Classification and Management of Eastern Washington's
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Classification and Management of Aquatic, Riparian and Wetland Sites On the National Forests of Eastern Washington (Part 1: The Series Descriptions) FINAL DRAFT (off to PNW for edit, layout and publishing) February 14, 2001 By Bernard L. (Bud) Kovalchik Hall Ponds, Colville National Forest Bernard L. (Bud) Kovalchik Eastern Washington Area Ecologist (Area II): Retired USDA Forest Service Region 6 and Pacific Northwest Research Station Colville, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests 765 South Main Street Colville, WA 99114 (509) 684-7000 LOTUS = [email protected] Author’s Home E-mail Address = [email protected] USDA and USDI employees may download this document from the Colville National Forest Intranet Site 2 About the Author Bernard L. (Bud) Kovalchik was the Area Ecologist in Area II (Wenatchee, Okanogan and Colville National Forests), stationed on the Colville National Forest. He did most of the sampling for this classification on the Colville and Okanogan National Forests and supervised several crews that collected additional information on the Wenatchee and Okanogan National Forests. He did most of the data entry and editing, data analysis, and authored the classification. Bud’s previous classifications of potential natural vegetation include: 1. “Forested Habitat Types of Montana” (Pfister et al. 1977). 2. “Plant Associations of the Crooked River National Grasslands” (Hopkins and Kovalchik 1981). 3. “Riparian Zone Associations of the Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National Forests” (Kovalchik 1987). 4. “Field Guide for Forested Plant Associations of the Wenatchee National Forest” (Lillybridge et al. 1995). Acknowledgements The author laid the groundwork for this and other riparian/wetland classifications in the Pacific Northwest with his classification of riparian plant associations in central Oregon (Kovalchik 1987). This model has since been applied in northeastern Oregon (Crowe and Clausnitzer 1997), Montana (Hansen et al. 1995), and the Gifford Pinchot/Mt. Hood National Forests (Diaz and Mellen 1996). This classification would not be possible without the support of many people: Ed Schultz, Sonny O’Neal, Sam Gehr, Bob Vaught, Joe Sanchez, George Buckingham, Fred Gonzalez and Glen Hoffman lent their staff support throughout this process. Brian Kelley, a former member of the Area II ecology staff, assisted the author as a crewmember for one summer and updated the analysis for the Conifer and Deciduous Series in 1997. Summer crewmembers include Rich Corner, Matt Bergval-Mensor, Monica Hunt, Drake Reed, Mike Wendel and Kia Casho. A special thanks to Marie James, who assisted the author in data collection for one summer and was a very capable crew leader for two additional summers. Marie James and Karen Larson provided months of winter office help. Brad Smith made life easier by writing the ECOAID program, which has allowed all of us in the Region 6 Ecology Program to work in a friendly database environment for data management and analysis. Dave Larson and Janice Berube provided GIS help along the way. Ken White converted the PARADOX database to a linked ACCESS database. Bill Swartz reviewed and rewrote the geomorphology section. Richard Carter entered corrections provided by the peer reviews of Terry Lillybridge and Rod Clausnitzer. Joy Mastroguiseppe and Steven Brunsfeld verified sedge and willow collections during the first few years of the study. And finally, thanks to Andrea Read, Leah Wall, Bill Zoodsma and Rhinda Wolfe for their timely and invaluable help during the final stages of document preparation. Cover photo by: Bernard L. (Bud) Kovalchik. Figures 1 and 4 by: William (Bill) Swartz. Other figures, tables, photos, sketches and graphics by Bud Kovalchik. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington DC 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 or (TTY) (202) 720-1127. USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. 3 Detailed Table of Contents Concepts, Methods, and Applications Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………8 Scope……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….. Objectives…………………………………….…………………………………………………………..…………. Methods……………………...…………………………………………………………………………11 Field Methods………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Taxonomic Considerations………………………………………………………………………………………… Office Methods……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Classification Concepts and Terminology……………..……………………………………….13 Series, Plant Association, and Community Type Concepts……………………………………………………. Nomenclature……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. The Physical Environment…………………………………………………………………………14 Climate………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Soils……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Geomorphology and Riparian/Wetland Classification…………………………………………17 Continent Physiography…………………………………………………………………………………………….. Geologic Basis of the Sections The Classification…………………………………………………………………………................................…………..24 Aquatic/Riparian/Wetland Sample Plots…………………………………………………………………………. Classification Order………………………………………………………………………………………………… Series Description Criteria…………………………………………………………………………………………. Classification Database…………………………………………..……………………………………… Vegetation Characteristics………………………………………………………………………………… Physical Setting…………………………………………………………….……………………………… Elevation…………………………………………………………………………………………… Valley Geomorphology…………………………..……………………………………………… Rosgen Channel Types (Classes)………………………………………………….………….. Fluvial Surfaces…………………………………………..…………………………………….. Soils…………………………………………………………………………………………….… Ecosystem Management……………………………………………………………………………………. Natural Regeneration…………………………………………………………………………….. Artificial Establishment……………………………………………………………………………. Stand Management…………………………………………………………………………….. Growth and Yield…………………………………………………………………………….. Down Wood and Snags……………………………………………………………………. Fire…………………………………………………………………………………………… Animals………………………………………………………………………………………… Recreation………………………………………………………………………………………. Insects and Disease…………………………………………………………………………….. Estimating Vegetation Potential on Disturbed Sites………………………………………. Sensitive Species…………………………………………………………………………… Adjacent Series………………………………………………………………………………………. Relationships to Other Classifications…………………………………………………………….. Keys for Field Identification Vegetative Key to the Major Vegetation Lifeforms……………………………………………………………….29 Key to the Coniferous Forest Series………………………………………………………………………………..31 Key to the Deciduous Forest Series……………………………………………………………….……….………32 Key to the Shrub Series……………………………………………………………………………….……….…..…33 Key to the Herbaceous Series……………………………………………………………………….………………34. 4 Descriptions for the Coniferous Forest Series (TSME) Mountain Hemlock Series………………………………………………………………………………………42 (ABAM) Pacific Silver Fir Series………………………………………………………………………………………...56 (TSHE) Western Hemlock Series………………………………………………………………………………………..73 (THPL) Western redcedar Series……………………………………………………………………………..…………92 (ABLA2) Subalpine Fir Series……………………………………………………………………………………..……111 (PIEN) Engelmann Spruce Series……………………………………………………………………….………..……133 (ABGR) Grand Fir Series………………………………………………………………………………….….……........150 Miscellaneous Conifer Series…………………………………………………………………………….……….……164 Descriptions for the Deciduous Forest Series (POTR) Quaking Aspen Series…………………………………………………………………………………………174 (POTR2) Black Cottonwood Series……………………………………………………………………………………189 Miscellaneous Deciduous Tree Series……………………………………………………………………………..…205 Descriptions for the Shrub Series (SALIX) Willow Series……………………………………………………………………………………………………218 (HEATH) Heath Series……………………………………………………………………………………………………246 (ACCI) Vine Maple Series………………………………………………………………………………………..………259 (ALSI) Sitka Alder Series…………………………………………………………………………………………………271 (ALIN) Mountain Alder Series………………………………………………………………………………….………..286 (COST) Red-osier Dogwood Series………………………………………………………………………….…...……307 (SPDO) Douglas spiraea Series………………………………………………………………………………...………322 Miscellaneous Shrub Series……………………………………………………………………………………....…....334 Descriptions for the Herbaceous Series AQUATIC Series………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….347 MEADOW Series…………………………………………………………………………………………………….....…362 FORB Series………………………………………………………………………………………………………...........392 Tables Table 1. Reference sources for determining site index………………………………………………………………… Table 2. List of aquatic, riparian and wetland plant associations on the National Forests of eastern Washington…. Table 3. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the TSME Plant Associations………………… Table 4. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the ABAM Plant Associations……………… Table 5. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the TSHE Plant Associations………………… Table 6. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the THPL Plant Associations……………… Table 7. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the ABLA2 Plant Associations………………. Table 8. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the PIEN Plant Associations………………… Table 9. Constancy and mean cover of important plant species in the ABGR Plant Associations……………….. Table 10. Constancy and mean cover