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Chippewa Plains

Ecoregion in MN

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The soils of this ecoregion provide an initial overview. The central east-west belt of the ecoregion is dominated by sandy forest Psamments with most of the northern and southern areas surrounding the Psamments being well-drained forest Udalfs. Patches of moderately decomposed Hemists and two patches in the east of the ecoregion of somewhat poorly drained forest Aqualfs are other noticeable soils. The geomorphology supports the soils patterns with considerable outwash in the central area and till plain, drift complex, moraines, and peat in surrounding areas, on terrain that varies from level to rolling to undulating to hummocky. There are several large lakes, and the upper reaches of the Mississippi River flow through the center of the ecoregion in the sandy outwash areas. The density of lakes by area is among the highest in the state. Presettlement vegetation was a complex mixture of aspen and birch, jack pine barrens, white and red pine, hardwoods, and conifer bogs and swamps. Land use is primarily a mosaic of forest and wetland with some hay and alfalfa agriculture at the western edge and in a small area just east of Bemidji. Hart and Ziegler (2008) include the area around Bemidji and around the lakes to the east and north in their “Lakeshore Resort and Retirement Belt.” Compared with ecoregion 50q, the Chippewa Plains have colder winters, warmer summers, fewer numbers of lakes but greater area in lakes, primarily formed from ground and stagnation moraines rather than end moraines, and a less steep topography. About 50% of this ecoregion was deciduous, evergreen, and mixed forest, 30% wetlands, and 13% open water in 2013.

— EPA

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Ecoregion