Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F140XY010NY
Frigid Moist Till Uplands
Last updated: 10/01/2024
Accessed: 09/02/2026
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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): 140X–Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskill Mountains
This area is primarily in the Southern New York Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province of the Appalachian Highlands. The top of the dissected plateau in this MLRA is broad and is nearly level to moderately sloping. The narrow valleys have steep walls and smooth floors. The Catskills in the east have steep slopes. Elevation is typically 650 to 1,000 feet on valley floors; 1,650 to 2,000 feet on the plateau surface; and 3,600 feet or more in parts of the Catskills.
The average annual precipitation in most of this area is 30 to 45 inches. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the summer, but most of the precipitation in this area occurs as snow. The average annual temperature is 40 to 50 degrees F.
The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Inceptisols. The soils in the area dominantly have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil moisture regime, and mixed mineralogy. Frigid soils are found within the higher elevations.
This area supports forest vegetation, particularly hardwood species. Beech-birch-maple and elm-ash-red maple are the potential forest types. The extent of oak species increases from east to west, particularly in areas of shallow and dry soils. In some areas conifers, such as white pine, are important. Aspen, hemlock, northern white-cedar, and black ash grow on the wetter soils. In some parts of the area, sugar maple has potential economic significance. Some of the major wildlife species in this area are white-tailed deer, cottontail, turkey, pheasant, and grouse.Classification relationships
USDA NRCS:
LRR: R - Northeastern Forage and Forest Region
MLRA 140 - Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskills Mountains
EPA Ecoregions:
Level III: 60 - Northern Allegheny Plateau and 58 - Northeastern Highlands
Level IV: 60a - Glaciated Low Allegheny Plateau, 60b - Delaware-Neversink Highlands, 60c - Catskills Transition, and 58y - Catskill High Peaks
USDA USFS:
200 Humid Temperate Domain
212 Laurentian Mixed Forest Province
M212 Adirondack - New England Mixed Forest - Coniferous Forest - Alpine Meadow ProvinceEcological site concept
Landform/Landscape Position:
The site occurs on bedrock controlled benches, steps, and footslopes. Slopes are mostly under 20% but can range up to 50%.
Soils:
The soils consists of very deep to moderately deep, moderately well to somewhat poorly drained soils formed in loamy till derived from sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Soil temperature regime is frigid. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout the mineral soil. Soil components include Ischua, Gretor, Salamanca, Middlebrook, Hornellsville, and Almond.
Vegetation:
Reference community is a red maple-red oak-beech dominant hardwood Forest along wetland margins. Characteristic vegetation includes:
Trees: Red maple (Acer rubrum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red oak (Quercus rubra), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). Conifers such as eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) are minor components.
Shrubs: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), American witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides).
Herbaceous: Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and sessile-leaved bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia)Associated sites
F140XY008NY Frigid Steep Till Uplands
F140XY009NY Frigid Till Uplands
Similar sites
F140XY004NY Frigid Shallow Moist Till
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Acer saccharum
(2) Acer rubrumShrub (1) Lindera benzoin
Herbaceous (1) Osmunda cinnamomea
Physiographic features
The site occurs on bedrock controlled benches, steps, and footslopes. Slopes range from 0-5%
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountains > Bench
(2) Upland > Hill
(3) Mountain
(4) Ridge
(5) Till plain
Runoff class Medium to very high Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 800 – 3608 ft Slope 0 – 50 % Water table depth 9 – 21 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The Koppen-Geiger climate classification of the area in which this MLRA occurs is
Dfb, Warm-summer humid continental. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in the summer. However, snow comprises most of the precipitation in this area. The frost-free-free period in this area averages 165 days and ranges from 130 to 200 days, with the coldest temperatures and the shortest frost-free periods occurring in the high-elevation areas in the eastern part of the MLRA.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 90-110 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 120-140 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 90-110 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 120-140 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-60 in Frost-free period (average) 100 days Freeze-free period (average) 130 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) DELHI 2 SE [USC00302036], Delancey, NY
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(2) LANSING MANOR [USC00304575], Gilboa, NY
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(3) SLIDE MTN [USC00307799], Big Indian, NY
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(4) EAST JEWETT [USC00302366], Tannersville, NY
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(5) WELLSVILLE [USC00309072], Wellsville, NY
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(6) ALFRED [USC00300085], Alfred Station, NY
">Influencing water features
Soil features
The soils consists of very deep to moderately deep, moderately well to somewhat poorly drained soils formed in loamy till derived from sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Soil temperature regime is frigid. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout the mineral soil. Soil components include Empeyville, Ishua, Gretor, Salamanca, Middlebrook, Hornellsville, and Almond.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Till – sandstone and shale
(2) Till – siltstone
(3) Residuum
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Channery loam
(3) Channery silt loam
(4) Silt loam
(5) Extremely stony sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Coarse-loamy
(2) Loamy
(3) Fine-loamy
(4) Loamy-skeletal
Drainage class Somewhat poorly drained to moderately well drained Permeability class Very slow Depth to restrictive layer 22 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 9 % Available water capacity
(Depth not specified)3 – 7 in Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(Depth not specified)3.5 – 7.3 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)3 – 20 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 55 % Ecological dynamics
Reference community is a red maple dominant hardwood Forest. Characteristic vegetation includes:
Trees: Red maple (Acer rubrum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red oak (Quercus rubra), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). Conifers such as eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) are minor components.
Shrubs: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), American witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides).
Herbaceous: Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and sessile-leaved bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia).
Natural disturbances that create forest canopy openings include windthrow, ice storms, and insect damage. Alternative states are a semi-natural forest (timber harvest, invasive species) and a pasture state.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
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Mixed Hardwood Forest - ReferenceMinimally managed hardwood forest. Natural disturbances primarily from weather events, insect damage, tree fall create pockets of young forest communities (early successional). Red maple, sugar maple, American beech, yellow birch, red oak, eastern hemlock, and eastern white pine are some characteristic trees.
Community 1.1
Closed Canopy ForestCommunity 1.2
Young Forest (early successional)Pathway P1.1
Community 1.1 to 1.2Conservation practices
Early Successional Habitat Development/Management Pathway P1.2
Community 1.2 to 1.1State 2
Semi-NaturalTimber harvest common, invasive species such as bush honesuckle, oriental bittersweet, Japanese barberry, and multiflora rose may be common in disturbed areas.
Community 2.1
Closed Canopy ForestDominant plant species
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American beech (Fagus grandifolia), tree
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maple (Acer), tree
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Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), other herbaceous
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wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), other herbaceous
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intermediate woodfern (Dryopteris intermedia), other herbaceous
Community 2.2
Young Forest (early successional)Pathway P2.1
Community 2.1 to 2.2Pathway P2.2
Community 2.2 to 2.1State 3
PastureForest has been converted to pastureland/grassland for either livestock grazing, hay production, or wildlife habitat.
Community 3.1
Introduced Grasses and ForbsGrasses and forbs introduces for livestock grazing, hay production, or wildlife habitat.
Community 3.2
Shrub EncroachedPathway P3.1
Community 3.1 to 3.2Lack of mowing, grazing, or fire.
Pathway P3.2
Community 3.2 to 3.1Brush management and/or fire.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Human disturbances (roads, timber harvest,) affect species composition and allow the potential for non-native and invasive species to establish and persist.
Key drivers
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Timber management
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Conservation practices
Land Clearing Forage and Biomass Planting Key ecosystem services affected
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Food and fiber: wood products
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Conservation practices
Brush Management Forest Stand Improvement Forest Management Plan - Written Forest stand improvement for habitat and soil quality Herbaceous Weed Control Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1Conservation practices
Native Plant Community Restoration and Management Additional community tables
Table 5. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 6. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 8. Community 2.1 forest overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Treenorthern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – – – 0 sugar maple ACSA3 Acer saccharum Native – – – 0 black cherry PRSE2 Prunus serotina Native – – – 0 hophornbeam OSVI Ostrya virginiana Native – – – 0 American beech FAGR Fagus grandifolia Native – – – 0 green ash FRPE Fraxinus pennsylvanica Native – – – 0 red maple ACRU Acer rubrum Native – – – 0 sweet birch BELE Betula lenta Native – – – 0 white oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – – – 0 black oak QUVE Quercus velutina Native – – – 0 Table 9. Community 2.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)sedge CAREX Carex Unknown – – quackgrass ELRE4 Elymus repens Introduced – – drooping sedge CAPR12 Carex prasina Native – – rough bluegrass POTR2 Poa trivialis Introduced – – poverty dropseed SPVA Sporobolus vaginiflorus Native – – hairy wildrye ELVI Elymus villosus Native – – Kentucky bluegrass POPR Poa pratensis Native – – Forb/Herbeastern daisy fleabane ERAN Erigeron annuus Native – – orange hawkweed HIAU Hieracium aurantiacum Introduced – – common yellow oxalis OXST Oxalis stricta Native – – common cinquefoil POSI2 Potentilla simplex Native – – goldenrod SOLID Solidago Unknown – – Indian cucumber MEVI Medeola virginiana Native – – partridgeberry MIRE Mitchella repens Native – – Jack in the pulpit ARTR Arisaema triphyllum Native – – green false hellebore VEVI Veratrum viride Native – – buttercup RANUN Ranunculus Unknown – – stickywilly GAAP2 Galium aparine Native – – feathery false lily of the valley MARA7 Maianthemum racemosum Native – – dogtooth violet ERAM5 Erythronium americanum Native – – mayapple POPE Podophyllum peltatum Native – – starflower TRBO2 Trientalis borealis Native – – garlic mustard ALPE4 Alliaria petiolata Introduced – – crinkleroot CADI10 Cardamine diphylla Native – – spotted geranium GEMA Geranium maculatum Native – – Virginia strawberry FRVI Fragaria virginiana Native – – Canada mayflower MACA4 Maianthemum canadense Native – – wild sarsaparilla ARNU2 Aralia nudicaulis Native – – Fern/fern allyrare clubmoss LYOB Lycopodium obscurum Native – – intermediate woodfern DRIN5 Dryopteris intermedia Native – – Christmas fern POAC4 Polystichum acrostichoides Native – – New York fern THNO Thelypteris noveboracensis Native – – running clubmoss LYCL Lycopodium clavatum Native – – eastern hayscented fern DEPU2 Dennstaedtia punctilobula Native – – sensitive fern ONSE Onoclea sensibilis Native – – Shrub/Subshrubmapleleaf viburnum VIAC Viburnum acerifolium Native – – Morrow's honeysuckle LOMO2 Lonicera morrowii Introduced – – multiflora rose ROMU Rosa multiflora Introduced – – autumn olive ELUM Elaeagnus umbellata Introduced – – Allegheny blackberry RUAL Rubus allegheniensis Native – – blackberry RUBUS Rubus Unknown – – eastern prickly gooseberry RICY Ribes cynosbati Native – – Japanese barberry BETH Berberis thunbergii Introduced – – blue cohosh CATH2 Caulophyllum thalictroides Native – – Treenorthern red oak QURU Quercus rubra Native – – American beech FAGR Fagus grandifolia Native – – hybrid hickory CARYA Carya Unknown – – white oak QUAL Quercus alba Native – – Schuette's hawthorn CRSC4 Crataegus schuettei Native – – common buckthorn RHCA3 Rhamnus cathartica Introduced – – Norway spruce PIAB Picea abies Introduced – – black cherry PRSE2 Prunus serotina Native – – sugar maple ACSA3 Acer saccharum Native – – green ash FRPE Fraxinus pennsylvanica Native – – shagbark hickory CAOV2 Carya ovata Native – – red maple ACRU Acer rubrum Native – – sweet birch BELE Betula lenta Native – – Norway spruce PIAB Picea abies Introduced – – tamarack LALA Larix laricina Native – – eastern white pine PIST Pinus strobus Native – – hophornbeam OSVI Ostrya virginiana Native – – black oak QUVE Quercus velutina Native – – eastern cottonwood PODE3 Populus deltoides Native – – American witchhazel HAVI4 Hamamelis virginiana Native – – Vine/Lianasmooth carrionflower SMHE Smilax herbacea Native – – Table 10. Community 2.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 3.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Site Development and Testing Plan: Future work to validate the vegetation information in this provisional ecological site description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low and medium intensity sampling and analysis of that data. Field reviews should be done by soil scientists and vegetation specialists. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD will be needed to produce the final approved level document. Reviews of the project plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.
Other references
Edinger, G.J., Evans, D.J., Gebauer, S., Howard, T.G., Hunt, D.M., and A.M. Olivero, A.M. (eds.). 2014. Ecological Communities of New York State, Second Edition: A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke's Ecological Communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
Contributors
Joshua Hibit
Approval
Greg Schmidt, 10/01/2024
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 05/20/2020 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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