Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R109XY032MO
Ponded Floodplain Prairie
Last updated: 7/01/2024
Accessed: 08/29/2026
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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): 109X–Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain
The Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain is an area of rolling hills interspersed with interfluve divides and alluvial valleys. Elevation ranges from about 660 feet along the lower reaches of rivers, to about 980 feet on stable interfluve summits in southern Iowa. Relief is about 80 to 160 feet between major streams and adjacent interfluve summits. Most of the till plain drains south to the Missouri River via the Grand and Chariton River systems, but the northeastern portion drains southeast to the Mississippi River. Loess caps the pre-Illinoisan aged till on interfluves, whereas the till is exposed on side slopes. Mississippian aged limestone and Pennsylvanian aged sandstone and shale crop out on lower slopes in some areas.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Wet Bottomland Prairie, or Marsh.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Spartina pectinata - Carex spp. - Calamagrostis canadensis - Lythrum alatum - (Oxypolis rigidior) Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002224).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs primarily within the Grand River Alluvial Plains Land Type Association of the Grand River Hills Subsection.Ecological site concept
NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. As additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Ponded Floodplain Prairies are not extensive and are primarily in floodplains of the Grand River watershed in the southern part of the MLRA. They occur in depressional areas of the floodplain associated with former meander scars, tributary stream channels and backswamps between natural levees of these once dynamic rivers. They are often associated with Wet Floodplain Prairie ecological sites, which are on slightly higher positions. Soils are very deep, wet, and clayey, and are subject to ponding and flooding. The reference plant community is prairie dominated by a dense cover of wetland species, including buttonbush, willow, prairie cordgrass, sedges, and wet-tolerant forbs.Associated sites
F109XY030MO Loamy Floodplain Forest
Loamy Floodplain Forest sites are often in adjacent, natural levee positions between this site and the active stream channel.
F109XY037MO Wet Floodplain Woodland
Wet Floodplain Woodlands are often in adjacent, slightly higher positions closer to the active stream channel.
R109XY031MO Wet Floodplain Prairie
Wet Floodplain Prairies are often in adjacent, slightly higher backswamp positions.
R109XY046MO Till Upland Savanna
Till Upland Savannas, and other upland prairie and savanna ecological sites, are upslope, on gently sloping backslopes.
Similar sites
R109XY031MO Wet Floodplain Prairie
Wet Floodplain Prairies have many of the same prairie species along with a similar flooding frequency but are higher on the floodplain and not subjected to long ponding periods.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub (1) Cephalanthus occidentalis
Herbaceous (1) Spartina pectinata
(2) CarexPhysiographic features
This site is in depressional areas of backswamps in floodplains within the Grand River watershed. Slopes are less than 2 percent. The site receives runoff from adjacent floodplain sites. Areas not protected by levees are frequently flooded. The site is subject to intermittent ponding.
The following figure (adapted from Benham, 1990) shows a typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships among the major ecological sites of the floodplains and adjacent uplands. This site is within the area labeled as “3” on the figure, and is in backswamp positions that are not adjacent to the stream channel. These sites are typically adjacent to Wet Floodplain Prairie sites. Several sites occur in adjacent upland positions, particularly the Till Upland Savanna shown in the figure.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Flood plain
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days) Flooding frequency Rare to occasional Ponding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) to long (7 to 30 days) Ponding frequency Occasional to frequent Slope 0 – 2 % Water table depth 0 – 6 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain MLRA has a continental type of climate marked by strong seasonality. In winter, dry-cold air masses, unchallenged by any topographic barriers, periodically swing south from the northern plains and Canada. If they invade reasonably humid air, snowfall and rainfall result. In summer, moist, warm air masses, equally unchallenged by topographic barriers, swing north from the Gulf of Mexico and can produce abundant amounts of rain, either by fronts or by convectional processes. In some summers, high pressure stagnates over the region, creating extended droughty periods. Spring and fall are transitional seasons when abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation may occur due to successive, fast-moving fronts separating contrasting air masses.
This MLRA experiences small regional differences in climates that grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line from north to south. Both mean annual temperature and precipitation exhibit fairly minor gradients along this line. Mean January minimum temperature follows the north-to-south gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the region. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two to three degrees across the region.
Mean annual precipitation varies along the same gradient as temperature – lower annual precipitation in the north, higher in the south. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages four to five times greater than January precipitation. During years when precipitation comes in a fairly normal manner, moisture is stored in the top layers of the soil during the winter and early spring, when evaporation and transpiration are low. During the summer months the loss of water by evaporation and transpiration is high, and if rainfall fails to occur at frequent intervals, drought will result. Drought directly influences ecological communities by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates. Drought indirectly affects ecological communities by increasing plant and animal susceptibility to the probability and severity of fire. Frequent fires encourage the development of grass/forb dominated communities and understories.
Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. For example, air drainage at nighttime may produce temperatures several degrees lower in valley bottoms than on side slopes. At critical times during the year, this phenomenon may produce later spring or earlier fall freezes in valley bottoms. Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier, supporting more grass dominated communities than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes that are cooler and moister that support more woody dominated communities. Finally, the cooler microclimate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open and warmer grassland or savanna area.
Source: University of Missouri Climate Center - http://climate.missouri.edu/climate.php; Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 296 - http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 160-160 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 190-190 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-40 in Frost-free period (actual range) 160-160 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 190-190 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-40 in Frost-free period (average) 160 days Freeze-free period (average) 190 days Precipitation total (average) 40 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) CHILLICOTHE 2S [USC00231580], Chillicothe, MO
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(2) BROOKFIELD [USC00230980], Brookfield, MO
">Influencing water features
This ecological site is in floodplains of perennial streams, in backswamp positions, and are not adjacent to the current stream channel. They are influenced by a seasonal high water table, due to high groundwater levels in these topographically low positions, as well as slow hydraulic conductivity, which impedes throughflow from precipitation and flood events. The water table is typically near or at the surface in late fall through spring, receding in the summer. Ephemeral ponding may occur as a result of entrapment of floodwaters in these depressional positions, from seasonal high groundwater tables above the soil surface, as a result of runoff from higher positions in the floodplain and adjacent uplands, or a combination of these factors.<br />
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Stream levels typically respond quickly to storm events, especially in watersheds where surface runoff is dominant. Long-duration flooding is common in many areas, particularly during spring and early summer storm events. Constructed levees, often accompanied by stream channelization, have altered the hydrology and flooding dynamics in many places.<br />
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This site is in the DEPRESSIONAL wetlands class of the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification system (Brinson, 1993).<br />
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Cowardin (Cowardin et al., 1979) wetland types include: Palustrine Emergent Seasonally Flooded, Palustrine Emergent Temporarily Flooded, and Palustrine Emergent Semipermanently Flooded.Soil features
These soils are very deep, with seasonal high water tables. They were formed under herbaceous wetland vegetation, and have dark, organic-rich surface horizons. Parent material is alluvium. They have silty clay to clay surface horizons, with clayey subsurface layers. Soil series associated with this site include Portage.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium
Surface texture (1) Silty clay
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Very poorly drained Permeability class Very slow Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)Not specified Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)4.5 – 6.2 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
Information contained in this section was developed using historical data, professional experience, field reviews, and scientific studies. The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants, animals and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and aspect. The Reference Plant Community is not necessarily the management goal. The species lists are representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.
Ponded Floodplain Prairie ecological sites exist because of their association with low, wet areas with very poorly drained, heavy soils. These conditions along with periodic fire have a strong influence on excluding trees. Ponded Floodplain Prairies are dominated by a dense cover of wetland species, including prairie cordgrass, sedges and wet tolerant forbs. Shrubs, such as buttonbush and willow, are scattered throughout. The lowest and wettest areas may have marshes with cattails, river bulrush and other emergent wetland species, and minor areas of open water.
Prior to levee development and channeling, these areas were regularly flooded by typically slow-moving backwater floods. Some further inundation and ponding occurred through groundwater movement. Unaltered sites usually were flooded at least six months of the year. In addition to flooding, periodic fire also played a limited role in controlling woody species. Fire during dry periods removed the dense mat of leaf litter creating opportunities for plants less aggressive than the grasses and sedges. Over the long term, siltation slowly fills these depressions, altering flood duration and causing a shift toward floodplain forest or woodland communities.
Today most of these ecological sites have been drained and farmed. Only a very few quality remnants exist. However, because of their site conditions, during wet years, they do act as ephemeral farmed wetlands in the agricultural landscape. While their flood regime usually has been altered, their position and soil properties still make them good candidates for wet prairie and marsh development management. Left unfarmed, these wet depressions can quickly develop into naturally wet communities.
A State and Transition Diagram follows. Detailed descriptions of each state, transition, plant community, and pathway follow the model. This model is based on available experimental research, field observations, professional consensus, and interpretationsState and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 9. State and transition diagram for this ecological site
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textState 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThis state is typical of wet depressional prairies and marshes that experience full horizon saturation (endosaturation) for extended periods during the growing season. Long duration flooding regimes are common during some years.
Two phases can occur that will transition back and forth depending on ponding and flooding frequencies. Longer ponding and flooding intervals with periods of open water will reduce woody species such prairie willow, dogwoods and false indigo. When ponding and flooding intervals shorten these woody species will increase or re-establish.
This state is very rare. Nearly all sites have been converted to intensive agriculture cropland along with some cool season grassland.Dominant plant species
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buttonbush (Cephalanthus), shrub
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willow (Salix), shrub
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prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), other herbaceous
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sedge (Abildgaardia), other herbaceous
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cattail (Typha), other herbaceous
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bulrush (Blysmus), other herbaceous
Community 1.1
Buttonbush/Prairie Cord Grass – Sedge
Figure 10. Ponded Floodplain Prairie at Pershing State Park, Linn County, Missouri
This phase is dominated by a dense cover of wetland species, including prairie cord grass, sedges and wet tolerant forbs. Shrubs, such as buttonbush and willow, are scattered throughout. The lowest and wettest areas may have marshes with cattails, river bulrush and other emergent wetland species, and minor areas of open water
Forest understory. The Forest Understory list is based on commonly occurring species listed in Nelson (2010).
Dominant plant species
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buttonbush (Cephalanthus), shrub
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prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata), other herbaceous
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sedge (Abildgaardia), other herbaceous
Community 1.2
Willow/Buttonbush/ Cattail – BulrushThis phase has longer ponding and flooding and will reduce woody species such prairie willow, dogwoods and false indigo. Marsh species such as cattails and bulrushes will increase.
Dominant plant species
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buttonbush (Cephalanthus), shrub
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willow (Salix), shrub
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cattail (Typha), other herbaceous
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bulrush (Blysmus), other herbaceous
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Increased flooding and ponding
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Increased flooding and ponding
State 2
Woody Invaded PrairieDegraded reference states that have experienced reduced ponding and flooding reduction for 20 or more years will transition to this state.
With reduced ponding and flooding, woody species such as willow, silver maple and dogwood will begin to increase transitioning this state from a prairie to a Woody Invaded Prairie. Native ground cover will also decrease. Transition from this state to cool season grasslands (State 3) or intensive cropland (State 4) was very common.Dominant plant species
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willow (Salix), shrub
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buttonbush (Cephalanthus), shrub
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dogwood (Cornus), shrub
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smartweed (Polygonum kawagoeanum), other herbaceous
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sedge (Abildgaardia), other herbaceous
Community 2.1
Willow/Buttonbush – Dogwood/ Smartweed – SedgeDominant plant species
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willow (Salix), shrub
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buttonbush (Cephalanthus), shrub
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dogwood (Cornus), shrub
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smartweed (Polygonum kawagoeanum), other herbaceous
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sedge (Abildgaardia), other herbaceous
State 3
Cool Season GrasslandConversion of other states to non-native cool season species such as Reed canarygrass, white clover, and red top occurs infrequently. Occasionally, these pastures will have scattered bur oaks or pecan.
Transitioning to a Cropland State to help eliminate non-native grassland species and then restoring to a reference state is usually the easiest and most useful method of restoration from this state.Dominant plant species
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redtop (Agrostis gigantea), other herbaceous
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reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), other herbaceous
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white clover (Trifolium repens), other herbaceous
Community 3.1
Red Top – Reed Canarygrass – White CloverDominant plant species
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redtop (Agrostis gigantea), other herbaceous
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reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), other herbaceous
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white clover (Trifolium repens), other herbaceous
State 4
CroplandWith extensive drainage, this is the dominant state that exists currently with intensive cropping of corn and soybeans occurring. Farmed wetlands are common. A return to the reference state may be difficult and costly, requiring a very long term series of management options.
Community 4.1
CroplandTransition T1A
State 1 to 2Woody invasion; reduced flooding and ponding
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Tillage; vegetative seeding; grassland management; drainage water management
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Tillage; conservation cropping system; drainage water management
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Woody removal; restore natural hydrology
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Woody removal; tillage; vegetative seeding; grassland management
Transition T2B
State 2 to 4Woody removal; tillage; conservation cropping system
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Tillage; conservation cropping system
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 1Vegetative seeding; restore natural hydrology
Restoration pathway T4A
State 4 to 3Vegetative seeding; grassland management
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)broadleaf cattail TYLA Typha latifolia Native – 5–40 narrowleaf cattail TYAN Typha angustifolia Native – 5–40 prairie cordgrass SPPE Spartina pectinata Native – 20–40 shoreline sedge CAHY3 Carex hyalinolepis Native – 10–20 softstem bulrush SCTA2 Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Native – 10–20 rice cutgrass LEOR Leersia oryzoides Native – 10–20 hop sedge CALU4 Carex lupulina Native – 10–20 fox sedge CAVU2 Carex vulpinoidea Native – 10–20 fescue sedge CAFE3 Carex festucacea Native – 10–20 Forb/Herbcommon duckweed LEMI3 Lemna minor Native – 5–30 American lotus NELU Nelumbo lutea Native – 5–20 yellow pond-lily NULU Nuphar lutea Native – 5–20 broadleaf arrowhead SALA2 Sagittaria latifolia Native – 5–20 harvestlice AGPA6 Agrimonia parviflora Native – 5–20 sawtooth sunflower HEGR4 Helianthus grosseserratus Native – 5–20 swamp milkweed ASIN Asclepias incarnata Native – 5–20 broadfruit bur-reed SPEU Sparganium eurycarpum Native – 5–20 humped bladderwort UTGI Utricularia gibba Native – 5–20 nodding beggartick BICE Bidens cernua Native – 5–20 jewelweed IMCA Impatiens capensis Native – 5–20 water knotweed POAM8 Polygonum amphibium Native – 5–20 smooth white oldfield aster SYRA5 Symphyotrichum racemosum Native – 5–20 Virginia iris IRVI Iris virginica Native – 5–20 American water horehound LYAM Lycopus americanus Native – 5–20 swamp smartweed POHY2 Polygonum hydropiperoides Native – 5–20 winged lythrum LYAL4 Lythrum alatum Native – 5–20 bearded beggarticks BIAR Bidens aristosa Native – 5–20 prairie ironweed VEFA2 Vernonia fasciculata Native – 5–20 Shrub/Subshrubcommon buttonbush CEOC2 Cephalanthus occidentalis Native – 5–20 narrowleaf willow SAEX Salix exigua Native – 5–20 false indigo bush AMFR Amorpha fruticosa Native – 5–20 Table 7. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 2.1 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 (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife
Game species that likely utilize this ecological site include:
Waterfowl: Mallard, Blue-Winged Teal, Green-Winged Teal, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, American Widgeon, and Northern Shoveler. Other waterbirds: Sora, Virginia Rail, Common Snipe
Furbearers: Muskrat, Beaver, and Mink.
Bird species associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition:
Breeding birds likely associated with herbaceous perennial plant dominated (Spartina pectinata, Typha species, Polygonum amphibium, Schoenoplectus fluviatilis, Carex species, Sparganium eurycarpum) areas of this ecological site (Palustrine Emergent Semipermanently Flooded): Sedge Wren, Red-Winged Blackbird, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Mallard, Sora, Common Moorhen, Marsh Wren, and Common Yellowthroat.
A number of migratory bird species are likely associated with annual plant (Eleocharis species, Bidens species, Cyperus species, Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum hydropiper) dominated areas and mudflats of this ecological site (Palustrine Emergent Seasonally Flooded, Palustrine Emergent Temporarily Flooded): Great Egret, Common Snipe, Pectoral Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plover, and dabbling ducks (e.g., Mallard, Blue-Winged Teal, Gadwall, and Northern Pintail).
Breeding birds associated with woody vegetation dominated areas of this ecological site: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and Song Sparrow.
Amphibian and reptile species that may be associated with this ecological site’s reference state: Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata triseriata), Plains Leopard Frog (Rana blairi), Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala), Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), Diamond-backed Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer), Graham’s Crayfish Snake (Regina grahamii), Midland Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi wrightourm), Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) and Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus proximus).
Small mammals likely associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), Southern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), and Mink (Mustela vison).
Many native insect species are likely associated with this ecological site, especially native dragonflies and damselflies, beetles, and ants. However information on these groups is often lacking enough resolution to assign them to individual ecological sites.
Insect species known to be associated with this ecological site’s reference state condition: Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis), Cordgrass Planthopper (Prokelisia crocea), Dion Skipper butterfly (Euphyes dion), Duke’s Skipper butterfly (Euphyes dukesi), Sedge Grasshopper (Stethophyma celatum), the Lance-tipped Darner dragonfly (Aeshna constricta) and the Ruby Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum rubicundulum).
Other invertebrates: Grassland Crayfish (Procambarus gracilis), Northern Crayfish (Orconectes virilis), Papershell Crayfish (O. immunis).
(This section prepared by Mike Leahy, Natural Areas Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation, 2013. References for this section: Fitzgerald and Pashley 2000b; Heitzman and Heitzman 1996; Jacobs 2001; Johnson 2000; Pitts and McGuire 2000; Schwartz and others 2001)Other information
Forestry
Management: This ecological site is not recommended for traditional timber management activity. Historically this site was dominated by a ground cover of native prairie grasses, sedges and forbs. Some scattered open grown trees and shrubs may have also been present. Altered states be suitable for non-traditional forestry uses such as windbreaks, environmental plantings, alley cropping (a method of planting, in which rows of trees or shrubs are interspersed with rows of crops) or woody bio-fuels.Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Ponded Floodplain Prairie Plot PERSP01 – Portage soil Located in Pershing State Park, Linn County, MO Latitude: 39.750615 Longitude: -93.224637 Plot PERSP_KS06 – Portage soil Located in Pershing State Park, Linn County, MO Latitude: 39.766259 Longitude: -93.219871 Plot PERSP_KS10 – Portage soil Located in Pershing State Park, Linn County, MO Latitude: 39.736914 Longitude: -93.233456 Plot PERSP_KS11 – Portage soil Located in Pershing State Park, Linn County, MO Latitude: 39.73886 Longitude: -93.233252
Other references
Anderson, R.C. 1990. The historic role of fire in North American grasslands. Pp. 8-18 in S.L. Collins and L.L. Wallace (eds.). Fire in North American tallgrass prairies. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.
Benham, Ken E. 1990. Soil Survey of Linn County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Soil Conservation Service.
Brinson, M.M. 1993. A hydrogeomorphic classification for wetlands. Technical Report WRP-DE-4, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, & E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Dept. of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington DC.
Fitzgerald, J.A. and D.N. Pashley. 2000b. Partners in Flight bird conservation plan for the Dissected Till Plains. American Bird Conservancy.
Frost, C., 1996. Pre-settlement Fire Frequency Regimes of the United States: A First Approximation. Pages 70-81, Proceedings of the 20nd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Ecosystem Management: Shifting the Paradigm from Suppression to Prescription. Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
Heitzman, J.R. and J.E. Heitzman. 1996. Butterflies and moths of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Jacobs, B. 2001. Birds in Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Johnson, T.R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. 2nd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2002. Woodland Suitability Groups. Missouri FOTG, Section II, Soil Interpretations and Reports. 30 pgs.
Natural Resources Conservation Service. Site Index Reports. Accessed May 2014. https://esi.sc.egov.usda.gov/ESI_Forestland/pgFSWelcome.aspx
NatureServe. 2010. Vegetation Associations of Missouri (revised). NatureServe, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Nelson, Paul W. 2010. The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Nigh, Timothy A. and Walter A. Schroeder. 2002. Atlas of Missouri Ecoregions. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.
Pitts, D.E. and W.D. McGuire. 2000. Wildlife management for Missouri landowners. 3rd ed. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
Schwartz, C.W., E.R. Schwartz and J.J. Conley. 2001. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia and Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service (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. 682 pgs.Contributors
Doug Wallace
Fred YoungApproval
Suzanne Mayne-Kinney, 7/01/2024
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support in the development of this ecological site. This site was originally approved on 07/28/2015 for publication.
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date 08/29/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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