Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
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- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T2A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The dominant visual aspect of this site is grass and sedges with scattered forbs and shrubs. The dominant plant community has tufted hairgrass, Nebraska sedge and other Carex species as major components.
Submodel
Description
Lowing of the water table to greater than 40 inches below the soil surface alters the available water on the site and changes the plant community dynamics.
Submodel
Mechanism
Develops through permanently lowering the late growing season water table to > 40 inches. This can occur with continued improper grazing management. It may also occur with proper grazing on the site, but channel erosion may continue if poor off-site conditions cause frequent and/or severe flooding. This site has crossed the threshold. It cannot be returned to state 1 without raising the water table.
Mechanism
Results from permanently losing the water table in the soil profile through down cutting of the stream channel. The site retrogresses to a new site with reduced potential due to significant loss of available soil moisture from the lowered water table. It occurs with continued improper grazing management or repeated significant run-off events. It has crossed the threshold. It cannot be returned to State 1 without raising the water table significantly and this typically is economically impractical.
Model keys
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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.
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