Animal community

Animal Community – Wildlife Interpretations

Landscape

The MLRA 53B landscape is characterized by nearly level to rolling till plains including kettle holes, kames, moraines, and small glacial lakes. The MLRA is located within the heart of the Prairie Pothole (Coteau) Region with temporary, seasonal, and semi-permanent wetlands throughout the MLRA. MLRA 53B has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers, low humidity, light rainfall, and much sunshine. Extremes in temperature are common and characteristic of the MLRA. This area supports natural prairie vegetation characterized by western wheatgrass, needle and thread, green needlegrass, and big bluestem. Little bluestem is an important species on sloping and shallow soils. Prairie cordgrass, northern reedgrass, and sedges are important species on wet soils. Western snowberry, chokecherry, plum, stiff goldenrod, blacksamson echinacea, and prairie rose are commonly interspersed throughout the area.

Complex and intermingled ecological sites create diverse grass and shrub land habitats. Ecological sites are interspersed with moderate to high densities of depressional wetlands. MLRA 53B includes headwaters to tributaries of the Missouri River, including the Big Muddy River, White Earth River, Painted Woods Creek and Apple Creek in North Dakota and Spring Creek in South Dakota. Numerous unnamed creeks and drainageways drain into the James River in North and South Dakota which are in MLRA 55B. These habitats provide critical life-cycle components for many wildlife species including aquatic species.

Historic Communities/Conditions within MLRA 53B:

The northern mixed-grass prairie was a disturbance-driven ecosystem with fire, herbivory, and climate functioning as the primary ecological drivers (either singly or often in combination). The high density of wetland and associated native grassland historically supported an abundance of waterfowl and other marsh dependent birds. Many species of grassland birds, small mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and herds of roaming American bison, elk, and pronghorn were historically among the inhabitants adapted to this semi-arid region. Roaming herbivores, as well as several small mammal and insect species, were the primary consumers linking the grassland resources to large predators (such as the wolf and mountain lion) and smaller carnivores (such as the coyote, bobcat, red fox, and raptors). Extirpated species include free-ranging American bison, elk, black and grizzly bear, gray wolf, and peregrine falcon (breeding). Extinct from the region is the Rocky Mountain locust.

Present Communities/Conditions within MLRA 53B:

Following European influence, domestic livestock grazing, elimination of fire, energy development, and other anthropogenic factors influenced plant community composition and abundance. Approximately 34% of the native grassland in MLRA 53B remains intact but grassland continues to be converted to annual cropping systems. Annual cropping, wetland drainage, wind energy, woody encroachment, and transportation corridors are the main contributors to habitat fragmentation, which reduces habitat quality for area-sensitive species. The fragmented landscape reduced or eliminated ecological drivers (fire) and introduced exotic plant species including smooth brome, crested wheatgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and leafy spurge - further impacting plant and animal communities. Loss of fire allowed woody species to expand onto historically grassland sites. The loss of these ecological drivers greatly influenced the remaining native plant communities and wildlife species presence, moving towards a more fragmented but diverse landscape; but in many cases a more homogeneous grassland dominated by cool-season exotic grass species develops.

The high density of wetlands provides habitat for large numbers and species of waterfowl and waterbirds. MLRA 53B is a major contributor to the annual production of waterfowl and waterbirds within the Central Flyway. Many wildlife species found in MLRA 53B are those that have adapted to annual crop production. Some wildlife species in this area are white-tailed deer, coyote, red fox, American badger, raccoon, beaver, striped skunk, American mink, white-tailed jackrabbit, Eastern turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, waterfowl, and numerous species of grassland-nesting birds and pollinating insects. Numerous fish species inhabit the lakes and creeks within the MLRA.

National wildlife refuges, waterfowl production areas, and state wildlife management areas along with North Dakota Department of Trust Lands and South Dakota State School Lands provide herbaceous and woody cover for wildlife. In addition, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) jointly manage one large manmade reservoir, Lake Audubon (16,612 acres), for waterfowl and fish production. The USFWS manages approximately 56,000 acres in National Wildlife Refuges and 59,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas including 5,526 acres of wilderness area within the Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge and 4,201 acres of wilderness area within the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The NDGFD manages approximately 47,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks manages approximately 12,000 acres of Game Production Areas in the southern end of the MLRA.

Wildlife species presence is often determined by site characteristics including grass and forb species, hydrology, aspect, and other associated ecological sites. Home ranges of most species are larger than one ecological site or are dependent upon more than one ecological site for annual life requisites. Ecological sites offer different habitat elements as the annual life requisites change. Habitat improvement and creation must be conducted within the mobility limits of a known population for the species.

Insects play an important role providing ecological services for plant community development. Insects that are scavengers or aid in decomposition provide the food chain baseline sustaining the carnivorous insects feeding upon them. Many insects provide the ecological services necessary for pollination, keeping plant communities healthy and productive. Insects provide a protein food source for numerous species including grassland-nesting birds and their young.

Species of Concern within MLRA 53B:

The following is a list of species considered “species of conservation priority” in the North Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan (2015) and South Dakota State Wildlife Action Plan (2014); and species listed as “threatened, endangered, or petitioned” under the Endangered Species Act within MLRA 53B at the time this section was developed:

Invertebrates: Dakota skipper, Dakota stonefly, Iowa skipper, monarch butterfly, northern sandy tiger beetle, Ottoe skipper, regal fritillary, yellow-banded bumble bee, and western bumble bee.

Birds: American avocet, American bittern, American kestrel, American white pelican, Baird’s sparrow, bald eagle, black-billed cuckoo, black tern, bobolink, burrowing owl, canvasback, chestnut-collared longspur, Dickcissel, ferruginous hawk, Franklin’s gull, grasshopper sparrow, greater prairie-chicken, horned grebe, horned lark, lark bunting, LeConte’s sparrow, lesser scaup, loggerhead shrike, long-billed curlew, marbled godwit, Nelson’s sparrow, northern goshawk, northern harrier, northern pintail, peregrine falcon (migration), piping plover (migration), red knot (migration), sharp-tailed grouse, short-eared owl, Sprague’s pipet, Swainson’s hawk, trumpeter swan, upland sandpiper, western meadowlark, willet, Wilson’s phalarope, whooping crane (migration), and yellow rail.

Mammals: Arctic shrew, big and little brown bats, Franklin’s ground squirrel, plains pocket mouse, Richardson’s ground squirrel, silver-haired bat, and swift fox (historical range).

Amphibians and Reptiles: Canadian toad, false map turtle, plains hognose snake, smooth green snake, and snapping turtle.

Fish and Mussels: Blacknose shiner, blue sucker, burbot, fathead chub, fragile papershell, northern pearl dace, northern redbelly dace, pink papershell, sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, and yellow sandshell.

Grassland Management for Wildlife in the MLRA 53B

Management activities within State and Transition models follow various community phase pathways. These management activities will impact wildlife, both positive and negative, but are essential for maintenance of healthy grassland ecosystems. Community phase, transitional, and restoration pathways are keys to long-term management within each State and between States. Timing, intensity, and frequency of these inputs can have dramatic positive or negative effects on local wildlife species. Ranchers and other land managers must always consider the long-term beneficial management effects of grassland and woodland resources in comparison to typically short-term negative effects to the habitats of individual species.

Ecological sites occur as intermingled complexes on the landscape with gradual or sometimes abrupt transitions. Rarely do ecological sites exist in large enough acreage to manage independently for wildlife. A management regime for one ecological site may negatively impact an adjacent site (e.g., alteration of a grazing regime within a Loamy Overflow ecological site to encourage tall warm-season grass development) may encourage exotic cool-season grasses to increase or dominate adjacent ecological sites.

Life requisites and habitat deficiencies are determined for targeted species, species guilds, or by land use. Deficiencies need to be addressed along community phase, transitional, and restoration pathways as presented in specific state-and-transition models. Ecological sites should be managed and restored within the site’s capabilities to provide sustainable habitat for targeted species or species guilds. Habitat fragmentation caused by the conversion to annual cropping, tree plantings, rural housing, and fragmentation due to transportation and electrical transmission corridors need to be considered when managing for target species.

With populations of many grassland-nesting birds in decline, it is important to maintain these ecological sites in a 1.0 Reference State (if found) or the 2.0 Native/Invaded State. Plant communities optimal for a guild of grassland species serve as a population source where the birth rate exceeds mortality. Species may use marginal plant communities; however, these sites may function as a population sink where mortality exceeds the birth rate.

Understanding preferred vegetative stature and sensitivity to woody encroachment is necessary to manage for the specific grassland species. Various grass heights may be used for breeding, nesting, or foraging habitat. While most species use varying heights, many have a preferred vegetative stature height. The following chart provides preferred vegetative stature heights and sensitivity to woody vegetation encroachment.

The chart can be viewed at the following hyperlink: https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/ND/53B_Sands_Narrative_FINAL_Ref_FSG.pdf

Sands Wildlife Habitat Interpretation:

Sands ecological sites are very deep, coarse textured (non-gravelly), well to excessively drained soils. They are usually found on eolian sand sheets, sandy lake plains, and outwash plains but can also occur on till plains mantled with eolian sands. No significant water table or surface run-on influences vegetation production on this site. These soils are susceptible to wind erosion. Associated ecological sites include Sandy, Choppy Sands, Loamy, Thin Loamy, Sandy Claypan, and Shallow Sandy. This complex of ecological sites provides habitat for many edge-sensitive, grassland bird species preferring medium- to tall-statured vegetation.

This site is very similar to the Sandy ecological site in plant community structure and wildlife interpretations. Sands ecological sites may be found in five plant community states (1.0 Reference State, 2.0 Native/Invaded State, 3.0 Invaded State, 4.0 Shrub State, and 5.0 Go-Back State) within a local landscape. Multiple plant community phases exist within States 1.0 and 2.0. Today, these states occur primarily in response to drought, fire, grazing, non-use, and other anthropogenic disturbances.

Because there is no known restoration pathway from State 2.0 to State 1.0, it is important to intensively manage using tools in State 1.0 and State 2.0 Community Phase Pathways to prevent further plant community degradation along the T2A Transitional Pathway to 3.0 Invaded State. Native wildlife generally benefits from the heterogeneous grasslands found in Community Phase States 1.0 and 2.0 that include diverse grass and forb species of varying stature and density. As plant communities degrade within State 2.0, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and/or crested wheatgrass increase while native forbs are reduced. When Kentucky bluegrass exceeds 30%, the site transitions to 3.0 Invaded State. This transition results in reduced stature and increased plant community homogeneity. When adjacent and/or intermingled ecological sites undergo the same transition, the result can be an expansive, homogenous landscape.

Success along Restoration Pathways R3A from State 3.0 to State 2.0 is very difficult and is dependent upon presence of a remnant native grass population. This concept also applies to wildlife, as the target species must either be present on adjacent State 1.0 or State 2.0 plant communities or on other ecological sites within the mobility limits of the species. Species with limited mobility, such as Dakota skippers, must exist near the plant community to utilize restored sites. Mobile species such as grassland-nesting birds can easily locate isolated, restored plant communities.

Plant Community Phase 3.1 shows a dramatic increase in homogeneity of exotic cool-season grasses and further reduction in native forbs. Reduced forb diversity limits insect populations, negatively affecting foraging opportunities for grassland-nesting birds. Increased exotic grass litter can limit access to bare ground by nesting insects and can limit mobility by small chicks. A homogenous grassland landscape does not provide quality escape or winter cover. As a result, many species are not able to meet life requisites, especially non-migrating bird species.

Management along community phase, transition, or restoration pathways should focus upon attainable changes. Short- and long-term monetary costs must be evaluated against short- and long- term ecological services in creating and maintaining habitat of sufficient quality to support a sustainable population density.

1.0 Reference State

Community Phase 1.1 Needlegrasses-Prairie Sandreed-Bluestems: This plant community offers quality vegetative cover for wildlife; every effort should be made to maintain this ecological site within this community phase. This phase retains high functionality through continued grassland management including prescribed grazing (with adequate recovery period) as well as prescribed fire. Predominance of grass species in this community favors grazers and mixed-feeders (animals selecting grasses as well as forbs and shrubs). The structural diversity provides habitat for a wide array of migratory and resident birds.

Invertebrates: Insects play a role in maintaining the forb community and provide a forage base for grassland birds, reptiles, and rodents. Ecological services, historically provided by bison, are simulated by domestic livestock. These services include putting plant material and dung in contact with mineral soil to be used by lower trophic level consumers (such as invertebrate decomposers, scavengers, shredders, predators, herbivores, dung beetles, and fungal-feeders). Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods (as well as prescribed fire) to maintain Community Phase 1.1 phase will have long term positive effects on ground dwelling insects.

Dakota skippers may use this site due to availability of host plants (such as bluestems, needlegrasses, and upright prairie coneflower). Violet species are not common on this site, not supporting the needed habitat for the regal fritillary. Monarch butterfly may use flowering forbs; however, few milkweed species are found on these sites to support caterpillar food. Bumblebees and other native bees utilize forbs as a nectar source; bare ground and nesting sites are available due to the co-dominance of bunch grasses.

Birds: This plant community provides quality nesting, foraging, and escape habitats favored by mid- to tall grass-nesting birds. Prescribed fire maintains a grass-dominated plant community providing habitat for bird species sensitive to woody vegetation. In years with reduced precipitation or drought, nesting recruitment may be compromised. This plant community does not provide suitable lek sites for sharp-tailed grouse due to the tall-statured vegetation. However, it does provide nesting, brood- rearing, escape, and winter habitat. This site provides good hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: The diversity of grasses and forbs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including voles, mice, jackrabbits, and white-tailed deer. Tall- to mid-statured vegetation provides suitable food and thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores.

Amphibians and Reptiles: This ecological site is not typically found adjacent to or near Wet Meadow or Shallow Marsh ecological sites. Habitat for the northern leopard frog and Canadian toad is dependent upon short distance to these ecological sites. This site provides habitat for the plains hog- nosed snake, preferring sandy sites.

Fish and Mussels: This ecological site is not typically adjacent to streams, rivers, or water bodies. This site receives limited run-on hydrology from adjacent ecological sites and provides limited hydrology to adjacent ecological sites. Management on Sands sites, in conjunction with neighboring run-on sites, will have an indirect effect on aquatic species in streams and/or tributaries receiving water from Sands and adjacent sites. Optimum hydrological function and nutrient cycling limit potential for sediment yield and nutrient loading to the adjacent aquatic ecosystems from Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 1.2 Sedges/Blue Grama-Needle and Thread-Prairie Sandreed: Multiyear drought (with or without heavy long-term grazing) favors a decrease of tall warm-season grasses and increases in needle and thread, short warm-season grasses, and sedges.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. The forb component remains similar with increases in warm season sod-forming grasses and sedges. Long-term drought may keep forbs from producing flowers or result in fewer and/or smaller flowers per plant. Increase in sod forming grasses decreases the availability of bare ground for ground nesting insects.

Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. However, the reduction in big bluestem and increases in sedges and short warm-season grasses moves this plant community to short- to mid-stature favoring grassland-nesting birds species preferring short- to mid-statured vegetation. Winter cover for resident bird species, such as sharp-tailed grouse, is somewhat compromised due to increases in sedges and cool-season bunch grasses.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. A shift to short- to mid-statured vegetation reduces cover for large herbivores but provides suitable food, thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

2.0 Native/Invaded State

Community Phase 2.1 Needlegrasses-Prairie Sandreed-Bluestems: This plant community develops through Transition Pathway T1A due to changes in management (reduction in fire frequency) and the presence of exotic, cool-season grasses. The threshold between States 1.0 and 2.0 is crossed when exotic grasses (usually Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and/or crested wheatgrass) or exotic forbs become established. This plant community phase has a very similar appearance and function to the Plant Community 1.1 except that it has a minor amount of cool-season exotic grasses or forbs. This phase functions at a high level for native wildlife; therefore, managers should consider management within the State 2.0 Community Phase Pathways to avoid transitioning to State 3.0.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.2 Sedges/Blue Grama-Needle and Thread-Prairie Sandreed/Forbs: Multi-year drought, with or without heavy grazing, (via Community Phase Pathway 2.1A) results in increases in needle and thread, blue grama, and sedges with corresponding decreases in prairie sandreed and bluestems. The forb component is still diverse.

This community phase is often found in a mosaic in the pasture in an overgrazed/ undergrazed pattern typical of properly stocked pastures grazed season-long. Some areas will be impacted by heavy use while other areas will have a build-up of litter and a high amount of plant decadence. This mosaic of grazed and ungrazed areas provides a short to tall vegetative stature.

Invertebrates: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. Invertebrates will respond to the amount of over-utilized vs. under-utilized areas and the resultant vegetative stature. Reduced litter amounts on the over-utilized area increases bare ground favoring ground nesting insects. Under-utilized areas will have a decrease in bare ground for ground-nesting insects but may have more pollen and nectar producing forbs. An increase in wind-pollinated shrubs, such as field sagewort and prairie sagewort, may reduce pollen and nectar availability. Prairie sagewort provides nesting sites for native bees and larval food butterfly species.

Birds: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. Dependent on patch sizes, mid- to tall-statured vegetation may be available to grassland nesting birds.

Mammals: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.2. Overall plant stature may be reduced in this phase, reducing cover for large ungulates. Litter depth and residual vegetation provides thermal, protective, escape, and winter cover for small mammals.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1. Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Community Phase 2.3 Needle and Thread/Forbs/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses: This plant community develops through extended periods of non-use or very light grazing, and no fire (via Community Phase 2.1B and 2.2B). Needle and thread and exotic grasses become the dominant grasses with increases in Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome and/or crested wheatgrass. The plant community is considered an “at risk” plant community. Every effort should be made by managers to avoid implementing a grazing system that may favor Kentucky bluegrass via Transitional Pathways T2A. Continuous, heavy season-long grazing or complete rest could cause this plant community to reach the 30 percent threshold of Kentucky bluegrass crossing over to State 3.0 with little chance of restoration back to State 2.0. Forbs including goldenrod, white heath aster, and white sagebrush are common forbs with an increase in western snowberry and rose. Implementation of a prescribed grazing system with adequate recovery period (via Community Pathway 2.3A) can shift the competitive edge to mid-statured warm-season grasses with a shift back to Community Phase 2.1.

Invertebrates: The reduction of native forbs and increase in sod-forming grasses and mulch limit foraging and ground nesting sites for all pollinators. Dominated by late season bloom period species of forbs, overall pollen and nectar resources become limited. Dependent upon the density of western snowberry and rose, this plant community can provide mid-season pollen and nectar sources.

Birds: An increase in exotic cool-season grasses and needle and thread combines with a corresponding reduction in tall warm-season grasses (such as big bluestem and prairie sandreed). This shift to short- to mid-grass statured vegetation favors grassland nesting birds preferring short to medium vegetative stature. Species that prefer mid-grass stature generally will be successful with normal to above normal precipitation and a change in management along the 2.3A Community Phase Pathway. In years with reduced precipitation or heavy grazing during the nesting season, use by mid-grass nesting species may be compromised. This plant community provides areas suitable for sharp-tailed grouse lek site development. Limited stature and diverse prey populations provide good hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: Increased litter provides habitat for rodents and other small mammals, while the shift to shorter statured vegetation reduces thermal, protective, and escape cover for larger mammals. The loss of diversity of grasses and forbs reduces nutrition levels for small and large herbivores.

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

3.0 Invaded State

Community Phase 3.1 Exotic Cool-Season Grasses/Forbs: Extended periods of non-use or very light grazing, and no fire, (via Transition Pathway T2A) causes this plant community to reach the 30 percent threshold of Kentucky bluegrass crossing over to State 3.0. This plant community can also develop under other management, such as season-long heavy grazing. Plant litter accumulation favors shade tolerant exotic grasses and western snowberry. Non-use will result in extensive areas of Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome and/or crested wheatgrass litter accumulation and have the effect of residual cover going prostrate or “laying down”. Forb number and diversity is low with western snowberry becoming common on the site. Pathway R3A will require intensive management practices, including prescribed fire, grazing, and possible mechanical treatment of western snowberry along with extensive time to bring forb and grass diversity back to State 2.0. Success along this pathway is dependent upon the length of time this community phase has been in place and the amount and vigor of any native cool- and warm-season grasses persisting on the site.

Invertebrates: The invasion of Kentucky bluegrass or other exotic cool-season grasses reduces or eliminates the habitat for all pollinating species of concern within MLRA 53B. Season-long pollen and nectar availability becomes limited on this site. The woody shrub component (western snowberry) will provide an early- to mid- season bloom period. Non-use will increase litter, reducing sites for ground nesting pollinators. Heavy grazing will reduce litter amounts and provide some bare ground for ground nesting insects. Overall, pollinator plant diversity is low, limiting season-long nectar and pollen production.

Birds: As vegetative stature becomes less diverse with an exotic cool-season monoculture (Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome and/or crested wheatgrass), non-use, very light use, and no fire results in extensive areas of grass litter accumulation. In addition, residual cover will have the effect of going prostrate or “laying down” - negatively impacting nesting opportunities. Grassland nesting bird species that favor short- to mid-statured vegetation may use this plant community. Dependent upon use and stature of residual vegetation, this plant community can provide suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse lek sites with limited to no cover for other life requisites. This site provides limited hunting opportunities for grassland raptors.

Mammals: Excessive litter build up and the tendency for Kentucky bluegrass, brome and/or crested wheatgrass litter accumulation will have the effect of residual cover going prostrate or “laying down”. This provides quality thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores, but limited life requisites for large mammals. If the plant community is managed with heavy, season-long grazing, residual cover is removed - providing limited food and cover for most mammals except ground dwelling mammals (ground squirrels).

Amphibians and Reptiles: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1; however, excessive grazing will negatively impact the plains hog-nosed snake.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

4.0 Shrub State

Community Phase 4.1 Shrubs/Forbs/Exotic Cool-Season Grasses: Extended periods of non-use and no fire, enhanced by above normal precipitation (via Transitional Pathways T3A) causes this plant community to be dominated by shrubs. Plant litter accumulation favors shade tolerant grasses and western snowberry. Forb number and diversity is low with western snowberry and other flowering shrubs beginning to dominate or dominating the site. Pathway R3A will require intensive management practices and extensive time to bring forb and grass diversity back to State 2.0.

Invertebrates: The invasion of western snowberry reduces or eliminates the habitat for all pollinating species of concern within MLRA 53B. Season-long pollen and nectar availability becomes limited on this site. The woody shrub component (western snowberry) provides an early season bloom period. Non-use will increase litter, reducing sites for ground nesting pollinators. Overall, pollinator plant diversity is low, limiting season-long nectar and pollen production. Shrubs, mainly western snowberry, provide early-season pollen sources. Season-long pollen and nectar is typically not available. This site no longer provides life requisites for butterfly and bee species. Overall, this community phase will not favor pollinating species in either management scenario (heavy use or no use).

Birds: This site may still provide habitat needs for many grassland nesting birds, dependent upon the density and height the shrubs. Many grassland nesting birds are tolerant or positively correlated with western snowberry. Northern harrier, lark bunting, and Dickcissel use western snowberry for nesting sites. This plant community does not provide suitable areas for sharp-tailed grouse or greater prairie chicken lek sites but does provide brood rearing and escape habitat. Winter cover is mainly provided by the western snowberry. This site provides hunting opportunities for grassland raptors. Management along Restoration Pathway R3A will require intensive mechanical and management practices and extensive time to bring forb and grass diversity back to this plant community phase.

Mammals: Western snowberry will provide increased year-round cover and browse for white-tailed deer. The short stature and density of western snowberry will not provide habitat for porcupines or other mammals that prefer woody habitat.

Amphibians and Reptiles: The increase in western snowberry may no longer provide life requisites for amphibians or reptiles.

Fish and Mussels: Provides similar life requisites as Community Phase 1.1.

5.0 Go-Back State

Community Phase 5.1 Annual/Pioneer Perennial/Exotics: These plant communities are the result of severe soil disturbance (such as cropping, recreational activity, or concentrated livestock activity for a prolonged period). Following cessation of disturbances, the resulting plant community is dominated by early pioneer annual and perennial plant species. Plant species composition and production are highly variable. Weedy plants can provide pollinator habitat along with spring and summer cover for many mammals and birds, and their young. Dense weed cover can keep soils moist, increasing the presence of insects. Milkweed can be an early pioneering pollinator species and host plant for monarch butterflies.

Tall stature provided by some annual weeds offers thermal cover and seeds throughout winter for deer, small mammals, and over-wintering birds. The response by wildlife species will be dependent upon plant community composition, vegetative stature, patch size, and management activities (such as prescribed grazing, burning, inter-seeding, haying, or noxious weed control).

Successful restoration of native species along Transition Pathway R5A can result in a native grass and forb community in Native/Invaded State 2.0. Over time, with no management, the exotic cool-season perennial grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and/or crested wheatgrass) generally become established and dominate the community. Failed native grass planting, via Transition Pathway R5B, can result in an invaded plant community Invaded State 3.0.

Animal Community – Grazing Interpretations

This site is well adapted to managed grazing by domestic livestock. The predominance of herbaceous plants across all plant community phases best lends these sites to grazing by cattle, but other domestic grazers with differing diet preferences may also be a consideration depending upon management objectives. Often, the current plant community does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in the ecological site description). Because of this, a resource inventory is necessary to document plant composition and production. Proper interpretation of this inventory data will permit the establishment of a safe, initial stocking rate for the type and class of animals and level of grazing management. More accurate stocking rate estimates should eventually be calculated using actual stocking rate information and monitoring data.

NRCS defines prescribed grazing as “managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and/or browsing animals with the intent to achieve specific ecological, economic, and management objectives”. As used in this site description, the term ‘prescribed grazing’ is intended to include multiple grazing management systems (e.g., rotational grazing, twice-over grazing, conservation grazing, targeted grazing, etc.) provided that, whatever management system is implemented, it meets the intent of prescribed grazing definition.

The basic grazing prescription addresses balancing forage demand (quality and quantity) with available forage, varying grazing and deferment periods from year-to-year, matching recovery/deferment periods to growing conditions when pastures are grazed more than once in a growing season, implementation of a contingency (e.g., drought) plan, and a monitoring plan. When the management goal is to facilitate change from one plant community phase or state to another, then the prescription needs to be designed to shift the competitive advantage to favor the native grass and forb species.

Grazing levels are noted within the plant community narratives and pathways in reference to grazing management. “Degree of utilization” is defined as the proportion of the current years forage production that is consumed and/or destroyed by grazing animals (may refer to a single plant species or a portion or all the vegetation). “Grazing utilization” is classified as slight, moderate, full, close, and severe (see the following table for description of each grazing use category). The following utilization levels are also described in the Ranchers Guide to Grassland Management IV. Utilization levels are determined by using the landscape appearance method as outlined in the Interagency Technical Reference “Utilization Studies and Residual Measurements” 1734-3.

Utilization Level % Use Description
Slight (Light) 0-20 Appears practically undisturbed when viewed obliquely. Only choice areas and forage utilized.

Moderate 20-40 Almost all of accessible range shows grazing. Little or no use of poor forage. Little evidence of trailing to grazing.

Full 40-60 All fully accessible areas are grazed. The major sites have key forage species properly utilized (about half taken, half left). Points of concentration with overuse limited to 5 to 10 percent of accessible area.

Close (Heavy) 60-80 All accessible range plainly shows use and major sections closely cropped. Livestock forced to use less desirable forage, considering seasonal preference.

Severe > 80 Key forage species completely used. Low-value forages are dominant.

Hydrological functions

Available water is the principal factor limiting herbage production on this site. The site is dominated by soils in hydrologic group A, but some soils in group B are included. Infiltration varies from moderately rapid to very rapid; runoff potential varies from negligible to medium for this site depending on soil hydrologic group, surface texture, slope percent, and ground cover. In many cases, areas with greater than 75% ground cover have the greatest potential for high infiltration and lower runoff. An exception would be where short-grasses form a dense sod and dominate the site. Areas where ground cover is less than 50% have the greatest potential to have reduced infiltration and higher runoff (refer to Section 4, NRCS National Engineering Handbook for runoff quantities and hydrologic curves).

Recreational uses

National wildlife refuges (NWR) (56,476 acres), waterfowl production areas (WPAs) (183,465 acres), state wildlife management areas (WMAs) (59,476 acres), Department of Trust Lands/State School Lands (284,695 acres), and the United State Army Corps of Engineers (65,619 acres) provide hunting, bird watching, hiking, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. Audubon WMA, North Dakota, is the largest state managed, wildlife area covering 6,716 acres. The largest refuges managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife service are Audubon NWR (14,735 acres); Lostwood NWR (26,747 acres with 5,526 acres designated as wilderness area); Chase Lake NWR (4,385 acres, of which 4,201 acres were designated a wilderness area); and Long Lake NWR (22,300 acres). United States Bureau of Reclamation manages approximately 2,215 acres for fish and wildlife habitat. The Bureau of Land Management manages 6,042 acres in small, scattered tracts across the MLRA.

Bird watching: Prairie-dependent and migratory birds provide quality birding opportunities within this MLRA. NWRs, WPAs, and WMAs provide essential habitat for prairie-dependent bird species (such as Sprague's pipit and Baird's sparrow) along with some of the larger, showy members of the upland prairie including marbled godwit, upland sandpipes, and willet. MLRA 53B is in the heart of spring and fall bird migratory routes.

Chase Lake NWR is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans and has been identified by the American Bird Conservancy as one of the top 100 Globally Important Bird Areas in the United States. Lostwood NWR is designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Birding Conservancy and the Audubon Society. Long Lake NWR consists of a 15,000-acre saline basin that is 18 miles long and is appropriately named "Long Lake". The refuge was listed as a top 10 birding site by Wild Bird Magazine. It was also recently designated as both a Globally Important Bird Area and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site because of its importance as both a breeding and migratory stopover site for more than 20,000 shorebirds, annually.

Hunting/Fishing: MLRA 53B is a fall destination for thousands of waterfowl hunters. The density of prairie pothole wetlands, WPAs, state owned trust lands, and WMAs provide quality opportunities for waterfowl and upland game bird hunting. This MLRA also provides quality white-tailed deer hunting opportunities along with moose hunting opportunities.

Quality fishing (summer and winter fishing) opportunities are available in the MLRA. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department and the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks manages approximately 125 fishing lakes within the MLRA. Available species include yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, crappie, bluegill, and small mouth bass. Lake Audubon is the largest fishing lake within the MLRA. A portion of Lake Audubon, within the National Wildlife refuge system, provides ice fishing access only; there is no open-water fishing on the refuge portion of Lake Audubon.

Camping: The Bureau of Reclamation manages the Brekken-Holmes Recreation Area in the Turtle Lake area. The recreation area consists of approximately 675 water surface acres, 620 land acres, and 10 miles of shoreline. The Garrison Conservancy District provides primitive camping along the chain of lakes connected by the McClusky Canal diverting water eastward into central North Dakota. Nine state parks are located within the MLRA totaling 1,340 acres. Fort Stevenson State Park is the only State Park in the MLRA that provides boating access to Lake Sakakawea. Other numerous camping (primitive and improved) sites are available in numerous city and county parks.

Hiking: The North Country Trail dissects the MLRA east to west following the 76-mile section of the McClusky Canal; in addition is has 12 miles of off-road trails through the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, a road walk from Coleharbor to Riverdale and across Garrison Dam, and a short, off-road segment leading to the Western Terminus within Lake Sakakawea State Park. Hiking is also permitted on other state and federally owned lands. In addition, the Lostwood NWR and the Audubon NWR have 7 and 8 miles, respectively, of self-guided auto tours.

Wood products

There are no appreciable wood products on this site.

Other products

Seed harvest of native plant species can provide additional income on this site.

Other information

Site Development and Testing Plan
• Further investigation is needed on similar soils with moderately steep and steep slopes 15-35%. These soils occur on stable landforms (not dunes) and are currently included in the Choppy Sands ecological site. Many of them occur on eolian sand sheets over glacial till on moraines. Investigation and documentation of the plant communities and forage production on these soils is recommended.
• Further investigation is needed on the Schaller and Yecross soils included in this site. Areas of these soils have more gravel than is typical for the Sands ecological site. The range of gravel content in Schaller is 0 to 16 percent in the A and Bk horizons; the C horizon (which may be as shallow as 16 inches) has a range of 5 to 48 percent gravel and up to 5 percent cobbles. Yecross has >15 percent gravel at a depth 8 inches. The impact of the gravel on droughtiness and the plant community should be evaluated to determine if these soils should be assigned to other sites (Shallow Gravel or Very Shallow).
• Further evaluation and refinement of the State-and-Transition model is needed to identify disturbance driven dynamics. Additional states and/or phases may be required to address grazing response.
• Further documentation may be needed for plant communities in all states. Plant data has been collected in previous range-site investigations, including clipping data; however, this data needs review. If geo-referenced sites meeting Tier 3 standards for either vegetative or soil data are not available, representative sites will be selected for further investigation.
• Site concepts will be refined as the above noted investigations are completed.
• The long-term goal is to complete an approved, correlated Ecological Site Description as defined by the National Ecological Site Handbook.
• NASIS revisions needed:
o All but one component of Seroco and all Blanchard components (all having slopes <15%) need to be relinked from 53B Choppy Sands to 53B Sands. One Seroco component with slope >15% needs to be relinked to 54 Choppy Sands.
o Three components (2 major) of Lihen exceed 15% slopes; these need to be relinked to Choppy Sands which MLRA 53B does not have. The component in Livona-Lihen-Flasher complex, 9 to 35 percent slopes occurs in Burleigh County and is associated with residuum; it should be linked to 54 Choppy Sands. The other components occur in Logan and Sheridan counties and are associated with eolian capped glacial till; these two should be linked to 55B Choppy Sands.
o Five components (2 major) of Telfer exceed 15% slopes; these need to be relinked to Choppy Sands which MLRA 53B does not have. The component in Lihen-Zahl complex, 9 to 25 percent slopes occurs in McLean County and is associated with eolian capped glacial till; it should be linked to 55B Choppy Sands. The other components should be linked to 54 Choppy Sands.
o Eighteen components (9 major) of Lihen are currently linked to Sandy but need to be relinked to Sands. The fine sandy loam surface soil of these components is <10 inches thick.
o Two Hecla (low precipitation) components occur primarily in Kidder and Stutsman counties and have the same water tables depths as populated for 55B Hecla components. These low precipitation Hecla components should be relinked from 53B Sands to 55B Subirrigated Sands.

This ESD is the best available knowledge. The site concept and species composition table have been used in the field and tested for more than five years. It is expected that as additional information becomes available revisions may be required.

Inventory data references

Information presented here has been derived from NRCS and other federal/state agency clipping and inventory data. Also, field knowledge of range-trained personnel was used. All descriptions were peer reviewed and/or field-tested by various private, state and federal agency specialists.

Other references

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Contributors

Dennis Froemke, NRCS Range Management Specialist; Jeff Printz, NRCS State Range Management Specialist; Josh Saunders, NRCS Range Management Specialist;
Stan Boltz, NRCS Range Management Specialist; Michael D. Brand, State Land Dept., Director Surface Management; David Dewald, NRCS State Biologist; Paul Drayton, NRCS District Conservationist; Jody Forman, NRCS Range Management Specialist;
Kevin Sedivec, Extension Rangeland Management Specialist; Darrell Vanderbusch, NRCS Resource Soil Scientist; and Lee Voigt, NRCS Range Management Specialist.
ND NRCS: David Dewald, Alan Gulsvig, Jonathan Fettig, Mark Hayek, Chuck Lura, Jeff Printz, Steve Sieler, and Hal Weiser.
Jeff Printz/Stan Boltz

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 3/31/2025

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