Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R102CY062NE
SHALLOW TO GRAVEL
Last updated: 12/10/2024
Accessed: 08/17/2026
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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.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 102C–Loess Uplands
Most of this area is in the Dissected Till Plains part of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains. This MLRA has broad, undulating to rolling ridgetops and hilly to steep valley sides. The valleys are generally narrow, but broad flood plains and terraces are along the major rivers and the large tributaries. Elevation ranges from 335 to 610 meters (1,100 to 2,000 feet) increasing from southeast to northwest. Peorian age loess covers most of the area with depths ranging from 2 to 20 meters (6 to 70 feet). Glacial till underlies the loess in most areas. Bedrock can be found at or near the surface predominantly along the Missouri River valley found on the eastern side of the MLRA, but some bedrock can also be found in the northern part of 102C in Minnesota and South Dakota. The soils are predominantly Mollisols but Entisols are prominent in the floodplains of the area. Nearly all the area is farmed with 70% of the area being used as cropland for corn and soybeans. Feed grains and hay crops are also grown. The major resource concerns are wind erosion, water erosion, maintenance of organic matter and soil tilth, and soil moisture management. (USDA/NRCS 2006)
Classification relationships
NE Natural Heritage Program/NE Game & Parks Commission: "Lowland Tallgrass Prairie"
General information for MLRA 102C:
*Fenneman (1916) Physiographic Regions*
Division - Interior Plains
East:
Province - Central Lowland
Section - Till Plains
West:
Province - Great Plains
Section - High Plains
*USFS (2007) Ecoregions*
Domain - Humid Temperate
Division - Prairie
Province - Prairie Parkland (Temperate)
Section - North-Central Glaciated Plains (251B)
*EPA Ecoregions (Omernik 1997)*
I - Great Plains (9)
II - Temperate Prairies (9.2)
III - Western Corn Belt Plains (9.2.3) IV - Loess Prairies (47a)
IV - Northeastern Nebraska Loess Hills (47k)
IV - Transitional Sandy Plain (47l)Ecological site concept
This upland ecological site has shallow, gravelly soils and a reference vegetation community of grasses. The foremost diagnostic feature of this site is the depth to sandy-skeletal subsoil (0 to 61 centimeters / 0 to 24 inches). The site does not receive additional moisture from higher adjacent areas but is not subject to significant runoff due to sandy-skeletal nature of the soils. This site predominantly occurs on gently to very steeply sloping upland positions (0 - 60% slopes) of glacial outwash plains. These sites do not receive run-on water from adjacent sites, but runoff is low due to the gravelly / sandy nature of the soils. It has a seasonally high-water table that is below 180 centimeters (71 inches) year around. The site does not pond and does not flood. These are moderately deep to very deep, excessively drained soils that formed in glaciofluvial deposits. The surface texture is predominantly loam or gravelly loam from 18 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches) and the Subsurface Texture Groups are sandy-skeletal from 20 to 203 centimeters (8 to 80 inches). The plant community consists of 80-95% grasses and grass-likes, 5-10% forbs and 0-5% shrubs. Dominant grasses include Little bluestem, Sideoats grama, Blue grama, Needleandthread, and Prairie sandreed. Other grasses and grass-likes are Hairy grama, Prairie junegrass, Purple lovegrass, Sand dropseed, Scribner panicum, Big bluestem, Clubmoss and other forbs and shrubs.
Associated sites
R102CY058NE Loamy Upland
Occurs on uplands and other run-off landscapes with silty and loamy textures
R102CY059NE Limy Upland
Occurs on uplands and other run-off landscapes with secondary carbonates at or near the surface.
Similar sites
R102CY060NE SHALLOW CLAY
Bedrock or other root restrictive layer between 10 and 20 inches.
R102CY061NE SHALLOW LIMY
Bedrock or other root restrictive layer between 10 and 20 inches and CaCO3 content with strong or violent effervescence above restrictive layer.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Schizachyrium scoparium
(2) Bouteloua curtipendulaPhysiographic features
This site predominantly occurs on gently to very steeply sloping upland positions (0 - 60% slopes) of glacial outwash plains. These sites do not receive run-on water from adjacent sites, but runoff is low due to the gravelly / sandy nature of the soils. It has a seasonally high-water table that is below 180 centimeters (71 inches) year around. The site does not pond and does not flood.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Outwash plain
Runoff class Negligible to low Elevation 1120 – 1430 ft Slope 2 – 60 % Water table depth 70 – 0 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. The maximum precipitation occurs from the middle of spring to early in autumn. Precipitation in winter occurs as snow. The annual snowfall ranges from about 60 centimeters (24 inches) in the southern part of the area to 85 centimeters (34 inches) in the northern part. The average annual temperature gradient trends higher from north (7°C / 45°F) to south (11°C / 51°F), and the average annual precipitation gradient trends higher from northwest (64 centimeters / 25 inches) to southeast (79 centimeters / 31 inches).
The following data summary includes weather stations representing the full geographic extent of the MLRA and is based on 70% probabilities. This means that actual observed climate conditions may fall outside these ranges 30% of the time. Furthermore, climatic events can manifest many ways. For example, abnormally dry periods could occur as 3 consecutive drought years out of 10, 3 individual years separated by “normal” years, or some combination. Tree-ring records indicate that portions of the Great Plains have also historically experienced droughts lasting several decades, so plant community response will largely depend on the way climatic variability is realized in interaction with past and current land management.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 120-130 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 140-150 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (actual range) 120-130 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 140-150 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 rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) HAWARDEN [USC00133718], Hawarden, IA
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(2) LUVERNE [USC00214937], Luverne, MN
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(3) ELGIN [USC00252595], Elgin, NE
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(4) GENOA 2 W [USC00253185], Genoa, NE
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(5) NORFOLK 4W [USC00255997], Norfolk, NE
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(6) WALTHILL 1E [USC00258935], Walthill, NE
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(7) FLANDREAU [USC00392984], Flandreau, SD
">Influencing water features
No riparian or wetland features are associated with this site.
Soil features
These are moderately deep to very deep, excessively drained soils that formed in glaciofluvial deposits. The surface texture is predominantly loam or gravelly loam from 18 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches) and the Subsurface Texture Groups are sandy-skeletal from 20 to 203 centimeters (8 to 80 inches). Rills, gullies, and water flow patterns are not inherent to this site. Pedestalling is none to slight. Soil aggregate stability should be low due to the gravelly / sandy nature.
Major soils assigned to this site include: TalmoTable 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Glaciofluvial deposits
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Loam
Drainage class Excessively drained Permeability class Moderate to rapid Soil depth 60 – 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 5 – 35 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 25 % Available water capacity
(Depth not specified)2 – 7 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(Depth not specified)0 – 25 % Electrical conductivity
(Depth not specified)0 – 4 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(Depth not specified)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(Depth not specified)6.1 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 50 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 50 % Ecological dynamics
The foremost diagnostic feature of this site is the depth to sandy-skeletal subsoil (0 to 61 centimeters / 0 to 24 inches). The site does not receive additional moisture from higher adjacent areas but is not subject to significant runoff due to sandy-skeletal nature of the soils. Relatively minor changes in local elevation can affect the plant community since the sandy-skeletal subsoil can fluctuate in depth. This site often occurs in complex with the Limy Upland and Loamy Upland sites.
This site developed with occasional fires being part of the ecological processes. It is presumed that the historic fires generally occurred every 3-4 years, were randomly distributed, and started by lightning at various times throughout the season when thunderstorms were likely to occur. It is also believed that pre-European inhabitants may have used fire as a management tool for attracting herds of large migratory herbivores (bison, elk, and/or deer.) The impact of fire over the past 100 years has been relatively insignificant due to the human control of wildfires and the lack of acceptance of prescribed fire as a management tool.
The degree of herbivory (feeding on herbaceous plants) has a significant impact on the dynamics of the site. Historically, periodic grazing by herds of large migratory herbivores was a primary influence. Secondary influences of herbivory by species such as grasshoppers and root feeding organisms impacted the vegetation historically and continue to this day. The management of herbivory by humans through grazing of domestic livestock and/or manipulation of wildlife populations has been a major influence on the ecological dynamics of the site. This management coupled with climate largely dictates the plant communities for the site.
The plant community for this site is dynamic due to the complex interaction of many ecological processes. The interpretive plant community for this site is the reference state. The reference state has been determined by the study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance and areas under long term rotational grazing strategies. Trends in plant community dynamics ranging
from heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal use pastures, and historical accounts have also been used.
The following is a diagram that illustrates the common plant communities that can occur on the site and the transition pathways among communities. The ecological processes will be discussed in more detail in the plant community descriptions following the diagram.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
States 1, 5 and 2 (additional transitions)
T1A - Reduced native competitiveness allow for introduced grass colonization and expansion. T1B - Severe disturbance makes resources available to opportunistic species. T1C - Woody encroachment leading to woody dominance R2A - Reduced invasive grass competitiveness allows natives to reclaim resources. T2A - Reduced native competitiveness allow for introduced grass colonization and expansion. T2B - Severe disturbance makes resources available to opportunistic species. T2C - Woody encroachment leading to woody dominance T3C - Reduced invasive grass competitiveness allows natives to reclaim resources. T3B - Severe disturbance makes resources available to opportunistic species. T3A - Woody encroachment leading to woody dominance R4A - Successional processes tie up resources in a more stable community T4B - Successional processes tie up resources in a more stable community T4C - Successional processes tie up resources in a more stable community R5A - Woody removal for return to herbaceous dominance T5B - Woody removal for return to herbaceous dominance T5C - Woody removal for return to herbaceous dominance State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A - Reduced tallgrass vigor due to excessive defoliation intensity and frequency; drought. 1.2A - Improved tallgrass vigor with adequate rest periods; return of normal precipitation. State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A - Reduced native competitiveness allow for introduced grass colonization and expansion. State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Native GrasslandThis state comprises the communities within the range of natural variability under historic conditions and disturbance regimes. Patterns created by wildlife use and fire would have created a mosaic of communities across the landscape; however, warm-season tallgrasses are dominant, with a subdominant to minor contribution from native cool-season grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
Fire and bison herbivory were the dominant disturbance regimes that historically maintained the tallgrass dominance with a diverse forb component. Furthermore, bison grazing was closely linked to fire patterns as the animals preferred grazing burned areas offering lush regrowth devoid of decadence and of higher nutritive quality. Thus, historic plant communities were subjected to occasional burning and grazing, with substantial rest/recovery periods as the fuel load rebuilt to eventually start this process again. Fire return intervals of 3-4 years served to suppress woody species, particularly the various tree and shrub species prevalent in adjacent riparian corridors.
The degree to which observed conditions represent this state largely depends on how closely the management has mimicked these past disturbance effects.Dominant plant species
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
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blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
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needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata), grass
Community 1.1
Little bluestem – Sideoats grama (Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula)This is the interpretive plant community and can be found on areas that are properly managed with prescribed grazing that allows for adequate recovery periods following each grazing event.
The plant community consists of 80-95% grasses and grass-likes, 5-10% forbs and 0-5% shrubs. Dominant grasses include Little bluestem, Sideoats grama, Blue grama, Needleandthread, and Prairie sandreed. Other grasses and grass-likes are Hairy grama, Prairie junegrass, Purple lovegrass, Sand dropseed, Scribner panicum, Big bluestem, Clubmoss and other forbs and shrubs.
This plant community is diverse, stable, and productive. Plant community dynamics, nutrient cycles, water cycles, and energy flow are functioning properly. Plant litter is properly distributed with negligible movement off-site and natural plant mortality is very low. This community is resistant to many disturbances except continuous, season-long heavy grazing, tillage, or non-use. Broadcast herbicide application will dramatically reduce forb diversity and abundance.Dominant plant species
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), grass
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
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blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
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needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata), grass
Community 1.2
Blue grama – Sideoats grama (Bouteloua gracilis – Bouteloua curtipendula)Blue grama has replaced Little bluestem as the dominant species. Other species, such as western wheatgrass have also increased. While still within the range of natural variability, energy capture, nutrient cycling, and hydrology are not functioning at their full potential relative to the reference condition.
Dominant plant species
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blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), grass
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Grazing management which does not provide adequate recovery periods will cause a shift from Little bluestem and Sideoats grama towards less palatable species, particularly Blue grama.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Management that provides adequate recovery periods and does not annually prevent tallgrass seed set or otherwise impair vigor will facilitate a return to community phase 1.1. In the case of drought, the return to more typical precipitation patterns will promote shift towards tallgrass species.
State 2
Native/Invaded MixThis state can manifest in three ways: 1) the appearance of introduced cool-season grasses, 2) the expansion of shrubs and/or trees, or 3) some combination of these. Kentucky bluegrass and Smooth brome are the primary cool-season grass invaders in this region, commonly found in roadsides, disturbed areas, and pastures intentionally seeded for cool-season forage. Management practices and/or environmental conditions that are not favorable to native grass vigor may allow introduced grasses to invade the site thereby decreasing native diversity and abundance, particularly of forbs.
In the absence of the historic fire regime, woody species may also expand to become an influential component of the community. The invasive component tends to have very high resilience, is extremely difficult to eradicate, and what might be considered a new "contemporary" range of natural variability is seen as competition between the native grasses and introduced/woody species for space and resources.Dominant plant species
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), other herbaceous
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), other herbaceous
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smooth brome (Bromus inermis), other herbaceous
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Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), other herbaceous
Community 2.1
Subdominant Smooth brome – Kentucky bluegrass (Bromus inermis – Poa Pratensis)While native warm-season grasses still dominate the site, introduced cool-season species have established a foothold in the system and can be found interspersed throughout the stand. The stand may still have a native tallgrass appearance overall, but brome and/or bluegrass can be easily found.
Shrub/tree species may also have begun to expand into areas where they did not persist historically, but the overall appearance can vary depending on the propagation method of a particular species.Community 2.2
Codominant Smooth brome – Kentucky bluegrass (Bromus inermis – Poa Pratensis)This community is comprised of a relatively even mix of native grasses and invasive species overall. This may manifest as a well-distributed interspersion of natives and invaders, as distinct patches wherein competitors dominate locally, or some combination. Forb diversity and abundance is further diminished.
Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2Management and/or environmental conditions have afforded a persisting competitive advantage to introduced cool-season grasses, and they begin to dominate the ecological dynamics of the site. The robust invasive component can quickly and effectively exploit opportunities to outcompete and displace natives. Repeated summer use of an area will place the bulk of stressor impacts on native plants, reducing native vigor and allowing invaders to thrive. Likewise, a climate pattern limiting natural moisture to the spring and fall months coincides with peak cool-season growth and may support a similar process.
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1The native component remains in an abundance that can facilitate a return towards more historic conditions if management is modified to shift stressor impacts to the invasive species and promote warm-season grass vigor. Environmental conditions and/or disturbance regimes that strongly favor warm-season grasses can also trend the site towards the reference.
State 3
Invasive DominantIntroduced cool-season invasion has progressed to the point that native species comprise a negligible portion of the community and the aggressively rhizomatous invasives preclude native germination and seedling survival. The native component may be completely absent, and the site resembles a seeded pasture. Alternatively, the dominant invasives may be woody species. Woody competitiveness for sunlight, water, space, and other resources continues to increase as desirable herbaceous species are shaded out, crowded out, or otherwise suppressed.
Dominant plant species
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smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
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Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
Community 3.1
Smooth brome – Kentucky bluegrass (Bromus inermis – Poa Pratensis)This community is typically composed of Smooth brome with bluegrass interspersed among the brome tillers. Warm-season natives, if present, are sparse yet often conspicuous due to pronounced differences in growth habits and metabolic pathways.
Community structure and function have been dramatically simplified relative to the reference condition, and very few biotic functional groups are represented in amounts that would influence ecological function. The invasive grass root skein provides good site stability; however, replacement of the deeper roots and complex bunchgrass canopy with the shallower roots and erect tiller canopy of the invaders results in reduced interception and infiltration rates.Dominant plant species
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smooth brome (Bromus inermis), grass
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Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), grass
State 4
Annual/PioneerNutrient cycling, hydrologic function, and/or soil stability have been severely altered, and possibly compromised. This is a highly variable state in which the specific plants observed will depend largely on the original community and the nature of the disturbance. This condition encompasses (but is not necessarily limited to) events such as severe fire impacts, heavy continuous grazing, heavy nutrient inputs, and abandoned cropland.
Dominant plant species
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ragweed (Ambrosia), other herbaceous
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hoary verbena (Verbena stricta), other herbaceous
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pigweed (Amaranthus), other herbaceous
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thistle (Cirsium), other herbaceous
Community 4.1
Variable native and introducedThis community is heavily dominated by annual plants that thrive in disturbed areas and often includes annual ragweed, hoary verbena, or amaranths. It is also particularly vulnerable to noxious weed invasion with the most common species being Leafy spurge, Musk and Canada thistles.
Dominant plant species
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ragweed (Ambrosia), other herbaceous
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hoary verbena (Verbena stricta), other herbaceous
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pigweed (Amaranthus), other herbaceous
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thistle (Cirsium), other herbaceous
State 5
Woody DominantUnder historic disturbance regimes, frequent and uncontrolled fire and wildlife browsing served to keep woody species in check. However, in the absence of fire (either wild or prescribed), it's not uncommon for the woody trees and shrubs normally limited to riparian areas to expand into the floodplains, regardless of herbaceous community composition. Wildlife may introduce a seed source to areas not associated with a waterway, such as interdunal depressions.
Dominant plant species
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maple (Acer), tree
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eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), tree
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boxelder (Acer negundo), tree
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ash (Fraxinus), tree
Community 5.1
Native deciduous overstory and/or Eastern red cedarWoody species have encroached and established, typically with species such as maples, cottonwood, boxelder, green ash, and eastern red cedar.
Dominant plant species
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maple (Acer), tree
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eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), tree
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boxelder (Acer negundo), tree
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ash (Fraxinus), tree
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2In the presence of introduced cool-season grasses, environmental conditions and/or management that reduces native vigor and stand resilience, and frees up resources (space, sunlight, nutrients, water) will allow for colonization of Kentucky bluegrass and Smooth brome. Likewise, similar processes may also allow for woody species to expand.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 4There are many possible triggers for this transition that may occur as acute events (e.g. plowing) or cumulative impacts of chronic events (e.g. long-term undermanaged grazing.) The absence of deep-rooted perennial cover exposes the site to topsoil loss, open nutrient cycle, and free space which collectively allow for opportunistic annual species to dominate.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 5All herbaceous communities are vulnerable to woody encroachment in the absence of fire and/or browsing and hoof action impacts. This is particularly prominent in areas adjacent to riparian corridors which supply a constant seed source. As tree establishment progresses, the conditions grow increasingly favorable for woody germination and growth.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Eradication of introduced cool-season grasses from this site will require long-term, targeted management efforts to create an adverse environment during the spring and late fall when bluegrass and brome are most actively growing, with favorable conditions during the summer to promote native warm-season species. Targeted practices such as prescribed burning, flash grazing, and herbicide are often employed at strategic times of the year to set back undesirable species. The combination of practices should strive to mimic the historic disturbance regimes to which the desirable native species are best adapted.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3If the conditions which initiated and fomented the colonization and expansion of cool- season invasion are not removed or mitigated, stand composition will continue to shift in this direction and begin to resemble a monoculture of brome and/or bluegrass. Due to the dense rhizomatous root mat of brome and bluegrass, native species suffer decreasing opportunities to contribute propagules, and individual plants lost are not replaced by desirable natives.
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4There are many possible triggers for this transition that may occur as acute events (e.g. plowing) or cumulative impacts of chronic events (e.g. long-term undermanaged grazing.) The absence of deep-rooted perennial cover exposes the site to topsoil loss, open nutrient cycle, and free space which collectively allow for opportunistic annual species to dominate.
Transition T2C
State 2 to 5All herbaceous communities are vulnerable to woody encroachment in the absence of fire and/or browsing impacts. This is particularly prominent in areas adjacent to riparian corridors which supply a constant seed source. As tree establishment progresses, the conditions grow increasingly favorable for woody germination and growth.
Transition T3C
State 3 to 2Aggressive intervening actions will be required to simultaneously recolonize native grasses and suppress vigor in undesirable species. Restoration follows the same principles as the R2A pathway but may also require native range seeding if the latent seedbank is inadequate.
Transition T3B
State 3 to 4Nutrient cycling, hydrologic function, and/or soil stability have been severely altered, and possibly compromised. This is a highly variable state in which the specific plants observed will depend largely on the original community and the nature of the disturbance.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 5All herbaceous communities are vulnerable to woody encroachment in the absence of fire and/or browsing impacts. This is particularly prominent in areas adjacent to riparian corridors which supply a constant seed source. As tree establishment progresses, the conditions grow increasingly favorable for woody germination and growth.
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1Restoration strategies will depend on the nature of the disturbance and the viability of the seedbank. On pastures, changes to gazing management and favorable moisture conditions may produce a perennial community. However, in abandoned cropland range seeding will likely be necessary to recolonize desirable perennial species.
Transition T4B
State 4 to 2As the site matures from the annual / pioneer stage, it will transition over to a mix of native and invaded species depending on the seed sources available. In many cases this will be a mix of Smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass for these sites.
Transition T4C
State 4 to 3The annual / pioneer stage can transition to an invasive dominant stage if the seed source available after the disturbance is predominantly non-native species.
Restoration pathway R5A
State 5 to 1The combination of tree size, reduced herbaceous understory, and more mesic conditions makes it increasingly difficult for natural disturbances to restore/maintain the historic tallgrass community, and mature woodlands can no longer be restored with fire. Intensive brush management will be required to mechanically remove the established overstory. Woody control and maintenance will be an ongoing process and may also require chemical methods if sprouting species are present.
Transition T5B
State 5 to 2Any type of natural act or management practices that kill off the woody species can transition the woody dominant site back to a native / invaded mix as the remaining herbaceous plants and seed source thrive due to the introduction of more sunlight and less woody competition.
Transition T5C
State 5 to 3Any type of natural act or management practices that kill off the woody species can transition the woody dominant site back to invasive dominant regime as the remaining herbaceous plants and seed source thrive due to the introduction of more sunlight and less woody competition.
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 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Meetings and comments of local, state and regional experts convene and created the ES concepts and STMs. Information presented here has been derived from RANGE-417 archives, Rangeland NRI, and other inventory data. Field observations from range-trained personnel were also used. In addition to the multitude of NRCS field office employees and private landowners that helped with site visits and local knowledge, those involved in developing this site include: Nebraska NRCS: Nadine Bishop, State Rangeland Management Specialist Patrick Cowsert, Resource Soil Scientist Cassidy Gerdes, Biologist Dirk Schultz, Soil Conservationist Dan Shurtliff, Asst. State Soil Scientist (retired) South Dakota NRCS: Stan Boltz, State Rangeland Management Specialist Shane Deranleau, Area Rangeland Management Specialist Kevin Luebke, State Biologist Iowa NRCS: Jess Jackson, Area Grazing Specialist Minnesota NRCS: Lance Smith, Area Grazing Specialist MLRA Office 10: Stu McFarland, Ecological Site Inventory Specialist Stacey Clark, Ecological Site Inventory Specialist, QA Michael Whited, Region 10 Director (retired) Jo Parsley, Soil Scientist/ Soil Data Quality Specialist National Soil Survey Center: Mike Kucera, National Agronomist, Soil Quality & Ecosystems Steve Peaslee, GIS Specialist, Soil Survey Interpretations Nebraska Game & Parks Commission: Gerry Steinauer, Botanist Scott Wessel, Biologist Russ Hamer, Biologist Rebekah Jessen, Biologist Nebraska Forest Service: Steve Rasmussen, District Forester
Other references
USDA/NRCS 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.
USDA/NRCS. 2012. Field Office Technical Guide (Nebraska, Natural Resources Information, Statewide Soil and Site Information, Rangeland Interpretations, Nebraska Range Site Descriptions – Vegetative Zones 3 and 4), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Ecological Sciences.
Fenneman, Nevin M. 1916. Physiographic Subdivision of the United States. Annals of the Association of American Geographers.
Omernik, J.M. 1997. Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v.77, no. 1, p.118-125.
Cleland_2007, USDA/USFS. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections for the Conterminous United States. Washington, DC: USDA - Forest Service.Contributors
Greg Clark
Stan Boltz/Dana Larsen
Nadine BishopApproval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 12/10/2024
Acknowledgments
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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) Nadine Bishop, Emily Helms, Jeff Nichols Contact for lead author jeffrey.nichols@usda.gov Date 12/04/2024 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
None. Rills are not expected on this site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Typically, none. Water flow patterns may be present on slopes of 15 percent or greater. When present they are rare (10 feet or 3 meters apart), shallow (6 inches or 15 cm deep), narrow (6 inches or 15 cm wide), and short (3 feet or 1 meter long). Water flow patterns become more apparent as slopes increase. When present they are disconnected and disrupted by perennial vegetation. Drought or wildfire can contribute to increased incidences of pedestalled plants. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Typically, none. Occurrence of pedestalled plants will be rare. If pedestalling occurs it will occur on slopes exceeding 10 percent and less than 5 percent of the plants will be pedestalled, with no exposed roots. Drought or wildfire can contribute to increased incidences pedestalled plants. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground is 15 percent or less and patch sizes will be less than 3 inches (7.6 cm). Multi-year drought and/or wildfire can increase bare ground to 20 to 30 percent for up to two years following the disturbance. Bare ground is exposed mineral soil that is not covered by vegetation (basal and/or foliar canopy), litter, standing dead vegetation, gravel/rock, and visible biological curst (e.g., lichen, mosses, algae). -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None. Gullies and associated erosion are not expected on this site. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None. Wind-scoured and/or depositional areas should not be present. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Small size litter classes will generally move short distances, usually less than 12 inches (30 cm). Medium size class litter will move very short distances usually less than 6 inches (15 cm). Coarse litter is not expected to move. Litter debris dams are occasionally present. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Small size litter classes will generally move short distances, usually less than 12 inches (30 cm). Medium size class litter will move very short distances usually less than 6 inches (15 cm). Coarse litter is not expected to move. Litter debris dams are occasionally present. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
A-horizon ranges from 7 to 10 inches (18 to 25 cm) thick. The A-horizon is dark gray when dry (hue: 10YR, value: 3 to 5, chroma: 1 to 2) and black or very dark grayish brown when moist (hue: 10YR, value: 2 to 3, chroma: 1 to 2). Structure is weak fine granular. Depth to sand or gravel is 14 inches (36 cm) or less. Gravel content ranges from 3 to 35 percent. See Official Soils Descriptions for additional details; the major soil series correlated to the site is Talmo. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
The functional/structural groups provide a combination of rooting depths and structure which positively influences infiltration. Plant community composition is approximately 70 percent perennial grasses and grass-likes, 5 percent forbs, 15 percent shrubs, and 10 percent cryptograms which positively influences infiltration. The perennial grass and grass-like component is made up of warm-season (C4), rhizomatous, tall grasses; warm-season (C4), mid-grasses; cool-season (C3), bunch grasses; warm-season (C4), short grasses; cool-season (C3), rhizomatous grasses; and grass-likes. Invasion of introduced cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome may have an adverse impact infiltration and runoff. Native trees may impact infiltration and runoff if they are present in amounts greater than in the Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Community or Reference Community (1.1). -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None. No compaction layers are expected for 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:
Phase 1.1 1. Native, perennial, warm-season midgrass (2 species minimum): little bluestem, sideoats grama, sand dropseed, purple lovegrass, prairie dropseed. Phase 1.2 1. Native, perennial, warm-season shortgrass (2 species minimum): blue grama, hairy grama. 2. Native, perennial, warm-season midgrass (2 species minimum): little bluestem, sideoats grama, sand dropseed, purple lovegrass.Sub-dominant:
Phase 1.1 1. Native, perennial, warm-season tallgrass (1 species minimum): prairie sandreed, sand bluestem, composite dropseed. 2. Native, perennial, cool-season bunchgrass, (2 species minimum): needle and thread, porcupinegrass, green needlegrass, prairie Junegrass. 3. Native, perennial, warm-season shortgrass (1 species minimum): blue grama, hairy grama. Phase 1.2 1. Native, perennial, cool-season bunchgrass, (2 species minimum): needle and thread, porcupinegrass, green needlegrass, prairie Junegrass. 2. Native, cool-season (C3), rhizomatous grasses (1 species minimum): western wheatgrassOther:
Minor - Phase 1.1 1. Native forbs: forbs present will vary from location to location. 2. Native, perennial, cool-season, rhizomatous grass: western wheatgrass. 3. Shrubs: Prairie sagewort and other shrubs which will vary from location to location. 4. Grass-likes: Sedges. Minor - Phase 1.2 1. Native, perennial, warm-season tallgrass (1 species minimum): prairie sandreed, sand bluestem 2. Native forbs: forbs present will vary from location to location. 3. Shrubs: prairie sagewort and other shrubs which will vary from location to location. 4. Grass-likes: sedges:Additional:
The Little Bluestem-Sideoats Grama or Reference Community (1.1) includes eight F/S groups which include in order of relative abundance, native, perennial, warm-season (C4), midgrass; native, perennial, warm-season, (C4), tallgrass; native, perennial, cool-season (C3), bunchgrass; native, perennial, warm-season (C4), shortgrass; native forbs, native, perennial, cool-season (C3), rhizomatous grass; shrubs; and grass-likes. The Blue Grama -Sideoats Grama Community (1.2) includes eight F/S groups which include in order of relative abundance, native, perennial, warm-season (C4), shortgrass; native, perennial, warm-season (C4), midgrass; native, perennial, cool-season (C3), bunchgrass; native, perennial, cool-season (C3), rhizomatous grass; native forbs, native, perennial, warm-season (C4), tallgrass; shrubs; and grass-likes. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Bunchgrasses have strong, healthy centers with few (less than 3 percent) dead centers. Shrubs may show some dead branches (less than 5 percent) as plants age. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Plant litter cover is evenly distributed throughout the site and is expected to be 40 to 60 percent and at a depth of approximately 0.25 inch (0.65 cm). -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
The representative value (RV) for annual production is 1,750 pounds per acre on an air dry basis. Low and High production years should yield 1,250 and 2,250 pounds per acre respectively. -
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:
None. No non-native invasive plants are present. Annual bromes (cheatgrass and Japanese/field), common mullein, smooth brome, and eastern redcedar are known invasives that have the potential to become dominant or co-dominant on the site. Consult the state noxious weed and state watch lists for potential invasive species. Note: species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
All perennial species exhibit high vigor relative to climatic conditions. Perennial grasses should have vigorous rhizomes or tillers; vegetative and reproductive structures are not stunted. All perennial species should be capable of reproducing annually.
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