Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
An Environmental Overview of North Dakota: Past and Present
Woodlands and Brushlands
Woodland communities originally composed only about 1.5% of what now is North
Dakota. The largest block of woodlands occurred in the Turtle Mountains, a high
moraine on the northern edge of the state. Common large mammals included white-tailed
and mule deer, elk, and black bear. Hydric woodlands occurred where water tables
were high or spring floods common. Hydric woodlands existed in great amounts
along the Missouri River and below certain large escarpments such as the Pembina
Hills. Common trees were cottonwood, black ash, and peachleaf willow. Mesic
woodlands occurred in areas of somewhat greater than average soil moisture such
as were found along river terraces, on north and east facing slopes, in protected
draws, and in the interior areas of the Turtle Mountains. These forests were
dominated by various combinations of quaking aspen, balsam poplar, paper birch,
American elm, green ash, hackberry, basswood, and boxelder. Xeric woodlands
dominated by various combinations of bur oak, green ash, western black birch,
ponderosa pine, limber pine, and rocky mountain juniper occurred at scattered
locations throughout the state. Common sites for xeric woodlands were south
and west facing slopes in the Turtle Mountains, along the bluffs overlooking
the major rivers, and in the upper portions of draws and ravines.
An unknown proportion of North Dakota was composed of shrubland or brush
land communities. Hydric brushlands dominated by various short willows, red-osier
dogwood, and speckled alder existed along rivers, seepage areas, and near
wetlands. Mesic brushlands composed of mixtures of bullberry, serviceberry,
chokecherry, plum, hawthorn, wolfberry buckhrush, western rose, and smooth
sumac were found in sites environmentally similar to mesic woodlands. In western
North Dakota, and at high elevations in the Turtle Mountains and a few other
escarpments, occurred xeric brushlands. Various subtypes included areas dominated
by hazelnut, black sage, greasewood, silver sage, yucca, saltbush, skunkbush
sumac, prostrate juniper, and shrubby cinquefoil.
Woodland and brushland communities were generally found in areas of increased
soil moisture, decreased fire frequency, and increased soil disturbance.
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U.S. Geological Survey