and entirely in Texas. It makes up about 3,420 square miles. It is characterized by nearly level to gently sloping coastal lowland plains dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. Barrier islands and coastal beaches are included. The lowest parts of the area are covered by high tides, and the rest are periodically covered by storm tides. Parts of the area have been worked by wind, and the sandy areas have gently undulating to irregular topography because of low mounds or dunes. Broad, shallow flood plains are along streams flowing into the bays. Elevation generally ranges from sea level to about 10 feet, but it is as much as 25 feet on some of the dunes. Local relief is mainly less than 3 feet. The towns of Groves, Texas City, Galveston, Lake Jackson, and Freeport are in the northern half of this area. The towns of South Padre Island, Loyola Beach, Corpus Christi, and Port Lavaca are in the southern half. Interstate 37 terminates in Corpus Christi, and Interstate 45 terminates in Galveston.

Classification relationships

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

Ecological site concept

Southern Coastal Sands are sandy-textured ecological sites positioned in front and behind Coastal Dunes in areas of mean annual precipitation less than 41 inches. Southern Coastal Sands do not pond and have a water table below 40 inches.

Associated sites

R150BY650TX	Low Coastal Sand This site is located on the barrier flat on a slightly lower position on the landscape.
R150BY713TX	Coastal Swale This site is located in elongated open depressions on the barrier island. These areas will pond for long periods.
R150BY714TX	Coastal Dune This site is on convex areas adjacent to the bay and are loamy or clayey throughout.
R150BY552TX	Tidal Flat This site is lower in the landscape and is subject to tidal action.

Similar sites

R150BY530TX	Northern Coastal Sand This site is located in a higher precipitation regime.

R150BY530TX

Northern Coastal Sand

This site is located in a higher precipitation regime.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Quercus virginiana
Shrub	(1) Amorpha
Herbaceous	(1) Schizachyrium scoparium (2) Uniola paniculata

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Physiographic features

This site occurs on nearly level to very gently sloping low stabilized dunes on barrier flats, dune complexes, or strand plains.
It also occurs on very gently sloping sandy areas of spoil islands.

Figure 2.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Dune field > Parabolic dune (2) Barrier island > Dune (3) Dune field > Sand sheet
Runoff class	Negligible to low
Flooding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours)
Flooding frequency	Rare to occasional
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	3 – 50 ft
Slope	5%
Water table depth	100 – 137 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The climate is predominately maritime, controlled by the warm and very moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico. The climate along the upper coast of the barrier islands is subtropical subhumid and the climate on the lower coast of Padre Island is subtropical semiarid (due to high evaporation rates that exceed precipitation). Almost constant sea breezes moderate the summer heat along the coast. Winters are generally warm and are occasionally interrupted by incursions of cool air from the north. Spring is mild and damaging wind and rain may occur during spring and summer months. Tropical cyclones or hurricanes can occur with wind speeds of greater than 74 mph and have the potential to cause flooding from torrential rainstorms. Despite the threat of tropical storms, the storms are rare. Throughout the year, the prevailing winds are from the southeast to south-southeast.

The average annual precipitation is 45 to 57 inches in the northeastern half of this area, 26 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area, and 30 to 45 inches in the rest of the area. Precipitation is abundant in spring and fall in the southwestern part of the area and is evenly distributed throughout the year in the northeastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate-intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 68 to 74 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 340 days and ranges from 315 to 365 days.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	365 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	365 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	26-32 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	365 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	365 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	26-34 in
Frost-free period (average)	365 days
Freeze-free period (average)	365 days
Precipitation total (average)	29 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

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Figure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

Bar

Line

Figure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 8. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) PORT ISABEL CAMERON AP [USW00012957], Los Fresnos, TX
(2) PORT ISABEL [USC00417179], Port Isabel, TX
(3) PORT MANSFIELD [USC00417184], Port Mansfield, TX
(4) PADRE IS NS [USC00416739], Padre Island Ntl Seashor, TX
(5) CORPUS CHRISTI NAS [USW00012926], Corpus Christi, TX

Influencing water features

This site receives some water from runoff and seepage from adjacent sites during wet periods. During the winter and early spring the water table in some areas ranges from 40 to 60 inches below the surface.

Wetland description

These areas have non-hydric soils but some areas may have small areas of hydric soils. Onsite investigation needed to determine local conditions.

Soil features

The soils are very deep, light-colored, excessively to somewhat poorly drained, strongly acid to strongly alkaline, fine sands and loamy fine sands. The depth of the surface horizon ranges from 6 to 35 inches and the depth of the soil profile is greater than 80 inches. Surface runoff is negligible to low. Because of seepage from adjoining sites and the relative landscape position, a water table is present in this soil at a depth of 40 to 60 inches during wet periods. Soils correlated to this site include: Padre, Panam, Rockport, and Twinpalms.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Eolian sands – igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Surface texture	(1) Fine sand (2) Loamy fine sand
Family particle size	(1) Sandy
Drainage class	Somewhat poorly drained to excessively drained
Permeability class	Moderate to rapid
Soil depth	80 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-60in)	2 – 3 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-60in)	15%
Electrical conductivity (0-60in)	2 mmhos/cm
Sodium adsorption ratio (0-60in)	8
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-60in)	5.1 – 9
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (18-60in)	20%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-60in)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

The Texas coastline is composed of barrier islands, peninsulas, bays, estuaries, and natural or man-made passes. These mobile environments are constantly reshaped by the process of erosion and accretion. Hurricane activity can significantly change the island's environment. The Padre Island region is subdivided into habitats based on landform and vegetation. The Coastal Sand ecological lies on the bay side of the foredunes. The landforms vary from almost level to a series of low ridges and hummocky surfaces. The variety of vegetation is greater than other inland sites. The overall aspect is a grassland plain.

The plant communities are dynamic, and composition may vary dramatically with variations in annual rainfall, grazing, and fire. This landscape is typically a vegetated barrier flat unless impacted by recent hurricane activity. Because of southern proximity and nearness to the Gulf of Mexico, extreme climatic variations ranging from extended drought to hurricanes are possible. Bare ground may predominate during droughts or following hurricanes while a midgrass prairie may predominate under proper management and non-droughty periods.

This site has historically been an open prairie comprised of a midgrass plant community. The co-dominant grasses are seacoast bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and gulfdune paspalum (Paspalum monostachyum). Other important associated grasses include broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), brownseed paspalum (Paspalum plicatulum), and marshhay cordgrass (Spartina patens). Also present is a diverse understory community of perennial legumes and other forbs.

Changes in the referenced community occur when continued overuse by livestock results in a midgrass prairie community. This community is the result of the decline of seacoast bluestem, gulfdune paspalum, and other perennial grasses. An increase in forbs such as camphor daisy (Rayjacksonia phyllocephala), partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), and crotons (Croton spp.) are common. Three-awns (Aristida spp.), thin paspalum (Paspalum setaceum), and red lovegrass (Eragrostis secundiflora spp. oxylepis) increase in abundance with heavy grazing but decline on severely grazed rangeland.

Further degradation of the plant community will result in a community dominated by annuals. Severe overgrazing of this plant community causes seacoast bluestem to be virtually absent. Sandbur (Cenchrus spp.), fringed signalgrass (Urochloa ciliatissima), annual panicums (Panicum spp.), camphor daisy, and other forbs dominate this plant community. Some prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) will increase as well. Severe overuse causes a large amount of bare ground, which results in blowing sand. Blowing sand further accelerates community degradation.

The intensity of a hurricane plays a large role in the plant community. Due to the extensive creeping rhizomes and ability to tolerate high salinity levels, gulfdune paspalum can survive a moderately-intensive hurricane while other species cannot. Following a hurricane, the plant community will consist of gulfdune paspalum and various annual pioneer plants. Following a severe hurricane, vegetation will be virtually devoid. Length of recovery to reference conditions will depend on the severity and the ability to defer from grazing or other major natural disturbance.

Active sand dunes occur on this site. Overuse by livestock exacerbates dune formation. Continuous dunes sometimes cover several square miles. The dunes add to landscape diversity but can pose management problems because they migrate across the landscape and may cover fences, roads, equipment, and buildings. Cutting native hay near a sand dune and mulching the dune with the hay while lightly incorporating the hay into the soil is an effective method of stabilizing dunes.

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. Midgrass Prairie

2. Hurricane Impacted

T1A	-	Loss of vegetative cover
R2A	-	Natural recovery over time

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Midgrass Prairie

1.2. Shortgrass/Annual Prairie

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. Hurricane Impacted

State 1
Midgrass Prairie

Dominant plant species

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
gulfdune paspalum (Paspalum monostachyum), grass

Community 1.1
Midgrass Prairie

Figure 9. 1.1 Midgrass Prairie

The reference community consists of a midgrass prairie with co-dominants of seacoast bluestem the and gulfdune paspalum. Seacoast bluestem occurs on moderately drained flats and swales. Gulfdune paspalum declines dramatically in the drier microhabitats of well-drained flats and ridges where seacoast bluestem becomes the primary dominant species. Other important associated grasses included broomsedge bluestem, brownseed paspalum, and marshhay cordgrass. The reference community also supports a diverse understory of perennial legumes and forbs. Heavy grazing and elimination of fire results in a change in the plant community composition from an open midgrass dominated prairie to a shortgrass prairie. Severe overgrazing of this plant community causes seacoast bluestem to be virtually absent. Severe overuse results in a large amount of bare ground, which results in blowing sand. Blowing sand further accelerates community degradation. Storms and hurricanes can produce washouts and areas devoid of vegetation.

Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	885	2985	4185
Forb	280	480	580
Shrub/Vine	35	35	35
Tree	0	0	0
Total	1200	3500	4800

Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX7751, Midgrass Prairie Community. Open grassland plain composed of mid-grasses with seacoast bluestem and gulfdune paspalum dominate the site..

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	5	15	20	15	10	10	15	6	4	0

Community 1.2
Shortgrass/Annual Prairie

This community is comprised of red lovegrass, thin paspalum, and threeawns. The transition occurs due to overgrazing and lack of fires. Overgrazing of seacoast bluestem and gulfdune paspalum leads an increase in shortgrasses and annual species. This site can revert back to the reference community with prescribed grazing and periodic prescribed burning. Other species common include partridge pea, annual crotons, rosinweed, sunflowers, panicums, and prickly pear. There is also an increase of bare ground in this plant community, making it susceptible to the formation of dunes.

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

The transition to Community 1.2 occurs because of overgrazing, lack of fire, or naturally occurring drought conditions.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

The restoration back to Community 1.1 requires prescribed grazing, the return of prescribed fire, and/or more average rainfall conditions returning.

State 2
Hurricane Impacted

Vegetation severely reduced or absent

Community 2.1
Hurricane Impacted

This plant community is caused by the destructive forces of hurricanes. The vegetation has been burned due to high winds laden with coastal water. Vegetation has also been buried under thick sediment deposits of sand. Some areas are scoured and devoid of vegetation and may temporarily suffer complete vegetative loss. This community can be restored back to the Midgrass Prairie State (1) given enough time for the vegetation to recover. Usually, deferment and time are the best options for recovery.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Transition to State 2 is caused by the associated effects of Hurricanes. This includes storm surges, wind scouring of plants, and burial of vegetation by sediment deposition.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Restoration back to the Midgrass Prairie State (1) typically requires time and deferment of grazing. Time for recovery depends on the severity of the hurricane.

Additional community tables

Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production (lb/acre)	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1	Tallgrasses			780–2580
	gulfdune paspalum	PAMO4	Paspalum monostachyum	780–2580	–
	little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	780–2580	–
2	Midgrass			140–320
	broomsedge bluestem	ANVI2	Andropogon virginicus	140–320	–
3	Midgrass			140–320
	brownseed paspalum	PAPL3	Paspalum plicatulum	140–320	–
4	Midgrass			140–320
	saltmeadow cordgrass	SPPA	Spartina patens	140–320	–
5	Cool-season grass			140–320
	Scribner's rosette grass	DIOLS	Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum	140–320	–
6	Warm-season grasses			140–320
	Grass, perennial	2GP	Grass, perennial	140–320	–
	Wright's threeawn	ARPUW	Aristida purpurea var. wrightii	140–320	–
Forb
7	Forbs			140–320
	false indigo	AMORP	Amorpha	140–320	–
8	Forbs			140–320
	partridge pea	CHFA2	Chamaecrista fasciculata	140–320	–
	American snoutbean	RHAM	Rhynchosia americana	140–320	–
9	Forbs			140–320
	ragweed	AMBRO	Ambrosia	140–320	–
	wild indigo	BAPTI	Baptisia	140–320	–
	croton	CROTO	Croton	140–320	–
	hydrocotyle	HYDRO2	Hydrocotyle	140–320	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	140–320	–
	groundcherry	PHYSA	Physalis	140–320	–
	camphor daisy	RAPH2	Rayjacksonia phyllocephala	140–320	–
Shrub/Vine
10	Shrubs/Vines			35
	pricklypear	OPUNT	Opuntia	35	–
	honey mesquite	PRGL2	Prosopis glandulosa	35	–
	live oak	QUVI	Quercus virginiana	35	–
	willow	SALIX	Salix	35	–

Interpretations

Animal community

The animal communities of the Coastal Prairie communities are influenced by fresh and salt water inundations. 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 become abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Alligators are locally abundant and make frequent use of the marshes depending on salt concentrations in the marshes.

The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Whooping cranes are an important endangered species that occur in the area, especially near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Northern harriers are common predatory birds seen patrolling marshes. Curlews, plovers, sandpipers, and willets are shorebirds that make use of the tidal areas. Seagulls and terns are plentiful throughout the year trolling the shores as well. Further inland, rails, gallinules, and moorhens make use of the brackish marshes.

Hydrological functions

Infiltration into the sandy soils of this site is rapid. However, because of the level terrain and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, this site may be inundated periodically.

Recreational uses

The Padre Island National Seashore is a popular tourist designation throughout the year. Because the National Seashore endeavors to preserve Padre Island in its natural state, visiting the island is very much like stepping back into the past. Birdwatching and saltwater fishing are other recreational uses.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

A team of Rangeland Management Specialists and Soil Scientists, with years of coastal field experience, made on-site field visits to build this ecological site description.

Other references

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Contributors

Vivian Garcia, RMS, NRCS, Corpus Christi, TX

Approval

Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023

Acknowledgments

Site Development and Testing Plan:

Future work, as described in a Project Plan, to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document. Annual reviews of the Project Plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.

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	09/22/2023
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: