Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F043AY507WA
Warm Mesic Xeric Loamy Foothills/Mountainsides, low AWC subsoils (Ponderosa Pine Dry Shrub, Grass) Pinus ponderosa / Purshia tridentata – Festuca idahoensis - Pseudoroegneria spicata
Last updated: 3/11/2019
Accessed: 11/14/2024
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.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 043A–Northern Rocky Mountains
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 043A–Northern Rocky Mountains
Description of MLRAs can be found in: United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.
Available electronically at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcs142p2_053624#handbook
LRU notes
Most commonly found in LRU 43A01 (Okanogan Plateau).
This LRU is composed predominantly of glaciated foothills, mountain slopes and outwash terraces west of the Republic Graben. The LRU is in the portion of the Northern Rocky Mountains that was subjected to continental glaciation. The soils tend to be loamy andisols, mollisols and inceptisols with thick volcanic ash surfaces. Till and outwash are the dominant parent materials though colluvium and residuum from granitic and /or metamorphic geology are also common.. Soil climate is a dominantly cryic or frigid temperature regime and xeric moisture regime with average annual precipitation around 450 mm (18 inches) and an average annual air temperature around 6.3 degrees C (43 degrees F). Elevation ranges from about 560 to 1530 m (1,840 to 5,020 feet).
Classification relationships
Relationship to Other Established Classifications:
United States National Vegetation Classification (2008) – A3446 Ponderosa Pine / Shrub Understory Central Rocky Mt. Forest & Woodland Alliance
Washington Natural Heritage Program. Ecosystems of Washington State, A Guide to Identification, Rocchio and Crawford, 2015 – Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna
Description of Ecoregions of the United States, USFS PN # 1391, 1995 - M332 Middle Rocky Mountain Steppe– Coniferous Forest -Alpine Meadow Province
Level III and IV Ecoregions of WA, US EPA, June 2010 - 15r Okanogan – Colville Xeric Valleys & Foothills
This ecological site includes the following USDA Forest Service Plant Associations: PIPO/PUTR, PIPO/PUTR-FEID, and PIPO/PUTR-PSSP. (Williams et. al. 1995)
Ecological site concept
This site consists of hillslopes, outwash terraces and lower mountain slopes with the following characteristics: loamy soil materials; a volcanic ash surface less than than 7 inches thick; a water table (perched or apparent) greater than 75 cm (30 in) below the soil surface during the April to October period; PIPO/PUTR-FEID, PIPO/PUTR-PSSP6 habitat types.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Pinus ponderosa |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Purshia tridentata |
Herbaceous |
(1) Festuca idahoensis |
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