Major Land Resource Area 055D

Glacial Lake Dakota

Accessed: 05/19/2025

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Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin

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Ecological site list

Provisional

R055DY001SD/R055DY001SD

Shallow Marsh
i
Key Characteristics
1. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)
2. Is the site in an upland position?
3. No: Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?
4. Yes: To what degree does the site pond water?
5. The site ponds water until early summer and has high organic matter content
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Provisional

R055DY002SD/R055DY002SD

Linear Meadow
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. Yes: Are there visible salts (sodium, gypsum, etc.) within 16 inches of the surface?
4. No
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Provisional

R055DY003SD/R055DY003SD

Subirrigated
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No: Is there evidence of a permanent water table between 2 and 5 feet of the surface?
4. Yes: Does the soil effervesce with acid at or near the surface?
5. No: Is the soil texture Fine Sandy Loam, Sandy Loam, or Loamy Sand?
6. No
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Provisional

R055DY004SD/R055DY004SD

Wet Meadow
i
Key Characteristics
1. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)
2. Is the site in an upland position?
3. No: Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?
4. Yes: To what degree does the site pond water?
5. The site ponds water for 4 to 8 weeks in the spring or after heavy rain and has high organic matter content
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Provisional

R055DY006SD/R055DY006SD

Limy Subirrigated
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No: Is there evidence of a permanent water table between 2 and 5 feet of the surface?
4. Yes: Does the soil effervesce with acid at or near the surface?
5. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY007SD/R055DY007SD

Saline Lowland
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. Yes: Are there visible salts (sodium, gypsum, etc.) within 16 inches of the surface?
4. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY008SD/R055DY008SD

Sands
i
Key Characteristics
1. Normal Landscape Positions (upland, slopes normally linear except sandy/sands/choppy sands sites with complex slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a claypan (columnar structure) within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No: What is the surface and subsoil texture?
4. Sand, Loamy Sand, Loamy Fine Sand
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Provisional

R055DY009SD/R055DY009SD

Sandy
i
Key Characteristics
1. Normal Landscape Positions (upland, slopes normally linear except sandy/sands/choppy sands sites with complex slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a claypan (columnar structure) within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No: What is the surface and subsoil texture?
4. Sandy Loam, Fine Sandy Loam, Loamy Very Fine Sand
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Provisional

R055DY010SD/R055DY010SD

Loamy
i
Key Characteristics
1. Normal Landscape Positions (upland, slopes normally linear except sandy/sands/choppy sands sites with complex slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a claypan (columnar structure) within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No: What is the surface and subsoil texture?
4. Loam, Silt Loam, Silty Clay Loam, Clay Loam, Sandy Clay Loam, Very Fine Sandy Loam
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Provisional

R055DY011SD/R055DY011SD

Clayey
i
Key Characteristics
1. Normal Landscape Positions (upland, slopes normally linear except sandy/sands/choppy sands sites with complex slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a claypan (columnar structure) within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No: What is the surface and subsoil texture?
4. Clay, Silty Clay (40-55% clay) or Loamy surface with Clayey Subsoil
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Provisional

R055DY012SD/R055DY012SD

Thin Upland
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-off Landscape Positions (upland, normally convex, short slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a root restricting layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
3. No: Is there a root restricting layer between 10 and 20 inches of the soil surface?
4. No: Does the soil effervesce with acid (10% HCL) within 6 inches of the surface?
5. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY013SD/R055DY013SD

Claypan
i
Key Characteristics
1. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)
2. Is the site in an upland position?
3. Yes: Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches of the surface?
4. Yes: Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?
5. No: Is the surface soil texture fine sandy loam or silt loam?
6. No: All other textures
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Provisional

R055DY014SD/R055DY014SD

Shallow Gravel
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-off Landscape Positions (upland, normally convex, short slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a root restricting layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
3. No: Is there a root restricting layer between 10 and 20 inches of the soil surface?
4. Yes: Is the root restricting layer gravel (>15% gravel by volume)?
5. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY015SD/R055DY015SD

Thin Claypan
i
Key Characteristics
1. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)
2. Is the site in an upland position?
3. Yes: Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches of the surface?
4. Yes: Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?
5. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY016SD/R055DY016SD

Very Shallow
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-off Landscape Positions (upland, normally convex, short slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a root restricting layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
3. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY020SD/R055DY020SD

Loamy Overflow
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No: Is there evidence of a permanent water table between 2 and 5 feet of the surface?
4. No: Does water flow into and over/through the site?
5. Yes: Does it have a flooding frequency?
6. No
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Provisional

R055DY037SD/R055DY037SD

Deep Marsh
i
Key Characteristics
1. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)
2. Is the site in an upland position?
3. No: Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?
4. Yes: To what degree does the site pond water?
5. The site ponds water year round in most years and has high organic matter content
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Provisional

R055DY040SD/R055DY040SD

Loamy Floodplain
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No: Is there evidence of a permanent water table between 2 and 5 feet of the surface?
4. No: Does water flow into and over/through the site?
5. Yes: Does it have a flooding frequency?
6. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY041SD/R055DY041SD

Choppy Sands
i
Key Characteristics
1. Normal Landscape Positions (upland, slopes normally linear except sandy/sands/choppy sands sites with complex slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a claypan (columnar structure) within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No: What is the surface and subsoil texture?
4. Loamy Fine Sand or Fine Sand on dunes with a slope typically >15%
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Provisional

R055DY042SD/R055DY042SD

Sandy Claypan
i
Key Characteristics
1. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)
2. Is the site in an upland position?
3. Yes: Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches of the surface?
4. Yes: Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?
5. No: Is the surface soil texture fine sandy loam or silt loam?
6. Yes
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Provisional

R055DY043SD/R055DY043SD

Shallow Loamy
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-off Landscape Positions (upland, normally convex, short slopes)
2. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a root restricting layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
3. No: Is there a root restricting layer between 10 and 20 inches of the soil surface?
4. Yes: Is the root restricting layer gravel (>15% gravel by volume)?
5. No: The root restricting layer is bedrock (siltstone, shale, mudstone, sandstone, etc)
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Provisional

R055DY044SD/R055DY044SD

Subirrigated Sands
i
Key Characteristics
1. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)
2. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No: Is there evidence of a permanent water table between 2 and 5 feet of the surface?
4. Yes: Does the soil effervesce with acid at or near the surface?
5. No: Is the soil texture Fine Sandy Loam, Sandy Loam, or Loamy Sand?
6. Yes
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Ecological site keys

MLRA 55D - Glacial Lake Dakota

I. Run-off Landscape Positions (upland, normally convex, short slopes)

A. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a root restricting layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?

1 Yes ... R055DY016SD – Very Shallow

2 No: Is there a root restricting layer between 10 and 20 inches of the soil surface?

i. Yes: Is the root restricting layer gravel (>15% gravel by volume)?

a. Yes ... R055DY014SD – Shallow Gravel

b. No: The root restricting layer is bedrock (siltstone, shale, mudstone, sandstone, etc) ... R055DY043SD – Shallow Loamy

ii. No: Does the soil effervesce with acid (10% HCL) within 6 inches of the surface?

a. Yes ... R055DY012SD – Thin Upland

b. No: See "III. Normal Landscape Positions"

II. Normal Landscape Positions (upland, slopes normally linear except sandy/sands/choppy sands sites with complex slopes)

A. Dig a hole to a depth of 20 inches. Is there a claypan (columnar structure) within 16 inches of the surface?

1 Yes: See "IV. Other Landscape Positions"

2 No: What is the surface and subsoil texture?

i. Clay, Silty Clay (40-55% clay) or Loamy surface with Clayey Subsoil ... R055DY011SD – Clayey

ii. Loam, Silt Loam, Silty Clay Loam, Clay Loam, Sandy Clay Loam, Very Fine Sandy Loam ... R055DY010SD – Loamy

iii. Sandy Loam, Fine Sandy Loam, Loamy Very Fine Sand ... R055DY009SD – Sandy

iv. Sand, Loamy Sand, Loamy Fine Sand ... R055DY008SD – Sands

v. Loamy Fine Sand or Fine Sand on dunes with a slope typically >15% ... R055DY041SD – Choppy Sands

III. Run-in Landscape Positions (floodplains, drainageways, other open drainage systems-- NOT depressions)

A. Observe the soil profile to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?

1 Yes: Are there visible salts (sodium, gypsum, etc.) within 16 inches of the surface?

i. Yes ... R055DY007SD – Saline Lowland

ii. No ... R055DY002SD – Linear Meadow

2 No: Is there evidence of a permanent water table between 2 and 5 feet of the surface?

i. Yes: Does the soil effervesce with acid at or near the surface?

a. Yes ... R055DY006SD – Limy Subirrigated

b. No: Is the soil texture Fine Sandy Loam, Sandy Loam, or Loamy Sand?

1) Yes ... R055DY044SD – Subirrigated Sands

2) No ... R055DY003SD – Subirrigated

ii. No: Does water flow into and over/through the site?

a. Yes: Does it have a flooding frequency?

1) Yes ... R055DY040SD – Loamy Floodplain

2) No ... R055DY020SD – Loamy Overflow

b. No: See "IV. Other Landscape Positions"

IV. Other Landscape Positions (basins, depressions, run-off and/or run-in positions)

A. Is the site in an upland position?

1 Yes: Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches of the surface?

ii. Yes: Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?

a. Yes ... R055DY015SD – Thin Claypan

b. No: Is the surface soil texture fine sandy loam or silt loam?

1) Yes ... R055DY042SD – Sandy Claypan

2) No: All other textures ... R055DY013SD – Claypan

iii. No: Re-think your position and start again

2 No: Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?

i. Yes: To what degree does the site pond water?

a. The site ponds water for 4 to 8 weeks in the spring or after heavy rain and has high organic matter content ... R055DY004SD – Wet Meadow

b. The site ponds water until early summer and has high organic matter content ... R055DY001SD – Shallow Marsh

c. The site ponds water year round in most years and has high organic matter content ... R055DY037SD – Deep Marsh

ii. No: Re-think your position and start again

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