State 1
Mature Forest

Natural succession of the forest stand is driven by fire or other tools to maintain canopy and stand health. The successional forest communities that are identified generally include three main community phases. The post fire shrub community is not captured in this state, but is captured in the post disturbance state.

Characteristics and indicators. The dominance of Douglas-fir in the Mature phase is followed by an opening of the canopy by fire allowing a sub-dominance of either lodge pole pine (or limber pine in lower elevations) or of quacking aspen. A variety of under story compositions can be described for this state.

Resilience management. Fire is a natural component for stand replacement and tree health. The frequency and intensity of these fires are the driving factors in the transition within and out of this state.

Community 1.1
PSME Dominant

Figure 8. Mature Douglas-fir community on a cool shallow site.

Mature stands of primarily Douglas-fir with limited under story growth are the dominant canopy for this community phase. The main under story species are arnica, ninebark, snowberry and a variety of other tall shrubs. This community phase is a distinct old growth timber stand with a significant duff layer and woody litter.

Resilience management. Fire plays a major role in the function and cycle of this plant community.

Community 1.2
PSME/PICO/PIEN Sub-dominant

Figure 9. Lodge pole pine, Englemann spruce and Douglas-fir community impacted by beetle kill.

Following fire, the regeneration of less dominant species, such as lodge pole pine and Englemann spruce increase initially until Douglas-fir increase in density. With a diversity of woody species, and before the canopy closes, a mixture of grasses and forbs will be prominent in the under story.

Resilience management. Maturing of the woody canopy is a natural progression of this community. Fire plays a role in maintaining an open canopy or a more diverse composition.

Community 1.3
PSME/POTR5 Dominant

Figure 10. Pockets of Aspen intermixed with Douglas-fir.

In select positions within the landscape of Douglas-fir, quaking aspen will maintain a strong community. Sedges, reed grass, fescues and other herbaceous species will be prominent in this community.

Resilience management. Encroachment of spruce and fir will crowd the aspen community, shading the aspen out over time with the lack of fire. Disease and insects are also detrimental to the aspen stands, and fire helps to maintain the health of the stand with time.

Pathway CP1.1-1.2
Community 1.1 to 1.2

PSME Dominant

PSME/PICO/PIEN Sub-dominant

Replacement fires, controlled or wild, to reduce the canopy of the Douglas-fir and to encourage the lodge pole pine and englemann's spruce transitions this timber stand to Community 1.2. The under story responds to the increased light exposure, and micro-climate shifts. The use of selective timber harvest methods as well as natural insect and disease cycles will help this to occur naturally. Aging of timber stands will also see this natural transition.

Pathway CP1.1-1.3
Community 1.1 to 1.3

PSME Dominant

PSME/POTR5 Dominant

Replacement fire to reduce the fuel loads, open the canopy and improve water movement through the canopy to the soil encourages the growth and establishment of quaking aspen stands. Continued control of the overstory of conifers helps to maintain this mixed timber stand.

Context dependence. The needed increase in hydrology with seeps or snow catch as well as the nursery source is needed to encourage this transition in the timber stand.

Pathway CP1.2-1.1
Community 1.2 to 1.1

PSME/PICO/PIEN Sub-dominant

PSME Dominant

With the reduced fire frequency, lack of timber management and no major impacts to the timber stand, Douglas-fir will increase in density, crowding out lodge pole pine and englemann's spruce, leaving a mature and dense stand of Douglas-fir over time.

Pathway CP1.2-1.3
Community 1.2 to 1.3

PSME/PICO/PIEN Sub-dominant

PSME/POTR5 Dominant

Fire frequency for stand replacement opens the canopy, recovering hydrology in select areas encouraging the re-establishment of quaking aspen where nursery sources are available. Timber management with selective harvest or falling timber to create protective niches for aspen to establish or techniques to encourage this transition.

Context dependence. The necessary seeps or snow pack driven hydrology is necessary as well as nursery stock to allow this transition to occur.

Pathway CP1.3-1.1
Community 1.3 to 1.1

PSME/POTR5 Dominant

PSME Dominant

The lack of fire, timber management or other disturbances will allow Douglas-fir to crowd out quaking aspen and the stand will transition to a mature Douglas-fir dominant stand. Disease and insect impacts are significant risks to quaking aspen and the lack of rejuvenation can accelerate the loss of aspen and increase in conifers.

State 2
Post Disturbance Forest

Stand replacement initiated by a disturbance, specifically logging or fire with additional disturbance post-fire, produces a secondary successional forest community that can broadly be described in two main community phases.

Characteristics and indicators. The dominance of the community by shrubs with a scattering (less than 10% cover) of young saplings, generally of lodge pole pine is the initial community phase. As the phase matures, the forest community shifts to a lodge pole pine forest stand with a minor component of Douglas-fir.

Resilience management. Fire is a natural component for stand replacement and tree health; however, disturbance following fire creates the transitions found in this state. Fire will continue to be a tool for forest health management within this stand.

Community 2.1
Recent Post Disturbance Phase

Figure 11. Post disturbance herbaceous under story. This site was logged and then was impacted by wildfire.

Following a quick fire return interval, significant insect or disease impacts, or other major disturbances, saplings of lodge pole pines will be the main woody species to re-establish within a prominent under story of tall shrubs and herbaceous species within this community phase.

Resilience management. Lodge pole pine will increase and become dense mature stands in the absence of fire or if no further disturbance occurs on this site.

Community 2.2
PICO Dominant/PSME Sub-dominant

As natural succession of the post disturbance community occurs, lodge pole pine increase in canopy and a minor cover of Douglas-fir can be found commonly intermixed. Herbaceous species and some shrubs will decrease with the increasing woody canopy.

Resilience management. Fire is the key to maintaining a healthy mixed stand of trees. In the absence of fire, or significant disease and insect pressure, the woody species will become the dominant cover and will restrict the under story significantly.

Pathway CP2.1-2.2
Community 2.1 to 2.2

Natural succession following fire especially, but with any disturbance, these forest stands will increase with conifer saplings with time. Management to reduce decimation of select conifer species may be needed in heavy corridor or use areas. Control of the frequency of fires may be necessary in areas where there is still a heavy fuels load to allow establishment of the woody species.

Pathway CP2.2-2.1
Community 2.2 to 2.1

Natural fire cycles, controlled burns, clear-cutting or selective timber harvest can open up areas that allow the under story vegetation to become dominant on the site. Insect, disease and other major shifts in the natural cycle or man induced disturbances can also reduce the canopy transitioning the site to a herbaceous dominated phase.

Transition T1-2
State 1 to 2

Disturbances such as increased frequency of fires, insect pestilence, disease, and clear-cut logging reduces Douglas-fir and increases the density of other tree species, including lodge pole pine and englemann's spruce.

Constraints to recovery. The lack of recovery time between disturbances, loss of viable seed sources, and climatic impacts, recovery of this site is impacted.

Context dependence. This ecological site description is a broad description and the variability of species shifts from the northern to southern extent and eastern compared to western continental divide shifts in species will vary the exact plant species, wildlife impacts, and climatic variables influencing this site.

Restoration pathway R2-1
State 2 to 1

With fire management, insect and disease control, and revegetation practices following timber harvest or other cover disturbances provides the recovery time to allow the natural processes to occur. In the instance that the needed seed sources or nursery crops are not present, planting or seeding may be required.