Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F044AP904MT
Upland Cool Moist Woodland Group
Last updated: 9/07/2023
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): 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 TYPE:
WESTERN HEMLOCK/QUEENCUP BEADLILY
WESTERN REDCEDAR/QUEENCUP BEADLILY
Ecological site concept
• Site does not receive any additional water
• Dominant Cover: Coniferous Forest
The reference vegetation community is either a pure or mixed stand of western redcedar and/or western hemlock. The understory is generally low to moderate canopy cover of diverse shrubs and herbaceous species with low to moderate moss cover on the ground. Understory average production is 1800 dry pounds per acre, but ranges very widely from 200 pounds per acre to some seral phase communities with high production in grass species.
• Soils are
o Generally not limy (limited extent)
o Moderately deep, deep or very deep
o Not ashy or medial textural family
o Typically less than 5% stone and boulder cover (<15% max)
• Soil surface texture ashy silt loam or gravelly ashy silt loam in surface mineral 4”
• Parent material is mixed volcanic ash over alluvium, outwash or glaciolacustrine deposits
• Drainage class is well drained; no flooding frequency
• Site Landform: stream terraces, outwash terraces, lake terraces, lake plains, moraines
• Moisture Regime: udic
• Temperature Regime: frigid
• Elevation Range: 2200-2700 ft
• Slope: 4-15%
Associated sites
F044AP901MT |
Ashy Cool Moist Woodland Group This associated ecological site resides in slightly drier site conditions. |
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Similar sites
F044AF006MT |
Lower Subalpine Moderately Cool and Moist Coniferous Pend Oreille-Kootenai Valleys western redcedar-western hemlock/bride's bonnet This similar site to this ecological site in site conditions and the overstory is dominated by western redcedar and western hemlock, but it is limited to the LRU in the most western extent of this MLRA. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Thuja plicata |
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Shrub |
(1) Taxus brevifolia |
Herbaceous |
(1) Clintonia uniflora |
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