Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site NX118B01Y006
Wet Flood Plain
Last updated: 9/22/2023
Accessed: 09/22/2026
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Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 118B–Arkansas Valley and Ridges, Western Part
118B—Arkansas Valley and Ridges, Western Part Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) is entirely In Oklahoma and encompasses approximately 3,070 square miles (7,960 square kilometers). It contains the towns of Henryetta and McAlester, and the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant. Interstate 40 passes through the northern part of the area from east to west (USDA 2006).
Most of this MLRA is in the Osage Plains Section of the Central Lowland Province of the Interior Plains with parts of the east side in the Arkansas Valley and Ouachita Mountains Sections of the Ouachita Province of the Interior Highlands. The topography is characterized by long, narrow sandstone-capped ridges that trend northeastward. The ridges are dissected by valleys incised by streams at right angles to the ridges. The valleys and scarp areas are cut into less resistant shale units. Elevation ranges from 550 feet (170 meters) to 1,500 feet (455 meters). The North and South Canadian Rivers flow from the western part of the MLRA and merge at Eufaula Lake on the east side. A narrow extension catches part of the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers southeast of Tulsa. The Arkansas River is heavily regulated by locks, dams, and reservoirs. It allows Mississippi River barge traffic to reach land-locked Tulsa, to the northwest.
MLRA 118B principally consists of hard and soft sandstone, shale, siltstone, limestone, and some conglomerates of the Cabaniss, Krebs, and Marmaton geologic groups. These are of Pennsylvanian age (formed approximately 300 million years ago) and may include economically viable coal deposits. The bedrock geology of the area is tilted 2 to 15 degrees from the horizontal and is gently folded in some places. Unconsolidated clay, silt, sand, and gravel are deposited in the river valleys.Classification relationships
This ecological site is found in Major Land Resource Area 118B - the Arkansas Valley and Ridges, Western Part. MLRA 118B is located within Land Resource Region N - the East and Central Farming and Forest Region (USDA 2006). In addition, MLRA118B falls within area #29 – Cross Timbers (USEPA 2013). The Poorly Drained Terrace ecological site occurs in United States Forest Service Ecoregions -255A - Prairie Parkland (Subtropical) Province (Bailey 1995) and 29a – the Northern Cross Timbers section of EPA Ecoregion IV (Woods et. al. 1996).
Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland - CES202.608
(NatureServe 2017).Ecological site concept
The Wet Flood Plain ecological site is found on broad floodplains along rivers and streams. These sites have slopes between 0 and 1 percent. Elevations range from 500 to 1,000 feet. Runoff class varies from high to very high. Flooding occurs occasionally to frequently, with a very brief to brief duration. The soils associated with this ecological site are formed in alluvium from sedimentary rock. These soils are very deep, very poorly drained to poorly drained, and have a moderately slow to moderate permeability class. A fine silt loam surface texture is common. This site receives additional moisture from the surrounding landscape, occurs on flood plains, soils are characterized by seasonal water tables, and has greater than 18 percent clay by weight in the particle size control section.
Associated sites
NX118B01Y007 Sandy Hillslope
Adjacent uplands
Similar sites
R084AY095OK Subirrigated Bottomland
Occurs in an adjacent major land resource area, but is very similar to the Poorly Drained Terrace.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Ulmus
(2) SalixShrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Andropogon gerardii
(2) Panicum virgatumLegacy ID
R118BY006OK
Physiographic features
This ecological site is found on broad, nearly level to slightly concave, floodplains along rivers and streams.. These sites have slopes between 0 and 1 percent. Elevations range from 500 to 1,000 feet. Runoff class varies from high to very high. Flooding occurs occasionally to frequently, with a very brief to brief duration.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Plains > Flood plain
Runoff class High to very high Flooding duration Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency Occasional to frequent Elevation 500 – 1000 ft Slope 0 – 1 % Water table depth 6 – 35 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
This ecological site is characterized by hot summers, cool winters, and mild spring/fall temperatures. Mean annual precipitation is 45 inches with an average frost free period of 194 days and an average freeze free period of 212 days. The highest precipitation occurs in May (6.3 inches), while the lowest occurs in January (2.2 inches). The warmest month of the year is August (94°F average high), while the coolest is January (27°F average low). Thunderstorms and heat waves are common and occur frequently during summer months. Catastrophic storm events such as tornados, ice storms, floods, and hailstorms are also known to occasionally occur within this ecological site. According to the Oklahoma Water Resource Board, drought occurs on 5 to 10 year intervals.
Data was provided by the McAlester, Centrahoma, Okmulgee, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Atoka, and Hanna climate stations. Site specific data should be obtained by accessing the database provided by the National Centers for Environmental Information (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/search).Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 180-200 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 200-230 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 180-210 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 190-230 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (average) 190 days Freeze-free period (average) 210 days Precipitation total (average) 50 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 1. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) OKMULGEE WTR WKS [USC00346670], Okmulgee, OK
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(2) LAKE EUFAULA [USC00344975], Checotah, OK
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(3) EUFAULA 6 SSW [USC00342993], Canadian, OK
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(4) ATOKA [USC00340391], Atoka, OK
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(5) HANNA [USC00343884], Hanna, OK
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(6) MCALESTER RGNL AP [USW00093950], McAlester, OK
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(7) CENTRAHOMA 2 ESE [USC00341648], Centrahoma, OK
">Influencing water features
This site is subject to occasional or frequent flooding from adjacent streams or rivers during the winter and spring.
Wetland description
This ecological site includes wetlands. Wetlands are areas that support plants which can grow in water saturated conditions (called hydrophytes), have a predominance of undrained (hydric) soils, and are periodically saturated or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season (Cowardin 1979). These wetlands fall within the Palustrine system, which includes all nontidal wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs, and persistent emergent plants in freshwater environments. This ecological site is classified as a Palustrine broad-leaved deciduous seasonally saturated forested wetland (Cowardin 1979). An onsite investigation is recommended to determine the wetland conditions of a specific location.
Soil features
The soils associated with this ecological site are formed in alluvium from sedimentary rock. These soils are very deep, very poorly drained to poorly drained, and have a moderately slow to moderate permeability class. A fine silt loam surface texture is common. A clay content between 22 and 28 percent is representative. The surface and subsurface fragment volume rarely has any large material present. Soil depth is generally 80 inches or deeper. A seasonal high watertable is present during winter and spring in normal years. Redox features are present throughout the soil profile.
The soil series associated with this site are the Boley, Convent, Cupco, Tullahassee, and Wynona.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Alluvium – sedimentary rock
Surface texture (1) Silt loam
Drainage class Very poorly drained to poorly drained Permeability class Moderately slow to moderate Soil depth 80 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(Depth not specified)6.2 – 9.3 in Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(Depth not specified)4.5 – 6.5 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
The Wet Flood Plain ecological site consists of four identified states: Reference, Encroached, Pasture, and Eroded.
The reference state consists of a wet savanna, characterized by grasslands with trees and shrubs that floods during portions of the year. The common trees species for this state are cottonwood, soap berry, willow, American elm, sugar berry, hickory, and oak species. Dominate grasses consist of little bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, and big bluestem. More water tolerant grass, rush, sedge, forb, shrub, and tree species may also be present depending on the duration of flooding events. (Landfire 2010; NatureServe 2009).
The encroached state consists of a many tree species, especially eastern redcedar, where there is significant canopy closure. Depending on how long this state has been present on the ecological site, the plant community will vary from oak, to hickory, to eastern redcedar. As the woody canopy increases and an encroached state occurs, the hydrology of the site is altered. The increased canopy intercepts most of the precipitation and changes hydrological patterns. Understory species will generally have less available water for growth and will have to compete with an extensive redcedar root system (Zou, 2018).
The pasture state will comprise species that are planted and grown for specific management goals, mainly livestock grazing. Common pasture species include buffalograss, western wheatgrass, little bluestem, sideoats grama, composite dropseed, silver beardgrass, winter bentgrass, purple lovegrass, kentucky bluegrass, tumblegrass, fall panicgrass, little barley, white sagebrush, slimflower scurfpea, and missouri goldenrod. Quality and quantity of forb, grass and legume species within this state will depend on the level of management inputs including seeding, weed management, and land uses. Species of both warm-season and cool-season grasses are feasible for these sites.
The eroded state consists of an area where the soil and plant communities are not stable due to wind and water erosion. In addition to destroying the original plant community, over plowing (degrading soil through cultivation) has resulted in major soil condition changes. Reductions in organic matter, mineral levels, soil structure, oxygen levels, water holding capacity, and populations of soil dwelling organisms are common on these sites. The extent of these changes depend upon duration of over plowing, as well as the species of crops grown and other management practices. Where vegetation is able to grow, this states plant community is predominately prairie threeawn interspersed in remnants of perennial grasses such as alkali sacaton, blue grama, sideoats grama and buffalograss. Numerous annuals are usually found on this state.
Fire has some influence on this ecological site. Depending on how much precipitation occurred during the year, fire would have minimal affects on this site due to their proximity with riparian areas (NatureServe). The historical average fire return interval was likely between 1 to 10 years (Halgren, 2011). These wildfires would occur naturally through lightning strikes, but the majority were probably ignited by anthropogenic sources (DeSantis, 2010). Native grass species evolved with and responded well to fires, gaining an advantage compared with other plant species (Engle, 2001).
Grazing was also important to these ecological sites. As the practices of fencing and livestock husbandry replaced herds of bison, elk, and deer, the ecological dynamics of this site were altered (Kohl, 2013). Changes were usually proportional to the season and intensity of livestock grazing behavior and were accelerated by a combination of drought and overgrazing (when the consumption of vegetation biomass by livestock and other grazers exceeds the vegetations ability to recover in a timely fashion, thus exposing the soil and reducing the vegetations productive capacity (Angerer, 2013)). For example, palatable grasses and forbs are repeatedly grazed by livestock, weakening and potentially killing or replacing these species with less desirable species (Smith, 1940).
A variety of climate related events can occur that affect these ecological states such as hail storms, tornados, thunder storms, and extreme precipitation. Hail storms can reduce canopy size, increase litter deposition, and increase tree bark removal. When paired with other disturbances such as fire, the effects on tree species were much greater than in areas not affected by the hail storm (Gower, 2015). Tornados have been shown to change plant community compositions in savanna ecosystems, favoring hardwoods and eliminating softwoods (Liu, 1997). Lightning storms greatly effect ecosystems and while they generally occur during summer months, they can occur during every season. If a fire is started by a lightning strike and allowed to burn there will be different effects in the ecosystem depending on the season (Hiers, 2000).
A state and transition model has been created to explain this ecological site. However, sparse data availability only allowed basic principles to be explored and a small number of species to be recorded. More data should be collected from this ecological site to provide a greater understanding of the ecological form and function, as well as the resources consumption and distribution.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 - Fire suppression, overgrazing, increased precipitation, and shading. T1B - Tree removal, brush management, forage seed establishment and management. R2A - Tree thinning, brush management, prescribed fire, and grazing. T2A - Woody species removal, prescribed fire, and grazing. T3A - Abusive agricultural practices, drought R4A - Establish ground cover State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1A - Fire suppression, overgrazing, drought. 1.1B - Excessive fire behavior, tree removal, drought. 1.2A - Excessive fire behavior, tree removal, flooding. 1.2B - Excessive fire behavior, tree removal, drought. 1.3A - Fire suppression, flooding. 1.3B - Fire suppression, flooding. State 2 submodel, plant communities
2.1A - Fire suppression. 2.2A - Excessive fire, mechanical tree removal. State 3 submodel, plant communities
3.1A - Fire Suppression 3.2A - Tree Removal, Brush Management 3.2B - Fire Suppression 3.3A - Tree Removal, Brush Management 3.3B - Tree Removal, Brush Management State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
ReferenceThe reference state (wet savanna) consists of trees with minimal canopy cover, allowing sunlight to reach the ground vegetation. Wet savanna canopy cover ranges from 10-25%.
Drivers- Fire intensity and frequency between 1 to 10 years (Hallgren et al.), climate (decadal scale), insect and disease presence or establishment (oak wilt, beetles), flooding events, and wildlife/livestock grazing or browsing.
Feedbacks- Fire tolerant grasses dominate the ecological site, fire intervals suppress woody vegetation growth. Wildlife and livestock grazing/browsing decrease the amount of grass available, decreasing fire intensity and increasing woody vegetation growth. Disease and insect loads decrease the amount of tree species on the ecological site.
Characteristics and indicators. The reference state consists of a wet savanna, characterized by grasslands with trees and shrubs that floods during portions of the year. The common trees species for this state are cottonwood, soap berry, willow, American elm, sugar berry, hickory, and oak species. Dominate grasses consist of little bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, and big bluestem. More water tolerant grass, rush, sedge, forb, shrub, and tree species may also be present depending on the duration of flooding events. (Landfire 2010; NatureServe 2009).
Dominant plant species
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elm (Ulmus), tree
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willow (Salix), tree
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cottonwood (Populus), tree
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soapberry (Sapindus), tree
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post oak (Quercus stellata), tree
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blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), tree
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big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), grass
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little bluestem (Schizachyrium), grass
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Indiangrass (Sorghastrum), grass
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switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), grass
Community 1.1
Cottonwood- Soapberry- Willow/Little BluestemThis community phase is dominated by water tolerant tree species. Other common species included grasses such as little bluestem, hairy grama, dropseed, and purpletop. Forbs and legumes include sunflower, lespedezas, prairie clovers, Cuman or western ragweed, and sageworts.
Community 1.2
Cottonwood- Soapberry- Willow -Eastern Redcedar (at risk community)This community phase has a moderately closed canopy with an understory of tallgrasses and midgrasses. The absence of fire has allowed water tolerant tree species and eastern redcedar densities to increase. The overstory tree canopy is around 25%. The competition from the increased canopy has led to a decrease in herbaceous understory plants.
Community 1.3
Big Bluestem-Little Bluestem-Indian Grass- Switch Grass/ Cottonwood- Soapberry- WillowThis community phase is dominated by grass and forb species, with the occasional tree.
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Canopy cover increases, decreasing the amount of sunlight available for ground cover vegetation. Decreasing amounts of ground cover vegetation can eventually lead to fires that are not intense enough to control woody vegetation. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is around 25%. A possible reasons for increased canopy cover is fire suppression (less fire=more woody vegetation growth).
Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3Canopy cover decreases, increasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground cover vegetation. Water and nutrient availability to ground cover vegetation will also increase when there is less competition from woody species. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is less than 10%. Possible reasons for decreased canopy cover are excessive fire behavior (higher intensity fire=more woody vegetation consumption), climatic shifts, and insect/disease outbreaks.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Canopy cover decreases, increasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground cover vegetation. Water and nutrient availability to ground cover vegetation will also increase when there is less competition from woody species. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is between 10-25%. Possible reasons for decreased canopy cover are excessive fire behavior (higher intensity fire=more woody vegetation consumption), climatic shifts, and insect/disease outbreaks.
Conservation practices
Prescribed Burning Prescribed Grazing Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3Canopy cover decreases, increasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground cover vegetation. Water and nutrient availability to ground cover vegetation will also increase when there is less competition from woody species. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is less than 10%. Possible reasons for decreased canopy cover are excessive fire behavior (higher intensity fire=more woody vegetation consumption), climatic shifts, and insect/disease outbreaks.
Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1Canopy cover increases, decreasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground cover vegetation. A decrease in the ground cover vegetation can lead to fires that are not intense enough to control woody vegetation. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is between 10-25%. A possible reasons for increased canopy cover is fire suppression (less fire=more woody vegetation growth).
Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.2Canopy cover increases, decreasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground cover vegetation. A decrease in the ground cover vegetation can lead to fires that are not intense enough to control woody vegetation. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is around 25%. A possible reasons for increased canopy cover is fire suppression (less fire=more woody vegetation growth).
State 2
EncroachedThe encroached state is dominated by tree species. Canopy cover is greater than 25%.
Driver- Absence of wildfire, seed dispersal by wildlife, climate (decadal scale), and canopy density.
Feedbacks- Tree species dominate the ecological site, causing shading of grass species and shorter woody species. Less ground cover will decrease fire risk. Nutrient and water cycling will be controlled by tree species.
Characteristics and indicators. The encroached state consists of many tree species, especially eastern redcedar, where there is significant canopy closure. Depending on how long this state has been present on the ecological site, the plant community will vary from oak, to hickory, to eastern redcedar. As the woody canopy increases and an encroached state occurs, the hydrology of the site is altered. The increased canopy intercepts most of the precipitation and changes hydrological patterns to favor tree species over grass species. Understory species will generally have less available water for growth and will have to compete with an extensive redcedar root system (Zou, 2018).
Dominant plant species
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oak (Quercus), tree
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eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), tree
Community 2.1
Post Oak- Eastern RedcedarThis plant community consists mainly of oak species with hickory and eastern red cedar present.
Community 2.2
Eastern Redcedar- Post OakThis plant community consists mainly of eastern redcedar. Oak trees and hickory trees can be found in this plant community, however, ecosystem dynamics are dominated by eastern redcedar.
Pathway 2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2Canopy cover increases, decreasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground and understory vegetation. A decrease in the ground vegetation can lead to fires that are not intense enough to control woody vegetation. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is greater than 75%. Possible reasons for increased canopy cover are fire suppressions (less fire=more woody vegetation growth).
Pathway 2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1Canopy cover decreases, increasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground and understory vegetation. An increase in the ground vegetation can lead to fires that are able to control woody vegetation. This community will generally occur when canopy cover is greater between 25-50%. Possible reasons for decreased canopy cover are excessive fire (more fire= less woody vegetation) and mechanical tree removal.
State 3
PastureThe pasture state consists of introduced grass species that are planted to maximize livestock forage production.
Drivers- Mechanical soil disturbance and seed planting, climate (decadal scale), seed dispersal, and wildlife/livestock grazing or browsing.
Feedbacks- Land managers use mechanical or chemical equipment to manipulate the ecological site. Wildlife and livestock grazing/browsing decrease the amount of available forage. Inputs of fertilizer and brush management are required to maintain high productivity across this ecological state.
Characteristics and indicators. The pasture state will comprise species that are planted and grown for specific management goals, mainly livestock grazing. Common pasture species include buffalograss, western wheatgrass, little bluestem, sideoats grama, composite dropseed, silver beardgrass, winter bentgrass, purple lovegrass, kentucky bluegrass, tumblegrass, fall panicgrass, little barley, white sagebrush, slimflower scurfpea, and missouri goldenrod. Quality and quantity of forb, grass and legume species within this state will depend on the level of management inputs including seeding, weed management, and land uses. Species of both warm-season and cool-season grasses are feasible for these sites.
Dominant plant species
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Bermudagrass (Cynodon), grass
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sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Community 3.1
Bermuda GrassGrass and forb species have been planted to maximize production for grazing livestock.
Community 3.2
Bermuda Grass/ Post Oak- Eastern RedcedarGrass and forb species have been planted to maximize production for grazing livestock. Tree species are encroaching.
Community 3.3
Eastern Redcedar- American Elm- Post OakGrass and forb species have been planted to maximize production for grazing livestock. Tree species have encroached this site and cover significant amounts of grazing land.
Pathway 3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2Fire Suppression
Pathway 3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1Tree Removal, Brush Management
Pathway 3.2B
Community 3.2 to 3.3Fire Suppression
Pathway 3.3A
Community 3.3 to 3.1Tree Removal, Brush Management
Pathway 3.3B
Community 3.3 to 3.2Tree Removal, Brush Management
State 4
ErodedThe eroded state consists of an area where the soil and plant communities are not stable due to wind and water erosion.
Drivers- Loss of soil and site stability, active soil erosion, climate (decadal scale), and wildlife/livestock grazing or browsing.
Feedbacks- Reduced basal cover and increased bare ground resulting in increased overland flow leading to rills and gullies.
Characteristics and indicators. The eroded state consists of an area where the soil and plant communities are not stable due to wind and water erosion. In addition to destroying the original plant community, over plowing (degrading soil through cultivation) has resulted in major soil condition changes. Reductions in organic matter, mineral levels, soil structure, oxygen levels, water holding capacity, and populations of soil dwelling organisms are common in this state. The extent of these changes depend upon duration of over plowing, as well as the species of crops grown and other management practices. Where vegetation is able to grow, this states plant community is predominately prairie threeawn interspersed in remnants of perennial grasses such as alkali sacaton, blue grama, sideoats grama and buffalograss. Numerous annuals are usually found on this state.
Dominant plant species
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prairie threeawn (Aristida oligantha), grass
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fall panicgrass (Panicum dichotomiflorum), grass
Community 4.1
Yellow BluestemSignificant amounts of bare ground are present with grasses and forbs that establish quickly in poor soil conditions.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Trigger- Fire suppression, overgrazing (when the consumption of vegetation biomass by livestock and other grazers exceeds the vegetations ability to recover in a timely fashion, thus exposing the soil and reducing the vegetations productive capacity (Angerer, 2013)), shading, and increased woody species seedling success. Slow Variables: Increasing amounts of shade (reducing ground cover species), decreasing amounts of native grass species (both annual and perennial) changing nutrient cycles from grass dominated to leaf dominated, and increased woody vegetation changes hydrology and precipitation through percolation and transpiration. Thresholds: Canopy cover becoming greater than 25%.
Key drivers
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Precipitation (decadal scale)
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Temperature (monthly scale)
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Fire
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Livestock grazing or browsing
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Precipitation (annual scale)
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Fire frequency
Key ecosystem services affected
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Fuel
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Water purification and waste treatment
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Pollination
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Aesthetic values
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Nutrient cycling
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Recreation
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Food and fiber: livestock forage
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Air quality maintenance
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Trigger- Mechanical tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression (removing brush by use of mechanical cutter, chopper, or other equipment followed by an application of chemicals in order to reduce fuel loading and improve ecological site condition, (NRCS 314)), introducing annual/ perennial grass and forb species, prescribed fire (applying controlled fire to a predetermined area of land, (NRCS 338)), and prescribed grazing ( managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and-or browsing animals, (NRCS 528)). Slow Variables: Increased production and management of introduced species. Thresholds: Native seed sources are removed and suppressed from the ecological site.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Land Clearing Prescribed Grazing Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Trigger- Mechanical tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression (removing brush by use of mechanical cutter, chopper, or other equipment followed by an application of chemicals to reduce fuel loading and improve ecological site condition, (NRCS 314)), and prescribed fire that will kill trees and suppress woody vegetative growth (applying controlled fire to a predetermined area of land, (NRCS 338)). Slow Variables: Removal of tree species decreases the amount of shade, allowing grass species to receive nutrients. Nutrient and water cycles shift from complete tree domination to a combination of tree and grass dominated. Thresholds: Canopy cover becomes less than 25%.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Trigger- Mechanical tree removal, mechanical and chemical woody vegetation suppression (removing brush by use of mechanical cutter, chopper, or other equipment followed by an application of chemicals to reduce fuel loading and improve ecological site condition, (NRCS 314)), prescribed fire that will suppress woody vegetative growth (applying controlled fire to a predetermined area of land, (NRCS 338)), prescribed grazing ( managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and-or browsing animals, (NRCS 528)), and introduced species planting/establishment. Slow Variables: Removal of tree species decreases the amount of shade, allowing grass species to receive nutrients. Nutrient and water cycles shift from complete tree domination to a combination of tree and grass dominated. Introduced species are established. Thresholds: Introduced species become a significant environmental factor at the ecological site.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Land Clearing Prescribed Grazing Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Trigger- Drought, over-plowing (degrading soil through cultivation), and overgrazing (when the consumption of vegetation biomass by livestock and other grazers exceeds the vegetations ability to recover in a timely fashion, thus exposing the soil and reducing the vegetations productive capacity (Angerer, 2013)). Slow Variables: Vegetation quantity and quality will decrease over time. Ground cover will decrease, increasing water and wind erosion. New vegetation will quickly be consumed by livestock/wildlife when it becomes available. Thresholds: Significantly reduced ground cover, increasing water and wind erosion. Feedbacks- Any vegetation that is grown will quickly be consumed by livestock, destabilizing the soil and continuing erosion.
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 3Stop practices that are causing harm such as overgrazing (when the consumption of vegetation biomass by livestock and other grazers exceeds the vegetations ability to recover in a timely fashion, thus exposing the soil and reducing the vegetations productive capacity (Angerer, 2013)), over-plowing (degrading soil through cultivation), and other unsustainable agricultural practices. Establish ground cover, preferably using non-invasive species. Following ground cover establishment, plant species that will increase site stabilization. Manage for desirable site conditions.
Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 1.3 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 2.2 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 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 3.3 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
Common wildlife species include whitetail deer, black bear, turkey, quail, racoons, opossums, groundhogs, chipmunks, armadillos, roadrunners, and coyotes. Eagles, vultures, red-tailed hawks and a variety of songbirds are viewed periodically during seasonal migrations.
Uncommon and threatened/endangered species include the rich mountain salamander, mountain redback salamander, red-cockaded woodpecker, and a variety of bat species.
Feral hogs are present and can disrupt plant communities.
Cattle are grazed throughout this ecological site. Cattle grazing can alter vegetative communities and disrupt nutrient distribution.Hydrological functions
Hydrological function will be altered depending on the state of this ecological site. When trees are present, rain will make contact with trees before hitting the ground, slowing the momentum of raindrops. Evapotranspiration changes depending on the type of vegetation present. Overland and ground water flow patterns will also be altered depending on the ecological state.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing are the primary recreational uses of these sites.
Wood products
There are no significant wood products produced on this site.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
This site descriptions was developed as part of the provisional ecological site initiative using historic soil survey manuscripts, literature reviews, and low intensity field sampling.
References
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Angerer, J., W. Fox, and J. Wolfe. 2016. Land Degradation in Rangeland Ecosystems. Biological and Environmental hazards, Risks, and Disasters. Academic Press.
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DeSantis, R.D., S.W. Hallgreen, and D.W. Stahle. 2010. Historic Fire Regime of an Upland Oak Forest in South Central North America. Fire Ecology. USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
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Engle, D. and T. Bidwell. 2001. The response of central North American prairies to seasonal fire. Range Management 54:2–10.
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Gower, K., J. Fontaine, C. Birnbaum, and N. Enright. 2015. Sequential Disturbance Effects of Hailstorms and Fire on Vegetation in a Mediterranean-Type Ecosystem. Ecosystems 18:1121–1134.
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Hallgren, S.W., DeSantis. R. D., and J.A. Burton. 2012. Fire and vegetation Dynamics in the Cross Timbers Forests of South-Central North America. Proceedings of the 4th Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference. USDA Forest Service General Techincal Report NRS-P-102, Springfield, Missouri. 52–66.
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Hiers, K., R. Wyatt, and R. Mitchell. 2000. The effects of fire regime on legume reproduction in longleaf pine savannas: is a season selective?. Oecologia 125:521–530.
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Kohl, M., P. Krausman, K. Kunkel, and D. Williams. 2013. Bison Versus Cattle: Are They Ecologically Synonymous. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66:721–731.
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Liu, C., J. Glitzenstein, P. Harcombe, and R. Knox. 1997. Tornado and fire effects on tree species composition in a savanna in the Big Thicket National Preserve, southeast Texas, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 91:279–289.
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Smith, C. 1940. The Effects of Overgrazing and Erosion Upon the Biota of the Mixed-Grass Prairie of Oklahoma. Ecology. Wiley. 381–397.
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Zou, C., D. Twidwell, and C. Bielski. 2018. Impact of Eastern Redcedar Proliferation on Water Resources in the Great Plains USA- Current State of Knowledge.
Other references
Bailey, Robert G. 1995. Description of the ecoregions of the United States 2d ed. Rev. and expanded (1st ed. 1980). Misc. Publ. No. 1391 (rev.), Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 108p. with separate map at 1:7,500,000.
Cowardin, L.M. et. al. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater habitats of the United States. FWS/OBS-79/31, U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, 131p.
Gagnon, P.R. 2009. Fire in Floodplain Forests in the Southeastern USA: Insights from Disturbance Ecology of Native Bamboo. Wetlands, Vol. 29, No. 2, June 2009, pp. 520-526.
LANDFIRE: LANDFIRE Biophysical Settings. (2010, January 01 - last update). U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey. [Online]. Available: http://landfire.cr.usgs.gov/viewer/ [2015, June 5].
LANDFIRE: LANDFIRE Existing Vegetation Type Layer. (2013, June – last update). U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey. [Online]. Available: https://landfire.cr.usgs.gov/viewer/[2015, June 5].
NatureServe. 2009. International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological
Classifications. NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, VA, U.S.A. Data current as of
06 February 2009.
Shiflet, T.N. 1994. Rangeland Cover Types of the United States, The Society for Range Management, Denver, Colorado, 141 pp.
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Official Soil Series Descriptions. Available online. Accessed [07/11/2018].
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Water and Climate Center, http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov, Accessed February 2015.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 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, 669p.
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2015. National Soils Information System. Official Soil Survey, USDA-NRCS: https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/osdname.asp
United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2013, Level III ecoregions of the continental United States: Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. EPA National health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, map scale 1:7,500,000, http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/level_iii_iv.htm.
Woods, A.J., J.O. Omernik, D.D. Brown, C.W. Kiilsgaard. 1996. Level IV Ecoregions of EPA Region 3. US Environmental Protection Agency National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon. Map scale 1:250,000.Contributors
Yuri Plowden, Ecological Site Specialist, Mill Hall, PA
Brandon Reavis, State Range Management Specialist, Stillwater, OK
Steven Alspach, State Soil Scientist, Stillwater, OK
Trevor Crandall, Ecological Site SpecialistApproval
Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023
Acknowledgments
Kevin Godsey, Soil Scientist, Springfield, MO: personal communication and sharing of state and transition models. Bruce Hoagland, Coordinator, and Todd Fagin, GIS Specialist, the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Program: personal communication and data-sharing. We thank all NRCS employees that assisted in the development of this ecological site description.
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 09/22/2026 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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