Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R057XY007MN
Steep Upland Prairie
Last updated: 10/03/2023
Accessed: 08/16/2026
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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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 057X–Northern Minnesota Gray Drift
The Northern Minnesota Gray Drift (57) is located within the Northern Lakes Forest and Forage Region. This area is entirely in north-central Minnesota and makes up about 9,785 square miles (Figure 1). The entire area is covered by Wisconsin-age glacial drift. The glacial deposits are from four major ice lobes-Des Moines, Rainy, Superior, and Wadena. The landscape developed through a series of glaciations and the subsequent retreating and wasting of the ice sheets, which resulted in a complex pattern of moraines, outwash plains, drumlins, lake plains and drainages. Lakes, ponds and marshes are common. The thickness of the glacial till ranges from 90 to 185 meters. Some areas of these deposits are overlain by outwash or lacustrine sediments. Some depressional areas have an accumulation of organic matter. The organic deposits are more than 2.5 meters thick in some areas. Elevation ranges from 300 to 500 meters across the area. (USDA-NRCS 2006)
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Alfisols, Entisols, and Histisols, with some Mollisols in the westernmost part of the area. The soils in the area have a frigid soil temperature regime; aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. Their natural drainage class is related to landscape position. In general, the Alfisols formed in till on moraines, Entisols formed in outwash on moraines and outwash plains, and Histosols formed in organic material over outwash or till on moraines or outwash plains. (USDA-NRCS 2006)Classification relationships
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Northern Minnesota Gray Drift (57) (USDA Handbook 296, 2006)
USFS Subregions: Northern Minnesota Drift & Lake Plain Section (212N); Chippewa Plains Subsection (212Na), Pine Moraines & Outwash Plains Subsections (212Nc), St. Louis Moraines Subsection (212Nb); Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal Section (222M); Hardwood Hills Subsection (222Ma); Northern Superior Uplands Section (212L); Nashwauk Uplands Subsection (212Lc); Northern Minnesota & Ontario Peatlands Section (212M); Littlefork-Vermillion Uplands Subsection (212Ma) (Cleland et al. 2007).
US EPA Level IV Ecoregion: Itasca and St. Louis Moraines (50q); Chippewa Plains (50r); Nashwauk/Marcell Moraines and Uplands (50s); Alexandria Moraines and Detroit Lakes Outwash Plain (51j); McGrath Till Plain and Drumlins (51k); Wadena/Todd Drumlins and Osakis Till Plain (51l)(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2013)Ecological site concept
Steep Upland Prairie sites are limited in extent in the southern region of MLRA 57, and typically occur on moraines and with slope gradients greater than 12 percent. Soils textures can vary from medium to fine textured and are mollisols with dark organic-enriched upper horizons. Plant communities are graminoid dominated.
Associated sites
R057XY010MN Loamy Prairie
These sites occur on summit, shoulder and upper backslope hillslope positions on moraines and outwash plains. These sites typically exist on soils with loamy and clayey textures of loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, very fine sandy loam, clay, silty clay and silty clay loam within a depth of 50 centimeters.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Andropogon gerardii
(2) Bouteloua curtipendulaPhysiographic features
Steep Upland Prairie sites are limited in extent in the southern region of MLRA 57, and typically occur on moraines and with slope gradients greater than 12 percent.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Hillslope profile (1) Backslope
(2) Shoulder
Landforms (1) Outwash plain
(2) Delta plain
Runoff class Negligible to very low Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 750 – 1000 ft Slope 12 – 30 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
In general, MLRA 57 has cold winters and warm summers. About 65 percent of the annual precipitation falls as rain during the 5-month growing season (May through September), and an additional 18 percent falls as snow. The freeze-free period averages 150 days and ranges from 120 to 175 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 100-110 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 130-140 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (actual range) 100-110 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 130-140 days Precipitation total (actual range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (average) 110 days Freeze-free period (average) 130 days Precipitation total (average) 30 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) LONG PRAIRIE [USC00214861], Long Prairie, MN
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(2) ITASCA UNIV OF MINN [USC00214106], Park Rapids, MN
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(3) NEW YORK MILLS [USC00215902], New York Mills, MN
">Influencing water features
Not Applicable.
Wetland description
Not Applicable.
Soil features
This site is represented by the Maddock soil series, although other series could be included as well. Soils textures can vary from medium to fine textured and are mollisols with dark organic-enriched upper horizons. These sites are typically well to somewhat excessively drained soils with depth to gray and or rust colored redoximorphic features or depth to seasonal high water-table ranges from 75 to more than 150 centimeters.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Glaciolacustrine deposits
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Sandy loam
(3) Loamy fine sand
Drainage class Well drained to somewhat excessively drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to rapid Depth to restrictive layer 72 – 0 in Soil depth 80 – 0 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 5 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 2 % Available water capacity
(0-150in)0 – 4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-100in)0 – 5 % Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-100in)6.6 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(0-40in)0 – 5 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
Plant communities typical with Steep Upland Prairies tend to be graminiod-dominated herbaceous communities of little bluestem, side-oats grama, plains muhly, and prairie dropseed. The low shrub wolfberry is commonly found along with leadplant, prairie rose and sage wormwood shrubs. Forbs important to this site are heart-leaved alexanders, alumroot, northern bedstraw, white aster-like goldenrod, prairie phlox to mention a few.
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 textT1A - Heavy grazing or high levels of ground litter accumulation T1B - Lack of fire for more than 5 years. T1C - Tillage or other agricultural practices. T2A - Lack of fire for more than 5 years. T2B - Tillage and farming practices. State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A - Lack of fire greater than five years, drought, and grazing. 1.2A - Increased fire return interval, less than 5 years. State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A - Lack of disturbance, over grazing, buildup of heavy litter layer. 2.2A - Timed grazing and fire 2.2B - Lack of disturbance 2.3B - Intensive prescribed burning 2.3A - Intensive prescribed burning State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
4.1A - Seeded grass species sowed. 4.2A - Tillage and seasonal row crop planting. State 1
Reference StateThe reference state is considered to be representative of the native range of variability under pre Euro-settlement conditions. Community phase changes in this state are primarily driven by a fire return interval less than 5 years, periodic drought cycles, and light to moderate grazing pressure. This state was co-dominated by warm and cool season grasses.
Dominant plant species
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
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Indiangrass (Sorghastrum), grass
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porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea), grass
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
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plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), grass
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leadplant (Amorpha canescens), other herbaceous
Community 1.1
Big Bluestem /Side-Oats Grama /Plains MuhlyDominant plant species
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
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Indiangrass (Sorghastrum), grass
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porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea), grass
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
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plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), grass
Community 1.2
Lead Plant - Big Bluestem - Indian GrassDominant plant species
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leadplant (Amorpha canescens), grass
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
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Indiangrass (Sorghastrum), grass
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Lack of fire greater than five years, drought, and heavy grazing.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Increased fire return interval, less than 5 years; return to more frequent grazing.
State 2
Invaded StateThis state is dominated by cool season invasive grasses resulting from heavy grazing and high ground litter accumulation. Some native species are still present.
Dominant plant species
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smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
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Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
Community 2.1
Big Bluestem - Smooth Brome - Kentucky Blue GrassDominant plant species
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
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smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
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Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
Community 2.2
Smooth Brome - Kentucky Blue GrassThis community phase is dominated by Kentucky bluegrass , smooth brome, or other introduced cool-season grasses. Big bluestem is severely reduced and is suffering in terms of vigor and reproductive capacity.
Community 2.3
Shruby/Woody EncroachedInvasive shrubs and woody species dominate this site after encroaching on prairie communities.
Dominant plant species
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western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), shrub
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smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), shrub
Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2Lack of disturbance, over grazing, buildup of heavy litter layer.
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1Timed grazing and fire
Pathway 2.2B
Community 2.2 to 2.3Lack of disturbance
Pathway 2.3B
Community 2.3 to 2.1Intensive prescribed burning
Pathway 2.3A
Community 2.3 to 2.2Intensive prescribed burning
State 3
Encroached StateThe encroached state is characterized by increased cover of native woody species due to the absence of wildfire. Ecological processes such as energy distribution, nutrient cycling, and soil moisture recharge are being controlled by trees. Herbaceous species in the understory experience reduced productivity and reproductive capacity due to shading.
Community 3.1
Green Ash - Bur Oak - Quaking AspenDominant plant species
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green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), tree
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bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), tree
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quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), tree
State 4
Agricultural stateIndefinite use for agriculture including tillage and crop production.
Community 4.1
RowcropPlanted row crops such as corn and soybean.
Community 4.2
Seeded GrasslandThis community phase is characterized by the seeding of or reestablishment of long-lived, perennial grasses both native and non-native following previous cultivation or tillage. Functional groups and visual aspect of the vegetation may be similar to the reference state, however ecological function is different. Tillage and cultivation negatively impacts soil structure and organic matter leading to lower rates of infiltration and increased runoff
Pathway 4.1A
Community 4.1 to 4.2Seeded grass species sowed.
Pathway 4.2A
Community 4.2 to 4.1Tillage and seasonal row crop planting.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Triggers: the introduction of non-native, cool-season, perennial grasses that can not be removed from the system. Slow variables: prolong periods of heavy grazing pressure reduce vigor and reproductive capacity of native species allowing non-natives to establish. This process can be exacerbated by the absence of wildfire that allows for the accumulation of litter that favors non-native, cool-season, grasses.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Slow variables: Lengthened fire return intervals (greater than 5 years) allow native woody species in encroach and being to dominant the ecological processes. As canopy cover increases herbaceous perennial understory is reduced in both vigor and reproductive capacity. Heavy grazing pressure may exacerbate the impacts of woody species encroachment Thresholds: Nutrient cycling, energy capture and hydrologic function have been spatially and temporally truncated by the dominance of trees.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Triggers: Lands have been cleared and cultivated. These management actions represent a discrete event that truncates energy, nutrient, water cycling dynamics reducing ecological resilience. Thresholds: Once the site is cultivated, soil properties such as structure and organic matter are permanently altered.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Slow variables: Lengthened fire return intervals (greater than 5 years) allow native woody species in encroach and being to dominant the ecological processes. As canopy cover increases herbaceous perennial understory is reduced in both vigor and reproductive capacity. Heavy grazing pressure may exacerbate the impacts of woody species encroachment Thresholds: Nutrient cycling, energy capture and hydrologic function have been spatially and temporally truncated by the dominance of trees.
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4Triggers: Lands have been cleared and cultivated. These management actions represent a discrete event that truncates energy, nutrient, water cycling dynamics reducing ecological resilience. Thresholds: Once the site is cultivated, soil properties such as structure and organic matter are permanently altered.
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1The encroached state will not return to the reference state without significant management actions. To restore this community to reference-like conditions requires the continued use of prescribed burning (fire return interval of ~5years is required to maintain the reference state). Management may also initially require herbicide and mechanical brush control. Additional considerations include deferment from grazing and the health and vigor of remnant native grass species in the understory.
Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 2Triggers: Widespread fire, or multiple fires, severe enough to kill overstory of woody species Slow variables: prolonged heavy grazing, may also be coupled with drought and the introduction of non-native species. Thresholds: hydrologic cycling, nutrient cycling, energy capture are controlled by herbaceous species
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Triggers: Lands have been cleared and cultivated. These management actions represent a discrete event that truncates energy, nutrient, water cycling dynamics reducing ecological resilience. Thresholds: Once the site is cultivated, soil properties such as structure and organic matter are permanently altered.
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 2.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 4.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented was derived from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Field Guide to the Native Plant Communities of Minnesota, USDA-NRCS soil survey information, and USDA Plants Database. Relationship to Other Established Classifications: MN DNR Native Plant Community (MN DNR, 2003); the reference community of this Provisional Ecological Site is most similar to: UPs13d Southern Dry Prairie (Dry Hill Prairie-southern)
Other references
Cleland, D.T.; Freeouf, J.A.; Keys, J.E., Jr.; Nowacki, G.J.; Carpenter, C; McNab, W.H. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous United States.[1:3,500,000], Sloan, A.M., cartog. Gen. Tech. Report WO-76. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Eggers, Steve D. and Donald M. Reed. 1997. Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (2003). Field Guide to the Native Plant Communities of Minnesota: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. MNDNR St. Paul, MN.
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Official Soil Series Descriptions. Available online. Accessed March 2018.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.
USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 27 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2013. Level III and IV ecoregions of the continental
United States: Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. EPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, map scale 1:3,000,000, https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/level-iii-and-iv-ecoregions-continental-united-states.Contributors
Ezra Hoffman, Ecological Site Specialist for North Central Region
Kade Anderson, Ecological Site Specialist for North Central Region
Stacey Clark, Former Regional Ecologist for Regions 10 & 11
Patty Burns, Soil Scientist at Bemidji Soil Survey OfficeApproval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 10/03/2023
Acknowledgments
MLRA 57 technical team completed in 2022.
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 08/16/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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