Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F044AP901MT
Ashy Cool Moist Woodland Group
Last updated: 9/08/2023
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): 044A–Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 044A–Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys
This MLRA includes the northern portion of the Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys Province of the Rocky Mountain System. The mountain valleys are deeply dissected and are typically bordered by mountains trending north to south. The nearly level broad flood plains are bordered by gently to strongly sloping terraces and alluvial fans. The surrounding mountains and in some areas the valleys experienced glaciation. The average precipitation is 12 to 16 inches generally, though can vary widely. The dominant soil orders are Inceptisols, Mollisols and Andisols. The valleys support coniferous forests, shrublands and grasslands.
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
Classification relationships
ASSOCIATED HABITAT TYPES:
Major association with:
grand fir/queencup beadlily
Minor association with:
western hemlock/queencup beadlily
Ecological site concept
• Site does not receive any additional water
• Dominant Cover: Coniferous Forest
Reference vegetation community has an overstory dominated by Grand fir with an understory that can have diverse shrub and herbacous species and low to moderate moss. The understory production averages 800 dry pounds per acre. Understory species can include Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex geyeri, Clintonia uniflora, Coptis occidentalis, Holodiscus discolor, Linnaea borealis, Maianthemum stellatum, Oshorhiza berteroi, Physocarpus malvaceus, Pteridium aquilinum, Symphoricarpos albus. This site can also have a western hemlock dominant or mixed with western redcedar overstory, with an understory that has queencup beadlily and moderate moss cover. Ecological dynamics are the same with either overstory.
• Soils are
o Generally not limy (limited extent)
o Moderately deep, deep, or very deep
o Ashy or medial textural family
o Typically less than 5% stone and boulder cover (<15% max)
• Soil surface texture ranges from gravelly ashy silt loam to ashy silt loam in surface mineral 4”
• Parent material is volcanic ash over alluvium or outwash
• Drainage class is well drained; no flooding frequency
• Site Landform: stream terraces, outwash terraces, lake terraces
• Moisture Regime: udic
• Temperature Regime: frigid
• Elevation Range: 2200-3000 ft
• Slope: 0-15%
Associated sites
F044AP904MT |
Upland Cool Moist Woodland Group This associated ecological site resides in areas with moister site conditions due to aspect, slope or other factors than this ecological site. |
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Similar sites
F044AF001MT |
Lower Subalpine Moderately Warm and Moist Coniferous Pend Oreille-Kootenai Valleys grand fir/bride's bonnet This is a similar ecological site that also has moister site conditions and has an overstory of grand fir but is limited to the LRU in the western most extent of this MLRA. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Abies grandis |
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Shrub |
(1) Vaccinium membranaceum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Clintonia uniflora |
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