Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Poorly To Somewhat Poorly Drained Floodplains And Toeslopes
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
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Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
- Transition T1B More details
- Transition T1A More details
- Restoration pathway R2A More details
- Transition T2A More details
- Restoration pathway R3A More details
- Transition T3A More details
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No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
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Description
The reference forest state is a combination of several vegetation communities within the North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp, the North-Central Appalachian Acidic Swamp, and the Central Appalachian Stream and Riparian Systems as defined by NatureServe (NatureServe 2009; Anderson et. al. 2013). Due to the long history of human activity, the associations listed below may in reality reflect the current naturalized, minimally managed, post disturbance state rather than the historic, pre-European settlement condition. These areas will have a mixture of mesophytic (moisture loving) hardwood and hemlock forests, but the primary conditions described below will be wetland associations. The listed reference communities have been documented on this ecological site and are associated with the Northern Blue Ridge primarily in groundwater charged wetlands, but poorly drained areas fed by surface water are also present and include many of the same species. Due to the heterogeneity and the broadness of this provisional ecological unit, they are not intended to cover every situation nor the full range of conditions and species. There are no transition pathways designated between the two communities in the reference state because the differences in vegetation are more controlled by landscape and localized soil chemistry then by management or disturbance.
Submodel
Submodel
Mechanism
Logging, clearing, draining, and then planting of non-native pasture grass mixes, and grazing. Maintenance with periodic mowing to prevent trees and shrubs from reestablishing. Possible installation and maintenance of drainage systems.
Mechanism
Cease mowing and pasture management, exclude grazing, plant native seeds and seedlings, eliminate and manage nonnative species, uninstall or cease maintenance on any drainage systems. Return to the reference or post logged minimally managed state may require a very long term series of costly management options and stages. Seeding of native species must be done fairly heavily, and actively managed for several years until well established. Herbivory can be a problem as well as competition from faster growing species. Depending on the existing seed bank and the proximity of a mature forest from which to recruit seeds, ruderal forests may regain a mixed forest stand. Nevertheless, sites that have been cleared and tilled have significant soil disturbance which may include compaction, erosion, loss of native soil structure, loss of soil organic matter, disruption of soil microorganisms, all which affect the soil’s nutrient availability and water holding capacity (Duiker and Myers, 2005). These characteristics favor recolonization by plant species that have wind dispersed seeds (verses those that propagate through underground roots called rhizomes, or which have heavy seeds that stay near the parent tree), are shade intolerant, and have rapid to moderate growth rates (Dyer, 2010). Aggressive control of nonnative species and invasives will be ongoing.
Mechanism
Cease mowing and pasture management, exclude grazing, plant native seeds and seedlings, eliminate and manage nonnative species, uninstall or cease maintenance on any drainage systems.
Mechanism
Return to the reference or post logged minimally managed state may require a very long term series of costly management options and stages. Many species may need to be planted or seeded heavily to restore the system. Depending on the existing seed bank and the proximity of a mature forest from which to recruit seeds, ruderal forests may regain a mixed forest stand. Nevertheless, sites that have been cleared may have significant soil disturbance including compaction, erosion, loss of native soil structure, loss of soil organic matter, disruption of soil microorganisms, all which affect the soil’s nutrient availability and water holding capacity (Duiker and Myers, 2005). These characteristics favor recolonization by plant species that have wind dispersed seeds (verses those that propagate through underground roots called rhizomes, or which have heavy seeds that stay near the parent tree), are shade intolerant, and have rapid to moderate growth rates (Dyer, 2010). Aggressive control of nonnative species and invasives will be ongoing.
Model keys
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The 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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