Sandy Freshwater Floodplain Marshes and Swamps

Description

This state is described as wetlands dominated by erect, rooted, herbaceous (non-woody) vegetation during most of the year and are often called marsh communities.

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Description

This state is described as wetlands dominated by trees and are often called swamp communities. The most common trees found in forested wetlands are cypress and tupelo, as well as several hardwoods such as bays, gums, elms, oaks, titi, and maples. Individual community composition and structure is dependent on patterns of seasonal flooding and small differences in microtopography. Arboreal epiphytes are abundant in forested wetlands and can be found growing on tree trunks and limbs, obtaining moisture and nutrients from condensation and rainfall. Buttressed trunks and modified root systems such as cypress knees are adaptations to prolonged hydroperiods and are characteristic of these communities, and may often create micro-habitats supporting species less adapted to prolong hydroperiods. Mosses and lichens growing on the bark of these species will serve as an indicator to seasonal inundation levels by growing to the water line.

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Description

Rangelands are described as lands on which the indigenous vegetation is predominately grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, and possibly shrubs or dispersed trees. Existing plant communities can include both native and introduced plants. Primary export from Florida ranges are cattle and have been present in the state since their first introduction by Spanish explorers in 1521. Native forage production is very good with proper management in this community, with only a slight effect on the community. Proper management will often result in an increase of grasses and reduction of shrubs while also maintaining proper fire intervals. Rangelands provide a diversity of ecosystems and also provide a diverse and significant production of economic benefits and ecosystem goods and services. Livestock production along with sustainable wildlife populations provide for the major direct economic benefits, but also tourism, recreational uses, minerals/energy production, renewable energy, and other natural resource uses can be very significant. Vital ecosystem contributions include clean water, clean air, fish/wildlife habitat, as well as intangible considerations such as historical, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values. It is strongly advised that consultation with State Resource Conservationist and District Conservationists at local NRCS Service Centers be sought when assistance is needed in developing management recommendations or prescribed grazing practices.

Rangeland in this ecological site is described for the Non-Forested Wetland state, not for the Forested Wetland state. Non-Forested Wetland communities have higher percentages of forgeable species due to the natural community composition and structure and have commonly been used as rangeland since European settlement. Forested Wetlands may have some forgeable species in the understory but are not utilized as rangeland. The major limitation to grazing species in these communities are extended hydroperiods represented by flooded conditions.

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Description

Pasture is a land use type having vegetation cover comprised primarily of introduced or enhanced native forage species that is used for livestock grazing. Pasture vegetation can consist of grasses, legumes, other forbs, shrubs or a mixture. The majority of these forages are introduced, having originally come from areas in other states or continents. Most are now naturalized and are vital components of pasture based grazing systems. Pasture lands provide many benefits other than forage for livestock. Wildlife use pasture as shelter and for food sources. Well managed pasture captures rainwater that is slowly infiltrated into the soil which helps recharge groundwater. Many small pasture livestock operations are near urban areas providing vistas for everyone to enjoy. It is especially important as livestock managers continues to experience extraordinarily high fuel and other input costs. Overgrazed pastures can lead to soil compaction and numerous bare spots, which may then become focal points of accelerated erosion and colonization sites of undesirable plants or weeds. It is strongly advised that consultation with State Resource Conservationist and District Conservationists at local NRCS Service Centers be sought when assistance is needed in developing management recommendations or prescribed grazing practices. This grassland / pastureland state correlates with the 2013 Florida Forage Suitability Group G155XB145FL (Sandy Soils on Stream Terraces, Flood Plains, or in Depressions). If the reference communities are drained and then converted to grasslands or pasture, then forage species and values correlating with the 2013 Forage Suitability Group G155XY141FL (Sandy Soils, on Flats on Mesic or Hydric Lowlands) should be utilized.

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Description

This state is important and used by silviculturists, landowners, land managers, and the public/private industry. Silviculture is land used in controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society such as wildlife habitat, timber, water resources, restoration, and recreation on a sustainable basis. These are forestry practices that include thinning, harvesting, planting, pruning, prescribed burning and site preparation, for managed goals such as wildlife habitat creation or harvesting.

Because of the generally wet soil conditions associated with forested wetlands, some of these areas can be very sensitive to forestry activities, particularly during flooded or periods of soil saturation. For silviculture operations in general, wetlands are probably most susceptible to changes hydroperiod, which can result from improper forest road construction, logging operations, and certain types of site preparation activities. Due to management concerns within these wetlands, the creation and planting of tree plantations is not recommended and should be managed for stand harvesting and regeneration All silviculture operations should follow state and federal best management practices (BMP) to mitigate extensive damage to harvested wetlands.

These may include not significantly altering the natural drainage or flow patterns on forested lands, not conducting intensive mechanical site preparations such as bedding and fire line placement and avoiding road construction which may alter natural hydrologic flow. For harvesting in these wetlands, specific criteria is used to prevent excessive damage to the natural system. These may include retaining leave trees for wildlife habitat and seeding, removing logging slash from the wetland system, minimizing heavy equipment operations which may cause extensive rutting, and only operating and harvesting in dry seasons/ periods or using specialized equipment in wetter conditions. It is strongly advised that consultation with State Resource Conservationist and District Conservationists at local NRCS Service Centers be sought when assistance is needed in developing management recommendations for silviculture practices.

Resilience management

This state is managed by silviculture prescriptions that will vary based on individual forest stand and management goals.

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Description

The reclaimed/ restored wetland state consists of non-forested and forested wetland communities which have undergone or currently undergoing transition from an altered state (agriculture field, pasture, forestry land, urban areas) to a restored natural community. These reclaimed and restored natural communities will be managed to reflect the natural vegetation, management regimes, and hydroperiod of the reference community, with a history of land modification. This can often be accomplished through programs offered by the NRCS such as the Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE), a voluntary program to help restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses. Restored wetlands will provide habitat to fish and wildlife, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, protect biological diversity, and provide resilience to climate change. It is strongly advised that consultation with State Resource Conservationist and District Conservationists at local NRCS Service Centers be sought when assistance is needed in developing management recommendations for silviculture practices.

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Description

This state represents the dominance of one or multiple non-native or exotic species which outcompetes the native natural community and may significantly alter the composition and structure of the invaded stand by overshading the canopy and understory components and preventing regeneration of forest species.

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Description

These areas include soils that were intentionally and substantially modified by humans for an intended purpose, commonly for terraced agriculture, building support, mining, transportation, and commerce. The alteration is of sufficient magnitude to result in the introduction of a new parent material (human-transported material) or a profound change in the previously existing parent material (human-altered material). They do not include soils modified through standard agricultural practices or farmed soils with unintended wind and water erosion. When a soil is on or above an anthropogenic landform or microfeature, it can be definitely be associated with human activity and is assigned to a unique taxon, usually found as an "Urban land complex" within that communities' natural soil properties (e.g, Myakka fine sand-Urban land complex, frequently flooded, 0 to 2 percent slopes).

Characteristics and indicators

Evidence of these areas include soils with manufactured items (e.g. artifacts) present in the profile, human altered-materials (e.g., deeply excavated soil) or human-transported material (e.g., fill), and position on or above anthropogenic landforms (e.g., flood-control levees) and microfeatures (e.g., drainage ditches). Detailed criteria regarding the identification of anthropogenic (artificial) landforms, human-altered materials, and human-transported material are in the "Keys to Soil Taxonomy" (Soil Survey Staff, 2014).

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