Wet Spodosol Flats and Depressions

Description

Wet pine flatwoods often occur on the landscape as an ecotone between Wet Organic Soil Flats and Depressions and moist flats and depressions. The distinction between wet flats and depressions from moist flats and depressions can be exceptionally subtle with many sites supporting an even mix of facultative wetland, facultative, and facultative upland species.

This reference state presents as two relatively distinct community phases: a pine savanna community and a shrubby flatwoods community. The relationship between the two community phases seems poorly understood. The relationship between the two community phases will tend to reflect slight changes in fire return intervals and lengths in hydroperiod. Nonetheless, across the MLRA it is consistently understood that the pine savanna community occurs where fire intervals are more frequent (every 1-3 years), and the shrubby flatwoods are more common where fire is less frequent (every 5-10 years). Extreme fluctuations in these drivers may warrant a state change with changes in dynamic soil properties, shifting Wet Pine Flatwoods to Pond Pine Woodlands.

(FNAI, 2010; Peet and Allard, 1993; Schafale et al., 1990)

Submodel

Submodel

Description

This is a relatively wet site within a landscape with a persistent and nearly ubiquitous shallow water table across the MLRA. Historically, these sites have been drained frequently to support a variety of land uses including forestry, agriculture, and development. This drained state is included in this STM because this state exists widely today across the landscape. Drainage of wetlands today is significantly regulated. NRCS is required to consider impacts to wetlands according to Federal laws including, but not limited to, the Clean Water Act, the Wetland Conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, and State, Tribal, and local laws. It is the policy of NRCS to protect and promote wetland functions and values in all NRCS assistance (National Environmental Compliance Handbook (NECH) 610.36).

Submodel

Description

After land on this site has been drained, it is impossible to return fully to reference conditions that existed at that location prior to drainage, especially at locations that remained under active drainage management for long periods of time. Restoration efforts might include blocking and removing drainage structures, revegetation, and reintroduction of periodic fire.

Description

Any community on this site that has become salinized by the impacts of salt water inundation or intrusion. Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saltwater into freshwater systems. The process occurs mostly by lateral flow into areas adjacent to coastal waters or ditch systems that connect saltwater bodies. These ditch systems are designed to drain freshwater off of a site, but sea level rise and extreme tidal events push saltwater up these ditch systems and expose more of the landscape to salinization processes. Salinization can also occur as storm surge and/or extreme high tides push saltwater flooding and inundation over the top of these terrestrial freshwater systems.

Submodel