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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): 087B–Texas Claypan Area, Northern Part
This area is in northeastern Texas (79 percent) and southeastern Oklahoma (21 percent). It makes up about 4,480 square miles (11,610 square kilometers). The towns of Greenville, Sulphur Springs, Paris, Mount Vernon, Canton, and Athens, Texas, and Durant, Oklahoma, are in this MLRA. Interstates 30 and 20 and Highways 69, 70, 80, and 82 cross the area. The Caddo National Grasslands is in the north end of the area.
Classification relationships
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 87BEcological site concept
Depressions occur on isolated flats of upland and terraces. Their drainage patterns are poor and result in long periods of water retention. Their vegetation more closely resembles wetter areas as opposed to the surrounding uplands.
Associated sites
R087BY002TX Claypan Savannah
R087BY003TX Sandy Loam
Similar sites
F133BY001TX Depression
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus nigra
(2) Quercus phellosShrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Carex
Physiographic features
The landform associated with these sites are closed upland depressions and small drainageways. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. The sites are prone to ponding after rainfall events.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plains > Depression
(2) Plains > Drainageway
Runoff class Negligible to high Ponding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days) Ponding frequency Occasional to frequent Elevation 250 – 750 ft Slope 0 – 3 % Ponding depth 0 – 6 in Water table depth 0 – 36 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The average annual precipitation is 47 inches in most of this area, but it can be higher or lower depending on the exact location. Most of the rainfall occurs in spring and winter. The average annual temperature is 62 to 66 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 235 days and frost-free period averages 210 days.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 210 days Freeze-free period (average) 240 days Precipitation total (average) 50 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) BONHAM 3NNE [USC00410923], Bonham, TX
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(2) DENISON DAM [USC00412394], Cartwright, TX
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(3) LAKE FORK RSVR [USC00414976], Quitman, TX
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(4) MT VERNON [USC00416119], Mount Vernon, TX
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(5) DURANT [USC00342678], Durant, OK
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(6) CLARKSVILLE 2NE [USC00411772], Clarksville, TX
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(7) MT PLEASANT [USC00416108], Mount Pleasant, TX
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(8) PARIS [USC00416794], Paris, TX
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(9) BOSWELL 1 S [USC00340980], Boswell, OK
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(10) EMORY [USC00412902], Emory, TX
">Influencing water features
This is a wet site receiving water from adjacent sites. It often has a perched water table at or near the surface for much of the year. Sites also pond occasionally to frequently.
Wetland description
The soils are considered hydric, although onsite delineations are required to determine if they meet the definition of a wetland.
Soil features
The Depression site consists of very deep, poorly drained, moderately slowly to very slowly permeable soils. They formed in sandy, loamy, and clayey sediments. The Derly series is correlated to the site with a taxonomic classification of fine, smectitic, thermic Typic Glossaqualf. Leagueville is also correlated to the site with a classification of loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Arenic Paleaquult. Both soils are wet with Derly have more clay content in the soil profile while Leagueville is overall more sandy. Ashford and Porum are also correlated to this site.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – sandstone and shale
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
(2) Loamy fine sand
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Poorly drained Soil depth 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 6 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 2 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 4 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 6 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)3.5 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 2 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
This site resembles a wet prairie occupied by a predominance of hydrophytic plants. The dominant herbaceous species include sedges (Carex sp.), flatsedges (Cyperus sp.), rushes (Juncus sp.), and smartweeds (Polygonum spp.). Tallgrasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) may exist on the outer edges of the site. Woody species such as water oak (Quercus nigra), willow oak (Quercus phellos), elms (Ulmus spp.), wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), and eastern baccharis occur on the site. The Depression sites are intermingled and surrounded by upland savannahs, so the structure of this site was probably influenced by the herding and grazing effects of bison and cattle. Wildfires occurring during extreme drought may also have played a role in the maintenance of the savannah landscape.
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 - Abandonment, no fire, and/or no grazing management T1B - Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting R2A - Prescribed grazing, fire, and/or brush management T2A - Brush management, crop cultivation, pasture planting R3A - Prescribed grazing, fire, and/or brush management T3A - Abandonment, no fire, and/or no grazing management State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
SavannahOne community exists in the Savannah State, the Sedge/Oak Savannah Community. The site is dominated by grass-like species and has a presence of up to 50 percent woody species intermixed.
Community 1.1
Sedge/Oak SavannahThis reference plant community resembles a wet prairie or wet meadow and contains grass-like species including sedges, flatsedges, and rush. Wax myrtle and eastern baccharis are common shrubs found on the site. Water oak, willow oak, elms, and black willow provide up to a 50 percent canopy and occupy locations influenced by wetness. Water oak occurs on the higher/dryer upslopes while black willow occurs on the lower/wetter position of the site. Willow oak is intermediate between the two.
Fire may play a part in the maintenance of the savannah landscape in years of prolonged drought. This site has the potential to produce heavy fine fuel loads but is usually too wet to have fine fuel moisture conditions conducive for burning. Since this site has such favorable moisture regimes, especially during the summer, grazing and browsing by bison, deer, and cattle probably had more influence on the maintenance of the savannah landscape.
Due to the wetness of the site, mechanical brush management is rarely a treatment option for this site. The inability to selectively apply broadcast herbicide normally precludes this treatment option, although individual plant treatment with herbicides may be a viable option. Abandonment of the site allows a transitional shift in vegetation towards a shrub-dominated community that, over time, results in a tree/shrub state. The maintenance of the reference plant community seems to require the presence of grazing and browsing animals and periodic fire when conditions permit.State 2
WoodlandOne community exists in the Woodland State, the Water Oak Community. The site is defined by woody canopy cover over 50 percent. The site has reduced herbaceous production compared to the Savannah State.
Community 2.1
Water Oak WoodlandThis is a steady state community that occurs following long periods of little or no management (grazing, burning, or brush control). Water oak, willow oak, black willow, elms, baccharis, and wax myrtle, began to cover greater than 50 percent of the canopy. The woody species become the dominant plants in the community and severely limit herbaceous production through shading. The herbaceous community will still be dominated by sedges and rushes, but in lesser quantities.
Available treatment options to move this community back to the Savannah State are limited to tree dozing during drought periods or individual plant treatments with herbicides. Neither of these treatments may be economically feasible.State 3
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 3.1
Converted LandConversion 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.Transition T1A
State 1 to 2The driver for this transition is abandonment, lack of fire, and/or lack of prescribed grazing. Woody species are allowed to continue to grow until reaching over the threshold of 50 percent. This signifies the transition to the Woodland State.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3The 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 substantial energy inputs. Brush management and prescribed grazing will be needed to shift the community back to the reference state. Mechanical or chemical controls can be used to remove the woody overstory species back below 50 percent. Prescribed grazing may require destocking and/or deferment to manage the understory grasses back to those found in the reference community.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3The 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 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.
Restoration pathway T3A
State 3 to 2The Converted Land State will transition to the Woodland State following abandonment of cropping or prescribed grazing of the introduced pasture. Lack of brush management will allow woody species to grow and eventually limit the herbaceous production. Introduced grasses are hard to eliminate, so they may stay part of the community in lesser amounts.
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
The favorable moisture regimes of this site provide conditions that keep plants green and growing during dry summer months and periods of drought. The site is attractive to domestic livestock as well as many species of wildlife including white-tailed deer, bobcat, raccoon, raptors, rodents, song birds, and feral hogs. Animal species use may change as the plant community changes on this site. Livestock have a higher preference for the site in a Savannah State where white-tailed deer and feral hogs may prefer the site in a Woodland State. Management should be applied to the site to produce the habitat for the species of concern.
Hydrological functions
This site is a closed depression water coming from the adjacent uplands. Ponding may occur for periods throughout the year.
Recreational uses
This site may be used for wildlife viewing or hunting.
Wood products
In the Woodland State, willow oak and water oak could provide timber products for firewood, cross ties, hardwood flooring, and lumber. The wetness of the site make logging and access to the site by log trucks difficult.
Other products
Fruit from blackberries and grapes may be harvested on this site.
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
1. Archer, S. 1994. Woody plant encroachment into southwestern grasslands and savannas: rates, patterns and proximate causes. In: Ecological implications of livestock herbivory in the West, pp. 13-68. Edited by M. Vavra, W. Laycock, R. Pieper. Society for Range Management Publication, Denver, CO.
2. Archer, S. and F.E. Smeins. 1991. Ecosystem-level Processes. Chapter 5 in: Grazing Management: An Ecological Perspective. Edited by R.K. Heitschmidt and J.W. Stuth. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
3. Bestelmeyer, B.T., J.R. Brown, K.M. Havstad, R. Alexander, G. Chavez, and J.E. Herrick. 2003. Development and use of state-and-transition models for rangelands. J. Range Manage. 56(2): 114-126.
4. Brown, J.R. and S. Archer. 1999. Shrub invasion of grassland: recruitment is continuous and not regulated by herbaceous biomass or density. Ecology 80(7): 2385-2396.
5. Foster, J.H. 1917. Pre-settlement fire frequency regions of the United States: a first approximation. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings No. 20.
6. Gould, F.W. 1975. The Grasses of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX. 653p.
7. Hamilton, W. and D. Ueckert. 2005. Rangeland Woody Plant Control: Past, Present, and Future. Chapter 1 in: Brush Management: Past, Present, and Future. pp. 3-16. Texas A&M University Press.
8. Scifres, C.J. and W.T. Hamilton. 1993. Prescribed Burning for Brush Management: The South Texas Example. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX. 245 p.
9. Smeins, F., S. Fuhlendorf, and C. Taylor, Jr. 1997. Environmental and Land Use Changes: A Long Term Perspective. Chapter 1 in: Juniper Symposium 1997, pp. 1-21. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
10. Stringham, T.K., W.C. Krueger, and P.L. Shaver. 2001. State and transition modeling: and ecological process approach. J. Range Manage. 56(2):106-113.
11. Texas Agriculture Experiment Station. 2007. Benny Simpson’s Texas Native Trees (http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/).
12. Texas A&M Research and Extension Center. 2000. Native Plants of South Texas (http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/index.html).
13. Thurow, T.L. 1991. Hydrology and Erosion. Chapter 6 in: Grazing Management: An Ecological Perspective. Edited by R.K. Heitschmidt and J.W. Stuth. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
14. USDA/NRCS Soil Survey Manuals counties within MLRA 8BA.
15. USDA, NRCS. 1997. National Range and Pasture Handbook.
16. USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
17. Vines, R.A. 1984. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX.
18. Vines, R.A. 1977. Trees of Eastern Texas. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX. 538 p.
19. Wright, H.A. and A.W. Bailey. 1982. Fire Ecology: United States and Southern Canada. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Contributors
Mike Stellbaur
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) Contact for lead author Date 08/31/2026 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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