Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site XA232X01Y207
Boreal Herbaceous Peat Flood Plain Depressions
Last updated: 5/18/2020
Accessed: 04/24/2024
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): 232X–Yukon Flats Lowlands
The Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA is an expansive basin characterized by numerous levels of flood plains and terraces that are separated by minimal breaks in elevation. This MLRA is in Interior Alaska and is adjacent to the middle reaches of the Yukon River. Numerous tributaries of the Yukon River are within the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The largest are Beaver Creek, Birch Creek, Black River, Chandalar River, Christian River, Dall River, Hadweenzic River, Hodzana River, Porcupine River, and Sheenjek River. The MLRA has two distinct regions—lowlands and marginal uplands. The lowlands have minimal local relief and are approximately 9,000 square miles in size (Williams 1962). Landforms associated with the lowlands are flood plains and stream terraces. The marginal uplands consist of rolling and dissected plains that are a transitional area between the lowlands and adjacent mountain systems. The marginal uplands are approximately 4,700 square miles in size (Williams 1962).
This MLRA is bounded by the Yukon-Tanana Plateau to the south, Hodzana Highlands to the west, Porcupine Plateau to the east, and southern foothills of the Brooks Range to the north (Williams 1962). These surrounding hills and mountains partially isolate the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA from weather systems affecting other MLRAs of Interior Alaska. As a result, temperatures are generally warmer in summer and colder in winter than is characteristic in other areas at comparable latitude. There is a moisture and temperature gradient in which the lowlands region tends to be drier and colder and the surrounding marginal uplands region tends to be moister and warmer (PRISM Climate Group 2006).
The Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA is mostly undeveloped lands that are sparsely populated and not accessible by a road system. A number of villages, including Beaver, Birch Creek, Chalkyitsik, Circle, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, and Venetie, are adjacent to the Yukon River or one of its major tributaries. The largest village is Fort Yukon, which according to the 2010 U.S. Census has 583 residents that are dominantly Gwich’in Alaska Natives.
LRU notes
Alaska has no officially recognized LRU. However, there appear to be two distinct LRU in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. These LRU are thought to have differing climatic regimes, landforms, and soil types (STATSGO and Jorgensen and Meidinger 2015). The two LRU were previously discussed in the MLRA notes section above and are termed the lowlands LRU and the marginal uplands LRU.
This ecological site is associated with the lowlands LRU.
Classification relationships
Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA.
Ecological site concept
This ecological site is associated with high pH floating mats in flood plain depressions in Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA.. The reference plant community is associated with soils that both pond and flood. Ponding occurs frequently (greater than 50 times in 100 years) for very long durations of time (greater than 30 days). Flooding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). Associated soils are considered very poorly drained. The reference state supports one documented community.
The reference plant community is characterized as wet forb herbaceous (Viereck et al. 1992) and is composed of various obligate wetland species. Commonly observed species include water sedge (Carex aquatilis), creeping sedge (Carex chordorrhiza), wheat sedge (Carex atherodes), mud sedge (Carex limosa), tall cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium), buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), and water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile).
Associated sites
| XA232X01Y204 |
Boreal Forest Loamy Flood Plain High This ecological site occurs on the high flood plain of major tributaries in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). The reference plant community is characterized as an open needleleaf forest (25 to 60 percent cover) primarily composed of mature white spruce (Picea glauca). |
|---|---|
| XA232X01Y219 |
Boreal Forest Loamy Terraces Moist This ecological site is associated with somewhat poorly to moderately well drained soils on the treads of stream terraces in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding frequency ranges from rare to none. The reference plant community is characterized as an open needleleaf forest (25 to 60 percent cover) primarily composed of mature white spruce (Picea glauca). |
| XA232X01Y221 |
Boreal Forest Loamy Terraces This ecological site is associated with moderately well to well drained soils on the tread of stream terraces in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Flooding frequency ranges from rare to none. The reference plant community is characterized as an open needleleaf forest (25 to 60 percent cover) primarily composed of mature white spruce (Picea glauca). |
| XA232X01Y205 |
Boreal Grass Loamy Flood Plain Depressions This ecological site is associated with depressions on flood plains in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The reference state plant communities are associated with soils that both pond and flood. Ponding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). Flooding occurs occasionally for brief durations of time. The reference plant community is characterized as open tall scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) and is primarily composed of willow (Salix spp.). |
| XA232X01Y206 |
Boreal Scrub Loamy Frozen Flood Plain Depressions This ecological site is associated with depressions on flood plains in the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The reference state plant communities are associated with soils that both pond and flood. Ponding occurs frequently (greater than 50 times in 100 years) for long durations of time (between 7 and 30 days). Flooding occurs occasionally (5 to 50 times in 100 years) for brief durations of time (between 2 and 7 days). The reference plant community is characterized as mesic graminoid herbaceous (Viereck et al. 1992) and is primarily composed of bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis). |
| XA232X01Y209 |
Boreal Tussock Loamy Frozen Terraces This ecological site occurs on stream terraces in the lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. Soils commonly have permafrost at moderate depth (20 to 40 inches) and pond frequently for very long durations. The reference plant community is characterized as open low mixed shrub-sedge tussock bog (Viereck et al. 1992). |
| XA232X01Y280 |
Boreal Scrub Loamy Flood Plain Wet This ecological site occurs on the flood plain and adjacent terraces of minor, low-gradient tributaries in the lowlands region of the Yukon Flats Lowlands MLRA. The reference plant community is associated with soils that both pond and flood. The reference plant community phase is characterized as closed tall scrub (greater than 75 percent shrub cover; Viereck et al. 1992) primarily composed of a mixture of willow (Salix spp.). |
Similar sites
| XA232X01Y201 |
Boreal Woodland Peat Frozen Terraces XA232X01Y217 is associated with floating organic mats in acidic thermokarst bogs that are almost entirely composed of Sphagnum moss. |
|---|
Figure 1. XA232X01Y217 has plant communities associated with thermokarst and floating mat bogs. These bogs are highly acidic and composed primarily of Sphagnum.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Menyanthes trifoliata |
Legacy ID
R232XY207AK
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.