Ecological site F129XY006WV

F129XY005WV	Shale Ridge This site occurs in proximity to shale ridges.

F129XY002WV	Sandstone Steep This PES is very similar to Sandstone Steep in terms of the vegetation it produces.

Tree	(1) Liriodendron tulipifera (2) Fagus grandifolia
Shrub	(1) Oxydendrum arboreum
Herbaceous	Not specified

Landforms	(1) Hills > Upland slope
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	130 – 1870 ft
Slope	10 – 50 %

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	180-180 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	200-210 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	60-60 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	180-190 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	200-210 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	50-60 in
Frost-free period (average)	180 days
Freeze-free period (average)	210 days
Precipitation total (average)	60 in

Parent material	(1) Residuum – shale (2) Colluvium – sandstone and shale
Surface texture	(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Loam (3) Loamy sand
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Rapid
Soil depth	12 – 50 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	0 – 25 %
Surface fragment cover >3"	10 – 70 %
Available water capacity (Depth not specified)	0.6 – 6.7 in
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (Depth not specified)	4.6 – 5.3

Ecological dynamics

This PES is largely forested and forestry is the most important land-use. Commonly noted overstory trees include American beech and tulip poplar. Some loblolly and shortleaf pine is present. In flatter areas on this site, loblolly pine plantations can be important. Sourwood and suger maple are common in the mid-story. Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) was a common shrub/small tree.

Localized natural disturbances are important on this site. They include fire, ice storms, wind-throw, and the southern pine beetle. These disturbances can result in a patchwork of forest, younger stands, regenerating forests and relatively open grasslands, where fire is kept on the landscape. However, these open habitats are typically only maintained through human intervention. Left to its own, this site will regenerate to forest.

Pasture is not a common land-use due to the steepness of this site. So, while there is some pasture it is not included in the State and Transition Model due to the small extent.

State and transition model

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Ecosystem states

1. Upland Forest State

2. Invaded State

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. Mixed hardwoods

1.2. Pine Inclusions

State 1
Upland Forest State

Mature stands include a mixture of hardwood and pine species. In some cases, pockets of shortleaf pine, Virginia pine and white pine may be present. Forestry is the most important land-use on this site. It is not well suited for crops or pasture. Species noted include white oak, shagbark hickory, pignut hickory, American beech and tulip poplar. Across this state, micro-climate affects the composition and distribution of species. In older stands where there may be more available water due to proximity to streams or a drainage position, hardwoods will dominate. On more exposed ridges, pine typically becomes more prevalent.

Natural disturbances include ice, wind, and fire. These have historically been very important in regenerating stands. Human induced disturbances include mining, forestry practices such as clear-cutting, and fire.

Loblolly pine plantations are an important land-use on this site. Fire (prescribed) is an important management tool where they are established.

Community 1.1
Mixed hardwoods

These forests are typically dominated by Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, Quercus prinus, Quercus coccinea, with lesser amounts of Acer rubrum, Carya glabra, and Carya alba.

Community 1.2
Pine Inclusions

Small inclusions of Pinus echinata and/or Pinus virginiana may occur, particularly adjacent to escarpments or following fire.
It occurs in a variety of situations, including on nutrient-poor or acidic soils.

Pathway T1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Disturbance such as fire, ice storms, wind throws, etc.

Pathway T1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Fire exclusion/lack of disturbance

State 2
Invaded State

Invasive, non-native plants can become problematic on this site. Privet was the most commonly noted species of concern.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Invasion by non-native pest plants.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

Control of invasive, non-native pest plants. Methods vary and should be tailored to the local conditions of the stand.

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 (%)

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
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F129XY006WV

Steep Shale

Last updated: 9/10/2019 Accessed: 06/10/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 9/10/2019
Accessed: 06/10/2026