331Ea Missouri Coteau

Landscape Characteristics:

Hummocky plains, outwash and stream terraces, fans, and floodplains that formed in thin glacial till and river sediments that lie over shale, siltstone, and sandstone. Moraines, kames, kettles, and small lakes also occur. Elevations range from 1650 to 3050 feet. Drainage density is moderate.

Climate:

Mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 17 inches, about 20 percent falling as snow. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are frigid and udic.

Potential Vegetation:

Wheatgrass-needlegrass with Northern floodplain forest along major rivers and streams.

Relationships of Dominant Map Unit Components:

Landform Geology Soil Taxa
Plains Till Argiborolls/Haploborolls
Terraces/fans Outwash Haploborolls/Natriborolls
Floodplains River sediments Orthents/Fluvents

Disturbance and Land Use:

The primary natural disturbance is drought and insects. Land use is predominantly wheat farming and range/pasture.