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Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R237XY224AK
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Gravelly Plains, Berms
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. 1). 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. 2). 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 R237XY224AK is on the slightly sloping, leeward side of coastal berms. Landform, location, and soil characteristics combine to create this ecological site. The reference state supports a single reference community. Bulldozing of this site for construction results in an alternate state.
The reference plant community is a shrub tundra consisting of low and dwarf shrub species and interspersed graminoids. Common plants include black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), marsh Labrador tea (Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens), dwarf birch (Betula nana), bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis), and smallawned sedge (Carex microchaeta).
Associated sites
R237XY223AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Graminoid Gravelly Plains, Berms The most common associated ecological site is R237XY223AK. This site is adjacent to site R237XY224AK on the windward side of beach berms. 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. Ecotonal plant communities that have characteristics from more than one ecological site are in areas where these sites abut. |
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Similar sites
R237XY215AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Loamy Plains The reference plant community of several ecological sites in the Ahklun Mountains area resembles that of site R237XY224AK. Sites R237XY208AK, R237XY215AK, and R237XY218AK support a scrubland consisting of low and dwarf shrub species. Landform, elevation, and disturbance regime differentiate these sites from site R237XY224AK. Site R237XY224AK is on coastal shore complexes, and the other sites are restricted dominantly to higher elevation mountain slopes and glaciated plains. |
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R237XY218AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Dwarf Scrubland Gravelly Slopes, Concave The reference plant community of several ecological sites in the Ahklun Mountains area resembles that of site R237XY224AK. Sites R237XY208AK, R237XY215AK, and R237XY218AK support a scrubland consisting of low and dwarf shrub species. Landform, elevation, and disturbance regime differentiate these sites from site R237XY224AK. Site R237XY224AK is on coastal shore complexes, and the other sites are restricted dominantly to higher elevation mountain slopes and glaciated plains. |
R237XY208AK |
Western Alaska Maritime Scrubland Peat Depressions The reference plant community of several ecological sites in the Ahklun Mountains area resembles that of site R237XY224AK. Sites R237XY208AK, R237XY215AK, and R237XY218AK support a scrubland consisting of low and dwarf shrub species. Landform, elevation, and disturbance regime differentiate these sites from site R237XY224AK. Site R237XY224AK is on coastal shore complexes, and the other sites are restricted dominantly to higher elevation mountain slopes and glaciated plains. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
(1) Empetrum nigrum |
Herbaceous |
(1) Calamagrostis canadensis |
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