Avalanche Chutes Cryic

Description

Historic disturbance creates glade openings. Alder establishes as early seral species. Alder dominance is maintained by repeated disturbance combined with other site factors. Scattered individual conifers may establish temporarily but rarely reach pole size. Most common is Picea engelmanii. Sitka alder provides thermal and hiding cover for many wildlife species and can have high population densities of pocket gophers and hares. These populations can impede conifer establishment. Most commonly observed understory species are Montia cordifolia, Pteridium aquilinum, Rudbeckia occidentalis, Achillea millefolium, Arnica latifolia and Carex spp.

Submodel