Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F116AY031MO
Dry Footslope Forest
Last updated: 9/24/2020
Accessed: 08/16/2026
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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): 116A–Ozark Highland
The Ozark Highland constitutes the Salem Plateau of the Ozark Uplift. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet on the southeast edge of the Ozark escarpment, to about 1,600 feet in the west, adjacent to the Burlington Escarpment of the Springfield Plateau. The underlying bedrock is mainly horizontally bedded Ordovician-aged dolomites and sandstones that dip gently away from the uplift apex in southeast Missouri. Cambrian dolomites are exposed on deeply dissected hillslopes. In some places, Pennsylvanian and Mississipian sediments overlie the plateau. Relief varies, from the gently rolling central plateau areas to deeply dissected hillslopes associated with drainageways such as the Buffalo, Current, Eleven Point and White Rivers.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Dry-Mesic Chert Forest.
Missouri Department of Conservation Forest and Woodland Communities (MDC, 2006):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Mixed Oak-Hickory Forest.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Carya (alba, ovata) / Cornus florida Acid Forest (CEGL002067).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site is widespread across the Ozark Highlands Section.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. After additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Dry Footslope Forests are widely distributed in the central and southwestern Ozark Highland. Soils have low plant-available water capacity, due to either an abundance of coarse fragments or the presence of a fragipan. The reference plant community is forest dominated by white oak and black oak.Associated sites
F116AY011MO Chert Upland Woodland
Chert Upland Woodlands, and other upland and backslope ecological sites, are upslope.
F116AY034MO Loamy Terrace Forest
Loamy Terrace Forests are adjacent and downslope.
F116AY039MO Loamy Floodplain Step Forest
Loamy Floodplain Step Forests are adjacent and downslope.
F116AY042MO Sandy/Gravelly Floodplain Forest
Sandy/Gravelly Floodplain Forests are downslope.
Similar sites
F116AY034MO Loamy Terrace Forest
Loamy Terrace Forests are adjacent and downslope.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus alba
(2) Quercus velutinaShrub (1) Cornus florida
Herbaceous (1) Elymus hystrix
Physiographic features
This site is on footslopes, high stream terraces and strath terraces with slopes of 3 to 15 percent. The site receives runoff from adjacent upland sites. This site does not flood.
The following figure (adapted from Simmons et al, 2006) shows the typical landscape position of this ecological site, and landscape relationships with other ecological sites. It is within the area labeled “2” on the figure. Dry Footslope Forest sites are downslope from a variety of upland sites, particularly ones with high amounts of chert fragments. They often grade downslope into Loamy Terrace Forest sites.
Figure 2. Landscape relationships for this ecological site.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Stream terrace
(3) Strath terrace
Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency None to rare Ponding frequency None Slope 3 – 15 % Water table depth 20 – 60 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The Ozark Highland 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.
The Ozark Highland experiences regional differences in climates, but these differences do not have obvious geographic boundaries. Regional climates grade inconspicuously into each other. The basic gradient for most climatic characteristics is along a line crossing the MLRA from northwest to southeast.
The average annual precipitation in almost all of this area is 38 to 45 inches. Snow falls nearly every winter, but the snow cover lasts for only a few days. The average annual temperature is about 53 to 60 degrees F. The lower temperatures occur at the higher elevations in the western part of the MLRA. Mean January minimum temperature follows a stronger north-to-south gradient. However, mean July maximum temperature shows hardly any geographic variation in the MLRA. Mean July maximum temperatures have a range of only two or three degrees across the area.
Mean annual precipitation varies along a northwest to southeast gradient. Seasonal climatic variations are more complex. Seasonality in precipitation is very pronounced due to strong continental influences. June precipitation, for example, averages three to four times greater than January precipitation. Most of the rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in summer.
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 affects plant and animal life by limiting water supplies, especially at times of high temperatures and high evaporation rates.
Superimposed upon the basic MLRA climatic patterns are local topographic influences that create topoclimatic, or microclimatic variations. In regions of appreciable relief, 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. Deep sinkholes often have a microclimate significantly cooler, moister, and shadier than surrounding surfaces, a phenomenon that may result in a strikingly different ecology. Higher daytime temperatures of bare rock surfaces and higher reflectivity of these unvegetated surfaces may create distinctive environmental niches such as glades and cliffs.
Slope orientation is an important topographic influence on climate. Summits and south-and-west-facing slopes are regularly warmer and drier than adjacent north- and-east-facing slopes. Finally, the climate within a canopied forest is measurably different from the climate of a more open grassland or savanna areas.
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) 150-160 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 180-200 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 140-160 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 170-200 days Precipitation total (actual range) 50-50 in Frost-free period (average) 150 days Freeze-free period (average) 180 days Precipitation total (average) 50 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) WEST PLAINS [USC00238880], West Plains, MO
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(2) STILWELL 5 NNW [USC00348506], Stilwell, OK
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(3) GREENVILLE 6 N [USC00233451], Silva, MO
">Influencing water features
The site receives runoff from adjacent upland sites. This site does not flood. The water features of this upland ecological site include evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and drainage. Each water balance component fluctuates to varying extents from year-to-year. Evapotranspiration remains the most constant. Precipitation and drainage are highly variable between years. Seasonal variability differs for each water component. Precipitation generally occurs as single day events. Evapotranspiration is lowest in the winter and peaks in the summer. Water stored as ice and snow decreases drainage and surface runoff rates throughout the winter and increases these fluxes in the spring. The surface runoff pulse is greatly influenced by extreme events. Conversion to cropland or other high intensities land uses tends to increase runoff, but also decreases evapotranspiration. Depending on the situation, this might increase groundwater discharge, and decrease baseflow in receiving streams (Vano 2005).
Soil features
These soils have low plant-available water capacity, due to either an abundance of coarse fragments or the presence of a fragipan. The soils were formed under forest vegetation, and have thin, light-colored surface horizons. Parent material is alluvium on stream terraces, and colluvium over residuum derived from limestone on footslopes. Loess is present in some soils. Surface horizons are primarily silt loam. Subsurface horizons are loamy or clayey, and are generally skeletal with abundant gravel and cobbles at depth. These soils are not affected by seasonal wetness. Soil series associated with this site include Aslinger, Hobson, Marquand, Roselle, Taterhill, Tonti, Topazmill, Townhole, Viraton, and Waben.
The accompanying picture of the Waben series shows the abundant gravel and cobble content that characterizes these skeletal soils. Scale is in feet. Picture courtesy of Dennis Meinert, Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Figure 9. Waben series
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium
(2) Colluvium – cherty limestone
(3) Residuum – limestone
Surface texture (1) Gravelly silt loam
(2) Loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Moderately well drained to well drained Permeability class Slow Soil depth 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 20 % Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 9 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 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 45 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 20 % 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.
Dry Footslope Forests occur at the base of slopes between the uplands and stream terraces. The reference plant community is well developed forest dominated by an overstory of white oak and black oak. The canopy is moderately tall (60 to 75 feet) but more dense (70 to 90 percent canopy) than exposed slopes.
Fire played a moderate role in the maintenance of these systems. It is likely that these ecological sites burned at least once every 10 to 20 years. These periodic fires kept the forest somewhat open, removed the litter, and stimulated the growth and flowering of the grasses and forbs. During fire free intervals, woody understory species increased and the herbaceous understory diminished. The return of fire would open the woodlands up again and stimulate the abundant ground flora.
Dry Footslope Forests were also subjected to occasional disturbances from wind and ice, as well as grazing by native large herbivores. Wind and ice would have periodically opened the canopy up by knocking over trees or breaking substantial branches off canopy trees. Grazing by large native herbivores, such as bison, elk, and white-tailed deer, would have effectively kept understory conditions more open, creating conditions more favorable to oak reproduction and sun-loving ground flora species.
Today, these ecological sites have been cleared and converted to pasture or have undergone repeated timber harvest and domestic grazing. Most existing forested ecological sites have a younger (50 to 80 years) canopy layer whose species composition and quality has been altered by timber harvesting practices. In the long term absence of fire, woody species, especially hickory, encroach into these woodlands. Once established, these woody plants can quickly fill the existing understory increasing shade levels with a greatly diminished ground flora. Removal of the younger understory and the application of prescribed fire have proven to be effective restoration means.
Uncontrolled domestic grazing has also impacted these communities, further diminishing the diversity of native plants and introducing species that are tolerant of grazing, such as coralberry, gooseberry, and Virginia creeper. Grazed sites also have a more open understory. In addition, soil compaction and soil erosion can be a problem and lower productivity. Prescribed fire can play a beneficial but limited role in the management of this ecological site. Control of woody species will be more difficult. Footslope forests did evolve with some fire, but their composition often reflects more closed, forested conditions, with fewer woodland ground flora species that can respond to fire. Consequently, while having these sites in a burn unit is acceptable, targeting them solely for woodland restoration is not advisable.
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 interpretations. It is likely to change as knowledge increases.State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 10. 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 textEcosystem states
States 1 and 5 (additional transitions)
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThe reference state was dominated by white oak and black oak. Periodic disturbances from fire, wind or ice maintained the dominance of oaks by opening up the canopy and allowing more light for oak reproduction. Long disturbance-free periods allowed an increase in more shade tolerant species such as hickory and sugar maple. Two community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
The reference state is rare today. Some sites have been converted to grassland (State 4). Others have been subject to repeated, high-graded timber harvest coupled with uncontrolled domestic livestock grazing (State 5). Fire suppression has also resulted in increased canopy density, which has affected the abundance and diversity of ground flora. Many reference sites have been managed for timber harvest, resulting in either even-age (State 2) or uneven-age (State 3) forests.Community 1.1
White Oak – Black Oak/ Flowering Dogwood/ Eastern Bottlebrush GrassTwo community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
Forest overstory.Forest Overstory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Forest understory. Forest Understory Species list is based on field reconnaissance as well as commonly occurring species listed in Nelson 2010; names and symbols are from USDA PLANTS database.
Community 1.2
White Oak – Black Oak/ Flowering Dogwood – Hickory/ Eastern Bottlebrush GrassTwo community phases are recognized in this state, with shifts between phases based on disturbance frequency.
Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2This pathway is a gradual transition that results from extended, disturbance-free periods.
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1This pathway is a transition that results from extended, disturbance periods returning, such as native fire, wind, and ice storms.
State 2
Even-Age Managed ForestThese former woodland are now rather dense, with an under developed understory and ground flora. Thinning can increase overall tree vigor and improve understory diversity. Continual timber management, depending on the practices used, will either maintain this state, or convert the site to uneven-age (State 3) forests.
Community 2.1
White Oak – Black Oak/ Hophornbeam / WildryeState 3
Uneven-Age Managed ForestUneven-Age Managed forests can resemble the reference state but are denser. The biggest differences are tree age, most being only 50 to 90 years old, and canopy closure. Composition is also likely altered from the reference state depending on tree selection during harvest. In addition, without a regular 15 to 20 year harvest re-entry into these stands, they will slowly increase in more shade tolerant species such as hickory and white oak will become less dominant.
Community 3.1
Black Oak – Northern Red Oak – White Oak /Flowering Dogwood/ Indian WoodoatsState 4
GrasslandConversion of forests to planted, non-native pasture species such as tall fescue has been common in this MLRA. Fragipans, surface fragments, low organic matter contents and soil acidity make non-native pastures challenging to maintain in a healthy, productive state on this ecological site. If grazing and active pasture management is discontinued, the site will eventually transition, over time, to State 2 (Even-Age).
Community 4.1
Tall Fescue - Red CloverCommunity 4.2
Tall fescue - Broomsedge/Oak SproutsPathway P4.1A
Community 4.1 to 4.2This pathway is the result of over grazing and lack of proper grassland management.
Pathway P4.2A
Community 4.2 to 4.1This pathway is the result of brush management, grassland reseeding and proper grassland management.
State 5
High-Graded/Grazed WoodlandWoodland sites subjected to repeated, high-graded timber harvests and uncontrolled domestic grazing transition to this state. This state exhibits an over-abundance of hickory and other less desirable tree species, and weedy understory species such as coralberry, gooseberry, poison ivy and Virginia creeper. The vegetation offers little nutritional value for cattle, and excessive stocking damages tree boles, degrades understory species composition and results in soil compaction and accelerated erosion and runoff. Exclusion of livestock from sites in this state coupled with uneven-age management techniques will cause a transition to State 3 (Uneven-Age).
Community 5.1
Black Oak – Hickory/ Hophornbeam/CoralberryTransition T1A
State 1 to 2This transition typically results from even-aged management, younger canopy ages, and prescribed fire.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3This transition typically results from uneven-age timber management practices, such as single tree or group selection harvest and fire suppression.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4This transition is the result of clearing and conversion to non-native cool season grassland.
Transition T1D
State 1 to 5This transition is the result of high-grade harvesting and uncontrolled domestic livestock grazing.
Restoration pathway R1B
State 2 to 1This restoration transition generally requires extended rotations that allow mature trees to exceed ages of about 120 years along with prescribed fire.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3This transition typically results with initial uneven-age management and eventual cessation of any management.
Restoration pathway R1A
State 3 to 1This restoration transition generally requires extended rotations that allow mature trees to exceed ages of about 120 years along with prescribed fire.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 2This transition typically results from active even-age management.
Transition T4A
State 4 to 2This transition typically results with tree planting, long-term succession, and no grazing.
Transition T5B
State 5 to 3This transition typically results with uneven-age management, tree planting and livestock exclusion.
Restoration pathway T5A
State 5 to 4This transition is the result of clearing and conversion to non-native cool season grassland.
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 overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Treewhite oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – – – 0 northern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – – – 0 shagbark hickory CAOV2 Carya ovata Native – – – 0 bitternut hickory CACO15 Carya cordiformis Native – – – 0 slippery elm ULRU Ulmus rubra Native – – – 0 red maple ACRU Acer rubrum Native – – – 0 shortleaf pine PIEC2 Pinus echinata Native – – – 0 mockernut hickory CATO6 Carya tomentosa Native – – – 0 Table 7. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)Pennsylvania sedge CAPE6 Carex pensylvanica Native – – oval-leaf sedge CACE Carex cephalophora Native – – hairy woodland brome BRPU6 Bromus pubescens Native – – eastern bottlebrush grass ELHY Elymus hystrix Native – – Forb/HerbVirginia snakeroot ARSE3 Aristolochia serpentaria Native – – Missouri violet VIMI3 Viola missouriensis Native – – Adam and Eve APHY Aplectrum hyemale Native – – wild blue phlox PHDI5 Phlox divaricata Native – – goldenseal HYCA Hydrastis canadensis Native – – feathery false lily of the valley MARA7 Maianthemum racemosum Native – – Virginia springbeauty CLVI3 Claytonia virginica Native – – celandine poppy STDI3 Stylophorum diphyllum Native – – Shrub/Subshrubfragrant sumac RHAR4 Rhus aromatica Native – – Treecommon serviceberry AMAR3 Amelanchier arborea Native – – hophornbeam OSVI Ostrya virginiana Native – – blackgum NYSY Nyssa sylvatica Native – – flowering dogwood COFL2 Cornus florida Native – – pawpaw ASTR Asimina triloba Native – – Table 8. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 4.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Wildlife (MDC 2006):
Wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and eastern gray squirrel depend on hard and soft mast food sources and are typical game species of this type.
Bird species associated with early-successional Forests are Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow- breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, and Eastern Towhee.
Birds associated with mid-successional Forests are Whip-poor-will, Ovenbird, and Yellow- billed Cuckoo.
Birds associated with late-successional Forests are Worm-eating warbler, Whip-poor-will, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ovenbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Summer Tanager, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler, and Broad-winged Hawk.
Reptiles and amphibians associated with mature Forests include: long-tailed salamander, dark-sided salamander, southern red-backed salamander, three-toed box turtle, ground skink, western worm snake, western earth snake, American toad, and timber rattlesnake.Other information
Forestry (NRCS 2002, 2014):
Management: Field measured site index values average 50 for white oak, 64 for black oak, and 54 for shortleaf pine. Timber management opportunities are moderate. Create group openings of at least 2 acres. Large clearcuts should be minimized if possible to reduce impacts on wildlife and aesthetics. Uneven-aged management using single tree selection or small group selection cuttings of ½ to 1 acre are other options that can be used if clear cutting is not desired or warranted. Using prescribed fire as a management tool should be used with caution on a site if timber management is the primary objective.
Limitations: Large amounts of coarse fragments throughout profile; presence of a fragipan may be within 30 inches. Surface stones and rocks are problems for efficient and safe equipment operation and will make equipment use somewhat difficult. Disturbing the surface excessively in harvesting operations and building roads increases soil losses, which leaves a greater amount of coarse fragments on the surface. Hand planting or direct seeding may be necessary. Seedling mortality due to low available water capacity may be high. Mulching or providing shade can improve seedling survival. Mechanical tree planting will be limited. Erosion is a hazard when slopes exceed 15 percent. On steep slopes greater than 35 percent, traction problems increase and equipment use is not recommended.Supporting information
Inventory data references
Potential Reference Sites: Dry Footslope Forest Plot BIBAFS01 – Taterhill soil Located in Big Barren Creek NA - USFS, Carter County, Missouri Latitude: 36.849914 Longitude: -91.062949 Plot CURINP11 – Waben soil Located in Current River NPS, Shannon County, Missouri Latitude: 37.123938 Longitude: -91.130957 Plot TWRINP01 – Waben soil Located in Two Rivers area, NP, Shannon County, Missouri Latitude: 37.186708 Longitude: -91.268378
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.
Batek, M.J., A.J. Rebertus, W.A. Schroeder, T.L. Haithcoat, E. Compas, and R.P. Guyette. 1999. Reconstruction of early nineteenth-century vegetation and fire regimes in the Missouri Ozarks. Journal of Biogeography 26:397-412.
Harlan, J.D., T.A. Nigh and W.A. Schroeder. 2001. The Missouri original General Land Office survey notes project. University of Missouri, Columbia.
Ladd, D. 1991. Reexamination of the role of fire in Missouri oak woodlands. Pp. 67-80 in G.V. Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler, eds. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 257 p.
MDC, 2006. Missouri Forest and Woodland Community Profiles. Missouri Department of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri.
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.
Schoolcraft, H.R. 1821. Journal of a tour into the interior of Missouri and Arkansas from Potosi, or Mine a Burton, in Missouri territory, in a southwest direction, toward the Rocky Mountains: performed in the years 1818 and 1819. Richard Phillips and Company, London.
Simmons, Melvin, J. Daniel Childress, Kevin Godsey, and Rod Taylor. 2006. Soil Survey of Reynolds County, Missouri. U.S. Dept. of Agric. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Vano, Julie A. 2005. Land Surface Hydrology in Northern Wisconsin: Influences of climatic variability and land cover. University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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
Fred Young
Doug WallaceApproval
Nels Barrett, 9/24/2020
Acknowledgments
Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Department of Natural Resources personnel provided significant and helpful field and technical support during this project.
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 08/16/2026 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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