Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R044AY501WA
Mesic, Aquic, Organic Depressions and Seeps
Last updated: 9/07/2023
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
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.
LRU notes
Major land resource area (MLRA): 044A-Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys
Modal LRU – 44A01 - Spokane-Rathdrum Outwash Plains
This LRU is composed predominantly of low foothills, outwash plains and valley floors. The soils tend to be loamy to sandy andisols, inceptisols, and mollisols with mixed or distinct ash surfaces. Recent alluvium, till, outwash and residuum from granitic or metamorphic rock are the dominant parent materials. Soil climate is a mesic temperature regime and xeric moisture regime with average annual precipitation around 525 mm (21 inches).
Classification relationships
This ES group fits into the National Vegetation Standard’s Northern Rocky Mountain Acidic fen group and is most closely related to Washington State’s Natural Heritage Program’s Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen but occurs at a lower elevation than is typical. (Compare to previous Washington range site: R044XY601WA, Wet Meadow 16-24 PZ)
Ecological site concept
This ES is distinguished by a persistent high water table and a plant community dominated by sedges, mosses and only scattered woody species.
Associated sites
F044AY502WA |
Warm Mesic Xeric Sandy Hill slopes and Outwash terraces (Ponderosa Pine/Shrub) Pinus Ponderosa /Symphoricarpos albus, Pinus Ponderosa / Physocarpus malvaceus Found on floodplains and in drainageways. Water table at depth of 20 to 30 inches with loamy surface texture. Site vegetation is typified by Calamagrostis canadensis and Galium trifidum. |
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F043AY509WA |
Warm, Xeric, Sandy, Outwash Terraces and Plains (Ponderosa Pine/Dry Grass) Pinus ponderosa / Pseudoroegneria spicata , Pinus ponderosa / Festuca idahoensis This site is found on terraces, alluvial fans and outwash plains. They have sandy soil materials and lack a high water table. Overstory species are Pinus ponderosa with some individuals of Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca. The understory is dominated by Festuca idahoensis and/or Pseudoroegneria spicata. |
F043AY511WA |
Warm, Xeric, Loamy Hillsides, Mixed ash surface (Ponderosa Pine/Dry Grass) Pinus ponderosa / Pseudoroegneria spicata, Pinus ponderosa / Festuca idahoensis This site occurs on glaciated hillslopes, low mountain slopes, till plains and outwash plains. They are generally on south to west aspects on moderate slopes. The sites have loamy soil material and lack a high water table. Overstory species are Pinus ponderosa with some individuals of Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca. The understory is dominated by Festuca idahoensis and/or Pseudoroegneria spicata. |
Similar sites
R043AY511ID |
Frigid Aquic Organic Depressions and Seeps (CAREX/SPHAG) Found on floodplains and seeps at cooler higher elevation locations. Confined to depressions and other areas of water accumulation. Have mucky surface textures. Found where MLRA 44A transitions to MLRA 43A in upper reaches of valleys. Site vegetation is dominated by a mix of wetland adapted species including Salix, Carex, and Sphagnum |
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R043AY510ID |
Cool-Mesic Aquic Loamy Flood Plains (CAST/CAREX) Found on floodplains and in drainageways. Water table within 30 inches of the surface for some time during spring and summer. They have loamy surface textures. Found in locations where MLRA 44A transitions to MLRA 43A at valley margins and upper reaches. Site vegetation is typified by Carex and Calamagrostis stricta. |
F044AY502WA |
Warm Mesic Xeric Sandy Hill slopes and Outwash terraces (Ponderosa Pine/Shrub) Pinus Ponderosa /Symphoricarpos albus, Pinus Ponderosa / Physocarpus malvaceus Found on floodplains and in drainageways. Water table at depth 20 to 30 inches with loamy surface texture. Site vegetation is typified by Calamagrostis canadensis and Galium trifidum. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Spiraea |
Herbaceous |
(1) Carex |
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