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Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine

EVT 7385Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Woodland

CES303.680GNRTreeRiparian

Summary

This ecological system is typically found associated with permanent or ephemeral streams though it may occur on steep northern slopes or within canyon bottoms that do not experience periodic flooding. Soil moisture and topography allow greater moisture conditions compared to the surrounding areas. Occurrences can be either tree-dominated or predominantly shrubland. Fraxinus pennsylvanica with Ulmus rubra or Ulmus americana typically dominate this system, although Juniperus scopulorum can dominate the canopy in the western Great Plains and Juniperus virginiana in the east. Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera, or Acer negundo are commonly present in portions of the northwestern Great Plains, for example in areas of central and eastern Montana. In south-central and east-central portions of the Great Plains, Quercus macrocarpa can also be present. Wetter areas within this system can have significant amounts of Populus deltoides. Component shrubs can include Cornus sericea, Crataegus douglasii, Crataegus chrysocarpa, Crataegus succulenta, Elaeagnus commutata, Prunus virginiana, Rhus spp., Rosa woodsii, Shepherdia argentea, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Viburnum lentago. Common grasses can include Calamagrostis stricta, Carex spp., Pascopyrum smithii, Piptatheropsis micrantha, Pseudoroegneria spicata, or Schizachyrium scoparium. This system was often subjected to heavy grazing and trampling by both domestic animals and wildlife and can be heavily degraded in some areas. In addition, exotic species such as Ulmus pumila and Elaeagnus angustifolia can invade these systems.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

Species composition can vary across the range of this system. Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Ulmus spp. typically dominate this system. In some western areas of the Great Plains Division, Juniperus spp. can dominate, and in the south-central and east-central portions of the Great Plains, Quercus macrocarpa can also be important. Tilia americana and Ostrya virginiana are also common associates in the eastern portion of this system's range. Component shrubs can include Cornus sericea, Crataegus douglasii, Crataegus chrysocarpa, Crataegus succulenta, Elaeagnus commutata, Prunus virginiana, Rhus spp., Rosa woodsii, Shepherdia argentea, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, or Viburnum lentago. Common grasses can include Calamagrostis stricta, Carex spp., Pascopyrum smithii, Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Piptatherum micranthum), Pseudoroegneria spicata, or Schizachyrium scoparium. This system was often subjected to heavy grazing and trampling by both domestic animals and wildlife and can be heavily degraded in some areas. Exotic species, such as Ulmus pumila and Elaeagnus angustifolia, can be present in degraded examples. Wetter areas within this system can have significant amounts of Populus deltoides.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

This system is associated with permanent or ephemeral streams. It also can occur on steep northern slopes or within canyon bottoms that do not experience periodic flooding. Soils are primarily wet to mesic, and the more sheltered and lower landscape position allows for greater moisture conditions compared to the surrounding areas.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Dynamics

Fire can influence this system; however, grazing is the most prevalent dynamic process influencing this system. Overgrazing can heavily degrade this system, particularly the understory, and allow for the invasion of exotic species.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is found throughout the Western Great Plains Division and east into the western tallgrass prairie zone of the central United States. In Wyoming, it occurs in the northeastern foothills of the Bighorns and across far-northeastern Wyoming into the northern fringes of the Black Hills. It has also been identified in the High Plains of Texas.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree canopy

Acer negundo, Betula papyrifera, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juniperus scopulorum, Populus tremuloides, Prunus virginiana, Quercus macrocarpa, Ulmus americana, Ulmus pumila, Ulmus rubra

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Amelanchier alnifolia, Cornus sericea, Crataegus chrysocarpa, Crataegus douglasii, Crataegus succulenta, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Elaeagnus commutata, Shepherdia argentea, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Viburnum lentago

Short shrub/sapling

Rosa woodsii

Herb (field)

Calamagrostis stricta, Nassella viridula, Pascopyrum smithii, Piptatherum micranthum, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Schizachyrium scoparium

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (4)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Reptiles (4)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
North American Racer	Coluber constrictor	G5
Eastern Milksnake	Lampropeltis triangulum	G5
Smooth Greensnake	Opheodrys vernalis	G5
Gophersnake	Pituophis catenifer	G5

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Component Associations (28)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

Name	G-Rank
Betula papyrifera / Corylus cornuta Forest	G2	NatureServe
Carex nebrascensis Wet Meadow
Cornus drummondii - Amorpha fruticosa - Cornus sericea Wet Shrubland		NatureServe
Cornus drummondii - (Rhus glabra, Prunus spp.) Shrubland	GNR	NatureServe
Cornus sericea Rocky Mountain Wet Shrubland		NatureServe
Cornus sericea - Salix (bebbiana, discolor, petiolaris) / Calamagrostis stricta Shrub Swamp	G3	NatureServe
Crataegus douglasii - (Crataegus chrysocarpa) Shrubland		NatureServe
Crataegus succulenta Shrubland		NatureServe
Elaeagnus commutata / Pascopyrum smithii Shrubland	G3	NatureServe
Elaeagnus commutata Wet Shrubland		NatureServe
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana / Prunus virginiana Woodland		NatureServe
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - (Ulmus americana) / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Floodplain Forest		NatureServe
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus americana / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Forest		NatureServe
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Ulmus spp. - Celtis occidentalis Floodplain Forest		NatureServe
Juniperus scopulorum / Cornus sericea Riparian Woodland		NatureServe
Juniperus scopulorum / Piptatheropsis micrantha Woodland	G3	NatureServe
Juniperus scopulorum / Pseudoroegneria spicata Woodland	G4	NatureServe
Juniperus scopulorum / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland	G2	NatureServe
Juniperus scopulorum Woodland		NatureServe
Populus deltoides / Carex pellita Floodplain Woodland		NatureServe
Populus deltoides - Fraxinus pennsylvanica Floodplain Forest		NatureServe
Populus deltoides / Pascopyrum smithii Riparian Woodland		NatureServe
Populus deltoides / Symphoricarpos occidentalis Floodplain Woodland		NatureServe
Prunus virginiana - (Prunus americana) Wet Shrubland	G4	NatureServe
Quercus macrocarpa / Prunus virginiana - Symphoricarpos occidentalis Woodland		NatureServe
Rosa woodsii Wet Shrubland	G5	NatureServe
Shepherdia argentea Shrubland		NatureServe
Symphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubland	G4	NatureServe

State Conservation Ranks (10)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

State	S-Rank
IA	SNR
KS	SNR
MO	SNR
MT	SNR
ND	SNR
NE	SNR
OK	SNR
SD	SNR
TX	SNR
WY	SNR

Roadless Areas (19)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

North Dakota (17)

Area	Forest	Coverage	Hectares
Lone Butte	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	37.7%	1,749.42
Long X Divide	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	35.7%	1,457.73
Collar / Bennett - Cottonwood	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	29.3%	2,332.89
Blacktail	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	23.1%	804.24
Tracy Mountain	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	15.0%	590.49
Kinley Plateau	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	14.4%	983.7
Magpie	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	13.5%	1,164.24
Dawsons Waterhole	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	13.3%	328.14
Scairt Woman	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	10.6%	261.18
Wannagan	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	9.4%	229.32
Bell Lake	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	9.4%	428.67
Twin Buttes	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	8.4%	458.1
Bullion Butte	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	8.2%	656.19
Ponderosa Pine	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	6.9%	207.99
Easy Hill	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	4.4%	131.49
John Town / Horse Creek	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	1.4%	137.43
Strom - Hanson	Dakota Prairie Grasslands	1.3%	102.78

South Dakota (2)

Area	Forest	Coverage	Hectares
Indian Creek	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	1.2%	119.88
Red Shirt	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	0.7%	47.7

Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.