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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.
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Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 150B–Gulf Coast Saline Prairies
MLRA 150B is in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Section of the Coastal Plain Province of the Atlantic Plain and entirely in Texas. It makes up about 3,420 square miles. It is characterized by nearly level to gently sloping coastal lowland plains dissected by rivers and streams that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. Barrier islands and coastal beaches are included. The lowest parts of the area are covered by high tides, and the rest are periodically covered by storm tides. Parts of the area have been worked by wind, and the sandy areas have gently undulating to irregular topography because of low mounds or dunes. Broad, shallow flood plains are along streams flowing into the bays. Elevation generally ranges from sea level to about 10 feet, but it is as much as 25 feet on some of the dunes. Local relief is mainly less than 3 feet. The towns of Groves, Texas City, Galveston, Lake Jackson, and Freeport are in the northern half of this area. The towns of South Padre Island, Loyola Beach, Corpus Christi, and Port Lavaca are in the southern half. Interstate 37 terminates in Corpus Christi, and Interstate 45 terminates in Galveston.
Classification relationships
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006.
-Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 150BEcological site concept
Coastal Swales are sandy-textured depressions found on the interior of the barrier islands. Ponded water is brackish to fresh.
Associated sites
R150BY650TX Low Coastal Sand
These sites are higher on flats that do not pond water for long periods.
R150BY530TX Northern Coastal Sand
These sites are in areas with more than 41 inches of mean annual precipitation, on higher sandier landforms and do not pond water.
R150BY648TX Southern Coastal Sand
These sites are in areas with less than 41 inches of mean annual precipitation, on higher sandier landforms and do not pond water.
Similar sites
R150BY550TX Northern Salt Marsh
These areas occur in areas of mean annual precipitation greater than 41 inches and are on low flats closer to the bay with more salt tolerant vegetation.
R150BY652TX Southern Salt Marsh
These areas occur in areas of mean annual precipitation less than 41 inches and are on low flats closer to the bay with more salt tolerant vegetation.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree Not specified
Shrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Typha
(2) Spartina patensPhysiographic features
These nearly level soils are on concave positions in fresh-water swales on barrier flats. These soils are ponded for very long periods in normal years and are subject to occasional flooding by high storm surge from strong tropical storms. Slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent.
Figure 2.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Barrier island > Depression
Runoff class Negligible Flooding duration Brief (2 to 7 days) Flooding frequency Rare to occasional Ponding duration Long (7 to 30 days) to very long (more than 30 days) Ponding frequency Occasional to frequent Elevation 0 – 5 ft Slope 0 – 1 % Ponding depth 0 – 30 in Water table depth 0 – 10 in Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
The climate is predominately maritime, controlled by the warm and very moist air masses from the Gulf of Mexico. The climate along the upper coast of the barrier islands is subtropical subhumid and the climate on the lower coast of Padre Island is subtropical semiarid (due to high evaporation rates that exceed precipitation). Almost constant sea breezes moderate the summer heat along the coast. Winters are generally warm and are occasionally interrupted by incursions of cool air from the north. Spring is mild and damaging wind and rain may occur during spring and summer months. Tropical cyclones or hurricanes can occur with wind speeds of greater than 74 mph and have the potential to cause flooding from torrential rainstorms. Despite the threat of tropical storms, the storms are rare. Throughout the year, the prevailing winds are from the southeast to south-southeast.
The average annual precipitation is 45 to 57 inches in the northeastern half of this area, 26 inches at the extreme southern tip of the area, and 30 to 45 inches in the rest of the area. Precipitation is abundant in spring and fall in the southwestern part of the area and is evenly distributed throughout the year in the northeastern part. Rainfall typically occurs as moderate-intensity, tropical storms that produce large amounts of rain during the winter. The average annual temperature is 68 to 74 degrees F. The freeze-free period averages 340 days and ranges from 315 to 365 days.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (characteristic range) 370 days Freeze-free period (characteristic range) 370 days Precipitation total (characteristic range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (actual range) 370 days Freeze-free period (actual range) 370 days Precipitation total (actual range) 30-30 in Frost-free period (average) 370 days Freeze-free period (average) 370 days Precipitation total (average) 30 in Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 3. Monthly precipitation range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 4. Monthly minimum temperature range
Characteristic rangeActual rangeBarLineFigure 5. Monthly maximum temperature range
BarLineFigure 6. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Figure 7. Annual precipitation pattern
Figure 8 Annual average temperature pattern
Climate stations used
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(1) CORPUS CHRISTI NAS [USW00012926], Corpus Christi, TX
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(2) PADRE IS NS [USC00416739], Padre Island Ntl Seashor, TX
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(3) PORT MANSFIELD [USC00417184], Port Mansfield, TX
">Influencing water features
This is a wet site receiving water from runoff and seepage from adjacent sites. It has a permanent water table at a depth of 0 to 6 inches throughout the year in most years. Areas, on average, are ponded to a depth of 30 inches for extended periods of time and less than 20 acres in size. However, rarely, some areas have been found to be larger than 20 acres and deeper than 6 feet.
Wetland description
This site has hydric soils. Onsite investigation needed to determine local conditions.
Soil features
The site consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in sandy eolian sediments on barrier islands. These soils are also subject to occasional flooding for brief periods by high storm surge during strong tropical storms. Soils correlated to this site include: Nass and Novillo.
Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Eolian sands – igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
Surface texture (1) Fine sand
(2) Sand
Family particle size (1) Sandy
Drainage class Very poorly drained Permeability class Very slow Soil depth 80 in Available water capacity
(0-60in)2 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-60in)Not specified Electrical conductivity
(0-60in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-60in)0 – 8 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-60in)5.6 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)Not specified Ecological dynamics
The Texas coastline is composed of barrier islands, peninsulas, bays, estuaries, and man-made passes. These mobile environments are constantly reshaped by the process of erosion and accretion. Hurricane activity can significantly change the island's environment. The barrier islands are subdivided into habitats based on landform, elevation, and vegetation. The Coastal Swale ecological site lies on the bay side of the foredunes in the barrier flat landscape. This nearly level site is in a concave position in the landscape and occurs as a fresh-water swale. The soils of this site are ponded with fresh water for very long periods of time. The plant communities are dynamic and community composition may vary dramatically with annual rainfall, grazing, and fire. This site is heavily influenced by droughts. Although normally inundated in the lower portions of the site with fresh to slightly brackish water, it may be devoid of standing water during extended dry periods.
The reference community is unique in that the species may differ slightly depending on the microelevation. The slightly wetter plant community is in the lower reaches and generally has up to 30 inches of water present. This community consists of cattail (Typha spp.) and Olney bulrush (Scirpus olneyi). The slightly drier plant community is higher and composed of bulrush, marshhay cordgrass (Spartina patens), gulfdune paspalum (Paspalum monostachyum), bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), spikerush (Eleocrus spp.), frog-fruit (Phyla lanceolata), and coastal water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri).
If the site is grazed by domestic livestock, the slightly higher portions will receive the most pressure. Eventually, it will cause the loss of marshhay cordgrass and gulfdune paspalum. These species will be replaced by increased amounts of spikerush, frog-fruit, coastal saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), slimleaf rosette grass (Dichanthelium linearifolium), and coastal water hyssop; narrow-leaf iva (Iva angustifolia) may also increase significantly. Further heavy grazing will allow annual and perennial forbs such as water hyssop, frog-fruit, and narrow-leaf iva to dominate and cause large patches of bare ground.
The intensity of a hurricane plays a large role in the prevailing dominant plant community. It will either be covered with salt water, or washover will deposit silt and sand. Following this occurrence, vegetation will be virtually absent. Restoration from any of these transitions depends on the severity and scale of disturbance. If nearby vegetative communities are still functioning, then natural propagation will occur quicker. Seed sources for restoring many of these communities are difficult to find or expensive.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
T1A - Loss of vegetative cover R2A - Natural regeneration over time State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 1
MarshDominant plant species
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saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), grass
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cattail (Typha), other herbaceous
Community 1.1
Marsh
Figure 9. Community 1.1
The reference plant community dominated by cattail and bulrush in the lowest reaches of the site. On slightly higher microelevations, cattail and bulrush diminish while other perennial, warm-season plants including marshhay cordgrass (Spartina patens), gulfdune paspalum (Paspalum monostachyum), bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus), saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus robustus), seashore saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Virginia dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus), knotroot bristlegrass (Setaria parviflora), frogfruit (Phyla lanceolata), and coastal water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri) are apparent. In the most permanent water sites, two woody species, black willow (Salix nigra) and marsh elder (Iva frutescens) may occur but the presence of these plants is rare.
Figure 10. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 1750 2600 3400 Forb 150 250 350 Shrub/Vine 50 75 125 Tree 50 75 125 Total 2000 3000 4000 Figure 11. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). TX7755 , Open Warm-Season Grassland. Shortgrass community with forbs.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 5 10 20 15 5 10 15 10 5 5 Community 1.2
Shortgrass/ForbThis community occurs on the periphery and is grazing induced. Gulfdune paspalum, marshhay cordgrass, and other midgrasses are replaced by seashore saltgrass, Virginia dropseed, slimleaf rosette grass, and forbs like frogfruit, water hyssop, and narrow-leaf iva. The wetter areas are little affected by grazing because of the unpalatability of cattail and bulrush. Prescribed grazing will restore the reference community. But if further overgrazed, the shortgrasses will disappear and only frogfruit, water hyssop, and other forbs will remain. Bare ground is more evident in this community.
Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2Overgrazing by livestock will transition the site to Community 1.2.
Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1The site can be reverted back to Community 1.1 by grazing management. Specifically, using deferment periods will allow reference plants to recover.
State 2
Hurricane ImpactedVegetation severely reduced or absent.
Community 2.1
Hurricane ImpactedThe Hurricane Impacted Community will typically be devoid of vegetation following the storm surge. After the surge recedes back into the Gulf of Mexico the most salt-tolerant plants, and those that are rhizomatous, will begin to repopulate. Species such as gulfdune paspalum, seashore saltgrass, and bushy sea-ox-eye will be the pioneer plants that appear first. Following the hurricane event, primary pathways of succession through any one of the plant communities in the reference state will start to take place as recovery begins.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2Transition to State 2 is caused by the associated effects of Hurricanes. This includes storm surges, wind scouring of plants, and burial of vegetation by sediment deposition.
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1Restoration back to State 1 typically requires time and deferment of grazing. Time for recovery depends on the severity of the hurricane.
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Wetland Plants 1000–2600 chairmaker's bulrush SCAM6 Schoenoplectus americanus 1000–2600 – cattail TYPHA Typha 1000–2600 – 2 Tall/Midgrasses 400–600 bushy bluestem ANGL2 Andropogon glomeratus 400–600 – gulfdune paspalum PAMO4 Paspalum monostachyum 400–600 – saltmeadow cordgrass SPPA Spartina patens 400–600 – 3 Mid/Shortgrasses 150–300 slimleaf panicgrass DILI2 Dichanthelium linearifolium 150–300 – saltgrass DISP Distichlis spicata 150–300 – marsh bristlegrass SEPA10 Setaria parviflora 150–300 – seashore dropseed SPVI3 Sporobolus virginicus 150–300 – 4 Grasslike Plants 50–100 sedge CAREX Carex 50–100 – spikerush ELEOC Eleocharis 50–100 – starrush whitetop RHCO7 Rhynchospora colorata 50–100 – Forb5 Forbs 100–200 herb of grace BAMO Bacopa monnieri 100–200 – floating marshpennywort HYRA Hydrocotyle ranunculoides 100–200 – narrowleaf marsh elder IVAN Iva angustifolia 100–200 – fogfruit PHYLA Phyla 100–200 – perennial saltmarsh aster SYTE6 Symphyotrichum tenuifolium 100–200 – Shrub/Vine6 Vine 25–75 Jesuit's bark IVFR Iva frutescens 25–75 – Tree7 Tree 25–75 black willow SANI Salix nigra 25–75 – Table 7. Community 1.2 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 (%) Interpretations
Animal community
The animal communities of the Coastal Prairie communities are influenced by fresh and salt water inundations. Cattle and many species of wildlife make extensive use of the site. White-tailed deer may be found scattered across the prairie and are found in heavier concentrations where woody cover exists. Feral hogs are present and at times become abundant. Coyotes are abundant and fill the mammalian predator niche. Rodent populations rise during drier periods and fall during periods of inundation. Alligators are locally abundant and make frequent use of the marshes depending on salt concentrations in the marshes.
The region is a major flyway for waterfowl and migrating birds. Hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes abound during winter. Whooping cranes are an important endangered species that occur in the area, especially near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Northern harriers are common predatory birds seen patrolling marshes. Curlews, plovers, sandpipers, and willets are shorebirds that make use of the tidal areas. Seagulls and terns are plentiful throughout the year trolling the shores as well. Further inland, rails, gallinules, and moorhens make use of the brackish marshes.Hydrological functions
Because of the concave nature of this site in the landscape, it will receive seepage from surrounding sites such as the Coastal Sand, Low Coastal Sand, and Firm Brackish Marsh. This site is a Palustrine, emergent wetland and in its deepest states is a Lacustrine wetland. As such, it acts as the wetland filter for the barrier island landscape. During wet periods this site is ponded with fresh to slightly brackish water at depths ranging from 2 to 30 inches and in its deepest reaches will have permanent open water.
Recreational uses
The Padre Island National Seashore is a popular tourist designation throughout the year. Because the National Seashore endeavors to preserve Padre Island in its natural state, visiting the island is very much like stepping back into the past. Birdwatching and salt water fishing are other recreational uses.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Information presented was derived from the Range Site Description, NRCS clipping data, literature, field observations, and personal contacts with range-trained personnel.
Other references
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Butzler, R. E. 2006. The Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Lycium carolinianum Walt. M. S. Thesis. Texas A&M, College Station, TX.
Chabreck, R. H. 1972. Vegetation, water and soil characteristics of the Louisiana coastal region. Louisiana State University Agriculture Experiment Station Bulletin, 664.
Davis, W. B. 1974. The Mammals of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Bulletin, 41.
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Drawe, D. L., K. R. Kattner, W. H. McFarland, and D. D. Neher. 1981. Vegetation and soil properties of five habitat types on north Padre Island. Texas Journal of Science, 33:145-157.
Everitt, J. H., D. L. Drawe, and R. I. Leonard. 2002. Trees, Shrubs, and Cacti of South Texas. Texas Tech University Press, Lubbock, TX.
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Fulbright, T. E., D. D. Diamond, J. Rappole, and J. Norwine. 1990. The Coastal Sand Plain of Southern Texas. Rangelands, 12:337-340.
Fulbright, T. E., J. A. Ortega-Santos, A. Lozano-Cavazos, and L. E. Ramirez-Yanez. 2006. Establishing vegetation on migrating inland sand dunes in Texas. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 59:549-556.
Gosselink, J.D., C.L. Cordes, and J.W. Parsons. 1979. An. Ecological characterization study of the Chenier Plain Coastal Ecosystem of Louisiana and Texas. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, D.C.
Gould, F. W. 1975. The Grasses of Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.
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Harcombe, P. A. and J. E. Neaville. 1997. Vegetation types of Chambers County, Texas. The Texas Journal of Science, 29:209-234.
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Miller, D. L., F. E Smeins, and J. W. Webb. 1998. Response of a Texas Distichlis spicata coastal marsh following Lesser Snow Goose herbivory. Aquatic Botany, 61:301-307.
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Stan Reinke, Biologist, NRCS, Corpus Christi, TX
Approval
Bryan Christensen, 9/22/2023
Acknowledgments
Contributing Authors: Justin Clary, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TX Shanna Dunn, RSS, NRCS, Corpus Christi, TX Vivian Garcia, RMS, NRCS, Corpus Christi, TX Jason Hohlt, RMS, NRCS, Kingsville, TX Mark Moseley, RMS, NRCS, San Antonio, TX Tim Reinke, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TX Homer Sanchez, RMS, NRCS, Temple, TX Site Development and Testing Plan: Future work, as described in a Project Plan, to validate the information in this Provisional Ecological Site Description is needed. This will include field activities to collect low, medium and high-intensity sampling, soil correlations, and analysis of that data. Annual 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 document. Annual reviews of the Project Plan are to be conducted by the Ecological Site Technical Team.
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 09/16/2026 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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