Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R043AY516ID
Cool-Frigid Moist-Xeric Loamy Low AWC Mountain Slopes (FECA/FEID/FEVI)
Last updated: 10/15/2020
Accessed: 11/21/2024
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): 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.
LRU notes
Major land resource area (MLRA): 043A-Northern Rocky Mountains
Modal LRU – 043A02 - Western Selkirk Highlands
Others where occurring: 043A01 - Okanogan Plateau
This LRU is composed predominantly of glaciated mountains and foothills. The soils tend to be loamy andisols, and inceptisols, with mixed or distinct ash surfaces. Till, outwash and residuum from granitic or metasedimentary rock are the dominant parent materials. Soil climate is a frigid or cryic temperature regime and xeric or udic moisture regime with average annual precipitation around 660 mm (26 inches).
Classification relationships
This ES fits into the National Vegetation Standard’s Central Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill & Valley Grassland Group and is most closely related to Washington State’s Natural Heritage Program’s Northern Rocky Mountain Lower Montane, Foothill and Valley Grassland (compare to WA-NRCS range site: R043AY702WA; MOUNTAIN PARK 24+ PZ)
Ecological site concept
Ecological Site Concept:
This ES is found on well drained mountain sides. A water table is not present. They have cool-frigid temperatures and a plant community dominated by grasses and forbs. They are loamy but have low AWC due to the presence of a depth restriction and/or high rock fragment content.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Amelanchier alnifolia |
Herbaceous |
(1) Festuca campestris |
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