Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Riparian Complex Perennial Gravelly VIII/E4 (Northwest Territory Sedge)
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Transition T3A 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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State 1
Reference
Reference
Description
The reference state for this site is a low gradient, meandering, very low width/depth stream channel with associated streambank, flood plain and flood-plain step landforms and plant community components. The stream channel typically meanders across the entire valley bottom, which effects the placement of each plant community. All plant communities can be present in this state.
Submodel
State 2
Degraded
Degraded
Description
This state is characterized by a shift in the composition of plant community components due to season long grazing pressure. The sedges and willow typically found on the streambanks are particularly palatable to livestock and can be grazed at a level that weakens the plant eventually leading to loss from the site (i.e. Northwest Territory sedge). Kentucky bluegrass often replaces these sedges along the streambank (see Ecological Dynamics section). Bank sloughing is prevalent.
Submodel
State 3
Re-established Flood Plain
Re-established Flood Plain
Description
This state is characterized by riparian areas that have down cut and reestablished floodplains at a lower elevation. The riparian area is narrower than reference condition, but otherwise functions similarly.
Submodel
Mechanism
Change in vegetation on the banks to shallow rooted species, decrease in bank stability and bank sloughing causing a change in channel geometry to a wider shallower channel
Mechanism
Vegetation re-establishment on streambanks and floodplain, rest from grazing pressure
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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