The Thin Breaks Ecological Site occurs throughout the MLRA. It is located on steep slopes, escarpments, river breaks or slump area with exposed bedrock at or near the surface. Typical slope ranges from 15 to 60 percent. Soils are typically calcareous and of varying depths (very shallow to deep). The surface layer is typically 3 to 8 inches thick. Surface and subsurface textures range from clay to loam. The combination of slope and the interbedded soils and rock makes the establishment of deciduous trees and shrubs common. The vegetation in reference consists of a mix of cool- and warm-season grasses and deciduous trees and shrubs. The dominate grasses include big bluestem, marsh muhly Canada wildrye and prairie sandreed. Common trees
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The soils in this site are well to excessively drained and formed in residuum from clay shale or glacial till. The surface layer is three to eight inches thick. The texture of the subsurface layers ranges from clay to loam. The soils have a slow to moderately rapid infiltration rate. These soils are typically calcareous at or near the surface; however, carbonates are not always distinguishable in the upper layers. The soil profile should show evidence of weak development (i.e., thin A horizon, pale colors, lack of argillic horizon). This site should show slight to no evidence of rills, wind scoured areas, or pedestalled plants. Water flow paths are broken, irregular in appearance, or discontinuous with numerous debris dams or vegetative barriers. The soil surface is stable and …show more content…
During favorable climatic conditions and the lack of fire in a given area, the woody species which dominate this site would tend to expand into the more favorable soils of the associated overflow sites. With extended dry periods or increased fire activity, the woody species would tend to be eliminated or greatly reduced on overflow sites, but the Thin Breaks site often acts as a refugium for many woody species. It is thought that the current extent of woody draws in the associated overflow sites is largely due to fire suppression efforts
The soils in this site are well to excessively drained and formed in residuum from clay shale or glacial till. The surface layer is three to eight inches thick. The texture of the subsurface layers ranges from clay to loam. The soils have a slow to moderately rapid infiltration rate. These soils are typically calcareous at or near the surface; however, carbonates are not always distinguishable in the upper layers. The soil profile should show evidence of weak development (i.e., thin A horizon, pale colors, lack of argillic horizon). This site should show slight to no evidence of rills, wind scoured areas, or pedestalled plants. Water flow paths are broken, irregular in appearance, or discontinuous with numerous debris dams or vegetative barriers. The soil surface is stable and …show more content…
During favorable climatic conditions and the lack of fire in a given area, the woody species which dominate this site would tend to expand into the more favorable soils of the associated overflow sites. With extended dry periods or increased fire activity, the woody species would tend to be eliminated or greatly reduced on overflow sites, but the Thin Breaks site often acts as a refugium for many woody species. It is thought that the current extent of woody draws in the associated overflow sites is largely due to fire suppression efforts