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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F004AC409OR
Coastal Upland Cool Forest
Last updated: 5/07/2024
Accessed: 08/17/2024
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): 004A–Sitka Spruce Belt
This resource area is along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by a marine climate and coastal fog belt. The parent material is primarily glacial, marine, or alluvial sediment and some scattered areas of Tertiary sedimentary rock and organic deposits. Glacial deposits are dominant in the northern part of the MLRA in Washington; marine and alluvial deposits and eolian sand are dominant along the southern part of the Washington coast and extending into Oregon. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 52 to 60 inches near the beaches to more than 190 inches in the inland areas of the MLRA.
Andisols and Inceptisols are the dominant soil orders in the MLRA, but Spodosols, Entisols, and Histosols are also present. The soils are shallow to very deep and very poorly drained to somewhat excessively drained. They are on hilly marine terraces and drift plains; coastal uplands, hills, and foothills; flood plains; and coastal dunes, marshes, and estuaries.
The soil temperature regimes of MLRA 4A are moderated by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, which eases the differences between the mean summer and winter temperatures. The seasonal differences in temperature are more pronounced in adjacent MLRAs further inland. Included in MLRA 4A are soils in cooler areas at higher elevations or on northerly aspects that have an isofrigid temperature regime.
The soil moisture regimes of MLRA 4A are typified by soils that do not have an extended dry period during normal years. Many of the soils further inland in MLRA 2 have a dry period in summer. Soils in low-lying areas and depressions of MLRA 4A are saturated in the rooting zone for extended periods due to a high water table or long or very long periods of flooding or ponding.
MLRA 4A Soil Temperature Regimes
Isomesic The mean annual soil temperature (measured at a depth of 20 inches) is 46 to 59 degrees F, and the difference between the mean winter and summer temperatures is less than 11 degrees. The seasonal soil temperatures and difference between the mean winter and summer temperatures are moderated by the proximity to the ocean and the effects of fog in summer.
Isofrigid The mean annual soil temperature (measured at a depth of 20 inches) is 32 degrees F to less than 46 degrees, and the difference between the mean winter and mean summer temperatures is less than 11 degrees. The seasonal soil temperatures and difference between the mean winter and summer temperatures are moderated by the proximity to the ocean and the effects of fog in summer. The temperatures are cooler than in surrounding lowlands because of the higher elevation and differences in slope and aspect.
MLRA 4A Soil Moisture Regimes
Udic The soil rooting zone is not dry in any part for more than 90 cumulative days in normal years. Soil moisture does not limit plant growth because of the fog in summer.
Aquic The soil is virtually free of dissolved oxygen due to saturation of the rooting zone. The soils are saturated for extended periods during the growing season and may be subject to long or very long periods of ponding and flooding.
Refer to Keys to Soil Taxonomy for complete definitions of the soil temperature and moisture regimes.
LRU notes
The Southern Sitka Spruce Belt land resource unit (LRU C) of MLRA 4A is along the west coast of Oregon. This LRU extends from the northern edge of South Slough to the Chetco River, and it is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The area consists of sand dunes, flood plains, and marine terraces that extend a few miles east and are parallel to the Pacific Ocean, and it transitions to steeper, higher elevation ridges and foothills of the western slopes of the Coast Range. The soils in the coastal lowland areas dominantly formed in eolian (wind-deposited) sand, alluvium, and marine sediment. The soils in the coastal foothills formed in residuum, colluvium, and landslide deposits derived from sedimentary and basaltic rock. Minor additions of recent alluvium are along the river valleys. Several major rivers that have headwaters in the coastal mountains carved steep, narrow valleys through the foothills before entering the broader coastal valleys. Subduction zones along the Pacific Coast may cause significant earthquakes and tsunamis, which would disrupt the ecological processes beyond what is described in this ecological site description.
Classification relationships
National vegetation classification: G751 North Pacific Western Hemlock-Sitka Spruce-Western Redcedar Seasonal Rainforest
Forest Service plant associations of southwestern Oregon: Sitka spruce-white fir/salmonberry
Ecological site concept
This ecological site is on the western coastline of the Pacific Northwest, from central to southern Oregon. It is on coastal hills, mountains, and headlands at an elevation of 30 to 1,800 feet.
The maritime climate is characterized by cool, moist summers and cool, wet winters. The mean annual precipitation is 55 to 130 inches. Coastal fog provides supplemental moisture in summer. Snowfall is rare, and it is not persistent when it occurs. The mean annual air temperatures is 50 to 54 degrees F. The mild temperatures and long growing season result in highly productive forestland.
This forest ecological site is supported by soils that have a wide range in physical properties. The soils are in the udic temperature regime and isomesic moisture regime. This climate is characterized by low potential evapotranspiration during the growing season; therefore, plants are not drought stressed. The soils have a high to low water-holding capacity, and the main soil properties that affect water-holding capacity are depth and texture.
As a result of the unique abiotic conditions, this ecological site is considered one of the most productive forests in the world (Franklin, 1973). The most common overstory species are Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and white fir (Abies concolor). Stands may also include Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and red alder (Alnus rubra). Regeneration of red alder is limited by the canopy cover, and it commonly is in gaps where sunlight is most available. Common understory species include salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium), salal (Gaultheria shallon), and western swordfern (Polystichum munitum). The vegetation is similar to that of the Coastal Upland Cool Forest (F04AB403WA) site in LRU B, but the productivity of this site in LRU C is higher because of the warmer, longer growing season.
The most natural disturbance on this ecological site is windthrow following major storms, which creates pockets of forest openings. Although wildfires are uncommon, the site is susceptible to catastrophic crown fires that are stand replacing (Taylor, 1990). The natural fire regime for Sitka spruce is 150 to 400 years (Griffith, 1992).
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Picea sitchensis |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Vaccinium ovatum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Polystichum munitum |
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