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Ecological site F095XA011WI

Clayey Upland

Last updated: 11/16/2023
Accessed: 08/10/2026

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General information

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): 095X–Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Upper Michigan Drift Plain

This MLRA is characterized by nearly level to rolling till plains, outwash plains, drumlin fields, and glacial lake plains. It is used to produce cash crops, feed grain, and livestock. It includes the shorelines of Lake Winnebago and Lake Michigan. This area is in Wisconsin (85 percent), Illinois (10 percent), and Michigan (5 percent). It makes up about 17,255 square miles (44,690 square kilometers). This area is in the Central Lowland province of the Interior Plains. Most of the area is in the Eastern Lake section. A narrow strip along the southwestern edge of the area is in the Wisconsin Driftless section. The southwestern quarter is in the Till Plains section. The nearly level to rolling till plains, glacial lake plains, and outwash plains are mixed with drumlin fields, ground moraines, end moraines, flood plains, lake terraces, beaches, dunes, swamps, and marshes. Most of the southern part of this area has belts of morainic hills and ridges and nearly level outwash terraces. Drumlins are prominent features in the central part of the area. Glaciokarst topography occurs in the east-central parts of the area influenced by underlying Niagara Dolomite. Lakes and streams are numerous, and streams generally form a dendritic drainage pattern. Elevation ranges from 530 to 1,580 feet (160 to 480 meters). Local relief is mainly 25 feet (8 meters), but the moraines, drumlins, and bedrock escarpments rise 80 to 330 feet (25 to 100 meters) above the adjacent valleys.

The annual precipitation ranges from 28 to 37 inches (700 to 950 millimeters) with a mean of 33 inches (840 millimeters). The annual temperature ranges from 41 to 48 degrees F (5.1 to 9.2 degrees C) with a mean of 46 degrees F (7.7 degrees C). The freeze-free period ranges from 115 to 185 days with a mean of 155 days. It decreases in length from south to north and from the shore of Lake Michigan inland. Lake Michigan helps to moderate the climate of the area.

This MLRA is mostly covered with glacial drift of Wisconsin age. Some of the higher areas are moraines that appear as arc-shaped ridges representing the retreat of the ice from south to north. Most of the bedrock in the area consists of Silurian, Ordovician, and Cambrian sandstone, limestone, and dolomite. Some igneous and metamorphic rocks underlie the northwestern edge of the area. Devonian limestone and shale occur at the far eastern edge in the Milwaukee area.

The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Alfisols, Entisols, Histosols, Mollisols, and Spodosols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic or frigid temperature regime, an aquic or udic moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. They are very deep, excessively drained to very poorly drained, and sandy to clayey. Areas of Spodosols and soils with a frigid soil temperature regime occur in the northern part of the MLRA.
The northern part of this MLRA supports natural stands of mixed northern hardwoods and pine. Sugar maple, oak, white ash, elm, yellow birch, white pine, red pine, and American beech are the principal species. Low-lying areas support both mixed hardwoods and conifers. Elm, soft maple, black ash, and northern white cedar are the major species. Brush and sedge meadows also occur in the low-lying areas.

The southern part of this MLRA supports hardwoods and prairie vegetation. Uplands support natural stands of oak, sugar maple, and hickory, and natural prairie vegetation is characterized by little bluestem and big bluestem. Many of the prairies have scattered oak and hickory trees. Low-lying areas support sedge and grass meadows and mixed stands of hardwoods and conifers. Elm, ash, eastern cottonwood, soft maple, and white cedar are the major species in the low-lying areas. (USDA-NRCS, 2022)

LRU notes

The Northeastern Wisconsin Drift Plain LRU (Land Resource Unit - 95XA) corresponds closely to the Northern and Central Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscapes. Some of the following brief overview is borrowed from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ecological Landscape publication (2015).

The Northeastern Wisconsin Drift Plain LRU is located along Wisconsin’s northeastern and central coast of Lake Michigan and the Door Peninsula. This glacial landscape is comprised of approximately 3.6 million acres (5,715 square miles). It is dominated by till plains and glacial lake deposits. The Green Bay and Lake Michigan Lobes are responsible for the formation of the landscape. The Green Bay Lobe covered most of the LRU, excluding the eastern edge where the Lake Michigan Lobe advanced. The glaciers were separated by the Niagara Escarpment, a 650-mile-long dolomite ridge that begins in Wisconsin near the Illinois border, extends into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and down through Canada’s Bruce Peninsula into Rochester, New York. Within LRU 95XA, the escarpment runs from Lake Winnebago northeast through the Door Peninsula. Much of the topography of this LRU is bedrock-controlled. Bedrock is generally deeper than 150cm except in the Door Peninsula, where bedrock is much shallower. Wetlands are common throughout this MLRA where drainage is impeded by fine-textured materials and shallow bedrock.

The northern portion of this LRU is dominated by an undulating till plain, gently sloping to the east, formed entirely by the Green Bay Lobe. This glacial lobe centered over the present-day city of Green Bay and flowed out in a fan shape, moving both south-southwest and south-southeast over the Door Peninsula. The lobe deposited loamy and coarse-loamy till mixed with dolomite fragments plucked from the bedrock. In some areas, the till has been reworked by Glacial Lake Oshkosh or overlain by its lacustrine deposits. Numerous drumlins formed, orientated to the south-southwest in the direction of glacial flow. Some eskers are present. Much of this area has dolomite and limestone within 50 ft of the surface. Proglacial streams formed small areas of pitted and unpitted outwash plains, terraces, and fans.

The Door Peninsula was formed primarily by the early advances of the Green Bay Lobe. The till found here is comprised of relatively old, calcareous loamy materials mixed with dolomite and limestone fragments plucked by the glacial lobe from the shallow bedrock. The till is thinly draped over the Niagara Escarpment that lies 1 to 3 meters below the surface. A drumlin field is oriented south-southeast, the direction of the ice flow over the peninsula. The eastern shore of the peninsula is composed of lake sediments that were reworked and deposited by Lake Michigan Lobe. The northern tip of the peninsula has glaciolacustrine beach terrace and ridge deposits and eolian sand dunes, which are remnants of the intra- and postglacial lakes Nipissing and Algonquin.

The central portion of this LRU is dominated by lacustrine deposits from Glacial Lake Oshkosh. In its largest stage, Glacial Lake Oshkosh covered 1.4 million acres. The lake formed from meltwater as the Green Bay Lobe receded between ice sheet advances. The glacial lobe stalled between present day Lake Winnebago and the city of Green Bay, blocking the drainage of meltwater north to the Lake Michigan Basin. Glacial Lake Oshkosh continued to rise until it found other drainage pathways, eventually draining into the Wisconsin River Valley. Glacial Lake Oshkosh reworked the till deposits of the Green Bay Lobe. Silty and clayey lacustrine deposits formed in the deepest area of the lakes, whereas sandy beach ridges, terraces, and dunes formed along the ancient shore.

The area east of Glacial Lake Oshkosh and south along the shore of Lake Michigan are dominated by a thin till sheet over the Niagara Escarpment that was deposited by the Green Bay and Lake Michigan Lobes. The Green Bay Lobe deposited calcareous clay and silty till reworked from lake sediments. The Lake Michigan Lobe deposited silt loam, loam, and compacted sandy clay loam till. Remnants of the intra- and postglacial lakes Nipissing and Algonquin are also found along Lake Michigan shore. Proglacial streams formed small areas of pitted and unpitted outwash plains, terraces, and fans.

Historically, the vegetation in this LRU was dominated by northern and central hardwood forests and wetlands. The northern hardwoods were comprised of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). The central hardwoods were dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum), American basswood (Tilia Americana), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). Forested wetlands were a major part of the landscape, covering more than 25% in some areas.

Classification relationships

Relationship to Established Framework and Classification Systems:

Biophysical Settings (Landfire, 2014): This ES is largely mapped as Eastern Cool Temperate Row Crop, Eastern Cool Temperate Close Grown Crop, Eastern Cool Temperate Urban Herbaceous, Developed-Low Intensity, and Developed-Medium Intensity

Habitat Types of N. & S. Wisconsin (Kotar, 2002, 1996): The sites of this ES keyed out to three similar habitat types including: Acer saccharum-Fraxinus/Desmodium(Viburnum) [AFrDe(Vb)], Acer saccharum-Tilia-Fraxinus/Caulophyllum [ATiFrCa], Acer saccharum-Fagus/Arismaea-Osmorhiza [AFAs/AFAs-O].

WDNR Natural Communities (WDNR, 2015): This ES is most similar to the Southern Dry-Mesic Forest described by the WDNR.

Hierarchical Framework Relationships:

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 095X–Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and Upper Michigan Drift Plain

USFS Subregions: West Green Bay Till Plain (212Tb), Manitowoc Till Plain (212Zc), Lake Winnebago Clay Plain (222Kc)

DNR Ecological Landscapes: Central Lake Michigan Coastal, Southeast Glacial Plains

Ecological site concept

The Clayey Uplands ecological site occurs mostly in the southern and eastern part of LRU 95XA and is quite extensive. These sites are characterized as having finer textures and are moderately well drained or better. Hapludalfs (97%) and Glossudalfs compose the soils of this ES with the inclusion of one Argiudoll. These soils have formed in clayey till or clayey lacustrine deposits with various overlying deposits. While not characterized by having clay accumulations in the subsurface (argillic horizons), all soils in the ES do contain this feature. Water is received on these sites through precipitation and runoff from adjacent uplands. Water is lost from these site primarily through runoff, evapotranspiration, and groundwater recharge. Typical vegetation includes Acer saccharum, Acer rubrum, Fraxinus americana and pennsylvanica, Quercus rubra,Prunus serotina, Anemone quinquefolia, Gallium spp., Podophyllum peltatum, and Trillium spp.

The soils in this ES are slightly acid to moderately alkaline in pH. This is the second-most extensive site in LRU 95XA. It’s mapped over nearly 600,000 acres (about 16.3% of the total area of 95XA).

Associated sites

F095XA004WI	Wet Loamy or Clayey Lowland These sites consist of shallow to very deep, loamy to clayey deposits of various origin. They are sometimes underlain by sandy outwash. They are very poorly to poorly drained. They are sometimes found on the same landform features as Clayey Uplands, but occupy lower, wetter landscape positions.
F095XA007WI	Moist Clayey Lowland These sites consist of very deep, clayey deposits of various origin, primarily clayey glacial till but also clayey lacustrine materials. They are often mantled with loess. They are somewhat poorly drained. They are often found adjacent to Clayey Uplands on the same landform features, but occupy lower, somewhat wetter landscape positions.

F095XA004WI

Wet Loamy or Clayey Lowland

These sites consist of shallow to very deep, loamy to clayey deposits of various origin. They are sometimes underlain by sandy outwash. They are very poorly to poorly drained. They are sometimes found on the same landform features as Clayey Uplands, but occupy lower, wetter landscape positions.

F095XA007WI

Moist Clayey Lowland

These sites consist of very deep, clayey deposits of various origin, primarily clayey glacial till but also clayey lacustrine materials. They are often mantled with loess. They are somewhat poorly drained. They are often found adjacent to Clayey Uplands on the same landform features, but occupy lower, somewhat wetter landscape positions.

Similar sites

F095XA008WI	Shallow Upland These sites consist of very shallow to deep materials of various particle size and origin. Bedrock contact occurs within 47 inches (120 cm) on all sites. They are most common to the Door Peninsula, where the bedrock is relatively shallow. They are moderately well to well drained. They are found in similar landscape positions as Clayey Uplands and may even share particle size classes, but they have bedrock contact within 6.5 feet (2 meters).
F095XA009WI	Sandy Uplands These sites consist of very deep, sandy deposits, primarily of outwash or lacustrine origin. Some sites are overlain or underlain by finer-textured materials. They are moderately well to somewhat excessively drained. They are found in similar landscape positions as Clayey Uplands but have much coarser particle size classes.
F095XA010WI	Loamy Upland These sites consist of very deep loamy deposits, primarily glacial till. Some sites have a sandy eolian or loess mantle. Some are underlain by coarser-textured material. They are moderately well to somewhat excessively drained. They are found in similar landscape positions as Clayey Uplands but have somewhat coarser particle size classes.

F095XA008WI

Shallow Upland

These sites consist of very shallow to deep materials of various particle size and origin. Bedrock contact occurs within 47 inches (120 cm) on all sites. They are most common to the Door Peninsula, where the bedrock is relatively shallow. They are moderately well to well drained. They are found in similar landscape positions as Clayey Uplands and may even share particle size classes, but they have bedrock contact within 6.5 feet (2 meters).

F095XA009WI

Sandy Uplands

These sites consist of very deep, sandy deposits, primarily of outwash or lacustrine origin. Some sites are overlain or underlain by finer-textured materials. They are moderately well to somewhat excessively drained. They are found in similar landscape positions as Clayey Uplands but have much coarser particle size classes.

F095XA010WI

Loamy Upland

These sites consist of very deep loamy deposits, primarily glacial till. Some sites have a sandy eolian or loess mantle. Some are underlain by coarser-textured material. They are moderately well to somewhat excessively drained. They are found in similar landscape positions as Clayey Uplands but have somewhat coarser particle size classes.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Acer saccharum
Shrub	(1) Prunus virginiana (2) Cornus racemosa
Herbaceous	(1) Podophyllum peltatum (2) Anemone quinquefolia

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Physiographic features

This extensive site is found across the various landscapes throughout the Northeastern Wisconsin Drift Plain. It’s primarily found on morainal landscapes but also occurs in the basin of ancient Glacial Lake Oshkosh and on outwash plains that dissect the landscape. Sites are in upland landscape positions. Slopes range from 0 to 45 percent.

These sites are not subject to flooding or ponding. The soils have an apparent seasonally high water table (endosaturation) that is typically deeper than a meter from the soil surface. Some sites have a perches seasonally high water table (episaturation) within 18 inches (46 cm). Runoff is low to very high.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Hillslope profile	(1) Backslope (2) Shoulder (3) Summit
Landforms	(1) Till plain (2) Moraine (3) Lake plain (4) Glacial lake (relict) (5) Drumlin (6) Esker (7) Kame (8) Outwash plain (9) Stream terrace (10) Valley side
Runoff class	Low to very high
Ponding duration	Brief (2 to 7 days)
Ponding frequency	None to rare
Elevation	591 – 951 ft
Slope	0 – 45 %
Water table depth	18 – 80 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Climatic features

The continental climate of the Northeastern Wisconsin Drift Plain is typical of central Wisconsin – cold winters and warm summers. The climate is moderated by the thermal mass of Lake Michigan, especially in coastal areas. Fall and early winter temperatures are slightly warmer and spring and early summer temperatures are slightly cooler along the Lake Michigan coastline. Lake effect snow occurs along the coastline.

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	120-130 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	150-160 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	30-30 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	120-130 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	150-160 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	30-30 in
Frost-free period (average)	130 days
Freeze-free period (average)	150 days
Precipitation total (average)	30 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) APPLETON [USC00470265], Appleton, WI
(2) GREEN BAY [USW00014898], Green Bay, WI
(3) SHEBOYGAN CO MEM AP [USW00004841], Sheboygan Falls, WI
(4) BERLIN WWTP [USC00470742], Berlin, WI
(5) BRILLION [USC00471064], Brillion, WI
(6) CHILTON [USC00471568], Chilton, WI

Influencing water features

Water is received through precipitation and runoff from adjacent uplands. Water is lost from the site primarily through runoff, evapotranspiration, and groundwater recharge.<br />
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Permeability of the soils is impermeable to very slow. The hydrologic soil group of these sites is C, D, or C/D.

Wetland description

Hydrogeomorphic Wetland Classification: None<br />
Cowardin Wetland Classification: None

Soil features

The soils of these sites are represented by the Borth, Briggsville, Kaukauna, Kewaunee, Kolberg, Nester, Omro, Oshkosh, Peebles, Saylesville, Tustin, and Winneconne series. All soils are classified as either Hapludalfs or Glossudalfs except for Peebles, an Argiudoll. Hapludalfs make up 97% of the acreage of this site.

These soils formed in clayey till or clayey lacustrine deposits, sometimes stratified with silty lacustrine deposits. Some have a mantle of loamy alluvium or lacustrine deposits, sandy outwash, or loess. Some are underlain by sandy lacustrine deposits, sandy outwash, sandy alluvium, sandy beach sand, or loamy till. Soils are very deep, slightly acid to moderately alkaline, moderately well to well drained, and do not meet hydric soil requirements. These sites are not necessarily characterized by a layer of significant clay accumulation (an argillic horizon), but such a layer is present on all sites.

The surface texture of these sites ranges from fine sand to clay loam but is most often silt loam or silty clay loam. Subsurface horizon textures range from loamy sandy to silty clay.

Surface fragments are generally absent in these soils. Subsurface fragments smaller than 3 inches in diameter may occupy up to 19 percent volume. Larger fragments may occupy up to 3 percent volume. Fragments may be stratified (in the case of lacustrine deposits) or unstratified (in the case of till). Some of these fragments may be pieces of limestone and dolomite plucked from the bedrock by glacial ice and mixed in with the mineral glacial deposits. Secondary carbonates are generally present in these soils. CaCO3 equivalency is usually around 20 percent but may be as high as 40 percent.

Figure 7. Kewaunee Soil Series sampled on 06/10/2020 in Brown County, Wisconsin.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Till (2) Lacustrine deposits (3) Alluvium (4) Outwash (5) Eolian deposits (6) Loess (7) Beach sand
Surface texture	(1) Loamy sand (2) Sandy loam (3) Loam (4) Silt loam (5) Silty clay loam (6) Clay loam (7) Silty clay
Drainage class	Moderately well drained to well drained
Permeability class	Very slow
Soil depth	80 – 100 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-59.1in)	1.65 – 4.08 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-39.4in)	0 – 40 %
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-39.4in)	6.2 – 8.2
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-39.4in)	0 – 19 %
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-39.4in)	0 – 3 %

Ecological dynamics

Historically, this site was dominated by mesic hardwoods in a landscape adapted to fire disturbance that allowed for a strong presence of oaks. In pre-European settlement time wildfire was the main controlling factor of forest community dynamics. Following a severe, stand-replacing fire, any of the species present on the landscape could become established, depending on seed source availability and specific conditions of post-fire seedbed. The newly established young stands of any species were easily eliminated by recurring fires, but differences in fire-resisting properties among the species began to play a role in any species’ survival success. Many pine and oak species were dominant in the region because of their fire-resistant properties and successful regeneration post-fire. With clear cutting and continued fire suppression, many of these species adapted to fire and intolerant of shade are replaced by other species. Species such as white pine and red oak are still common on the landscape based on their tolerance to some shade; these species to establish under a canopy, and in time, may become a component of the canopy. Mesic hardwoods are sensitive to fire, but in its absence, the have the ability to dominate sites based on their shade tolerance and prolific seed production.

Today, these forests most commonly include stands of sugar maple although red oak, and other mesic hardwoods may be present as well. Some sites have a strong presence red oak, and white pine is successfully reinvading the landscape in some areas. These sites have the conditions to support shade tolerant mesic hardwoods, but historically had significant wind throw and fire disturbance that allowed for a strong presence of oak species. As long as fire is continually suppressed, maples and other mesic hardwoods will continue to dominate the canopy.

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 text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

2. Early to Mid-Successional State

3. Agricultural State

T1A	-	Clear cutting or stand-replacing fire.
T1B	-	Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.
R2A	-	Disturbance-free period 70+ years.
T2A	-	Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.
R3A	-	Cessation of agricultural practices, natural or artificial afforestation.

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Advanced Succession Phase

1.2. Rejuvenated Phase

1.1A	-	Light to moderate intensity fires, blow-downs, snow-ice breakage.
1.2A	-	Disturbance-free period 30+ years

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. Aspen- Paper Birch

2.2. Red Oak- Red Maple

2.3. Mixed Forest

2.1A	-	Immigration and establishment of red oak and red maple.
2.2A	-	Immigration and establishment of red oak and red maple.
2.3A	-	Clear cutting or stand-replacing fire.

State 1
Reference State

Reference state is a forest community dominated by sugar maple (Acer saccharum) with ashes, American Basswood and/or American Beech. Depending on history of disturbance, two community phases can be distinguished largely by differences in dominance of tree species and community age structure.

Community 1.1
Advanced Succession Phase

In the absence of any major disturbance, specifically fire, this community is dominated by sugar maple. Common associates include other mesic hardwoods like basswood (Tilia Americana), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), and on some sites may include red oak (Quercus rubra) and white pine (Pinus strobus). Red oak and white pine require some disturbance to create gaps for regeneration; with the absence of disturbance, they are less common in the canopy. The shrub layer is not well developed and likely to Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Gray dogwood (Cornus racemose).The ground layer consists of a variety of plants with a consistent presence of Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), and other species commonly found in medium to rich soils such as Trilliums and Hogpeanut.

Dominant plant species

sugar maple (Acer saccharum), tree
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), shrub
gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), shrub
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), other herbaceous
wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), other herbaceous
trillium (Trillium), other herbaceous
American hogpeanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), other herbaceous

Community 1.2
Rejuvenated Phase

This community is often dominated by sugar maple, red oak, and red maple. The shrub and ground layers are similar to the advanced succession phase, but may include the establishment of new seedlings.

Dominant plant species

sugar maple (Acer saccharum), tree
northern red oak (Quercus rubra), tree
red maple (Acer rubrum), tree
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), shrub
gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), shrub
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), other herbaceous
wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), other herbaceous
trillium (Trillium), other herbaceous
American hogpeanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), other herbaceous

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Light intensity fires, crown breakage from ice and snow, and small scale blow-downs create canopy openings, releasing advance regeneration and stimulating new seedling establishment. Some additional less shade tolerant species such as red oak, white oak, and white pine may be able to enter the community.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

A long period without major canopy disturbance allows gradual replacement of oldest canopy trees by younger cohorts. Lacking a major disturbance, the canopy will likely be replaced with red and sugar maple. Small scale disturbances may still occur periodically, but once second or third canopies are established there is minimal new regeneration taking place and the forest gradually returns to mature state.

State 2
Early to Mid-Successional State

Following disturbances described in Transition T1A a wide range of forest community phases may come into temporary existence, the three most common ones are described here.

Community 2.1
Aspen- Paper Birch

These two species have a very narrow window of environmental and ecological conditions for successful establishment. The main requirements are exposed mineral soil and elimination—most effectively by fire—of on-site seed sources of potential competing vegetation. In addition, adequate soil moisture must be available for initial seedling development. Once seedlings are firmly established, height growth of both species is relatively rapid and able to outgrow most competitive species. Paper birch seedlings and saplings tolerate partial shade and often become members of mixed species communities. This is not true for aspen which requires continuous full-sun exposure for survival. Aspen stands are initially very dense due to sprouting from extensive lateral roots, but rapid natural thinning ensues as stems compete for available light.

Dominant plant species

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), tree
paper birch (Betula papyrifera), tree

Community 2.2
Red Oak- Red Maple

Figure 8. Image courtesy of UWSP taken on 06/10/2020 in Brown County, WI.

This community phase occurs by invading and succeeding a pioneer aspen-birch community. Stand structure consists of dominant red oak and red maple in combination with a modest, or strong presence of mature, or decaying, aspen and/or paper birch. The shrub layer, dominated by Chokecherry and others, typically reaches its best development in this community phase.

Dominant plant species

northern red oak (Quercus rubra), tree
red maple (Acer rubrum), tree
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), shrub

Community 2.3
Mixed Forest

Figure 9. Image courtesy of UWSP taken on 06/16/2020 in Outagamie County, Wisconsin.

This community phase represents distinct transition into mid-successional state, by strong presence in second canopy, or in reproductive layers, of shade-tolerant species, sugar maple, basswood, green ash. With a well established oak canopy this phase may persist for a long time.

Dominant plant species

northern red oak (Quercus rubra), tree
red maple (Acer rubrum), tree
white oak (Quercus alba), tree
sugar maple (Acer saccharum), tree
black cherry (Prunus serotina), shrub
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), shrub
mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), other herbaceous
American hogpeanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata), other herbaceous

Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Time and the immigration, establishment, and growth of red oak and red maple seedlings. These moderately shade tolerant species seed in beneath the aspen and birch and eventually outcompete these intolerant species.

Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.3

Red Oak- Red Maple

Mixed Forest

Time and natural succession. Red oak and red maple have succeeded the aspen-birch community. Depending on seed source, sugar maple begins growth and establishment in the understory.

Pathway 2.3A
Community 2.3 to 2.1

Clear cutting or major fire disturbance allows for the reinvasion of the shade intolerant aspen-birch community.

State 3
Agricultural State

Indefinite period of applying agricultural practices. Crops include row crops, hay, and pasture.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Clear cutting with initial control of competing vegetation, or stand-replacing fire, prepare the site for occupancy by shade intolerant species. This may occur through natural regeneration or by planting.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Removal of forest vegetation and tilling.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

A period of some 70-100 years without major stand disturbance, especially fire, leads to decreased presence, through natural mortality, of early successional species and the dominance of shade tolerant sugar maple and Hemlock with less tolerant associates of American Beech and White ash, returning the community to Reference State.

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Removal of forest cover, tilling and application of other agricultural techniques to grow agricultural crops.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 2

Abandonment of agricultural practices and allowing natural vegetation to colonize the site or apply artificial afforestation.

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 (%)

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Plot and other supporting inventory data for site identification and community phases is located on a NRCS North Central Region shared and one drive folder. University Wisconsin-Stevens Point described soils, took photographs, and inventoried vegetation data at community phases within the reference state. The data sources include WI ESD Plot Data Collection Form - Tier 2, Releve Method, NASIS pedon description, NRCS SOI 036, photographs, and Kotar Habitat Types.

Other references

Cleland, D.T.; Avers, P.E.; McNab, W.H.; Jensen, M.E.; Bailey, R.G., King, T.; Russell, W.E. 1997. National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units. Published in, Boyce, M. S.; Haney, A., ed. 1997. Ecosystem Management Applications for Sustainable Forest and Wildlife Resources. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. pp. 181-200.

Curtis, J.T. 1959. Vegetation of Wisconsin: an ordination of plant communities. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 657 pp.

Finley, R. 1976. Original vegetation of Wisconsin. Map compiled from U.S. General Land Office notes. U.S. Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St. Paul, Minnesota.

NatureServe. 2018. International Ecological Classification Satandard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications. NautreServe Centreal Databases. Arlington, VA. U.S.A. Data current as of 28 August 2018.

Kotar, J., J. A. Kovach, and T. L. Burger. 2002. A Guide to Forest Communities and Habitat Types of Northern Wisconsin. Second edition. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Madison.

Kotar, J., J. A. Kovach, and T. L. Burger. 1996. A Guide to Forest Communities and Habitat Types of Southern Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Madison.

Kotar, J., and T. L. Burger. 2017. Wetland Forest Habitat Type Classification System for Northern Wisconsin: A Guide for Land Managers and landowners. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PUB-FR-627 2017, Madison.

Schulte, L.A., and D.J. Mladenoff. 2001. The original U.S. public land survey records: their use and limitations in reconstructing pre-European settlement vegetation. Journal of Forestry 99:5–10.

Schulte, L.A., and D.J. Mladenoff. 2005. Severe wind and fire regimes in northern forests: historical variability at the regional scale. Ecology 86(2):431–445.

Schulte, L.A., and D.J. Mladenoff. 2005. Severe wind and fire regimes in northern forests: historical variability at the regional scale. Ecology 86(2):431–445.

USDA-NRCS. 2022. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2015. The ecological landscapes of Wisconsin: An assessment of ecological resources and a guide to planning sustainable management. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PUB-SS-1131 2015, Madison.

Contributors

Jacob Prater, Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin Stevens point
Bryant Scharenbroch, Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
John Kotar, Ecological Specialist Independent Contractor

Approval

Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 11/16/2023

Acknowledgments

NRCS contracted UWSP to write ecological sites in MLRA 95X. Completed in 2021.

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	08/10/2026
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F095XA011WI

Clayey Upland

Last updated: 11/16/2023 Accessed: 08/10/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 11/16/2023
Accessed: 08/10/2026