Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F044AY501WA
Warm Mesic Xeric Loamy Foothills, Terraces, low AWC subsoils (Ponderosa Pine/Shrub) Pinus Ponderosa /Symphoricarpos albus, Pinus Ponderosa / Physocarpus malvaceus
Last updated: 3/11/2019
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.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 044A–Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 044A–Northern Rocky Mountains Valleys
For information regarding MLRAs, refer to: 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
LRU notes
Found in LRU 44A01 (Spokane-Rathdrum Outwash Plain)
This LRU is composed predominantly of hillslopes, outwash terraces, outwash plains and alluvial terraces. The LRU is in the portion of the Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys immediately south of the continental ice margin and west of Lake Pend Oreille in areas that were subjected to outburst flooding associated with glacial Lake Missoula. The soils tend to be loamy to sandy mollisols and inceptisols with a weak volcanic ash influence. Outwash is the dominant parent material though colluvium and residuum from granitic and /or metamorphic geology is also common. Soil climate is a mesic temperature regime and xeric moisture regime with average annual precipitation around 525 mm (21 inches) and an average annual air temperature around 8.2 degrees C (47 degrees F). Elevation ranges from about 520 to 815 m (1,700 to 2,670 feet).
Classification relationships
Relationship to Other Established Classifications:
United States National Vegetation Classification (2008) – A3446 Ponderosa Pine / Shrub Understory Central Rocky Mt. Forest & Woodland Alliance
Washington Natural Heritage Program. Ecosystems of Washington State, A Guide to Identification, Rocchio and Crawford, 2015 – Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna
Description of Ecoregions of the United States, USFS PN # 1391, 1995 - M333 Northern Rocky Mt. Forest-Steppe-Coniferous Forest-Alpine Meadow Province
Level III and IV Ecoregions of WA, US EPA, June 2010 - 15r Okanogan – Colville Xeric Valleys & Foothills and 15s Spokane Valley Outwash Plains
This ecological site includes the following USDA Forest Service Plant Associations: PIPO/SYAL, PIPO/PHMA, and PIPO/SYOR. (Williams et. al. 1995)
Ecological site concept
This site consists of hillslopes and lower mountain slopes with the following characteristics: loamy soil materials; low available water capacity; a water table (perched or apparent) greater than 75 cm (30 in) below the soil surface during the April to October period; PIPO/SYAL, PIPO/PHMA habitat types.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Pinus ponderosa |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Symphoricarpos albus |
Herbaceous |
Not specified |
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