Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F140XY027NY
Well Drained Till Uplands
Last updated: 10/01/2024
Accessed: 04/19/2026
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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
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 MountainsEcological site concept
Landform/Landscape Position:
The site occurs on till plains, hills, hillslopes, ridges, drumlinoid ridges benches, valley sides, and ground moraines. Representative slope ranges from 5 to 60 percent.
Soils:
The soils consists of moderately deep to very deep, well drained coarse loamy soils that formed in glacial till derived mostly from sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Correlated soils are Cadosia, Chadakoin, Cheshire, Lordstown, Madrid, Manlius, Maplecrest, Oquaga, and Valois.
Vegetation:
The reference plant community is an oak dominated forest (Red oak - mixed hardwood forest - PA Natural Heritage Program) . Red oak is often a dominant tree species but other species can co-occur such as black oak, white oak, and various species of hickories (mockernut and shagbark). Other associated trees include American beech, sugar maple, and eastern white pine. Common shrubs include mapleleaf viburnum and lowbush blueberry. Common herbaceous plants include Pennsylvania sedge, wild oats, eastern teaberry and western brackenfern.Associated sites
F140XY026PA Dry Till Uplands
F140XY023NY Shallow Till Uplands
Similar sites
F140XY005NY Frigid Steep Well Drained Dense Till
F140XY006NY Frigid Well Drained Dense Till
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Quercus rubra
(2) Carya tomentosaShrub (1) Viburnum acerifolium
(2) Vaccinium angustifoliumHerbaceous (1) Carex pensylvanica
(2) Pteridium aquilinumPhysiographic features
The site occurs on till plains, hills, hillslopes, ridges, drumlinoid ridges benches, valley sides, and ground moraines. Representative slope ranges from 5 to 60 percent.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Mountains > Till plain
(2) Till plain > Hill
(3) Upland > Hillside
(4) Valley > Ridge
(5) Drumlinoid ridge
(6) Valley side
(7) Bench
(8) Hillside or mountainside
(9) End moraine
(10) Lateral moraine
(11) Ground moraine
Runoff class Low to very high Flooding frequency None Ponding frequency None Elevation 164 – 2499 ft Slope 0 – 90 % Water table depth 24 – 72 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)
Runoff class Not specified Flooding frequency Not specified Ponding frequency Not specified Elevation 0 ft Slope 0 – 90 % Water table depth 0 in Climatic features
The Koppen-Geiger climate classification of the area in which this MLRA occurs is
Dfb, Warm-summer humid continental. Mean annual precipitation is 43 inches and evenly distributed throughout the year. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms in the summer. However, snow comprises most of the precipitation in this area. Average frost-free and freeze-free days are 122 and 153, respectively, with the coldest temperatures and the shortest frost-free periods occurring in the high-elevation areas in the eastern part of the MLRA.Table 4 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 110-130 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 140-170 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 100-140 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 140-170 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (average) 120 days Freeze-free period (average) 150 days Precipitation total (average) 40 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) BINGHAMTON [USW00004725], Johnson City, NY
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(2) STROUDSBURG [USC00368596], East Stroudsburg, PA
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(3) TOWANDA 1 S [USC00368905], Towanda, PA
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(4) MONTROSE [USC00365915], Montrose, PA
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(5) CORNING [USC00301787], Corning, NY
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(6) ROCK HILL 3 SW [USC00307210], Rock Hill, NY
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(7) CANTON [USC00361212], Canton, PA
">Influencing water features
NONE
Wetland description
NONE
Soil features
The soils consists of moderately deep to very deep, well drained coarse loamy soils that formed in glacial till derived mostly from sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Correlated soils are Cadosia, Chadakoin, Cheshire, Lansing, Lordstown, Madrid, Manlius, Maplecrest, Oquaga, Penargyl, Valois, and Weikert.
Table 5. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Till – sandstone
(2) Till – shale and siltstone
(3) Colluvium – limestone
(4) Residuum – conglomerate
(5) Sedimentary rock
Surface texture (1) Loam
(2) Fine sandy loam
(3) Channery silt loam
(4) Channery loam
(5) Extremely channery loam
(6) Gravelly loam
(7) Flaggy silt loam
(8) Very channery loam
(9) Very channery silt loam
(10) Gravelly silt loam
(11) Extremely stony loam
(12) Extremely stony silt loam
(13) Very stony silt loam
(14) Flaggy loam
(15) Stony silt loam
(16) Gravelly sandy loam
(17) Very fine sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Coarse-loamy
(2) Loamy-skeletal
(3) Fine-loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Very slow to rapid Depth to restrictive layer 15 – 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 60 % Available water capacity
(Depth not specified)1 – 7 in Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(Depth not specified)3.5 – 8.4 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)10 – 42 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 85 % Ecological dynamics
The reference plant community is an oak dominated forest (Red oak - mixed hardwood forest - PA Natural Heritage Program) . Red oak is often a dominant tree species but other species can co-occur such as black oak, white oak, and various species of hickories (mockernut and shagbark). Other associated trees include American beech, sugar maple, and eastern white pine. Common shrubs include mapleleaf viburnum and lowbush blueberry. Common herbaceous plants include Pennsylvania sedge, wild oats, eastern teaberry and western brackenfern.
In openings following tree falls or other natural disturbances warm season grasses such as little bluestem and big bluestem may occur along with early successional trees such as eastern red cedar and black birch. Invasive exotic plants such as Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, winged euonymus, and shrub honeysuckles can occur in disturbed sites.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
States 2 and 5 (additional transitions)
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference - Mixed Hardwood ForestThe reference plant community is an oak dominated forest (Red oak - mixed hardwood forest - PA Natural Heritage Program) . Red oak is often a dominant tree species but other species can co-occur such as black oak, white oak, and various species of hickories (mockernut and shagbark). Other associated trees include American beech, sugar maple, and eastern white pine. Common shrubs include mapleleaf viburnum and lowbush blueberry. Common herbaceous plants include Pennsylvania sedge, wild oats, eastern teaberry and western brackenfern.
Characteristics and indicators. Site was not cleared or cultivated historically.
Community 1.1
Old Growth Mixed Hardwood ForestMature closed canopy forest.
Dominant plant species
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shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), tree
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sedge (Carex), grass
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white ash (Fraxinus americana), other herbaceous
Community 1.2
Young ForestPathway P1.1
Community 1.1 to 1.2Wind, ice storm,, insect damage.
Pathway P1.2
Community 1.2 to 1.1Time; succession
State 2
Managed Timber ForestRemoval of trees of commercial value. Invasive species may be present.
Community 2.1
Timber Managed ForestForest managed for timber, primarily oak species. Depending on type of management birch, beech, and maple may dominate following commercial timber harvest.
State 3
InvadedInvasive species abundant. Minimally managed forest.
Community 3.1
Forest with invasive speciesNon-native and invasive species present (Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, bush honeysuckle, stiltgrass.
State 4
PasturelandSite converted to pasture for livestock grazing or hay production.
Resilience management. Must be managed (grazed, mowed, etc.) to maintain pastureland.
Community 4.1
Introduced grasses and forbs for grazing, hay production, or wildlifeCommunity 4.2
Woody plant encroachmentPathway P4.1
Community 4.1 to 4.2Lack of management (mowing, grazing, prescribed fire)
Pathway P4.2
Community 4.2 to 4.1Mowing, brush management, prescribed fire.
Conservation practices
Brush Management Prescribed Burning State 5
Restored and/or Minimally Managed ForestRestored forest or second-growth forest.
Characteristics and indicators. Site was cleared and/or cultivated historically.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Timber harvest.
Key drivers
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Timber management
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Establishment of invasive species.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4Land use conversion.
Conservation practices
Land Clearing Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Ecological restoration.
Conservation practices
Forest Stand Improvement Forest Land Management Transition T2A
State 2 to 4Land use conversion
Conservation practices
Land Clearing Restoration pathway R2B
State 2 to 5Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1Invasive species management/removal.
Conservation practices
Invasive Plant Species Control Transition T3A
State 3 to 4Land use conversion.
Restoration pathway R4A
State 4 to 5Ecological restoration.
Transition T5A
State 5 to 4Land use conversion.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 7. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Table 8. Community 1.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Table 9. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 2.1 forest overstory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height ft Canopy cover (%) Diameter in Basal area (square ft/acre) Table 12. Community 2.1 forest understory composition
Common name Symbol Scientific name Nativity Height (ft) Canopy cover (%) Table 13. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 4.2 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.
Zimmerman, E., T. Davis, G. Podniesinski, M. Furedi, J. McPherson, S. Seymour, B. Eichelberger, N. Dewar, J. Wagner, and J. Fike (editors). 2012. Terrestrial and Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania, 2nd Edition. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.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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