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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R237XY215AK
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Loamy Plains
Last updated: 7/23/2020
Accessed: 08/17/2024
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): 237X–Ahklun Mountains
The Ahklun Mountains Major Land Resource Area (MLRA 237) is in western Alaska (fig. 2). This MLRA covers approximately 14,555 square miles, and it includes the mountains, hills, and valleys of the Kilbuck Mountains in the north and the Ahklun Mountains in the south. Except for the Kilbuck Mountains and the highest ridges of the Ahklun Mountains, the MLRA was extensively glaciated during the Pleistocene (Kautz et al., 2004). Today, a few small glaciers persist in mountainous cirques (Gallant et al., 1995). The present-day landscape and landforms reflect this glacial history; glacial moraines and glacial drift cover much of the area (USDA-NRCS, 2006). The landscape of the MLRA is primarily defined by low, steep, rugged mountains cut by narrow-to-broad valleys. Flood plains and terraces of varying sizes are common at the lower elevations in the valley bottoms. Glacially carved valleys host many lakes. Togiak Lake is one of the largest lakes in the region. It is 13 miles long and about 9,500 acres in size. Major rivers include the Goodnews, Togiak, Kanektok, Osviak, Eek, and Arolik Rivers. Where the Goodnews and Togiak Rivers reach the coast, the nearly level to rolling deltas support numerous small lakes.
This MLRA has two distinct climatic zones: subarctic continental and maritime continental (fig. 3). The high-elevation areas are in the subarctic continental zone. The mean annual precipitation is more than 75 inches, and the mean annual air temperature is below about 27 degrees F (-3 degrees C) in extreme locations. The warmer, drier areas at the lower elevations are in the maritime continental zone. The mean annual precipitation is 20 to 50 inches, and the mean annual air temperature is about 30 to 32 degrees F (-0.2 to 1.2 degrees C) (PRISM). This climatic zone is influenced by both maritime and continental factors. The temperatures in summer are moderated by the open waters of the Bering Sea, and the temperatures in winter are more continental due to the presence of ice in the sea (Western Regional Climate Center, 2017). The seasonal ice reaches its southernmost extent off the coast of Alaska in Bristol Bay (Alaska Climate Research Center, 2017). The western coast of Alaska is also influenced by high winds from strong storms and airmasses in the Interior Region of Alaska (Hartmann, 2002).
The Ahklun Mountains MLRA is principally undeveloped wilderness. Federally managed lands include the Togiak and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuges. The MLRA is sparsely populated, but it has several communities, including Togiak, Manokotak, Twin Hills, and Goodnews Bay. Togiak is the largest village. It has a population of approximately 855, most of which are Yup’ik Alaska Natives (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). Major land uses include subsistence activities (fishing, hunting, and gathering) and wildlife recreation (USDA-NRCS, 2006; Kautz et al., 2004).
Ecological site concept
Ecological site R237XY215AK is on low-elevation, convex rises of drift plains. The reference state has one community phase, which is the reference plant community. No disturbance has been recorded for this site, and no alternate states are associated with the site.
The reference plant community is an ericaceous dwarf scrubland tundra (Viereck et al., 1992) consisting of dwarf and low shrubs. Major species include black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), marsh Labrador tea (Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens), bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), and dwarf birch (Betula nana). The ground cover commonly consists of various lichens.
Associated sites
R237XY236AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Graminoid Peat Plains Ecological site R237XY215AK is on convex rises of plains. Many ecological sites are directly adjacent to or in close proximity of this site. These sites typically are differentiated by one or more criteria, including landform, landform position, associated soils, associated disturbance regimes, and the type and amount of plants. The most common associated ecological sites are R237XY205AK, R237XY208AK, and R237XY236AK. Ecotonal plant communities that have characteristics from more than one ecological site are in areas where these sites abut. |
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R237XY205AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Loamy Swales Ecological site R237XY215AK is on convex rises of plains. Many ecological sites are directly adjacent to or in close proximity of this site. These sites typically are differentiated by one or more criteria, including landform, landform position, associated soils, associated disturbance regimes, and the type and amount of plants. The most common associated ecological sites are R237XY205AK, R237XY208AK, and R237XY236AK. Ecotonal plant communities that have characteristics from more than one ecological site are in areas where these sites abut. |
R237XY208AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Peat Depressions Ecological site R237XY215AK is on convex rises of plains. Many ecological sites are directly adjacent to or in close proximity of this site. These sites typically are differentiated by one or more criteria, including landform, landform position, associated soils, associated disturbance regimes, and the type and amount of plants. The most common associated ecological sites are R237XY205AK, R237XY208AK, and R237XY236AK. Ecotonal plant communities that have characteristics from more than one ecological site are in areas where these sites abut.ological site are in areas where these sites abut. |
Similar sites
R237XY201AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Gravelly Slopes Ecological site R237XY201AK supports some of the same low and dwarf shrub species as site R237XY215AK, but the reference plant communities of these sites differ. Site R237XY201AK supports less total cover of shrubs and lichens than does site R237XY215AK. Site R237XY215AK also is subject to a disturbance and supports a plant community that is not recorded on the rises of plains. |
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R237XY204AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Loamy Slopes Ecological sites R237XY215AK and R237XY204AK support many of the same species in the reference plant community, but shrubs appear to be more productive in areas of site R237XY204AK (personal observation). Climatic differences likely contribute to the differences in production. |
R237XY218AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Dwarf Scrubland Gravelly Slopes, Concave Ecological sites R237XY215AK and R237XY218AK supports a similar reference plant community; however, site R237XY218AK is in concave areas at higher elevations. Alpine and subalpine plants are interspersed throughout the dwarf scrubland in this site. Site R237XY218AK also supports less lichen than site R237XY215AK and likely is more productive (personal observation), which may be due to the protection provided by the concave shape of the slopes. |
![](/uploads/med/rd/fp/1571267958_588471.jpg)
Figure 1. This ecological site dominantly supports low and dwarf shrubs. Various lichens make up the ground cover.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
(1) Empetrum nigrum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Cladina |
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