Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Major Land Resource Area 096X
Major Land Resource Area
Accessed: 04/30/2026
Previous
Sections
Next
Next steps
-
1
Select an ecological site
Select an ecological site using the list, keys, photos, briefcase, or quick search option located on this page. -
2
Explore the ecological site description
Next, learn more about the selected ecological site and its characteristic dynamics by browsing the ecological site description and exploring alternative state and transition model formats.
Ecological site list
Tools
Search
Filter by
interactive key
precipitation
frost free days
more..
clear all
Sort by
id
name
stage
Viewing 20 of 28
View all
Ecological site map
Basemap
Topo
Road
Aerial
Hybrid
Find me
Find point
Full screen
Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.
Briefcase
Add ecological sites and Major Land Resource Areas to your briefcase by clicking on the briefcase (
) icon wherever it occurs. Drag and drop items to reorder. Cookies are used to store briefcase items between browsing sessions. Because of this, the number of items that can be added to your briefcase is limited, and briefcase items added on one device and browser cannot be accessed from another device or browser. Users who do not wish to place cookies on their devices should not use the briefcase tool. Briefcase cookies serve no other purpose than described here and are deleted whenever browsing history is cleared.
Ecological sites
Major Land Resource Areas
Ecological site photos
Tools
Filter by
interactive key
precipitation
frost free days
more..
clear all
Type
Image size
Done
Filters
Interactive key
Precipitation
Frost free days
Elevation
Landform
Parent material kind
Soil texture
Sites immediately adjacent to the Great Lakes, river mouths and shoreline, affected by water levels of the Great Lakes.
Inland.
River mouths.
R096XY002MI – Great Lakes Marsh
R096XY002MI – Great Lakes Marsh
Storm washed beach and active windblown dunes
R096XY001MI – Coastal Dune Complex
R096XY001MI – Coastal Dune Complex
Bedrock within 150 cm of surface and no water table. --- F094CY038MI --- Limestone Plains
Deep Soil or Water Table.
North of the Manistee River, cooler summer, more winter snow.
South of Manistee River, warmer summer, less winter snow.
Floodplain.
Non-Floodplain.
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
F096XA013MI – Snowy Wet Floodplain
F096XA013MI – Snowy Wet Floodplain
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to well drained).
F096XA012MI – Snowy Floodplain
F096XA012MI – Snowy Floodplain
Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
Histosol or Histic Subgroup.
Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
No water table within 100 cm of surface (well drained or drier).
Seasonal water table present within 100 cm of surface (moderately well drained or wetter).
Signs of higher productivity and infrequent fire: Bhs horizon present (dark reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides).
F096XA006MI – Snowy Rich Sandy Drift
F096XA006MI – Snowy Rich Sandy Drift
Signs of lower productivity and frequent fire: Bhs horizon absent (lacking a dark reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides).
F096XA007MI – Snowy Sandy Drift
F096XA007MI – Snowy Sandy Drift
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
F096XA010MI – Snowy Sandy Depression
F096XA010MI – Snowy Sandy Depression
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
F096XA008MI – Snowy Acidic Sandy Depression
F096XA008MI – Snowy Acidic Sandy Depression
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
F096XA011MI – Snowy Wet Sandy Depression
F096XA011MI – Snowy Wet Sandy Depression
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
F096XA009MI – Snowy Wet Acidic Sandy Depression
F096XA009MI – Snowy Wet Acidic Sandy Depression
No seasonal water table (well drained or drier).
F096XA003MI – Snowy Loamy Till
F096XA003MI – Snowy Loamy Till
Seasonal water table present within 100 cm of surface (moderately well drained or wetter).
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
F096XA004MI – Snowy Loamy Depression
F096XA004MI – Snowy Loamy Depression
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
F096XA005MI – Snowy Wet Loamy Depression
F096XA005MI – Snowy Wet Loamy Depression
Mean pH of the top 50 cm ≥ 5.0, or euic reaction class.
F096XA014MI – Snowy Mucky Depression
F096XA014MI – Snowy Mucky Depression
Mean pH of the top 50 cm < 5.0, or dysic reaction class.
F096XA015MI – Snowy Acidic Peaty Depression
F096XA015MI – Snowy Acidic Peaty Depression
Floodplain.
Non-Floodplain.
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
F096XB026MI – Wet Floodplain
F096XB026MI – Wet Floodplain
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to well drained).
F096XB025MI – Floodplain
F096XB025MI – Floodplain
Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon (if any peat or muck surface, it is < 20 cm thick).
Histosol or Histic Subgroup (peat or muck surface ≥ 20 cm thick).
Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
No water table within 100 cm of surface (well drained or drier).
Seasonal water table present within 100 cm of surface (moderately well drained or wetter)
Signs of higher productivity and infrequent fire: Spodic subgroup or Spodosol (reddish or reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides), or pH of top 50 cm ≥ 6, or depth to carbonates < 100 cm deep.
F096XB019MI – Rich Sandy Drift
F096XB019MI – Rich Sandy Drift
Signs of lower productivity and frequent fire: Not Spodic subgroup nor Spodosol (reddish or reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides), and pH of top 50 cm < 6, and depth to carbonates ≥ 100 cm.
F096XB020MI – Sandy Drift
F096XB020MI – Sandy Drift
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
F096XB023MI – Sandy Depression
F096XB023MI – Sandy Depression
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
F096XB021MI – Acidic Sandy Depression
F096XB021MI – Acidic Sandy Depression
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
F096XB024MI – Wet Sandy Depression
F096XB024MI – Wet Sandy Depression
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
F096XB022MI – Wet Acidic Sandy Depression
F096XB022MI – Wet Acidic Sandy Depression
No water table (well drained or drier).
F096XB016MI – Loamy Till
F096XB016MI – Loamy Till
Seasonal water table present (moderately well drained or wetter).
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
F096XB017MI – Loamy Depression
F096XB017MI – Loamy Depression
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
F096XB018MI – Wet Loamy Depression
F096XB018MI – Wet Loamy Depression
Mean pH of the top 50 cm ≥ 5.0, or euic reaction class.
F096XB027MI – Mucky Depression
F096XB027MI – Mucky Depression
Mean pH of the top 50 cm < 5.0, or dysic reaction class.
F096XB028MI – Acidic Peaty Depression
F096XB028MI – Acidic Peaty Depression
Long term average mean annual precipitation
- No filter
- 80 – 100cm (31 – 39in)
- 100 – 120cm (39 – 47in)
- 120 – 140cm (47 – 55in)
- 140 – 500cm (55 – 197in)
—
cm
Long term average frost free days
- No filter
- 90 – 110days
- 110 – 130days
—
days
- No filter
- 0 – 200m (0 – 700ft)
- 200 – 400m (700 – 1300ft)
—
m
- No filter
- Beach
- Depression
- Dune
- Estuary
- Flood plain
- Interdune
- Kame
- Lake plain
- Moraine
- Outwash plain
- Till plain
- No filter
- Alluvium
- Beach sand
- Drift
- Eolian sands
- Lacustrine deposits
- Organic, unspecified
- Outwash
- Till, unspecified
Soil surface texture
- No filter
- Loam
- Sand
- Silt
Print Options
Sections
Font
A
A
A
A
Other
Print
Ecological site keys
MLRA 96
1a.
Sites immediately adjacent to the Great Lakes, river mouths and shoreline, affected by water levels of the Great Lakes.
1b.
Inland.
3a.
Bedrock within 150 cm of surface and no water table. --- F094CY038MI --- Limestone Plains
3b.
Deep Soil or Water Table.
4a.
North of the Manistee River, cooler summer, more winter snow.
5a.
Floodplain.
5b.
Non-Floodplain.
7a.
Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon.
8a.
Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
9a.
No water table within 100 cm of surface (well drained or drier).
10a.
Signs of higher productivity and infrequent fire: Bhs horizon present (dark reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides).
... F096XA006MI – Snowy Rich Sandy Drift
10b.
Signs of lower productivity and frequent fire: Bhs horizon absent (lacking a dark reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides).
... F096XA007MI – Snowy Sandy Drift
9b.
Seasonal water table present within 100 cm of surface (moderately well drained or wetter).
11a.
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
12a.
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
... F096XA010MI – Snowy Sandy Depression
12b.
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
... F096XA008MI – Snowy Acidic Sandy Depression
11b.
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
13a.
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
... F096XA011MI – Snowy Wet Sandy Depression
13b.
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
... F096XA009MI – Snowy Wet Acidic Sandy Depression
8b.
Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
14b.
Seasonal water table present within 100 cm of surface (moderately well drained or wetter).
15a.
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
... F096XA004MI – Snowy Loamy Depression
7b.
Histosol or Histic Subgroup.
16a.
Mean pH of the top 50 cm ≥ 5.0, or euic reaction class.
... F096XA014MI – Snowy Mucky Depression
16b.
Mean pH of the top 50 cm < 5.0, or dysic reaction class.
... F096XA015MI – Snowy Acidic Peaty Depression
4b.
South of Manistee River, warmer summer, less winter snow.
17a.
Floodplain.
17b.
Non-Floodplain.
19a.
Mineral Soil with no histic epipedon (if any peat or muck surface, it is < 20 cm thick).
20a.
Sandy Site: ≥ 80% sand in the top 150 cm and ≥ 70% sand in the top 50 cm; or ≥ 80% sand in top 50 cm; or < 20% clay in top 150 cm, pH <6, and ultic subgroup.
21a.
No water table within 100 cm of surface (well drained or drier).
22a.
Signs of higher productivity and infrequent fire: Spodic subgroup or Spodosol (reddish or reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides), or pH of top 50 cm ≥ 6, or depth to carbonates < 100 cm deep.
... F096XB019MI – Rich Sandy Drift
22b.
Signs of lower productivity and frequent fire: Not Spodic subgroup nor Spodosol (reddish or reddish brown layer of organic matter and iron-aluminum oxides), and pH of top 50 cm < 6, and depth to carbonates ≥ 100 cm.
... F096XB020MI – Sandy Drift
21b.
Seasonal water table present within 100 cm of surface (moderately well drained or wetter)
23a.
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
24b.
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
... F096XB021MI – Acidic Sandy Depression
23b.
Hydric Soil (poorly or very poorly drained).
25a.
pH ≥ 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Mollisols, or Mollic subgroups.
... F096XB024MI – Wet Sandy Depression
25b.
pH < 5.5 in the top 50 cm, Spodosols, or Spodic and Ultic subgroups.
... F096XB022MI – Wet Acidic Sandy Depression
20b.
Loamy Site: < 80% sand in the top 150 cm or < 70% sand in the top 50 cm; and not in ultic subgroup unless pH ≥6 or clay ≥20%.
26b.
Seasonal water table present (moderately well drained or wetter).
27a.
Non-hydric Soil (somewhat poorly to moderately well drained).
... F096XB017MI – Loamy Depression
19b.
Histosol or Histic Subgroup (peat or muck surface ≥ 20 cm thick).
28b.
Mean pH of the top 50 cm < 5.0, or dysic reaction class.
... F096XB028MI – Acidic Peaty Depression
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Accessibility statement