Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site AX001X01X401
Mesic Udic Forest
Last updated: 5/15/2025
Accessed: 12/05/2025
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 001X–Northern Pacific Coast Range, Foothills, and Valleys
This area consists of a long and narrow range of mountains with associated foothills and valleys that parallels the Pacific Ocean. This area is entirely within the Pacific Border Province of the Pacific Mountain System in Oregon and Washington. MLRA 1 is bounded on the north by the highest elevations of the Olympic Mountains and the strait of Juan de Fuca, and by the Klamath Mountains on the south. The Washington portion of this MLRA is primarily composed of young Tertiary sedimentary rocks (siltstone and sandstone) mixed with some volcanic rocks of the same age. Glacial till and outwash deposits are also found in the northern half of this area in Washington. Much of this area is accreted terrane formed by tectonic processes. The average annual precipitation ranges from 60 to 200 inches (1,525 to 5,580 millimeters), increasing with elevation. Most of the precipitation in this area occurs during low-intensity, Pacific frontal storms and is evenly distributed throughout fall, winter, and spring.
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Andisols, Inceptisols, and Ultisols. Soil depths broadly range from shallow to very deep. Soils are primarily well drained, however poorly drained soils may be found in depressional areas and on alluvial floodplains. Surface textures are typically medial and loamy or clayey. Soils in this area dominantly have a mesic or frigid temperature regime and a udic moisture regime. Soils with aquic moisture regimes and cryic temperature regimes also occur.
Ecological site concept
Mesic Udic Forest sites occur on less stable landscape positions on glacial valley walls and colluvial aprons in the mesic temperature zone. These sites are located on the windward side of the Olympic mountains where precipitation is abundant, and on some protected aspects on the leeward side of the mountains where evaporative water loss is low. Relatively high slope gradients limit water infiltration on these sites, generating runoff to more stable Mesic Udic Moist Forests, Mesic Aquic Forests, and Temperate Wet Meadows. As a result, Mesic Udic Forest sites characteristically favor the growth and production of moist mesophytic understory species, such as salal (Gaultheria shallon) and twinflower (Linnaea borealis).
Mesic Udic Forest sites are characterized by a dense overstory of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), accompanied by an understory shrub community of salal and red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium). The herbaceous layer is dominated by western swordfern (Polystichum munitum) and twinflower. Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) may be present as a minor overstory component. Cascade barberry (Mahonia nervosa) is commonly present in the understory shrub and subshrub layers but is generally much less abundant than on Mesic Udic Dry Forest sites.
Associated sites
| AX001X01X402 |
Mesic Udic Moist Forest Mesic Udic Moist Forest sites may occur downslope of Mesic Udic Forest sites and generally have more stable slope gradients. Mesic Udic Moist Forest sites have higher productivity. Mesic Udic Moist Forest sites typically support salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis). |
|---|---|
| AX001X01X200 |
Temperate Wet Meadow Temperate Wet Meadow sites may be found adjacent to or surrounded by Mesic Udic Forest sites. Temperate Wet Meadows occur on depressions and seeps. Temperate Wet Meadow sites lack tree cover. |
| AX001X01X004 |
Mesic Aquic Forest Mesic Aquic Forest sites may occur downslope or in mosaic with Mesic Udic Forest sites. Mesic Aquic Forest sites occur on depressions and seeps and are subject to ponding. |
Similar sites
| AX001X01X406 |
Frigid Udic Forest Frigid Udic Forest sites occur at higher elevations and support Pacific silver-fir (Abies amabilis). |
|---|---|
| AX001X01X403 |
Mesic Udic Dry Forest Mesic Udic Dry Forest sites occur primarily in northeast quadrant of the park in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountains. Mesic Udic Dry Forest sites have much lower productivity and are indicated by the presence of oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor), and a higher abundance of Cascade barberry (Mahonia nervosa). |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Tsuga heterophylla |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Gaultheria shallon |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Polystichum munitum |
Legacy ID
F001XA401WA
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Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
Communities 1 and 5 (additional pathways)
| 1.1B | - | Low-intensity, local disturbance |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1A | - | High-intensity disturbance |
| 1.2A | - | Time without disturbance |
| 1.2B | - | High-intensity disturbance |
| 1.3A | - | Time without disturbance |
| 1.4B | - | High-intensity disturbance |
| 1.4A | - | Time without disturbance |
| 1.5A | - | Time without disturbance |
| 1.5B | - | High-intensity disturbance |