Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F043BP909MT
Upland Cold Woodland Group
Last updated: 3/01/2024
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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): 043B–Central Rocky Mountains
The Central Rocky Mountains (MLRA 43B) of Montana occupy some 28,850 square miles and exist primarily in Central and SW portions of the state. The climate is extremely variable with precipitation lows of 9 to 100 inches per year and frost free days of less than 30 to over 110 days. The geology of the region is also highly variable. The combination of variable climate and geology create a complex relationship of plant communities. MLRA 43B elevations typically exist between 6000 and 12,799ft at Granite Peak (the highest point in Montana).
The Continental Divide runs through this MLRA effectively splitting its watershed to contribute to either the Missouri River to the East and the Columbia River to the West.
Ecological site concept
• Site does not receive any additional water
• Dominant Cover: Coniferous Forest
• Soils are
o Generally not saline or saline-sodic (limited extent)
o Moderately deep, deep, or very deep
o Typically less than 5% stone and boulder cover (<15% max)
• Soil surface texture ranges from sandy loam to clay loam in surface mineral 4”
• Site Landform: mountain slopes, ridges, escarpments
• Area of rugged mountain, hills, plateaus, and valleys of the Central Rocky Mountains in Southwest Montana.
• Parent material is colluvium, colluvium over residuum, residuum
• Moisture Regime: ustic to udic
• Temperature Regime: cryic
• Elevation Range: 6300-10000ft
• Slope: 0-65% (typically less than 35%)
Associated sites
F043BP902MT |
Shallow Cold Woodland Group The Upland Cold Woodland site is adjacent to the Shallow Cold Woodland however tending to be lower on the landscape where soils tend to be deeper. These two sites share similar plant communities and state and transition models. |
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Similar sites
F043BP902MT |
Shallow Cold Woodland Group The Upland Cold Woodland site is adjacent to the Shallow Cold Woodland however tending to be lower on the landscape where soils tend to be deeper. These two sites share similar plant communities and state and transition models. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Abies lasiocarpa |
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Shrub |
(1) Symphoricarpos |
Herbaceous |
(1) Calamagrostis rubescens |
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