Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R106XY065NE
Wet Subirrigated
Last updated: 8/20/2026
Accessed: 09/24/2026
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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 106X–Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills
Named the “Nebraska and Kansas Loess-Drift Hills,” Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 is divided almost evenly between southeastern Nebraska (52%), and northeastern Kansas, (48%). The northern border is located on the north end of Saunders County, Nebraska, and the MLRA stretches into Douglas County, Kansas in the south. The Nebraska cities of Beatrice and Lincoln are the major population centers in the north, while Topeka and Lawrence in Kansas are the primary cities in the south. The approximately seven-million-acre landscape covers all or parts of thirty counties between the two states. The Platte, Little Nemaha, and the North Fork of the Big Nemaha Rivers flow through the Nebraska side of the MLRA, while the Black Vermillion, the Soldier, and the Delaware Rivers are the major waterways on the Kansas side. The Big Blue River runs through both states, while The Salt Creek hydrologic system located near Lincoln, Nebraska provides habitat for the only known population of the Federally listed endangered Salt Creek Beetle.
This dissected glacial drift plain primarily consists of broad, smooth ridgetops, and slopes ranging from nearly level to steep. The elevation in MLRA 106 decreases from west to east, and ranges from nearly 1,650 feet to less than 790 feet above sea level. Stream valleys in this landscape are narrow and bordered by steep hills, with 10 to 20 feet of local relief. The river valleys are broader and may drop up to over 160 feet below the adjacent hilltops. The uplands are primarily comprised of glacial drift underlying a mantle of loess, while alluvial deposits are found in the stream and river valleys. Limestone and shale quarries are also located in MLRA 106. The predominant soil orders in this MLRA are mesic, udic, Mollisols, Alfisols, and Entisols. Loams and clays are the primary soil textures in this landscape.
Sixty-two percent of the land in this MLRA has been broken out of native prairie and farmed, while only 23 percent of the grasslands remain intact. Livestock grazing, primarily by cattle, is the main industry on these remnants. Corn, wheat, soybeans, and grain sorghum are the primary commodity crops, but a significant number of acres are also planted to alfalfa for harvest as hay.
With annual precipitation averaging from 40 inches in the southeast, to 28 inches in the northwest, irrigation for crop production is not a critical factor in most years.
The historical matrix vegetation type is Tallgrass Prairie, and big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, sideoats grama, and blue grama make up the bulk of the warm-season species. Historically, western wheatgrass was the dominant cool-season grass but today the dominant cool-season grasses are introduced grasses, smooth brome in the north and tall fescue in the south. Large and small patch vegetative communities are found primarily along the riparian zones, and on both upland and lowland saline sites. Woodlands make up about six percent of MLRA 106, consisting primarily of green ash, oak, hackberry, boxelder, and maple trees.
Wildlife flourishes in this combination of crop and grassland environments. In a landscape historically occupied by bison herds, white-tailed deer are now the most abundant wild ungulates. A variety of smaller species, including coyote, raccoon, opossum, porcupines, muskrat, beaver, squirrel, and mink thrive in the region, as do several upland bird species. Native grassland bird populations are limited by the lack of contiguous native prairie and the fragmented habitat created by the farmland. The rivers, streams, and lakes harbor excellent fisheries, and migrating and local waterfowl use the wetland complexes. These complexes provide ideal habitat for wading and shore bird species as well.
This landscape serves as a backdrop for a disturbance driven ecosystem, evolving under the influences of herbivory, fire, and variable climate. Historically, these processes created a heterogeneous mosaic of plant communities and structure heights across the region. Any given site in this landscape experienced fire every three to four years. The fires were caused by lightning strikes and were also set by Native Americans, who used fire for warfare, signaling, and to refresh the native grasses. The Indigenous inhabitants understood the value of fire as a tool and that the highly palatable growth following a fire provided excellent forage for their horses and attracted grazing game animals such as bison and elk.
Land use patterns by post European settlers have fragmented the native grasslands through conversion to cropland, transportation corridors, and other developments. This has significantly altered the natural fire regime allowing encroachment by native and introduced shrubs and trees into the native prairie remnants throughout the MLRA. Aggressive fire suppression policies have exacerbated this process to the point that shrub and tree encroachment is a major ecological threat in the majority of both native and reseeded grasslands. Introduction of eastern red cedar as a windbreak species further facilitates invasion by this species. While eastern red cedar is native to the landscape, the historic population in MLRA 106 was limited to isolated pockets in rugged river drainageways that were protected from fire. Widespread plantings of windbreaks with eastern red cedar as a primary component have provided a seed source for the aggressive woody plant. The ensuing encroachment into the native grasslands degrades the native wildlife habit and causes significant forage loss for domestic livestock. Since it does not sprout from the roots, eastern red cedar is very susceptible to fire when under six feet tall. Management with prescribed fire is exceedingly effective if applied before this stage. Larger eastern red cedars can also be controlled with fire, but successful application requires the use of specifically designed ignition and holding techniques.Classification relationships
►USDA-NRCS (2022)◄
Land Resource Region – M, Central Feed Grains and Livestock Region
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) – 106
►Fenneman (1916) Physiographic Regions ◄
Division – Interior Plains
Province – Central Lowland
Section – Dissected Till Plains
►USDA-USFS (2007) Ecoregions◄
Domain – Humid Temperate
Division – Prairie
Province – Prairie Parkland (Temperate)
Section – Central Dissected Till Plains (251C)
►EPA Ecoregions (Omernik 1997)◄
I – Great Plains (9)
II – Temperate Prairies (9.2)
III – Western Corn Belt Plains (9.2.3)
IV – Loess and Glacial Drift Hills (47i)
►Associated Counties◄
Nebraska: Butler, Cass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward
Kansas: Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, WyandotteEcological site concept
The Wet Subirrigated ecological site occupies a run-on landscape position in floodplains and drainageways. The slope typically ranges from 0 to 2 percent. The depth to the seasonably high-water table ranges from the surface to 18 inches. Soils are very deep (60 inches or more) with surface textures of silt loam, silty clay, and silty clay loam. These poorly to very poorly drained soils are formed in silty and clayey alluvium. The vegetation of the Reference Community occurs in two zones based upon the depth to the water table. Where the water table is at or near the surface, the wet meadow zone vegetation is dominated by cool-season grasses and grass-likes. In the tall grass moist meadow zone, where the water table is lower but within 18 inches of the surface, the dominant grasses are prairie cordgrass, big bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass. The site is susceptible to invasion of non-native, cool-season grasses, especially reed canary grass.
Associated sites
R106XY067NE Saline Subirrigated
The Loamy Terrace ecological site often is adjacent to but higher on the landscape than the Wet Subirrigated ecological site.
R106XY068NE Loamy Floodplain
The Loamy Floodplain ecological site often is adjacent to the Wet Subirrigated ecological site
R106XY032NE Subirrigated
The Subirrigated ecological site often is adjacent to and slightly higher on the landscape than the Wet Subirrigated ecological site.
Similar sites
R106XY032NE Subirrigated
The Subirrigated ecological site often is adjacent to Wet Subirrigated ecological sites but the depth to the seasonal water table is 18 to 36 inches on Subirrigated sites compared to at the surface to 18 inches on Wet Subirrigated sites. The vegetation on Subirrigated ecological sites is not adapted to inundation.
R106XY067NE Saline Subirrigated
The Saline Subirrigated ecological site has a seasonal high water table that may reach the surface but it has visible surface salts and that plant community is dominated by salt-tolerant species.
Figure 1. Block diagram for the Wet Subirrigated Site in MLRA 106.
Table 2. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Spartina pectinata
(2) Calamagrostis canadensisPhysiographic features
The Wet Subirrigated ecological site in found on very deep, poorly drained and very poorly drained soils formed in alluvium. These soils occur on flood plains, and depressions on low stream terraces in river valleys and in drainageways on uplands. The slopes typically range from 0 to 2 percent.
Table 3. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Valley > Flood plain
(2) River valley > Depression
(3) Upland > Drainageway
(4) Valley > Flood-plain step
Runoff class Negligible to low Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency None to frequent Ponding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days) Ponding frequency None to frequent Elevation 730 – 1500 ft Slope 0 – 2 % Ponding depth 6 – 24 in Water table depth 0 – 18 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Like most Great Plains landscapes, the climate in this MLRA is under the sway of the continental effect. This creates a regime of extremes, with summer highs often in the triple digits and winter lows plunging well below zero. Blizzards can occur anytime between early fall and late spring, dropping the temperature more than 50 degrees in just a few hours. These events can pile up several feet of snow, often driven by winds in excess of 50 miles an hour. The resulting huge snow drifts can cause serious hardship for livestock, wildlife, and humans. Winters can be open, with bare ground for most of the season, or closed, with several feet of snow persisting until March. Most winters have a number of warm days interspersed with dropping temperatures, usually associated with approaching cold fronts. Spring brings violent thunderstorms, hail, and high winds. Tornadoes occur frequently.
About three-fourths of the precipitation falls as high intensity, convective thunderstorms from late spring through early autumn. The average annual precipitation gradient trends higher from northwest (28”) to southeast (40”), and the average annual temperature gradient trends higher from north (50°F) to south (55°F). Daily winds range from an average of 14 miles per hour during the spring to 11 miles per hour during the late summer. Occasional strong storms may bring brief periods of high winds with gusts to more than 80 miles per hour.
Native cool season plants begin growth in early April and continue to about mid-June. Native warm season plants begin growth in early June and continue to early August. Green up of cool season plants may occur in September and October.Table 4 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 140-140 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 160-170 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (actual range) 130-150 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 150-180 days Precipitation total (actual range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) 160 days Precipitation total (average) 30 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 5. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 6. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 7 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) BEATRICE 1N [USC00250622], Beatrice, NE
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(2) WEEPING WATER [USC00259090], Weeping Water, NE
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(3) CRETE [USC00252020], Crete, NE
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(4) FALLS CITY BRENNER FLD [USW00094957], Falls City, NE
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(5) ASHLAND NO 2 [USC00250375], Ashland, NE
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(6) MEAD 6S [USC00255362], Ithaca, NE
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(7) RAYMOND 2NE [USC00257055], Raymond, NE
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(8) TABLE ROCK 4 N [USC00258410], Table Rock, NE
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(9) LINCOLN MUNI AP [USW00014939], Lincoln, NE
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(10) SYRACUSE [USC00258395], Syracuse, NE
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(11) LINCOLN UNIV PWR PLT [USW00014971], Lincoln, NE
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(12) TECUMSEH 1S [USC00258465], Tecumseh, NE
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(13) PAWNEE CITY [USC00256570], Pawnee City, NE
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(14) AUBURN 5 ESE [USC00250435], Auburn, NE
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(15) VIRGINIA [USC00258875], Virginia, NE
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(16) WAHOO [USC00258905], Wahoo, NE
">Influencing water features
The Wet Subirrigated ecological site is directly influenced by the water table which may be from the surface to 18 inches. While the proximity of the root zone to water ensures adequate hydration during the growing season, the duration of saturation also limits the plant community to more water tolerant species.
Wetland description
Wetland Description (Cowardin System) <br />
<br />
System Subsystem Class <br />
Palustrine N/A Emergent WetlandSoil features
The soils associated with the Wet Subirrigated ecological site are located on floodplains, low stream terraces, and upland drainageways. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Soils are very deep (60 inches or more) with surface textures of silty clay, silty clay loam, and silt loam and are approximately 16 inches thick. The depth to the water table ranges from the surface to approximately 18 inches. These poorly drained soils were formed in silty and clayey alluvium.
Kezan, Kiro, and Wabash are the predominant soil series correlated to this ecological site. Additional information can be found in the various soil survey reports. Contact the local USDA Service Center for soil survey reports that include more detail specific to your location or visit Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov).
Figure 8. Wabash Series Profile in MLRA 106.
Table 5. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium
Surface texture (1) Silty clay loam
(2) Silty clay
(3) Silt loam
Drainage class Very poorly drained to poorly drained Permeability class Very slow to moderate Soil depth 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 8 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 10 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)5.6 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(0-40in)0 – 15 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(0-40in)0 – 8 % Ecological dynamics
The Wet Subirrigated site developed under Central Great Plains climatic conditions, light to severe grazing by bison and other large herbivores, sporadic natural or man caused wildfires, and other biotic and abiotic factors which typically influence soil/site development. This continues to be a disturbance driven site, by herbivory, fire, local hydrology, and variable climate. Changes occur in the plant communities due to weather variations, changes in the local hydrological cycle, impacts of native and/or exotic plant and animal species, and management actions.
The majority of this site has been impacted agricultural practices, both through soil disturbance and the accumulation of chemically contaminated runoff. A significant portion of the remaining acres have been degraded by season long continuous grazing by domestic livestock. This management practice causes the repeated removal of the growing point and excessive defoliation of the leaf area of individual warm-season, tall grasses. The resulting reduction of the ability of the plants to harvest sunlight depletes the root reserves, subsequently decreasing the root mass. This negatively impacts the ability of the plants to compete for life sustaining nutrients, resulting in declining vigor and eventual mortality. The space created in the vegetative community is then occupied by a species that evades the negative grazing impacts by a growing season adaptation such as a cool season, shorter structure, or a reduced palatability mechanism.
The State and Transition Model (STM) is depicted below and includes a Reference State (1), a Native/Invaded Grass State (2), a Sod-busted State (3), and an Invaded Woody State (4). Each state represents the crossing of a major ecological threshold due to alteration of the functional dynamic properties of the ecosystem. The main properties observed to determine this change are the soil and vegetative communities and the hydrological cycle. The STM illustrates the common plant communities that can occur on the site and the transition pathways between communities (Bestelmeyer, 2010). The ecological processes will be discussed in more detail in the plant community descriptions following the diagram.
Each state may have one or more vegetative communities which fluctuate in species composition and abundance within the normal parameters of the state. Within each state, communities may degrade or recover in response to natural and man caused disturbances such as variation in the degree and timing of herbivory, presence or absence of fire, and climatic and local fluctuations in the precipitation regime.
Interpretations are primarily based on the Reference State and have been determined by study of rangeland relic areas, areas protected from excessive disturbance, and areas under long term rotational grazing regimes. Trends in plant community dynamics have been interpreted from heavily grazed to lightly grazed areas, seasonal use pastures, and historical accounts. Plant communities, states, transitional pathways, and thresholds have been determined through similar studies and experience.
In Nebraska, the native vegetative cover is a herbaceous wetland community commonly inhabited with sedges (Carex emoryi, C. laeviconica, C. pellita, C, vulpinoidea,) flat stem sprikerush (Eleocharis compressa), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata). Source: Terrestrial Ecological Systems and Natural Communities of Nebraska, Version IV. S. B. Rolfsmeier and G. Steinauer. Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2010.State and transition model
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
T1A - Heavy grazing or haying with inadequate growing season recovery periods. T1B - Tillage to facilitate production agriculture. T1C - Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire. T 2A - Tillage to facilitate production agriculture. T 2B - Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire. T 3A - Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire. R4A - Prescribed burning, timber harvest, and brush management. R4B - Prescribed burning, timber harvest, and brush management. R4C - Prescribed burning, timber harvest, and brush management. State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A - Grazing or haying with inadequate, growing season recovery time. 1.1B - Prolonged (>5 years) absence of herbivory and fire. 1.2A - Prescribed grazing early and late in the growing season with warm-season deferment. 1.2B - Long term continuous grazing or haying with inadequate growing season recovery time. 1.2C - Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire. 1.3A - Prescribed grazing early and late in growing season with warm season deferment. 1.3B - Prolonged absence (>5 years) of herbivory and fire. 1.4A - Reintroduction of herbivory and fire. 1.4B - Reintroduction of herbivory and fire. 1.4C - Reintroduction of herbivory and fire. State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A - Excessive, heavy grazing with inadequate recovery during the warm season. 2.2A - Herbicide treatment, seeding, prescribed fire, and prescribed grazing. State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference StateThe Reference State (1) describes the range of vegetative community phases that occur on the Wet Subirrigated ecological site where the natural processes are mostly intact. The Reference Community (1.1) is a representation of the native plant community phase that occupies a site that has been minimally altered by management. Due to differences in hydrology resulting in different periods and degrees of surface inundation, this site harbors a distinctive inclusion in some of the reference communities. The more water tolerant vegetative community expressed in these inclusions can be described asan herbaceous wetland zone or wet meadow zone while the tall grass wet meadow zone is composed of tall grass prairie species. The boundary between the two communities is dynamic and driven by local hydrology. The Degraded Native Grass (1.2), the At-Risk (1.3), and the Excessive Litter (1.4) Communities are the phases that result from management decisions that are unfavorable for a healthy Reference Community (1.1). High perennial grass cover and production allow for increased soil moisture retention, vegetative production, and overall soil quality.
Community 1.1
Reference Community
Figure 9. Wet Subirrigated ecological Site. Reference Community (1.1) in MLRA 106.
The Reference or Native Tallgrass Meadow Community (1.1) serves as a description of the native plant community that naturally occurs on the site when the natural disturbance regimes are intact or closely mimicked by management practices. This phase is dynamic, with fluid relative abundance and spatial boundaries between the dominant structural vegetative groups. These fluctuations are primarily driven by different responses of the species to changes in precipitation timing and abundance, hydrology, and fire and grazing events. The potential vegetation consists of approximately 70 to 85 percent grasses and grass-likes, 5 to15 percent forbs, and 0 to 5 percent shrubs.
The Reference Community (1.1) includes two zones, the wetland meadow zone and the tall grass meadow zone. The wetland meadow zone is subject to ponding and has a water table that is near the surface throughout the growing season. The wetland meadow zone is dominated by prairie cordgrass, bluejoint, grass-likes, and forbs that can withstand a higher water table and ponding. The tall grass meadow zone is not subject to ponding and has a slightly deeper water table. The tall grass meadow zone is dominated by warm-season tall grasses including prairie cordgrass, big bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass. Both zones have a diverse forb population. The boundary between the two zones is somewhat dynamic and the boundary fluctuates from year to year due to annual differences in the depth and duration of ponding and changes in the seasonal water table.
The Reference Community (1.1) is highly productive, diverse, and resistant to short term stresses such as drought and short periods of heavy stocking. The well-developed root systems support resiliency when allowed adequate recovery periods between grazing events. When exposed to long term or frequent over grazing events without adequate recovery time (deferment), this plant community will degrade. Grazing during wet periods can cause excessive soil compaction, and lead to hummocking.
The average annual vegetative production of the tall grass meadow zone varies from 4,000 lbs per acre in the northern portion of the MLRA to 8,000 in the southern portion.Dominant plant species
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prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), grass
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bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
Figure 10. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1068 , MLRA 106 Warm-season. *Warm-season dominant.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 3 7 18 30 22 12 6 2 0 0 Community 1.2
Degraded Native Grass CommunityThe Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) develops with management strategies that do not provide adequate growing season recovery from defoliation including continuous, season long grazing or haying multiple times during the growing season. Prairie cordgrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, and Indiangrass lose productive capacity through loss of vigor and reproductive potential. Native cool-season grasses and grass-likes increase. In the drier zone of the site, little bluestem and sideoats grama also increase. Smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and other introduced cool-season grasses may be present in trace amounts.
Subirrigation of the deep-rooted tall grasses on this site helps to sustain those species but degradation of the vegetative community is apparent. This community phase signals a significant loss of production. The composition of the forb component remains diverse but the potential for encroachment by invasive woody species becomes more likely, due to fewer deep-rooted species and a reduced fuel load to carry fire.
This shift occurs with management strategies that include continuous, season long grazing, rotational grazing with inadequate growing season recovery time (deferment) or haying without adequate recovery time. While this plant community is less productive and less diverse than the representative plant community, it remains sustainable in regard to site and soil stability, watershed function, and biologic integrity.Dominant plant species
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prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), grass
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bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
Community 1.3
At-Risk CommunityIn the At-Risk Community (1.3), the more palatable warm-season tall grasses have been reduced to a minor proportion of the plant community due to continued defoliation during their critical growth periods. Grass-likes and cool-season grasses increase significantly. Bluejoint, sedges, rushes, and bulrushes are dominant. Non-native grasses, including smooth brome (in the north), tall fescue (in the south), reed canarygrass, and Kentucky bluegrass are present but are not subdominant. The more palatable forbs give way to goldenrod, ironweed, Cuman ragweed, and other grazing adapted species.
Soil health is affected by reduced efficiency in the nutrient, mineral, and hydrologic cycles as a result of decreases in plant litter and rooting depths. Hoof action may initiate the formation of a compacted soil layer. Total annual vegetative production will decline significantly. Without a management change, this community is at-risk to degrade to the Native/Invaded Grass State (2).Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1069 , MLRA 106 Warm/cool-season mix.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 1 4 10 23 26 17 8 6 4 1 0 Community 1.4
Excessive Litter CommunityThe Excessive Litter Community (1.4) develops when the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire are removed from the system for extended periods of time (five years or more). Litter significantly exceeds the amount expected on the site and the species present can tolerate a thatch layer. Individual plants tend to be clumped and there is an excessive amount of litter. Species that cannot tolerate an extensive litter layer have low vigor and reduced productivity.
Once the undisturbed litter layer develops to a certain level, a significant amount of precipitation is held in this layer increasing evaporation, limiting soil available moisture, and simulating drought conditions. If herbivory or fire are not reintroduced, the plant community will experience a significant amount of death loss.Dominant plant species
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
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sedge (Carex), grass
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2A shift from the Reference Community (1.1) to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) occurs with continuous, season long grazing or haying with inadequate, growing season recovery periods (deferment).
Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.4Prolonged interruption (> 5 years) of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will move the Reference Community (1.1) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1A shift from the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) toward the Reference Community (1.1) can be achieved through prescribed grazing. Applying grazing pressure during the growth period of the undesirable cool-season grasses and allowing rest during the warm season growing portion favors our desired species. This grazing regime will enable the deeply rooted, tall, warm-season grasses to out compete the shallow rooted, grazing tolerant, warm-season and the cool-season grasses. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3Maintaining continuous season long grazing or haying with inadequate recovery periods during the growing season further degrades the plant community and moves the site from the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the At-Risk Community (1.3).
Pathway 1.2C
Community 1.2 to 1.4Prolonged interruption (> 5 years) of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will move the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.2Reversing the downward trend and moving the At-Risk Community (1.3) to the Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) can be achieved with prescribed grazing early and late in the growing season to reduce undesirable cool-season grasses. Targeting the peak growth period of cool-season grasses with high intensity grazing events followed by rest will allow the tall native warm-season grasses to rejuvenate. Appropriately timed prescribed fire will accelerate this process.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.4Prolonged interruption (> 5 years) of the natural disturbances of herbivory and fire will move the At-Risk Community (1.3) to the Excessive Litter Community (1.4).
Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.1Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the vegetation of the Excessive Litter Community (1.4) to return to the Reference Community (1.1).
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.2Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will allow the vegetation to move from the Excessive Litter Community (1.4) to the Degraded Native Grass (1.2) Community.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.4C
Community 1.4 to 1.3Reintroduction of the natural processes of herbivory and fire will move the vegetation from the Excessive Litter Community (1.4) to the At-Risk Community (1.3).
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing State 2
Native/Invaded Grass StateThe Native/Invaded Grass State (2) has been degraded from the Reference State (1) and much of the native, warm-season tall grass community has been replaced by less desirable plants. The loss of warm-season tall grasses has negatively impacted energy flow and nutrient cycling. Water infiltration is reduced due to the shallow root system and rapid runoff characteristics of the grazing adapted plant communities. The Native/Invaded Cool-Season Grass (2.1) and the Reed Canarygrass (2.2) Communities are the components of the Native/Invaded Grass State (2).
Dominant plant species
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reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), grass
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bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
Community 2.1
Native/Invaded Cool-Season CommunityThe Native/Invaded Cool-Season Community (2.1) represents a shift from the Reference State (1) across a plant community threshold. Due to continued grazing pressure, native cool-season grasses such as bluejoint and non-native, cool-season grasses such as reed canary grass (non-native ecotypes), Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome (in the north), tall fescue (in the south), and grass-likes have become the dominant plant species. Warm-season tall and mid grasses are present as remnants or absent. Continuous and heavy grazing pressure will maintain this plant community in a sod bound condition. Forb richness and diversity has decreased. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, a compacted layer may form in the soil profile below the shallower replacement root systems.
Grazing management practices that allow for adequate periods of recovery between grazing events and appropriately timed prescribed fire will favor any remnant warm-season, tall and mid grasses. Continued season long grazing and high levels of herbivory will move this community towards the Reed Canarygrass Community (2.2)Dominant plant species
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bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
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reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), grass
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sedge (Carex), other herbaceous
Community 2.2
Reed Canarygrass Community
Figure 12. Wet Subirrigated ecological site. Reed Canarygrass Community (2.2) in MLRA 106.
This Reed Canarygrass Community (2.2) is dominated by reed canary grass. Reed canary grass may be present as either a near monoculture or in combination with smooth brome, tall fescue, or other cool-season grasses. Warm-season, tall and mid grasses may be present in trace amounts. Production in the Reed Canarygrass Community (2.2) is highly variable, depending upon the percentages of composition present and outside inputs such as fertilizer and weed control.
Dominant plant species
-
reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), grass
Figure 13. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). NE1067 , Nebraska and Kansas Loess Drift Hills. Invaded cool season dominant.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 13 28 28 12 5 6 3 0 0 Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2Native/Invaded Cool-Season Community (2.1) will be converted to a Reed Canarygrass Community (2.2) through the following practices: Introduced grass seeding, excessive warm season grazing, inadequate warm season rest, multi-season haying, and nitrogen fertilizing in spring or fall.
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1Restoration to Native/Cool-season Community (2.1) from Reed Canarygrass Community (2.2) can be achieved by herbicide treatment and reseeding. If adequate native remnants are present, appropriately timed prescribed fire and a follow up prescribed grazing program may achieve the desired results.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Range Planting Prescribed Grazing Herbaceous Weed Control State 3
Sod-busted StateThe threshold to the Sod-busted State (3) is crossed as a result of mechanical disturbance to facilitate production agriculture. Extensive areas of this ecological site were plowed and converted to crop production by early European settlers and their subsequent generations. In addition to permanently altering the existing vegetative community, repeated tillage negatively impacted soil properties. Reductions in organic matter, mineral levels, soil structure, oxygen levels, and water holding capacity along with increased runoff and erosion as well as shifts in the populations of soil dwelling organisms were common on these sites. The extent of these changes depended upon the duration of cropping as well as crops grown and other management practices.
If farming operations are suspended, the site can be abandoned or seeded to permanent vegetation. Seedings are either a tame pasture forage mixture, the Seeded Pasture Community (3.2), or a mixture of native grasses and forbs, the Reseeded Native Grass Community (3.1). Abandonment results in the Natural Reclamation Community (3.3). Permanent alterations of the soil, plant community, and the hydrologic cycle make restoration to the Reference State (1) extremely difficult, if not impossible.Community 3.1
Reseeded Native Grass CommunityThe Reseeded Native Grass Community (3.1) does not contain native remnants, and varies considerably depending upon the seed mixture, the degree of soil erosion, the age of the stand, fertility management, and past grazing management. Prescribed grazing with adequate recovery periods will be required to maintain productivity and desirable species.
Native range and grasslands seeded to native species are ecologically different and should be managed separately. Factors such as functional group, species, stand density, and improved varieties all impact the production level and palatability of the seedings. Species diversity is often limited, and when grazed in conjunction with native rangelands, uneven forage utilization may occur.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending upon precipitation, management, and grass species seeded.Community 3.2
Seeded Pasture CommunityThe Seeded Pasture Community (3.2) does not contain native remnants and varies considerably depending upon the extent of soil erosion, the species seeded, the quality of the stand that was established, the age of the stand, and management of the stand since establishment.
There are several factors that make seeded tame pasture a different grazing resource than native rangeland and land seeded to a native grass mixture. Factors such as species selected, stand density, improved varieties, and harvest efficiency all impact production levels and palatability. Species diversity on seeded tame pasture is often limited to a few species. When seeded pasture and native rangelands or seeded pasture and seeded rangeland are in the same grazing unit, uneven forage utilization will occur. Improve forage utilization and stand longevity by managing this community separately from native rangelands or land seeded to native grass species.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending on the level of management and species seeded. Improved varieties of warm-season or cool-season grasses are recommended for optimum forage production.Community 3.3
Natural Reclamation CommunityThe Natural Reclamation Community (3.3) consists of annual and perennial weeds and less desirable grasses. These sites have been farmed and abandoned without being reseeded. Soil organic matter and carbon reserves are reduced, soil structure is changed, and a plowpan or compacted layer can form, which decreases water infiltration. Residual synthetic chemicals may remain from farming operations. In early successional stages, this community is not stable. The hazard of erosion is a concern.
Total annual production during an average year varies significantly depending on the succession stage of the plant community and any management applied to the system.State 4
Invaded Woody StateOnce the deciduous tree canopy cover reaches 15 percent, the threshold is crossed to the Invaded Woody State (4). Woody species are encroaching due to heavy grazing with the lack of prescribed fire and other brush management practices. Typical ecological impacts are a loss of native warm-season grasses, decreased forage productivity, and reduced soil quality. This state consists of the Deciduous Woody Community (4.1).
Dominant plant species
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honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), tree
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Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), tree
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roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii), tree
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willow (Salix), tree
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reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), grass
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bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
Community 4.1
Deciduous Woody Community
Figure 14. Wet Subirrigated ecological site, Deciduous Woody Community (4.1), MLRA 106.
In the Deciduous Woody Community (4.1), deciduous native and exotic trees have become a subdominant or dominant functional/structural group. Rough-leaved dogwood, honey locust, Siberian elm, cottonwood, ash, and willow are the primary invading species. On the portions of the site where the depth to the water table is conducive to its presence, eastern red cedar may be present as well. Total annual production during an average year varies significantly, depending upon the production level prior to encroachment and the percentage of canopy cover.
Dominant plant species
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honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), tree
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Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), tree
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willow (Salix), tree
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roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii), tree
-
reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), grass
-
bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), grass
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Heavy grazing or haying with inadequate growing season recovery periods will cause the Reference State (1) to lose a significant proportion of warm-season, tall and mid grass species and cross a threshold to the Native/Invaded Grass State (2). Water infiltration and other hydrologic functions will be reduced due to the root matting presence of sod forming grasses. With the decline and loss of deeper penetrating root systems, soil structure and biological integrity are catastrophically degraded to the point that recovery is unlikely. Once this occurs, it is highly unlikely that grazing management alone will return the community to the Reference State (1).
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3The Reference State (1) is significantly altered by mechanical tillage converting site to the Sod-busted State (3) to facilitate production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil, and the hydrology of the system, make restoration to a true Reference State (1) unlikely. The wetter sites are often ditched and drained, further altering the local hydrological cycle.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Disruption of the natural fire regime and the encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Reference State (1) to shift to the Invaded Woody State (4).
Transition T 2A
State 2 to 3The Native/Invaded Grass State (2) is significantly altered by mechanical tillage converting site to the Sod-busted State (3) to facilitate production agriculture. The disruption to the plant community, the soil, and the hydrology of the system make restoration to a true Reference State (1) unlikely.
Transition T 2B
State 2 to 4Disruption of the natural fire regime and the encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) to shift to the Invaded Woody State (4).
Transition T 3A
State 3 to 4Disruption of the natural fire regime and the encroachment of invasive exotic and native woody species can cause the Sodbusted State (3) to shift to the Invaded Woody State (4).
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (4) towards the Reference State (1). The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover will initially increase following tree removal through mechanical brush management treatments and prescribed fire. If re-sprouting brush such as honey locust or Siberian elm is present, stumps must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as mechanical removal, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to this state. When the Invaded Woody State (4) transitioned from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (3), the land cannot be restored to Reference State (1) as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted prior to the woody encroachment to allow restoration to a true Reference State (1).
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Restoration pathway R4B
State 4 to 2Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (4) to the Native/Invaded Grass State (2). The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover will initially increase following tree removal through mechanical brush management treatments and prescribed fire. If resprouting brush such as honey locust or Siberian elm are present, stumps must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to this state. When the Invaded Woody State (4) transitioned from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (3), the land cannot be restored to Reference State (1) as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted prior to the woody encroachment to allow restoration to a true Reference State (1).
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Restoration pathway R4C
State 4 to 3Prescribed burning, wildfire, timber harvest, and brush management will move the Invaded Woody State (4) to the Sod-busted State (3). The forb component of a site with heavy tree density or canopy cover will initially increase following tree removal through mechanical brush management treatments and prescribed fire. If resprouting brush such as honey locust or Siberian elm are present, stumps must be chemically treated immediately after mechanical removal. Ongoing brush management such as hand cutting, chemical spot treatments, or periodic prescribed burning is required to prevent a return to this state. When the Invaded Woody State (4) transitioned from the Native/Invaded Grass State (2) or the Sod-busted State (2), the land cannot be restored to Reference State (1) as the native plant community, soils, and hydrologic function have been too severely impacted prior to the woody encroachment to allow restoration to a true Reference State (1).
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 1.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 1.4 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 3.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Animal Community
LIVESTOCK – GRAZING INTERPRETATIONS:
Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the major income producing industries in the area. Rangeland in this area may provide yearlong forage for cattle, sheep, or horses. During the dormant period, the protein levels of the forage may be lower than the minimum needed to meet livestock (primarily cattle and sheep) requirements. The following table lists suggested stocking rates for cattle under continuous season long grazing under normal growing conditions. These are conservative estimates that should be used only as guidelines in the initial stages of the conservation planning process. Often, the current plant composition does not entirely match any particular plant community (as described in this ecological site description). Because of this, a field visit is recommended, in all cases, to document plant composition and production. More precise carrying capacity estimates should eventually be calculated using this information along with animal preference data, particularly when grazers other than cattle are involved. With consultation of the land manager, more intensive grazing management may result in improved harvest efficiencies and increased carrying capacity.
Production and Carrying Capacity*
Community 1.1, Reference Community (North): 4,000 lbs/acre, 1.27 AUM/acre
Community 1.1, Reference Community (North): 8,000 lbs/acre, 2.52 AUM/acre
*Based upon the following conditions: continuous season long grazing with cattle under average growing conditions, 25 percent harvest efficiency. Air dry forage requirements are based on 3 percent of animal body weight or 790 lbs per animal unit (AU) per month (M). An AU is generally one mature cow of approximately 1,000 pounds and a calf as old as 6 months or their equivalent.
WILDLIFE INTERPRETATIONS:
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 106 lies primarily within the tall grass prairie ecosystem. Prior to European settlement, this area consisted of diverse grassland habitats interspersed with varying densities of depressional wetlands and limited woody riparian corridors. These habitats provided critical life cycle components for the grassland birds, prairie dogs, and herds of roaming bison, elk, and pronghorn that historically occupied this landscape. Diverse populations of small mammals and insects provided a bountiful prey base for raptors and omnivores such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and opossums. Bobcats, wolves, and mountain lions occupied the apex predator niche. In addition, a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians thrived in this landscape.
The tall grass prairie was a disturbance driven ecosystem with fire, herbivory, and climate functioning as the primary disturbances. Following European settlement of North America, elimination of fire, widespread conversion to cropland, and other sources of habitat fragmentation significantly altered the appearance and functionality of the entire ecosystem. The reduced stability of the system is reflected by major changes in the composition and abundance of the native flora and fauna. Introduced and invading species further degrade the ecological integrity of the plant and animal communities. Bison and prairie dogs were historically keystone species, but free roaming bison herds and nearly all prairie dogs have been extirpated from this ecological site. The loss of bison and fire as ecological drivers greatly influenced the character of the remaining native grasslands and the habitats they provide. In addition to free ranging bison, extirpated species include pronghorn and wolves.
Historically, an ecological mosaic of the sites provided habitat for species requiring unfragmented grasslands. Important habitat features and components found commonly or exclusively on modern day remnants include upland nesting habitat for grassland birds and game birds; nesting and escape cover for waterfowl; forbs and insects for brood rearing habitat; and a forage source for small and large herbivores. Fragmentation has reduced habitat quality for numerous area sensitive species, as highlighted by the decline of the greater prairie chicken. Grassland nesting bird populations, such as dickcissel and Henslow's sparrow, are also declining. In this fragmented landscape, native grassland bird populations face increasing competition from the opportunistic European starlings and house sparrows and are subject to nest parasitism from brown headed cowbirds. Tree encroachment creates habitat that favors generalist species such as American robin and mourning dove, and provides perches for raptors, increasing the predation mortality. Introduced species such as smooth bromegrass, reed canarygrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, nodding plumeless (musk) thistle, and Canada thistle further degrade the biological integrity of many of these remnant prairies.
1. REFERENCE STATE: The predominance of tall grasses and forbs in this community makes it ideal for grazers and mixed feeders. Pollinating insects play a significant role in maintaining the forb community and provide a food source for grassland birds and other grassland dependent species. The vegetative structural diversity provides habitat for reptiles, amphibians, and a wide array of native and introduced bird species. The abundant prey base supports populations of Swainson’s hawk, short eared and great horned owls, and other grassland raptors. The grasses, forbs, and shrubs provide high nutrition levels for small and large herbivores including moles, mice, ground squirrels, and white-tailed deer. The structure of this plant community provides suitable thermal, protective, and escape cover for small herbivores and grassland birds. Many wide-ranging predators utilize this plant community, including coyote, badger, red fox, and least and long tailed weasels. As the plant community degrades to more mid grasses and fewer tall grasses, less winter and escape cover are provided. It also provides less cover for predators.Hydrological functions
The deep, poorly and very poorly drained soils of the Wet Subirrigated site place it in classes C and D of the hydrologic rating scale. The proximity of groundwater to the rooting zone during the growing season provides an abundance of water for the vegetative community. Production can be very high, but the degree of soil saturation can somewhat limit species diversity.
Recreational uses
The Wet Subirrigated ecological site provides hunting for upland game species and white-tailed deer, along with hiking, photography, and bird watching. The wide varieties of plants blooming from spring until fall have an aesthetic value that appeals to visitors.
Wood products
In the southern portion of MLRA 106, the Wet Subirrigated ecological sites often have scattered populations of deciduous trees, including cottonwoods. These stands can provide firewood, select hardwood finishing lumber, and in some cases, the cottonwoods can be used to make pallets.
Other products
None of significance.
Other information
Site Development and Testing Plan:
Future work is needed to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description. Additional data collection and evaluation may also be needed to develop this ESD to the Approved, then Correlated level. This could include field activities to collect low, medium, and high intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Field reviews of the project plan should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final document.Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented here has been derived from field observations by trained and experienced range and soils personnel.
Other references
Harms, R. 2009. Recovery Outline for the Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana). Available online. http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/invertebrates/saltcreektiger/FinalRecoveryOutlineFeb2009.pdf. Accessed 1/02/2018.
High Plains Regional Climate Center, University of Nebraska. Available online. http://hpcc.unl.edu. Accessed 12/05/16.
Johnsgaard, P.A. 2001. “The Nature of Nebraska.” University of Nebraska Press.
Muhs, Daniel R., E. Bettis III, J. Aleinikoff, J. McGeehin, J. Beann, G. Skipp, B. Marshall, H. Roberts, W. Johnson, and R. Benton. "Origin and paleoclimatic significance of late Quaternary loess in Nebraska: Evidence from stratigraphy, chronology, sedimentology, and geochemistry" (2008). USGS Staff -- Published Research, Paper 162. Available online. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/162. Accessed 12/05/16.
Personal communications with professional ecologists and wildlife experts.
Rolfsmeier, S.B. and G. Steinauer. 2010. "Terrestrial Ecological Systems and Natural Communities of Nebraska", (version IV). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program.
Spomer, S. and L. Higley. 2001. The Salt Creek Tiger Beetle. Bio-graphica International. Available online. http://drshigley.com/lgh/sctb/default.htm. Accessed 1/02/2018.
Terrestrial Ecological Systems and Natural Communities of Nebraska, Version IV. S. B. Rolfsmeier and G. Steinauer. Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2010.
USDA, NRCS.1997. National Range and Pasture Handbook.
USDA, NRCS. National Soil Information System, Information Technology Center, Fort Collins, CO. Available online. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. Available online. http://plants.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS. National Water and Climate Center, Portland, OR. Available online. http://wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Accessed 12/05/16.
USDA, NRCS Soil Surveys from: Butler, Saunders, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Nemaha, Johnson, Gage, Pawnee, Saline, Seward, Saunders and Richardson Counties in Nebraska; and Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wyandotte Counties in Kansas.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. NRCS National Ecological Site Handbook. Available online. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/ref/?cid=nrcseprd1291232 Accessed January, 2014.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. NRCS National Engineering Handbook, Section 4. Available online. https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=21422.Accessed August, 2011.Contributors
Nadine Bishop
Doug WhisenhuntApproval
Jamin Johanson, 8/20/2026
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) Original Authors: Joseph May and Doug Whisenhunt Version V Authors: Anna Ferguson, Aaron Hird, JustinLinder, Dusty Schwandt, Doug Spencer, Chris Tecklenburg, Nadine Bishop, Jeff Nichols Contact for lead author jeffrey.nichols@usda.gov Date 11/30/2024 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:
None. Water flow patterns are not expected on this site. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
None. Pedestals and terracettes are not expected to occur on this site. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground is 5 percent or less. 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 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):
Litter movement from wind and runoff is not expected. However, litter movement caused by flooding events may be fairly extensive. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil stability ratings will be 5 to 6, typically 6. Surface organic matter adheres to the soil surface. Soil surface fragments will typically retain structure indefinitely when dipped in distilled water. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
The surface horizon (A) typically ranges from 16 to 40 inches thick but may be thicker. Soil colors in the surface horizon are typically very dark grayish brown, very dark brown, very dark gray, or black (hue: 10YR, value: 2 or 3, chroma: 1 or 2) when moist and dark gray, gray, dark grayish brown, very dark gray, or grayish brown, black (hue: 10YR, value: 2 to 5, chroma: 1 or 2) when dry. Soil structure in the upper horizon ranges from weak medium granular, moderate medium granular, moderate fine granular parting to weak fine granular, or moderate medium subangular blocky parting to moderate medium granular. See Official Soils Descriptions (OSD) for additional details. The major soils correlated to the Loamy Terrace ecological site include Ezan, Kiro, and Wabash. Colo, Obert, and Zook -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Plant community composition is approximately 70 to 85 percent grasses or grass-like plants, 5 to 15 percent forbs, and 0 to 5 percent shrubs which optimizes infiltration on the site. The perennial grass and grass-like component is made up of warm-season (C4), tall grasses; warm-season (C4), mid grasses; cool-season (C3) grasses; and grass-likes. The functional/structural groups provide a combination of rooting depths and structure which positively influences infiltration. Invasion of introduced cool season grasses such as reed canarygrass, creeping foxtail, or phragmites may negatively impact infiltration. Tree encroachment will also adversely impact infiltration. -
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 occur naturally 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:
Phase 1.1: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass (4 species minimum): big bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, prairie cordgrass. Phase 1.2: 1. Native, perennial, cool-season grass (2 species minimum): western wheatgrass, reed canary grass, porcupinegrass, foxtail barley, prairie junegrass, prairie wedgescale, needleandthread, Scribner’s rosette grass. 2. Grass-likes (3 species minimum): sedges, broom sedge, awlfruit sedge, rush, cloaked bulrush, common three-square. Phase 1.3: 1. Native, perennial, cool-season grass (2 species minimum): western wheatgrass, reed canary grass, porcupinegrass, foxtail barley, prairie junegrass, prairie wedgescale, needleandthread, Scribner’s rosette grass. 2. Grass-likes (3 species minimum): sedges, broom sedge, awlfruit sedge, rush, cloaked bulrush, common three-square.Sub-dominant:
Phase 1.1: 1. Native, perennial, cool-season grass (2 species minimum): western wheatgrass, reed canary grass, porcupinegrass, foxtail barley, prairie junegrass, prairie wedgescale, needleandthread, Scribner’s rosette grass. 2. Grass-likes (3 species minimum): sedges, broom sedge, awlfruit sedge, rush, cloaked bulrush, common three-square. 3. Native forbs: Forbs present vary from location to location. Phase 1.2: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass (3 species minimum): big bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, prairie cordgrass.Other:
Minor - Phase 1.1: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass: little bluestem, sideoats grama. 2. Shrubs: shrubs present will vary from location to location. Minor - Phase 1.2: 1. Native forbs: forbs present vary from location to location. 2. Native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass: sideoats grama, little bluestem. 3. Shrubs: shrubs present will vary from location to location. Minor - Phase 1.3: 1. Native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass (4 species minimum): big bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, prairie cordgrass. 2. Non-native, cool-season grass: Reed canary grass, tall fescue, creeping foxtail, phragmites. 3. Native forbs: forbs present vary from location to location. 4. Native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass: little bluestem, sideoats grama. 5. Shrubs: shrubs present vary from location to location. Trace - Phase 1.2: 1. Non-native, cool-season grass: reed canary grass, tall fescue, creeping foxtail, phragmites.Additional:
The Reference Community (1.1) includes six F/S groups. These groups in order of abundance are native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass; native, perennial, cool-season grass; grass-likes; forbs; native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass; shrubs. The Degraded Native Grass Community (1.2) includes seven F/S groups. These groups in order of relative abundance include native, perennial, cool-season grass; grass-likes; native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass; forbs; native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass; shrubs; non-native, cool-season grass. The At-Risk Community (1.3) includes seven F/S groups. These groups in order of relative abundance include native, perennial, cool-season grass; grass-likes; native, perennial, warm-season, tall grass; non-native, cool-season grass; forbs; native, perennial, warm-season, mid grass; shrubs. -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
There is a diverse mixture of age classes among the plants. A few (less than 3 percent) dead centers may occur in bunch grasses. Shrubs and trees 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 80 to 90 percent and at a depth of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm). -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Northern portion of MLRA Representative Value (RV) = 6,000 pounds per acre Low production years = 4,800 pounds per acre High production years = 7200 pounds per acre Southern portion of MLRA Representative Value (RV) = 8,000 pounds per acre Low production years = 6,400 pounds per acre High production years = 9,600 pounds per acre -
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:
No non-native invasive species are present. Reed canary grass, tall fescue, phragmites, cottonwood, honey locust, green ash, mulberry, maple, willows, dogwood, false indigo bush, cattails, Canada thistle, musk thistle, leafy spurge, and sericea lespedeza are known invasives that have the potential to become dominant or co-dominant on the site. 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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