Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Riparian Woodland 10-19
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
-
Transition T1A
Prolonged improper grazing in combination with lack of flooding disturbance
More details -
Transition T1C
Establishment of invasive tree species (primarily Russian olive)
More details -
Transition T1B
Clear cutting, tillage or herbicide application, and seeding of cultivated crops (often combined with irrigation practices)
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
Proper grazing management, tree/shrub planting, intensive weed management (management intensive and costly)
More details -
Transition T2A
Establishment of invasive tree species (primarily Russian olive)
More details -
Transition T3A
Removal of invasive tree species, sometimes combined with tree/shrub planting (management intensive and costly)
More details -
Transition T3B
Clear cutting, tillage or herbicide application, and seeding of cultivated crops (often combined with irrigation practices)
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference state for this ecological site consists of five communities and evolved under the combined influences of climatic conditions, flooding, periodic fire activity, grazing by large herbivores, and impacts from small mammals and insects. The Reference state is the plant communities in which interpretations are primarily based and is used as a reference in order to understand the original potential of the site.
Dominant plant species
eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), tree
narrowleaf willow (Salix exigua), tree
yellow willow (Salix lutea), tree
green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), tree
redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea), shrub
Submodel
Communities 1 and 5 (additional pathways)
1.1. Eastern Cottonwood and Narrowleaf Willow
1.5. Eastern Cottonwood and Western Snowberry
Description
The Herbaceous Understory state occurs when the shrub understory has been removed due to long-term improper grazing management practices such as continuous season-long or year-long grazing. Once the stand has transitioned from a shrub dominated understory to an herbaceous dominated understory, returning the site to its former state is very difficult. The Herbaceous Understory state consists of two communities.
Dominant plant species
eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), tree
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
Submodel
Description
The Invasive Tree state occurs when occurs when invasive tree species, particularly Russian olive, establish and dominate the site. Russian olive is a highly competitive non-native tree that commonly forms dense thickets at the exclusion of native species. On sites with more open stands, Russian olive may occur in conjunction with widely scattered cottonwood stands and native shrubs, such as snowberry and Woods rose. The Invasive Tree state consists of two communities.
Dominant plant species
Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), tree
Submodel
Transition T1A
Prolonged improper grazing in combination with lack of flooding disturbance
Mechanism
The absence of flooding disturbance in combination with prolonged improper grazing management such as continuous season-long or year-long grazing weaken the resilience of the Reference state and drive its transition to the Herbaceous Understory state.
Mechanism
Establishment of invasive tree species, particularly Russian olive, transitions the Reference state to the Invasive Tree state.
Transition T1B
Clear cutting, tillage or herbicide application, and seeding of cultivated crops (often combined with irrigation practices)
Mechanism
Clearcutting, tillage or application of herbicide, and seeding of cultivated crops (such as wheat, corn, or introduced hay) transitions the Reference state to the Cropland state.
Restoration pathway R2A
Proper grazing management, tree/shrub planting, intensive weed management (management intensive and costly)
Mechanism
A change in management alone may not be sufficient to restore the Herbaceous Understory state to the Reference state. Proper grazing management in combination with tree/shrub planting, herbaceous weed control, and normal or above-normal moisture can transition the Herbaceous Understory state back to the Reference state. These restoration methods are labor intensive, costly, and may not be a practical in all situations.
Relevant conservation practices
| Practice | External resources |
|---|---|
|
Prescribed Grazing |
Mechanism
Establishment of invasive tree species, particularly Russian olive, transitions the Herbaceous Understory state to the Invasive Tree state.
Transition T3A
Removal of invasive tree species, sometimes combined with tree/shrub planting (management intensive and costly)
Mechanism
Removal of invasive tree species transitions the Invasive Tree state to the Herbaceous Understory state. Typically, tree/shrub planting is required to reestablish native woody species and intensive weed management is critical to control noxious weeds. Removal of the overstory will release understory growth and cause noxious weed populations to increase exponentially. This transition is very costly and labor intensive and may not be practical in all situations.
Transition T3B
Clear cutting, tillage or herbicide application, and seeding of cultivated crops (often combined with irrigation practices)
Mechanism
Clearcutting, tillage or application of herbicide, and seeding of cultivated crops (such as wheat, corn, or introduced hay) transitions the Reference state to the Cropland state.
Model keys
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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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