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Ecological site F144AY043MA
Acidic Organic Wetlands
Last updated: 2/10/2025
Accessed: 08/12/2026
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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): 144A–New England and Eastern New York Upland, Southern Part
MLRA 144A: New England and Eastern New York Upland, Southern Part
The eastern half of the eastern part of this MLRA is in the Seaboard Lowland Section of the New England Province of the Appalachian Highlands. The western half of the eastern part and the southeastern half of the western part are in the New England Upland Section of the same province and division. The northwestern half of the western part is in the Hudson Valley Section of the Valley and Ridge Province of the Appalachian Highlands. This MLRA is a very scenic area of rolling to hilly uplands that are broken by many gently sloping to level valleys that terminate in coastal lowlands. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1,000 feet (0 to 305 meters) in much of the area, but it is 2,000 feet (610 meters) on some hills. Relief is mostly about 6 to 65 feet (2 to 20 meters) in the valleys and about 80 to 330 feet (25 to 100 meters) in the uplands.
This area has been glaciated and consists almost entirely of till hills, drumlins, and bedrock-controlled uplands with a mantle of till. It is dissected by narrow glacio-fluvial valleys. The southernmost boundary of the area marks the farthest southward extent of Wisconsinian glaciation on the eastern seaboard. The river valleys and coastal plains are filled with glacial lake sediments, marine sediments, and glacial outwash. The bedrock in the eastern half of the area consists primarily of igneous and metamorphic rocks of early Paleozoic age. Granite is the most common igneous rock, and gneiss, schist, and slate are the most common metamorphic rocks. In the parts of the MLRA in eastern and southeastern New York, Devonian- to Pennsylvanian-age sandstone, shale, and limestone are dominant. Carbonate rocks, primarily dolomite and limestone, are the dominant kinds of bedrock in the part of this MLRA in northwestern Connecticut.Classification relationships
USDA-NRCS (USDA 2006):
Land Resource Region (LRR): N—East and Central Farming and Forest Region
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 144A— New England and Eastern New York Upland, Southern Part.
USDA-FS (Cleland et al. 2007)
Province: 221 - Eastern Broadleaf Province
Section: 221A - Lower New England
Subsection: 221Aa – Boston Basin
221Ac – Narragansett-Bristol Lowland and Islands
221Ad – Southern New England Coastal Lowland
221Ae – Hudson Highlands
221Ag - Southeast New England Coastal Hills and Plains
221Ah - Worcester-Monadnock Plateau
221Ai – Gulf of Maine Coastal Plain
221Ak - Gulf of Maine Coastal Lowland
Section: 221B – Hudson Valley
Subsection: 221Ba – Hudson Limestone Valley
221Bb - Miami – Taconic Foothills
221Bc – Hudson Glacial Lake PlainsEcological site concept
The Acid Organic Wetlands ecological site consists of very deep, very poorly drained organic soils formed in more than 40 cm of highly decomposed organic material on a variety of landforms. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Soils are dysic. Characteristic soils are Freetown and Swansea.
The site occurs within a variety of landforms, basins, depressions, swamps, seepage wetlands, and bogs. These various hydro-geologic settings are the primary determinant of water regimes, water chemistry, plant community structure and floristics, and groundwater recharge and discharge relationships (Golet et al 1992). Consequently, the reference plant community of the site is quite variable ranging from acidic hardwood, mixed, and conifer swamps to more open shubby wetlands and herbaceous wetlands and bogs.Similar sites
F144AY020MA Very Wet Coastal Lake Plain
F144AY039NY Semi-Rich Wet Till Depressions
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Acer rubrum
(2) Chamaecyparis thyoidesShrub (1) Rhododendron viscosum
(2) Clethra alnifoliaHerbaceous Not specified
Physiographic features
This site occurs level and nearly level, saturated and ponded swamps and depressions.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Alluvial plain > Depression
(2) Upland > Swamp
(3) Outwash plain
(4) Valley
Runoff class Negligible Flooding frequency None to rare Ponding frequency Frequent Elevation 0 – 1138 ft Slope 0 – 2 % Water table depth 0 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The Koppen-Geiger climate classification of the area in which this MLRA occurs varies between Dfb (Warm-summer humid continental) in the North, and Dfa (Hot-summer humid continental) to the southern portion of the MLRA. Precipitation is usually uniformly distributed throughout the year. Near the coast, however, it is slightly lower in summer. It is slightly higher in spring and fall in inland areas. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the summer. During the winter, most of the precipitation occurs as moderate-intensity storms (northeasters) that produce large amounts of rain or snow. The freeze-free period increases in length to the south.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 130-140 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 150-190 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (actual range) 120-170 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 150-210 days Precipitation total (actual range) 40-50 in Frost-free period (average) 140 days Freeze-free period (average) 170 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) RUTLAND [USC00436995], Rutland, VT
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(2) GLOVERSVILLE [USC00303319], Gloversville, NY
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(3) BELVIDERE BRG [USC00280734], Bangor, NJ
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(4) BRIDGEPORT SIKORSKY MEM AP [USW00094702], Stratford, CT
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(5) TAUNTON MUNI AP [USW00054777], East Taunton, MA
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(6) DURHAM 2 SSW [USW00054795], Durham, NH
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(7) ORANGE MUNI AP [USW00054756], Orange, MA
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(8) MILLBROOK 3 W [USW00064756], Millbrook, NY
">Influencing water features
Very poorly drained<br />
Water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains at or very near the surface during much of the growing season. Internal free water occurrence is very shallow and persistent or permanent. Unless the soil is artificially drained, most mesophytic crops cannot be grown. The soils are commonly level or depressed and frequently ponded. In areas where rainfall is high or nearly continuous, slope gradients may be greater.Wetland description
National Wetland Classification (Cowardin et al., 1979):<br />
<br />
Palustrine, class variable, leaf morphology variable, water regime variable, chemistry modifier variable.Soil features
depth, drainage, parent material
This site consists of very deep, very poorly drained drained mucky acidic soils formed in organic and glaciofluvial parent materials.Representative soils are Freetown and Swansea.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Organic material
(2) Glaciofluvial deposits
Surface texture (1) Mucky peat
(2) Muck
Family particle size (1) Sandy or sandy-skeletal
Drainage class Very poorly drained Permeability class Slow Depth to restrictive layer 72 in Surface fragment cover <=3" Not specified Surface fragment cover >3" Not specified Available water capacity
(Depth not specified)10 – 16 in Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(Depth not specified)3.5 – 6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 1 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
The Acid Organic Wetlands ecological site consists of very deep, very poorly drained organic soils formed in more than 40 cm of highly decomposed organic material on a variety of landforms. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Soils are dysic. Characteristic soils are Freetwon and Swansea.
The site occurs within a variety of landforms, basins, depressions, swamps, seepage wetlands, and bogs. These various hydro-geologic settings are the primary determinant of water regimes, water chemistry, plant community structure and floristics, and groundwater recharge and discharge relationships (Golet et al 1992). Consequently, the reference plant community of the site is quite variable ranging from acidic hardwood, mixed, and conifer swamps to more open shubby wetlands and herbaceous wetlands and bogs.
The Acid Organic Wetlands is characterized by North-Central Appalachian Swamp system (CES202.604), North-Central Appalachian and Acadian Conifer-Hardwood Acidic Swamp system (CES201.547), and the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Peat Swamp system (CES203.522), Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow Shrub Swamp system (CES201.582). The ecological site occurs within basins, depressions, swamps, seepage wetlands, and bogs. These various hydro-geologic settings are the primary determinant of water regimes, water chemistry, plant community structure and floristics, and groundwater recharge and discharge relationships (Golet et al 1992). Consequently, the reference plant community of the site is quite variable ranging from rich hardwood, mixed, and conifer swamps to more open shubby wetlands and herbaceous wetlands and bogs. Natural disturbances include storm extremes ranging from windthrows to downbursts to ice-storms as well as pests and disease. Other agents-of-change include direct land conversions and fragmentation by agricultural, development, drainage, and logging. Indirect effects include changes to hydrology and water chemistry by development activities in the watershed.
[*Caveat] The information presented is representative of very complex vegetation communities. Key indicator plants and ecological processes are described to help inform land management decisions. Plant communities will differ across the MLRA because of the naturally occurring variability in weather, soils, and geography. The reference plant community is not necessarily the management goal. The drafts of species lists are merely representative and are not botanical descriptions of all species occurring, or potentially occurring, on this site. They are not intended to cover every situation or the full range of conditions, species, and responses for the site.State and transition model
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Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textState 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference State (minimally-managed)The reference plant community includes:
• Acer rubrum / Rhododendron viscosum - Clethra alnifolia Swamp Forest
Translated Name: Red Maple / Swamp Azalea - Sweet-pepperbush Swamp Forest
Common Name: Lower New England Red Maple Swamp Forest (CEGL006156)
• Chamaecyparis thyoides / Chamaedaphne calyculata Swamp Woodland
Translated Name: Atlantic White-cedar / Leatherleaf Swamp Woodland
Common Name: Atlantic White-cedar Bog (CEGL006321)
• Vaccinium corymbosum - Rhododendron viscosum - Clethra alnifolia Acidic Peatland
ranslated Name: Highbush Blueberry - Swamp Azalea - Sweet-pepperbush Acidic Peatland
Common Name: Highbush Blueberry - Winterberry Shrub Thicket (CEGL006371)
• Typha (angustifolia, latifolia) - (Schoenoplectus spp.) Eastern Marsh
Translated Name: Narrowleaf Cattail, Broadleaf Cattail - Bulrush Eastern Marsh
Common Name: Eastern Cattail Marsh (CEGL006153)
Other plant communities include:
• Acer rubrum - Nyssa sylvatica - Betula alleghaniensis / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest
Translated Name: Red Maple - Blackgum - Yellow Birch / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest
Common Name: Red Maple - Blackgum Basin Swamp Forest (CEGL006014)
• Tsuga canadensis - Betula alleghaniensis / Ilex verticillata / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Forest
Translated Name: Eastern Hemlock - Yellow Birch / Common Winterberry / Peatmoss species Swamp Forest
Common Name: Hemlock - Hardwood Swamp Forest (CEGL006226)
• Picea rubens - Acer rubrum / Ilex mucronata Swamp Forest
Translated Name: Red Spruce - Red Maple / Catberry Swamp Forest
Common Name: Red Spruce - Red Maple Acidic Swamp Forest (CEGL006198)
• Chamaecyparis thyoides / Ilex glabra - Rhododendron viscosum Swamp Forest
Translated Name: Atlantic White-cedar / Inkberry - Swamp Azalea Swamp Forest
Common Name: Coastal Plain Atlantic White-cedar Swamp Forest (CEGL006188)
• Chamaecyparis thyoides / Rhododendron maximum Swamp Forest
Translated Name: Atlantic White-cedar / Great Laurel Swamp Forest
Common Name: Atlantic White-cedar / Great Laurel Swamp Forest (CEGL006355)
• Pinus rigida / Chamaedaphne calyculata / Sphagnum spp. Swamp Woodland
Translated Name: Pitch Pine / Leatherleaf / Peatmoss species Swamp Woodland
Common Name: Pitch Pine Bog (CEGL006194)
• Myrica gale - Chamaedaphne calyculata / Carex exilis Fen
Translated Name: Sweetgale - Leatherleaf / Coastal Sedge Fen
Common Name: Coastal Plain Sedge Fen (CEGL006392)
• Chamaedaphne calyculata - (Gaylussacia dumosa) - Decodon verticillatus / Woodwardia virginica Acidic Peatland
Translated Name: Leatherleaf - (Dwarf Huckleberry) - Swamp-loosestrife / Virginia Chainfern Acidic peatland
Common Name: Southern New England Poor Fen (CEGL006008)
• Dulichium arundinaceum / Sphagnum spp. Fen
Translated Name: Threeway Sedge / Peatmoss species Fen
Common Name: Southern New England Threeway Sedge Fen (CEGL006131)
• Sphagnum rubellum - Vaccinium oxycoccos Fen
Translated Name: Red Peatmoss - Small Cranberry Fen
Common Name: Oligotrophic Peatland Moss Lawn (CEGL006135)
• Pontederia cordata - Peltandra virginica - Sagittaria latifolia Marsh
Translated Name: Pickerelweed - Green Arrow-arum - Broadleaf Arrowhead Marsh
Common Name: Northeastern Leafy Forb Marsh (CEGL006191)
• Calamagrostis canadensis - Carex spp. Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow
Translated Name: Bluejoint - Sedge species Laurentian-Acadian Wet Meadow
Common Name: Laurentian-Acadian Bluejoint Wet Meadow (CEGL005448)
• Schoenoplectus (tabernaemontani, acutus) Eastern Marsh
Translated Name: (Softstem Bulrush, Hardstem Bulrush) Eastern Marsh
Common Name: Eastern Bulrush Deepwater Marsh (CEGL006275)
• Carex stricta - Carex vesicaria Wet Meadow
Translated Name: Upright Sedge - Blister Sedge Wet Meadow
Common Name: Eastern Upright Sedge Wet Meadow (CEGL006412)
• Scirpus cyperinus Wet Meadow
Translated Name: Woolgrass Wet Meadow
Common Name: Northeastern Woolgrass Wet Meadow (CEGL006349)
• Cephalanthus occidentalis - Decodon verticillatus Shrub Swamp
Translated Name: Common Buttonbush - Swamp-loosestrife Shrub Swamp
Common Name: Northeastern Buttonbush Shrub Swamp (CEGL006069)
• Decodon verticillatus Shrub Swamp
Translated Name: Swamp-loosestrife Shrub Swamp
Common Name: Swamp-loosestrife Shrub Swamp (CEGL005089)Community 1.1
1.1a Red Maple / Swamp Azalea - Sweet-pepperbush Swamp Forest (CEGL006156) 1.1b Atlantic White-cedar / Leatherleaf Swamp Woodland (CEGL006321) 1.1c Highbush Blueberry - Swamp Azalea - Sweet-pepperbush Peatland (CEGL6371) 1.1d Cattail Marsh (CEGL006153)Community 1.1a
Lower New England Red Maple Swamp Forest (CEGL006156)
Acer rubrum / Rhododendron viscosum - Clethra alnifolia Swamp Forest
(Translated) Red Maple / Swamp Azalea - Sweet-pepperbush Swamp Forest
Red maple (Acer rubrum) dominates the canopy often with abundant black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). The shrub layer is characterized by highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) common winterberry (Ilex verticillate), swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), swamp dog-laurel (Leucothoe racemose), and inkberry (Ilex glabra) may also be present. The herbaceous layer may not beparticularly diverse, characterized by cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), greater bladder sedge (Carex intumescens), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), and sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis). Sphagnum mosses are likely present. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political State):
CT: Red maple / winterberry – highbush blueberry Forest (Metzler and Barrett, 2006)
MA: Red maple swamp (Swain and Kearsley, 2001)
NH: undisclosed (Sperduto and Nichols, 2011)
NY: Red maple – blackgum Swamp (Edinger et al., 2014)
RI: Red maple – deciduous shrub Swamp (Enser and Lundgren, 2006)
Community 1.1b
Chamaecyparis thyoides / Chamaedaphne calyculata Swamp Woodland
Translated Name: Atlantic White-cedar / Leatherleaf Swamp Woodland
Common Name: Atlantic White-cedar Bog (CEGL006321)
This Atlantic white-cedar bog of the northeastern is an oligotrophic basin peatland dominated by heath shrubs with an open canopy of Atlantic white-cedar. Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)is the most abundant tree but generally grows in association with other trees such asred maple (Acer rubrum), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), and blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica. Tall scattered shrubs include highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), and/or swap azalea (Rhododendron viscosum). Heath shrubs form a dense low-shrub layer dominated by leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), sheeplaurel (Kalmia angustifolia), dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussachia bigeloviana [= Gaylussacia Dumosa]) and rhodora (Rhododendron canadense ). Herbaceous species growing within the dwarf-shrub mat often include cottonsedges (Eriophorum spp)., Virginia chainfern (Woodwardia virginica), large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), sundews (Drosera spp)., and purple pitcherplant (Sarracenia purpurea). Peatmosses (Sphagnu spp. ) form a continuous layer. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political State):
CT: Atlantic white cedar / leatherleaf Bog (Metzler and Barrett, 2006)
MA: Atlantic white cedar Bog (Swain and Kearsley, 2001)
NH: Atlantic white cedar Bog (Sperduto and Nichols, 2011)
NY: Coastal plain Atlantic white cedar swamp (Edinger et al., 2014)
RI: Atlantic White Cedar Swamp (Enser and Lundgren, 2006)
Comminity 1.1c
Vaccinium corymbosum - Rhododendron viscosum - Clethra alnifolia Acidic Peatland
Translated Name: Highbush Blueberry - Swamp Azalea - Coastal Sweet-pepperbush Acidic Peatland
Common Name: Highbush Blueberry - Winterberry Shrub Thicket (CEGL006371)
This plant community-type is a tall-shrub swamp where the dominant shrubs include highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), common winterberry (Ilex verticillata), and swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum). Scattered red maple (Acer rubrum) are not uncommon. Shrubs include maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina) and common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) are characteristic. Associated shrubs may include sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), rosy meadowsweet (Spiraea tomentosa) , leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), inkberry (Ilex glabra), swamp dog laurel (Leucothoe racemosa, swamp loostrife (Decodon verticillatus), sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), smooth alder (Alnus serrulata), sweetgale (Myrica gale), and chokeberries (Aronia spp.). Herbaceous composition include cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamoneum [= Osmunda cinnamomea]), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), water arum (Calla palustris), northern water hore-hound (Lycopus uniflorus), Virginia marsh St. John’s-wort (Triadenum virginicum), fowl manna grass (Glyceria striata), rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum), common softrush (Juncus effusus), and Virginia chainfern (Woodwardia virginica). Peatmoss (Sphagnum spp. ) is common. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political State):
CT: undisclosed (Metzler and Barrett, 2006)
MA: Shrub Swamp (Swain and Kearsley, 2001)
NH: Higbush blueberry – Winterberry Shrub Swamp (Sperduto and Nichols, 2011)
NY: Undeisclosed (Edinger et al., 2014)
RI: Shrub Swamp (Enser and Lundgren, 2006)
Community 1.1d
• Typha (angustifolia, latifolia) - (Schoenoplectus spp.) Eastern Marsh
Translated Name: (Narrowleaf Cattail, Broadleaf Cattail) - (Bulrush species) Eastern Marsh
Common Name: Eastern Cattail Marsh (CEGL006153)
Tall graminoids dominate this plant community-type. Occasionally, scattered shrubs may be found. Trees are absent. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), or their hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) dominate, either alone or mixed with other tall emergent marsh species. Scattered shrubs may include inkberry (Myrica gale), common winterberry (Ilex verticillata), and white meadowsweet (Spiraea alba. Associated species vary widely; sedges, such as water sedge (Carex aquatilis), sallow sedge (Carex lurida), wooly sedge (Carex pellita [= Carex lanuginose]), tussock sedge (Carex stricta), woolsedge (Scirpus cyperinus), and bulrushes, such as chair-maker’s club- bulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus[= Scirpus americanus]) and hard-stemmed club-bulrush (Schoenoplectus acutus [= Scirpus acutus]), occur along with patchy grasses, such as bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis). Broad-leaved herbs includeswamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), water arum (Calla palustris), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), common arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), mad-dog skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), great bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), and blue vervain (Verbena hastata). Floating aquatics, such as Lemna minor, may be common in deeper zones. The invasive plants puple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and common reed (Phragmites australis) may be abundant in parts of some occurrences. (Source: NatureServe 2018 [accessed 2019], USNVC 2017 [accessed 2019]).
Cross-referenced plant community concepts (typically by political State):
CT: Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia Marsh (Metzler and Barrett, 2006)
MA: Deep Emergent Marsh (Swain and Kearsley, 2001)
NH: Cattail Marsh (Sperduto and Nichols, 2011)
NY: Shallow Emergent Marsh (Edinger et al., 2014)
RI: Cattail Marsh (Enser and Lundgren, 2006)Community 1.2
Ruderal Forest/WoodlandCommunity 1.3
Abandoned Field/MeadowDisturbance
Pathway P1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Disturbance
Pathway P1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.3Disturbance
Pathway P1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1Succession
Pathway P1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.3Disturbance
Pathway P1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.2Abandonment, Succession
State 2
Semi-natural StateThe Semi-natural State would expect plant communities where ecological processes are primarily operating with some land conditioning in the past or present, e.g., managed forests, or plant communities that are an artifact of land management e.g., predominately invasive plants.
Community 2.1
Managed Trees/Shrubs/Herbs(?)Community 2.2
Invasive PlantsPathway P2.1A
Community 2.1 to 2.2Disturbance, Invasive species establishment
Pathway P2.2A
Community 2.2 to 2.1Invasive spp. Control, Forest mgmt.
State 3
Cultural StateThe Cultural State would expect the ecological site to be very strongly conditioned by land management conversion, by transformation to Cultivated/Pasture/Plantation.
Community 3.1
CultivatedCommunity 3.2
PastureCommunity 3.3
PlantationPathway P3.1A
Community 3.1 to 3.2Changing agricultural phases
Pathway P3.1B
Community 3.1 to 3.3Changing agricultural phases
Pathway P3.2A
Community 3.2 to 3.1Changing agricultural phases
Pathway P3.2B
Community 3.2 to 3.3Changing agricultural phases
Pathway P3.3A
Community 3.3 to 3.1Changing agricultural phases
Pathway P3.3B
Community 3.3 to 3.2Changing agricultural phases
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2altered by human- induced Disturbance or Management
Conservation practices
Tree/Shrub Establishment Forest Land Management Forest stand improvement for habitat and soil quality Key drivers
-
Timber management
-
Nonnative plant species presence and/or establishment
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3Disturbance, clearing, cutting
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Plant removals, plantings, Invasive plant control, successional mgmt., forestry practices Restoration & Mgmt, Forest Stand Improvement, Early Successional Habitat Development, Upland Wildlife Mgmt, Invasive spp. Control, Plant establishment
Conservation practices
Brush Management Tree/Shrub Establishment Early Successional Habitat Development/Management Forest Stand Improvement Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems Native Plant Community Restoration and Management Forest Land Management Invasive Plant Species Control Transition T2A
State 2 to 3Land clearing, cutting
Conservation practices
Brush Management Land Clearing Herbaceous Weed Control Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1Plant removals, plantings, Invasive plant control, successional mgmt., forestry practices Restoration & Mgmt, Forest Stand Improvement, Early Successional Habitat Development, Upland Wildlife Mgmt, Invasive spp. Control, Plant establishment
Conservation practices
Restoration and Management of Natural Ecosystems Native Plant Community Restoration and Management Transition T3A
State 3 to 2Abandonment. Plant establishment, Forest mgmt.
Conservation practices
Tree/Shrub Establishment Forest Stand Improvement Forest Land Management Key drivers
-
Timber management
-
Nonnative plant species presence and/or establishment
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 (%) Interpretations
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Future work is needed, as described in a future project plan, to validate the information presented in this provisional ecological site description. Future work includes field sampling, data collection and analysis by qualified vegetation ecologists and soil scientists. As warranted, annual reviews of the project plan can be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team. A final field review, peer review, quality control, and quality assurance reviews of the ESD are necessary to approve a final document.
Other references
REFERENCES
Cleland, D.T., J.A. Freeouf, J.E. Keys, G.J. Nowacki, C.A. Carpenter, and W.H.McNab. 2007. Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections for the conterminous United States. [Map. presentation scale 1:3,500,000, colored; A.M. Sloan, cartographer] Gen. Tech. Report WO-76D. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. (https://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/misc/73326-wo-gtr-76d-cleland2007.pdf)
Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, K., Snow, and J.Teague. 2003. Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
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.
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.
Enser, R., Gregg, D., Sparks, C., August, P., Jordan, P., Coit, J., Raithel, C., Tefft, B., Payton, B., Brown, C. and LaBash, C., 2011. Rhode Island ecological communities classification. Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Kingston, RI.
Enser, R. and Lundgren, J.A., 2006. Natural communities of Rhode Island. Rhode Island Natural History Survey, Kingston (RI).
FGDC [Federal Geographic Data Committee]. 2008. National Vegetation Classification Standard, Version 2. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Vegetation Subcommittee, Washington DC..
Gawler, S.C. and Cutko, A., 2010. Natural landscapes of Maine: a guide to natural communities and ecosystems. Maine Natural Areas Program, Department of Conservation.
Metzler, K.J. and Barrett, J.P., 2006. The Vegetation of Connecticut, a Preliminary Classification. Department of Environmental Protection, State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut.
NatureServe 2015. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: December 2015).
PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Available http://prism.oregonstate.edu, (created February 26, 2013).
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. Agricultural Handbook 296. (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_051845.pdf).
Sperduto, D.D., & Nichols, W.F. 2011. Natural Communities of New Hampshire, Second Ed. NH Natural Heritage Bureau, Concord, NH. Publ. UNH Cooperative Extension.
Swain, P.C. and Kearsley, J.B., 2001. Classification of the natural communities of Massachusetts. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Thompson, E.H. and Sorenson, E.R., 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland. Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy. Publ. University Press of New England.
USNVC [United States National Vegetation Classification]. 2017 (Date accessed). United States National Vegetation Classification Database V2.01. Federal Geographic Data Committee, Vegetation Subcomittee, Washington DC.Contributors
Nels Barrett, Ph.D. (vegetation)
Approval
Nels Barrett, 2/10/2025
Acknowledgments
Michael Margo and tech team provided earlier drafts. Josh Hibit made compliance updates w/ 2021 Checklist V.2
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 02/10/2025 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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