Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R086BY006TX
Loamy Bottomland
Last updated: 9/21/2023
Accessed: 08/18/2026
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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.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 086B–Texas Blackland Prairie, Southern Part
MLRA 86B, the Southern Part of the Texas Blackland Prairie is located in east-central Texas. It makes up about 2,925 square miles (7,585 square kilometers). The towns of Brenham, Caldwell, La Grange, Schulenberg, Hallettsville, and Navasota are in the eastern part while Lincoln, Benchley, and Normangee are in the western part. The area supports tall and mid-grass prairies, but improved pasture, croplands, and urban development account for the majority of the acreage.
Classification relationships
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 86BEcological site concept
The Loamy Bottomlands have that soils are very deep loams and are associated with flooding regimes. The loamy-textured soils allow the water to drain faster than the Clayey Bottomlands, and therefore do not stay inundated as long.
Associated sites
R086BY002TX Claypan Prairie
The Claypan Prairie Site occupies large flats and provides runoff water to the Loamy Bottomland Site.
R086BY003TX Clay Loam
The Clay Loam site is usually adjacent to the Loamy Bottomland Site. Occupies large flats and provides runoff water to the Loamy Bottomland Site.
R086BY005TX Blackland
The Blackland Site occurs at higher elevation in the drainage and provides runoff to the Loamy Bottomland Site.
Similar sites
R086BY007TX Clayey Bottomland
The Clayey Bottomland sites occupy floodplains, like the Loamy Bottomland, but the textures are different and they stay inundated longer.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Elymus virginicus
(2) CarexPhysiographic features
This site is nearly level to gently sloping and occurs along rivers and streams.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Valley > Flood plain
Runoff class Negligible to low Flooding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to long (7 to 30 days) Flooding frequency Occasional to frequent Elevation 100 – 800 ft Slope 0 – 1 % Water table depth 18 – 72 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate for MLRA 86B is humid subtropical and is characterized by hot summers, especially in July and August, and relatively mild winters. Tropical maritime air controls the climate during spring, summer and fall. In winter and early spring, frequent surges of Polar Canadian air cause sudden drops in temperatures and add considerable variety to the daily weather. When these cold air masses stagnate and are overrun by moist air from the south, several days of cold, cloudy, and rainy weather follow. Generally, these occasional cold spells are of short duration with rapid clearing following cold frontal passages. The summer months have little variation in day-to-day weather except for occasional thunderstorms that dissipate the afternoon heat. The moderate temperatures in spring and fall are characterized by long periods of sunny skies, mild days, and cool nights. Rainfall during the spring and summer months generally falls during thunderstorms, and fairly large amounts of rain may fall in a short time. High intensity rains of short duration are likely to produce rapid runoff almost anytime during the year. The amount of rain that falls varies considerably from month-to-month and from year-to-year.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 250 days Freeze-free period (average) 280 days Precipitation total (average) 40 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 4. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 5 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) BRENHAM [USC00411048], Brenham, TX
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(2) FLATONIA 4SE [USC00413183], Moulton, TX
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(3) WASHINGTON SP [USC00419491], Navasota, TX
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(4) HALLETTSVILLE 2 N [USC00413873], Hallettsville, TX
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(5) LEXINGTON [USC00415193], Lexington, TX
">Influencing water features
This site is adjacent to rivers and streams. It receives water from overflow from watercourses and runoff from higher adjacent sites.
Wetland description
Some soils in this site are hydric and may be wetlands or the soils may contain inclusions of other hydric soils that usually occur as oxbows or stream meanders.
Soil features
The soils of this site are deep, loamy-textured, and moderately permeable. They usually receive extra water as overflow from watercourses or as runoff from adjacent higher sites. They are, however, better drained than the clayey bottomland sites. The plant-soil-water-air relationship is very favorable for plant growth. These factors, together with the natural fertility of the soil, favor high yields of good quality forage.
Soils correlated to this site include: Asa, Bergstrom, Bosque, Coarsewood, Gowen, Gowker, Hatliff, Highbank, Norwood, Oklared, Portersprings, Rabbs, Sandow, Weswood, Whitesboro, and Yahola.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – limestone and shale
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Fine sandy loam
(3) Clay loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Very slow to moderate Soil depth 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)5 – 7 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 20 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)5.6 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)1 – 2 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
Natural fertility, presence of shade, proximity to water, and nutritious forage make this site a preferred grazing area. The wet nature of the site protects it from grazing at times, but during dry conditions it is often the first site to be overused. Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and sedges (Carex spp.) decrease in abundance and are replaced by dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum), common Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), and carpetgrass (Axonopus fissifolius) as over utilization continues. Shrubs and hardwood saplings invade the site in the absence of proper grazing management and brush management. Prolonged mismanagement or abandonment allows the site to become a hardwood forest dominated by water oak (Quercus nigra), willow oak (Quercus phellos), overcup oak (Quercus lyrata), and cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) on non-calcareous sites. Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), cottonwood (Populus spp.), pecan (Carya illinoinensis), cedar elm, and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) grow on calcareous sites.
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 textEcosystem states
T1A - No brush management, heavy continuous grazing, abandonment T1B - Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting, nutrient management, pest management R2A - Brush management, prescribed grazing T2A - No brush management, heavy continuous grazing, abandonment T2B - Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting, nutrient management, pest management R3A - Brush management, prescribed grazing, range planting T3A - Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting, nutrient management, pest management R4A - Range planting, prescribed grazing T4A - No brush management, heavy continuous grazing, abandonment State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A - Yearly heavy continuous grazing 1.2A - Prescribed grazing State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
SavannahTwo communities exist in the Savannah State: the 1.1 Wildrye/Sedge Savannah Community and the 1.2 Bermudagrass/Dallisgrass Savannah Community. Community 1.1 is characterized by tall and midgrass dominating the understory, with 20 percent woody cover by ash and elm. Community 1.2 is characterized by a replacement in the understory by introduced invasive herbaceous species.
Community 1.1
Wildrye/Sedge Savannah
The reference plant community of this site is a savannah. Oak, elm, hackberry, cottonwood, ash, black willow (Salix nigra), pecan, and other large trees provide about a 40 percent canopy. The overstory canopy is denser immediately adjacent to the watercourse. The understory may include hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), greenbriar (Smilax spp.), Alabama supplejack (Berchemia scandens), peppervine (Ampelopsis arborea), grape (Vitis spp.), trumpet creeper (Parthenocissus spp.) and honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). Sedges, Virginia wildrye, switchcane, broadleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium), and rustyseed paspalum (Paspalum langei) in shaded and wet areas dominate the herbaceous plant community. Various combinations of beaked panicum (Panicum anceps), switchgrass, Indiangrass, big (Andropogon gerardii) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), eastern gamagrass, vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum), and Florida paspalum (Paspalum floridanum) may dominate drier, open areas. Continuous yearlong grazing for a succession of years will tend to move the reference herbaceous plant community towards a herbaceous community of common Bermudagrass, dallisgrass, Vasey's grass (Paspalum urvillei), carpetgrass, giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), and annual sumpweed (Iva annua). Prescribed grazing may shift this herbaceous community back towards the reference herbaceous species.
Continuous yearlong grazing with no weed or brush management or abandoning the site for several years will tend to move towards a shrub-sapling community. Once woody shrubs and saplings invade the site, brush management in some form must be used to move back toward the savannah state. Prescribed burning is not a viable management tool on this site due to excess fine fuel moisture.Figure 6. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 3000 3750 4500 Tree 1000 1250 1500 Shrub/Vine 500 625 750 Forb 600 675 750 Total 5100 6300 7500 Community 1.2
Bermudagrass/Dallisgrass Savannah
The herbaceous community is dominated by common Bermudagrass, dallisgrass, Vasey's grass, carpetgrass, giant ragweed, and annual sumpweed. White clover (Trifloium repens), vetch (Vicia sativa), and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) may also occur. This community develops from years of heavy continuous grazing. Prescribed grazing may shift this community back towards the Wildrye/Sedge Savannah Community.
Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 6. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 2000 2500 3000 Forb 1000 1250 1500 Tree 800 1100 1400 Shrub/Vine 200 275 350 Total 4000 5125 6250 Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Wildrye/Sedge Savannah
Bermudagrass/Dallisgrass SavannahThe Wildrye/Sedge community will transition to the Bermudagrass/Dallisgrass community when continuous, yearlong heavy grazing occurs. The native understory species will begin to be replaced by invasive grasses.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1
Bermudagrass/Dallisgrass Savannah
Wildrye/Sedge SavannahThe transition back to the reference community can occur if prescribed grazing is applied. Invader species may require control to keep from proliferating.
State 2
ShrublandOne community exists in the Shrubland State, the 2.1 Carpetgrass/Shrub Community. It is characterized by an increase in shade-tolerant grasses and 20 to 40 percent overstory canopy.
Community 2.1
Carpetgrass/Shrub
The plant community develops in the absence of proper grazing management and mechanical or chemical brush control treatments. It is usually the result of abandonment following cropping or yearly continuous grazing. Trees and shrubs begin to replace the grassland component of the savannah community. In addition to the naturally occurring cedar elm, water oak, hackberry, pecan, cottonwood, and green ash - honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum), and eastern persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) increase in density and canopy coverage (20 to 40 percent). Species whose seeds are windblown (elm, cottonwood, ash) or animal dispersed (persimmon, pecan, Chinese tallow) are the first to colonize and dominate the site.
Remnants of Virginia wildrye and eastern gamagrass may still occur but the herbaceous component of the community becomes dominated by lesser producing grasses and forbs. Shade-tolerant species such as broadleaf woodoats, longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum), Cherokee sedge (Carex cherokeensis), ironweed (Veronia baldwinii), buttercup (Ranunculus spp.), and goldenrod (Solidago spp.) are the most abundant species as canopy cover increases. Prescribed burning is not a viable option for returning this community to a savannah due to the moisture content and lack of quantity of the herbaceous fine fuel. Mechanical or chemical brush control as well as prescribed grazing must be applied to move this vegetative state back towards the reference plant community.Figure 8. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 7. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Tree 1300 1750 2250 Grass/Grasslike 1150 1550 1950 Shrub/Vine 300 400 500 Forb 250 350 450 Total 3000 4050 5150 State 3
WoodlandOne community exists in the Woodland State, the Ash/Elm Woodland Community. It is characterized by shade-tolerant grasses and an overstory canopy of 40 to 80 percent.
Community 3.1
Ash/Elm Woodland
This plant community is a closed overstory (40 to 80 percent) woodland dominated by green ash, cedar elm, overcup oak, water oak, willow oak, pecan, cottonwood, sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis), box elder (Acer negundo), and black willow. Understory shrubs and sub-shrubs include yaupon, farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum), possumhaw (Ilex decidua), American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). Woody vines also occur and include Alabama supplejack (Berchemia scandens), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), grape, greenbrier, trumpet creeper, Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), and peppervine (Ampelopsis arborea). The herbaceous understory is composed of shade-tolerant species including longleaf woodoats, broadleaf woodoats, sedges, ironweed, and ice plant (Verbesina lindheimeri). Switchcane, eastern gamagrass, and goldenrod may occur in small amounts.
Prescribed fire is not a viable treatment option for conversion of this site back to a semblance of the Wildrye/Sedge Savannah because of lack of fine fuel and high fine fuel moisture. Chemical brush control on a large scale is not a treatment option, however, individual plant treatment with herbicides on small acreages may be a viable option. Mechanical treatment of this site, along with seeding, is the most viable treatment option although probably not economical.Figure 9. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Tree 2800 3850 4900 Shrub/Vine 650 900 1150 Grass/Grasslike 300 400 500 Forb 100 150 200 Total 3850 5300 6750 State 4
Converted LandThe Converted Land State contains one community, the 4.1 Converted Land Community. The state is characterized by the land manager farming crops or planted grasses.
Community 4.1
Converted Land
Conversion of this site to cropland (primarily cotton) occurred from the middle 1800's to the early 1900's. Some remains in cropland today, typically cotton (Gossypium spp.), corn (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum spp.), and soybeans (Glycine max). Ditching, land leveling, and levee construction has significantly changed the topography and hydrology on many acres of this site. While restoration of this site to a semblance of the reference plant community is possible with seeding and prescribed grazing, complete restoration of the reference community in a reasonable time is very unlikely.
Following crop production, this site is often planted to native or introduced grasses and legumes for livestock grazing or hay production. Typical species planted include improved Bermudagrass varieties, bahiagrass, switchgrass, dallisgrass, eastern gamagrass, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and white clover. Many of the introduced species (bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, and dallisgrass) are invasive-moving by wind, water, and animals. Once established, they are extremely difficult to remove and will hinder the reestablishment of native species. The establishment and maintenance of these species requires cultivation, fertilization, weed control, and prescribed grazing management.Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 9. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 4250 6875 9500 Forb 2000 2750 3500 Total 6250 9625 13000 Transition T1A
State 1 to 2The Savannah State will transition to the Shrubland State when continued heavy grazing pressure, no brush management, and/or field abandonment continues. The transition is evident when woody species canopy cover exceeds 20 percent and grasses shift composition to more shade-tolerant species.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 4The transition to the Converted State occurs when the site is plowed for planting crops or pasture. The driver for the transition is the land manager's decision to farm the site.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Restoration back to the Savannah State requires brush management and prescribed grazing. Mechanical or chemical controls can be used to remove the woody overstory species and shrubs. Prescribed grazing may require destocking and/or deferment.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3The Shrubland State will transition to the Woodland State when continued heavy grazing pressure, no brush management, and/or field abandonment continues. The transition is evident when woody species canopy cover exceeds 40 percent and grasses shift composition to more shade-tolerant species.
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4The transition to the Converted State occurs when the site is plowed for planting crops or pasture. The driver for the transition is the land manager's decision to farm the site.
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1Restoration back to the Savannah State requires substantial energy inputs. Brush management and prescribed grazing will be need to shift the community back to the reference state. Mechanical or chemical controls can be used to remove the woody overstory species back below 20 percent. Prescribed grazing may require destocking and/or deferment to manage the understory grasses back to those found in the reference community.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4The transition to the Converted State occurs when the site is plowed for planting crops or pasture. The driver for the transition is the land manager's decision to farm the site.
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1The restoration to State 1 can occur when the land manager ceases agronomic practices. Range planting of native species found in the reference community will be required to bring back a similar community as the State 1 plant composition. The extent of previous soil disturbances will determine how much seedbed preparation will be needed, as well as the ability to be restored. Proper grazing and brush management will be required to ensure success.
Transition T4A
State 4 to 3The Converted Land State will transition to the Woodland State when continued heavy grazing pressure, no brush management, and/or field abandonment continues. The transition is evident when woody species canopy cover exceeds 40 percent and grasses shift composition to more shade-tolerant species.
Additional community tables
Table 10. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Midgrasses 1500–2250 sedge CAREX Carex 1500–2250 – Virginia wildrye ELVI3 Elymus virginicus 1500–2250 – rustyseed paspalum PALA11 Paspalum langei 1500–2250 – 2 Tallgrasses 1000–1500 big bluestem ANGE Andropogon gerardii 1000–1500 – beaked panicgrass PAAN Panicum anceps 1000–1500 – switchgrass PAVI2 Panicum virgatum 1000–1500 – little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 1000–1500 – Indiangrass SONU2 Sorghastrum nutans 1000–1500 – eastern gamagrass TRDA3 Tripsacum dactyloides 1000–1500 – 3 Mid/Shortgrasses 500–750 common carpetgrass AXFI Axonopus fissifolius 500–750 – buffalograss BODA2 Bouteloua dactyloides 500–750 – Indian woodoats CHLA5 Chasmanthium latifolium 500–750 – longleaf woodoats CHSE2 Chasmanthium sessiliflorum 500–750 – deertongue DICL Dichanthelium clandestinum 500–750 – whitegrass LEVI2 Leersia virginica 500–750 – twoflower melicgrass MEMU Melica mutica 500–750 – nimblewill MUSC Muhlenbergia schreberi 500–750 – Texas wintergrass NALE3 Nassella leucotricha 500–750 – Florida paspalum PAFL4 Paspalum floridanum 500–750 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 500–750 – vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 500–750 – brownseed paspalum PAPL3 Paspalum plicatulum 500–750 – thin paspalum PASE5 Paspalum setaceum 500–750 – marsh bristlegrass SEPA10 Setaria parviflora 500–750 – composite dropseed SPCOC2 Sporobolus compositus var. compositus 500–750 – gaping grass STHI3 Steinchisma hians 500–750 – purpletop tridens TRFL2 Tridens flavus 500–750 – Forb4 Forbs 575–700 partridge pea CHFA2 Chamaecrista fasciculata 575–700 – ticktrefoil DESMO Desmodium 575–700 – Virginia strawberry FRVI Fragaria virginiana 575–700 – lespedeza LESPE Lespedeza 575–700 – prairie snoutbean RHLA5 Rhynchosia latifolia 575–700 – fuzzybean STROP Strophostyles 575–700 – 5 Forbs 25–50 great ragweed AMTR Ambrosia trifida 25–50 – annual marsh elder IVAN2 Iva annua 25–50 – giant goldenrod SOGI Solidago gigantea 25–50 – Baldwin's ironweed VEBA Vernonia baldwinii 25–50 – white crownbeard VEVI3 Verbesina virginica 25–50 – Shrub/Vine6 Shrubs/Vines 500–750 Alabama supplejack BESC Berchemia scandens 500–750 – American beautyberry CAAM2 Callicarpa americana 500–750 – trumpet creeper CARA2 Campsis radicans 500–750 – parsley hawthorn CRMA5 Crataegus marshallii 500–750 – possumhaw ILDE Ilex decidua 500–750 – yaupon ILVO Ilex vomitoria 500–750 – smooth sumac RHGL Rhus glabra 500–750 – oakwoods dewberry RULA5 Rubus largus 500–750 – saw greenbrier SMBO2 Smilax bona-nox 500–750 – cat greenbrier SMGL Smilax glauca 500–750 – laurel greenbrier SMLA Smilax laurifolia 500–750 – coralberry SYOR Symphoricarpos orbiculatus 500–750 – muscadine VIRO3 Vitis rotundifolia 500–750 – Tree7 Trees 1000–1500 bitternut hickory CACO15 Carya cordiformis 1000–1500 – pecan CAIL2 Carya illinoinensis 1000–1500 – eastern redbud CECA4 Cercis canadensis 1000–1500 – sugarberry CELAL Celtis laevigata var. laevigata 1000–1500 – green ash FRPE Fraxinus pennsylvanica 1000–1500 – red mulberry MORU2 Morus rubra 1000–1500 – eastern cottonwood PODE3 Populus deltoides 1000–1500 – water oak QUNI Quercus nigra 1000–1500 – willow oak QUPH Quercus phellos 1000–1500 – black willow SANI Salix nigra 1000–1500 – bald cypress TADI2 Taxodium distichum 1000–1500 – cedar elm ULCR Ulmus crassifolia 1000–1500 – Table 11. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
The Loamy Bottomland Site provided habitat to bison, deer, turkey, migratory birds and large predators such as wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and black bear. White-tailed deer, turkey, fox and gray squirrels, coyotes, bobcats, and migratory birds find suitable habitat in these savannahs today. The favorable moisture regime of this site attracts many species of wildlife during the hot dry summer months when the quality and quantity of forages on upland sites may be lacking. Where old, mast-producing oaks and pecan trees are present, this site provides habitat for deer, turkey, squirrels, and ducks, especially during the winter. As the savannah degrades through the various vegetative states or transitional pathways, the quality of the habitat may improve for some species and decline for others. Management must be applied to maintain a plant community in optimum habitat quality for the desired animal species.
Hydrological functions
Peak rainfall periods occur in May and June from frontal passage thunderstorms and in September and October from tropical systems as, well as frontal passages. Rainfall amounts may be high (three to five inches per event) and events may be intense. The site is subject to erosion along adjacent stream banks where adequate herbaceous cover is not maintained and on heavy use areas such as roads and livestock trails. Extended periods (60 days) of little to no rainfall during the growing season are common. The site may be periodically inundated from overflow water from adjacent watercourses and may be ponded or saturated for long periods. This site may be a wetland or contain wetland inclusions as oxbows or stream meanders.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, bird watching, and equestrian are popular activities.
Wood products
Water oak and willow oak provides material for hardwood flooring, plywood, veneer, and cross-ties. Green ash is used for bats, tool handles, and furniture. Post Oak and water oak are used for firewood. Rattan is used for furniture.
Other products
Blackberries, grapes, and pecans are often harvested.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
These site descriptions were developed as part a Provisional Ecological Site project using historic soil survey manuscripts, available site descriptions, and low intensity field traverse sampling. Future work to validate the information is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium, and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance review of the will be needed to produce the final document.
Other references
Diggs, G.M., B.L. Lipscomb, and R.J. O'Kennon. 1999. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute of Texas and Austin College, Fort Worth, TX.
Hatch, S.L, K.N. Gandhi, and L.E. Brown. 1990. Checklist of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, TX.Contributors
Mark Moseley
Tyson HartApproval
Bryan Christensen, 9/21/2023
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) Mike Stellbauer, David Polk and Bill Deauman Contact for lead author Mike Stellbauer, Zone RMS, NRCS, Bryan, Texas. Date 05/23/2005 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are common and follow old stream meanders. Deposition or erosion is uncommon for normal rainfall but may occur during intense rainfall events. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals or terracettes are uncommon for this site when occupied by the reference community. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Expect no more than 20 percent bare ground randomly distributed throughout. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Some gullies associated with side drains into perennial streams may be present. Gullies should be vegetated and stable. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
This is a floodplain with occasional out-of-bank flow. Under normal rainfall, little litter movement should be expected, however, litter of all sizes may move long distances, depending on obstructions during intense storm events. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface is resistant to erosion. Stability class range is expected to be 4 to 6. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
The soil structure is 0 to 80 inches thick with colors from dark grayish brown loam to dark brown fine sandy loam and structures from moderate subangular blocky to moderate fine granular. SOM is approximately 0.5 to 4.0 percent. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
The savannah of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and forbs with adequate litter and little bare ground, provides for maximum infiltration and little runoff under normal rainfall events. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. -
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:
Warm-season tallgrasses >>Sub-dominant:
Cool-season grasses >>Other:
Trees > Shrubs/Vines > ForbsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
There should be little mortality or decadence for any functional groups. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Small to large woody litter is common on this site. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
5,100 pounds per acre for below average moisture years to 7,500 pounds per acre for above average moisture years. -
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:
Potential invasive species include chinese tallow, huisache, honey locust, bois d'arc, elm, ash, McCartney rose, dallisgrass, Bermudagrass, johnsongrass, annual sumpweed, and giant ragweed. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial plants should be capable of reproducing except for periods of prolonged drought conditions, heavy natural herbivory, proloned flooding, and intense wildfires.
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PrintThe 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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