 |
Ecoregions of
|
| 43f. Subhumid Pierre Shale Plains | Level IV Ecoregion |
| Home
43f. Subhumid Pierre Shale Plains |
The Northwestern Great Plains
ecoregion encompasses the Missouri Plateau section of the Great
Plains. It is a semiarid rolling plain of shale, siltstone, and sandstone
punctuated by occasional buttes and badlands. Native grasslands persist
in areas of steep or broken topography, but they have been largely replaced
by spring wheat and alfalfa over most of the ecoregion. Agriculture
is limited by erratic precipitation patterns and limited opportunities
for irrigation.
A continuous vegetative cover is essential to keep the Subhumid Pierre Shale Plains intact. Tilling the rolling hillsides risks wind and water erosion. Stream channels are deeply incised in its soft, black shale soils and slumping is common along exposed banks.
Physiography Area (square miles): 7544 Geology Surficial Material and Bedrock Soil Order (Great Groups) Climate Precipitation - Mean annual (inches) Potential Natural Vegetation Wheatgrass, grama grass, needlegrass, porcupine grass, needleandthread. Land Use and Land Cover Cattle grazing, dryland farming. Winter wheat, alfalfa and sorghum. |
