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Home , Bitterroot Mountains, Ecoregion, Nez Perce Pass, Piedmont (ecoregion), Salish Mountains, Sapphire Mountains

DRAFT 2 15. Northern Rockies Ecoregion 15 is mountainous and rugged. Climate, trees, and understory species are characteristically maritime-influenced. Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, Englemann spruce, western larch, lodgepole pine, and ponderosa pine as well as Pacific indicators such as western redcedar, western hemlock, mountain Ecoregions of hemlock, and grand fir occur. Pacific tree species are more numerous than in the Batholith (16) Second Edition and are never dominant in the Middle Rockies (17). Alpine areas occur but, as a whole, the region has lower elevations, less perennial snow and ice, and fewer glacial than the adjacent Canadian Rockies (41). Metasedimentary rocks are common; granitic rocks and associated management problems are less extensive than in the Idaho Batholith (16). Thick volcanic ash deposits are more Widespread cover the Northern Elk commonly are found in high mountain Literature Cited: Rockies (15). Pacific Coast tree species are pastures during the summer and on lower, Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in and in the type, quality, and quantity of and Foothill Prairies (formerly Ecoregion 16) to another level III ecoregion, the Middle Rockies (17). The widespread than in Ecoregion 16. Logging and mining are common and have caused water Bailey, R.G., Avers, P.E., King, T., and McNab, W.H., eds., 1994, Ecoregions and subregions of the (map) (supplementary table of common locally. The ecoregion has been densely forested slopes during the winter. environmental resources; they are designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, second edition also modifies a few level IV ecoregion lines along Montana's western border so that quality problems in the region. Recreational uses are also important. extensively logged. Photo: Jerry Wol ff management, and monitoring of ecosystems and components. By recognizing the spatial ecoregions shared by Montana and Idaho will edge match. In addition, it updates ecoregion names so that map unit descriptions compiled and edited by McNab, W.H. and Bailey, R.G.): Washington, D.C., USFS, scale 1:7,500,000. Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., and Larsen, D.P., 1999, Ecoregions – a geographic framework to guide risk characterization and ecosystem SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES cloudiness than southeastern sections. Rainfall differences in the capacities and potentials of ecosystems, ecoregions stratify the environment by its they are consistent with the most recent ecoregion work in area (Chapman and others, 2003). However, it is management: Environmental Practice, v. 1, no. 3, p. 141-155. probable response to disturbance (Bryce and others, 1999). These general purpose regions are critical for important to note that although many polygon assignments and a few ecoregion names have changed (15): In Montana, Ecoregion 15 has enough and snow melt water are usually plentiful in Chapman, S.S., Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., Despain, D.G., ZumBerge, J., and Conrad, M., 2003, Ecoregions of Wyoming (color poster with map, variation in its biotic and abiotic the Northern Rockies (15), especially at higher structuring and implementing ecosystem management strategies across federal agencies, state agencies, and between the first and second editions, nearly all level IV ecoregion line positions are identical on the two descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,400,000). characteristics to be subdivided into 12 level elevations. Some water is stored in nongovernment organizations that are responsible for different types of resources within the same editions. Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997, Ecological regions of – toward a common perspective: IV ecoregions (15a through 15e, 15h, 15k, 15l, unconsolidated mountain valley fill, volcanic geographical areas (Omernik and others, 2000). Montreal, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 71 p. The level III and IV ecoregion map on this poster was compiled at a scale of 1:250,000 and depicts 15o through 15q, and 15t). These level IV deposits, glacial deposits, and in permeable Gallant, A.L., Whittier, T.R., Larsen, D.P., Omernik, J.M., and Hughes, R.M., 1989, Regionalization as a tool for managing environmental ecoregions typically separate areas that have sedimentary rocks. Ecoregion 15 in Montana The approach used to compile this map is based on the premise that ecological regions can be identified revisions and subdivisions of earlier level III ecoregions that were originally compiled at a smaller scale resources: Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/3-89/060, 152 p. through the analysis of the spatial patterns and the composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that affect (USEPA, 2000; Omernik, 1987). This poster is part of a collaborative project primarily between USEPA The Northern Rockies (15) ecoregion is rugged and forested. Precipitation is often different types of climate, climax , is largely underlain by metamorphic rocks. Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Wilton, T.F., and Pierson, S.M., 1994, Ecoregions and subregions of – a framework for water quality orographically controlled but generally decreases toward the south. The photograph was rock, water quality, terrain, and/or . The These crystalline rock areas lack significant or reflect differences in ecosystem quality and integrity (Wiken, 1986; Omernik, 1987, 1995). These Region VIII, USEPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (Corvallis, Oregon), assessment and management: Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science, v. 101, no. 1, p. 5-13. taken near Pass. climate of the northwestern section of groundwater storage capacity; as a result, base phenomena include , physiography, vegetation, climate, , land use, wildlife, and . Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), United States Department of - McGrath C.L., Woods A.J., Omernik, J.M., Bryce, S.A., Edmondson, M., Nesser, J.A., Shelden, J., Crawford, R.C., Comstock, J.A., and Plocher, Ecoregion 15 has a strong Pacific influence. In flow is limited, overland runoff is common, Rainbow trout, a popular game fish, are Logging, yarding practices, and road Service, United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil M.D., 2002, Ecoregions of Idaho (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological building can cause significant erosion, The relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological region to another regardless of the consequence, the area has more tree species, and stream flow at high elevations is typically common in good quality, cool water Conservation Service), United States Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management, and United Survey (map scale 1:1,350,000). of the Northern Rockies (15). stream turbidity, and modification of hierarchical level. A Roman numeral hierarchical scheme has been adopted for different levels of ecological more diverse forests, and more winter restricted to rain and snow melt periods. Photo: Bob Hughes . States Department of the Interior-U.S. Geological Survey- Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Omernik, J.M., 1987, Ecoregions of the conterminous United States (map supplement): Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. regions. Level I is the coarsest level, dividing North America into 15 ecological regions. Level II divides 77, no. 1, p. 118-125, scale 1:7,500,000. Data Center. the into 52 regions (Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997). At level Omernik, J.M., 1995, Ecoregions – a framework for environmental management, in Davis, W.S. and Simon, T.P., eds., Biological assessment and III, the continental United States contains 104 ecoregions and the conterminous United States has 84 The project is associated with an interagency effort to develop a common framework of ecological regions. criteria-tools for water resource planning and decision making: Boca Raton, Florida, Lewis Publishers, p. 49-62. ecoregions (United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2000). Level IV is a further Reaching that objective requires recognition of the differences in the conceptual approaches and mapping Omernik, J.M., Chapman, S.S., Lillie, R.A., and Dumke, R.T., 2000, Ecoregions of Wisconsin: Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, v. 88, p. 77-103. subdivision of level III ecoregions. Explanations of the methods used to define the USEPA’s ecoregions are methodologies applied to develop the most common ecoregion-type frameworks, including those developed U.S. Department of Agriculture–Soil Conservation Service, 1981, Land resource regions and major land resource areas of the United States: given in Omernik (1995), Omernik and others (2000), and Griffith and others (1989, 1994). by the U.S. Forest Service (Bailey and others, 1994), the USEPA (Omernik, 1987, 1995), and the Natural Agriculture Handbook 296, 156 p. 16. Idaho Batholith Resources Conservation Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture–Soil Conservation Service, 1981). As The second edition of "Ecoregions of Montana" revises many ecoregion polygon assignments that appeared U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000, Level III ecoregions of the continental United States (revision of Omernik, 1987): Corvallis, Ecoregion 16 is mountainous, deeply dissected, partially glaciated, and characteristically underlain by in the first edition (Woods and others, 1999). These changes were made after research in Idaho (McGrath each of these frameworks is further refined, their differences are becoming less discernible. Regional Oregon, USEPA – National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Map M-1, various scales. granitic rocks. The lithological mosaic and related slope stability and water quality issues are different and others, 2002) recognized the Idaho Batholith as a separate level III ecoregion (Ecoregion 16), limited collaborative projects such as this one in Montana, where agreement has been reached among multiple Wiken, E., 1986, Terrestrial ecozones of Canada: Ottawa, Environment Canada, Ecological Land Classification Series no. 19, 26 p. from Ecoregions 15 and 17. Soils derived from granitics are droughty and have limited fertility, and the Northern Rockies (15) to strongly marine-influenced areas, and transferred the Montana Valley resource management agencies, are a step toward attaining consensus and consistency in ecoregion Woods, Alan J., Omernik, James, M., Nesser, John A., Shelden, J., and Azevedo, Sandra H., 1999, Ecoregions of Montana (color poster with map, therefore provide only limited amounts of nutrients to aquatic ecosystems. They are highly erodible frameworks for the entire nation. descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,500,000). when vegetation is removed. Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and, at higher elevations, subalpine fir occur. Maritime influence is slight. Pacific tree species are less numerous than in Ecoregion 15; western ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° 116 115 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 hemlock is absent. Overall, the vegetation is unlike that of Ecoregions 15 and 17. Land uses include ° 49° logging, grazing, and recreation. Streams are likely to suffer from increased loads of fine sediments 49 BRITISH COLUMBIA 42d after disturbance by humans. Fish assemblage composition is similar to Ecoregion 15. SASKATCHEWAN 42k 15d ALBERTA CANADA 15h 41b 42q 42n SUBDIVISION OF THE IDAHO BATHOLITH foothills at the mouths of glaciated canyons sa 17r UNITED STATE S Undisturbed watershed containing high Black bears inhabit the forests of the Idaho u F 41a 42l (16): In Montana, Ecoregion 16 has been have biotic assemblages that are different from n l Plentywood a a 42n 42r 42m Scobey quality streams and excellent habitat for Batholith (16) ecoregion. c th 42r o broken into 4 level IV ecoregions (16a, 16b. other less-glaciated foothills. Highest e aquatic life are found in Ecoregion 16. Photo: Jerry Wolff o a 42r

K d R 16e. and 16h). Each ecoregion is characterized elevations are treeless, typically snow- and ice- Following disturbance from logging and e i 42r 17r k v road building, stream sediment loads a 41c e r Fresno by significant differences in terrain, climate, 15h L 42i 42b 42d covered, and can be -studded. They usually increase. K Reservoir o elevation, and/or potential natural vegetation, receive more precipitation than lower Photo: Darren Brandt, Idaho Department of o Cut Bank NORTH D Typically, the Idaho Batholith (16) is underlain by granitics and is lithologically and t e 41b Environmental Quality n 41b climatically distinct from the Northern Rockies (15). High elevation areas are and aquatic habitat. Lake-studded, hummocky ecoregions. a S i a Medicine ge characterized by rockland, talus, tarns, and open high elevation forests. Libby 15t Shelby C Chinook Lake re Milk 15q Havre Riv AKO 42q ek er 42i Maria 15l s R k iv e TA er e Lake r Malta 41a C 15c Elwell y 15h d n 42j Kalispell a S 42r

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e i 41e Teton River M 42r 17. Middle Rockies h e t 17r k a a l L Sidney F k Choteau ec 15k 15e 41b P The climate of Ecoregion 17 lacks the strong maritime influence of Ecoregion 15. Mountains have 41c rt Fort Benton Fo 15h Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce forests and alpine areas. Pacific tree species such as C Polson lark grand fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar are never dominant and forests can have open 15o Thompson F Mi or 43l ssour Falls k 15c 41d i River canopies. Foothills are partly wooded or shrub- and grass-covered. Intermontane valleys are grass- Clark's Nutcrackers occur in subalpine The broad valleys of Ecoregion 17 contain 42q r forests near timberline and can be common floodplains, terraces, and mostly treeless 43c e v and/or shrub-covered and contain a mosaic of terrestrial and aquatic that is distinct from nearby 15b i Photo: © R where whitebark pine is present. foothills. Perennial, mountain-fed streams e mountains. Many mountain-fed streams occur. Granitics and associated management problems are less Allen Matheson, http://www. photohome.com 43l n are characteristic. Valley floors are often Great Falls 42r to 17r s extensive than in Ecoregion 16. Recreation, logging, mining, and summer livestock grazing are dominated by cropland and pastureland 15e ri River w u lo o l and the foothills are used for rangeland. Flath s e ead Rive 41b s common land uses; summer livestock grazing also occurs and is more common than in Ecoregion 15. r 41b i Jordan 43a Y 41b M M Superior 42q 43o 43n u s s SUBDIVISION OF THE MIDDLE ROCKIES (17): much wetter than other portions of the Middle 15p 15a e

l 15a s 43n Glendive IDAHO h In Montana, Ecoregion 17 has been divided Rockies (17). High elevations are treeless, 15c e l 15h 43s l ° R 47° into 32 level IV ecoregions (17d–17j, 17l, typically snow- and ice-covered, and can be 47 i 43c 17r v 17r e 17x r 17m, 17p–17ac, 17ae–17am) that separate lake-studded. Ecoregion 17's carbonate, 17p Lewistown areas of significantly different rock type, igneous, and metamorphic rocks strongly climate, water quality, and/or terrain. The influence hydrological characteristics, fish Missoula 17aj 43s Large areas of rockland and mixed high elevation vegetation occur above extensive 43n 43a Douglas-fir and subalpine fir forests in the rugged Middle Rockies (17). Absaroka, Madison, and Gallatin ranges are assemblages, and stream quality. 43u 17t 43u Many of the cold water streams of Trees are restricted to a narrow elevation 17al 17q 17q Ecoregion 17 are renowned trout fisheries. belt in dry parts of the Middle Rockies (17). 16b 17x 17h A brown trout is pictured here. 17w 43c 17al Helena White C Sulphur 17ak la 43e rk 17v 43b r F Springs 43m e 17s 17x o v i r k Canyon Miles 43c R t 17aj Ferry City 16e o 17q Harlowton Baker o 17h r Lake 43p r Roundup e t t 17ak Deer i ne River B wsto Lodge Yello Townsend 43p 18. Wyoming Basin Hamilton 17am Musselshell River Forsyth 43t 17f The broad, xeric intermontane Wyoming Basin (18) is punctuated by high hills and low mountains and Anaconda Boulder 17y 43p 43p 17ai ° dominated by and . The region is somewhat drier than the Northwestern Great 46° 46 43p Plains (43) and is nearly surrounded by mountains. Livestock grazing takes place throughout the 16h 17h 17g 17h 43c Butte 43o 43d ecoregion even though many areas lack sufficient vegetation to adequately support this activity. 17ag 43n 17h 43p 17ag 17y er SUBDIVISION OF THE WYOMING BASIN (18): in Montana and unleached, light-colored soils Colstrip v Big i R r In Montana, Ecoregion 18 is undivided and are common. The potential natural vegetation 17y Timber e The Bighorn Basin (18b) is in the Reptiles occur in the Wyoming Basin (18). 16a 16h 43s d 43d w lies in the rainshadow of the Beartooth is mostly sagebrush which is distinct o rainshadow of the flanking mountains. It The prairie rattlesnake is pictured here and 17w 17l 43p P 17y 17i Billings Hardin 43d Plateau. It includes some of the driest places from that of the surrounding ecoregions. has a potential natural vegetation of is found in and sagebrush areas 17ah 43n 43p sagebrush steppe and is used for livestock as well as on rocky ledges. Livingston 43p Photo: Gary McVicker, BLM Columbus grazing. 17ac 17ab Bozeman 43p 17ab 17g 17h 17g 17i 43v Broadus 17ag 17ab 17z SOUTH D 17y 17g 43s 43e Arid, rolling plains, terraces, and alluvial fans compose the Wyoming Basin (18). 17h 17z 43n S er 17l almon Riv 17u 17l 17aa 17e AKO

TA Mountain 17ae 17h 43v 43k 17aa 43p goats are often Dillon 17h Salmon Red 43g 41. Canadian Rockies found above 17ad 17m 45° 45° 17e 17ab Lodge 17m 43q 43g timberline and 17g 17i Ecoregion 41 extends into northern Montana from Alberta and British Columbia. The ecoregion is 18b on the steep, 17aa generally higher and more snow- and ice-covered than the Northern Rockies (15), and portions are rocky, moun- 17ab 17e 17k 17h 17h WYOMING strongly influenced by moist maritime air masses. Melting snow and rainfall are abundant at the higher tainous terrain of the Cana- 17j 17e elevations. Some surplus water is stored in glacial deposits, unconsolidated mountain valley fill, and dian Rockies 17ab 17d Hebgen Sheridan permeable sedimentary rocks. However, areas underlain by crystalline rocks lack sufficient (41). 17e 17e Lake 17e Photo: Jerry 17l groundwater storage capacity to prevent overland runoff or to develop groundwater supplies; in these Wolff places, base flow is meager and high elevation streams generally flow only during rain and snow melt Grizzly bears are listed as threatened in the contiguous U.S. and occur in 2 per cent of 17j periods. The highest elevations are treeless, glaciated alpine areas. The potential natural vegetation is their original range. Several hundred live 17af mostly subalpine fir, Douglas-fir, and Engelmann spruce. Soils are thin or absent on upper mountain in the Montana portion of both the 17ab 17e slopes but become deeper and more developed below, especially west of the Continental Divide. Canadian Rockies (41) and the Middle 17h Rockies (17). Yellowstone Cody Recreation, forestry, and mining are common land uses. Photo: Jerry Wolff Lake WYOMING SUBDIVISION OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES species than do those on the eastern slopes of IDAHO (41): Ecoregion 41 has been broken into five the Front Range. Portions are underlain by 115° 114° 113° 112° 111° 110° 109° 108° 107° 106° 105° Second Edition, 2002 level IV ecoregions (41a through 41e) that are argillite and quartzite; they have substantially characterized by different types of climate, different water quality and fish assemblages 15 Northern Rockies 17 Middle Rockies 17z Tobacco Root Mountains 42 Northwestern Glaciated Plains potential natural vegetation, rock, and/or water than other areas underlain by limestone and 15a Grave Creek Range-Nine Mile Divide 17d Eastern Gravelly Mountains 17aa Dry Intermontane Sagebrush Valleys 42b Collapsed Glacial Outwash The Canadian Rockies (41) ecoregion is composed of high, wet mountains. Significant quality. Highest elevations are treeless and dolomite. Ecoregion 41 contains Glacier portions are covered by snowfields and glaciers. Glaciated terrain is common and often snow- or ice- covered. Ecoregions west National Park and the Great Bear, Bob 15b Camas Valley 17e Barren Mountains 17ab Dry Gneissic-Schistose-Volcanic Hills 42d Northern Missouri Coteau characterized by U-shaped valleys, moraines, cirques, tarns, and outwash features. The Athabaska Glacier, Canada, is shown. of the Continental Divide have much more Marshall, and Scapegoat Wildernesses. 15c 17f Crazy Mountains 17ac Big Hole 42i Glaciated Dark Brown Prairie Pacific influence in terms of climate and tree Recreation is the major land use. Recreation is an increasingly significant Cirque basins were carved by glaciers and 15d Tobacco Plains 17g Mid-Elevation Sedimentary Mountains 17ad Western 42j Glaciated Northern Grasslands land use within wilderness areas and are common in the high mountains. They 15e Flathead Hills and Mountains 17h Alpine Zone 17ae Forested Beaverhead Mountains 42k Coteau Lakes Upland national parks. often contain tarns. 15h High Northern Rockies 17i Absaroka-Gallatin Volcanic Mountains 17af Centennial Basin 42l Sweetgrass Uplands Level III ecoregion 15i Clearwater Mountains and Breaks 17j Yellowstone Plateau 17ag Pioneer-Anaconda Ranges 42m Cherry Patch Moraines Level IV ecoregion 15k Clark Fork Valley and Mountains 17k Granitic Subalpine Zone 17ah Eastern Pioneer Sedimentary Mountains 42n Milk River Pothole Upland County boundary 15l Salish Mountains 17l Gneissic-Schistose Forested Mountains 17ai Elkhorn Mountains-Boulder Batholith 42o North Central Brown Glaciated Plains State boundary 15o Coeur d' Alene Metasedimentary Zone 17m Dry Mid-Elevation Sedimentary Mountains 17aj Eastern Divide Mountains 42q Rocky Mountain Front Foothill Potholes International boundary 15p St. Joe Schist-Gneiss Zone 17p Foothill Potholes 17ak Deer Lodge-Philipsburg-Avon Grassy 42r Foothill Grassland 42. Northwestern Glaciated Plains 15q Purcell-Cabinet-North Mountains 17q Big Snowy-Little Belt Carbonate Mountains Intermontane Hills and Valleys Ecoregion 42 is transitional between the generally more level, moister, more agricultural Northern 43 Northwestern Great Plains Glaciated Plains (46) to the east and the typically more irregular and drier Northwestern Great Plains 15t Stillwater-Swan Wooded Valley 17r Scattered Eastern Igneous-Core Mountains 17al Southern Garnet Sedimentary-Volcanic Mountains 43a Missouri Plateau 17s Bitterroot-Frenchtown Valley 17am Flint Creek-Anaconda Mountains (43) to the south. The southern boundary of the Northwestern Glaciated Plains (42) is near the limit of 43b Little Missouri Badlands continental glaciation and its soils are derived from glacial drift. Hummocky moraines locally occur 17t Limy Foothill 18 Wyoming Basin 43c River Breaks SCALE 1:1 500 000 and are characterized by seasonal and semi-permanent and . Land use is devoted to The Canada goose is locally common in The Cherry Patch Moraines (42m) 17u Paradise Valley 18b Bighorn Basin 43d Forested Buttes cattle ranching and farming. the Northwestern Glaciated Plains (42). It ecoregion is typified by hummocky, 16 Idaho Batholith 17v Big Belt Forested Highlands 15 10 5 0 30 60 mi breeds on lake shores and feeds in open morainal terrain and seasonal, wildlife- 43e Sagebrush Steppe fields. rich, kettle lakes. 16a Eastern Batholith 41 Canadian Rockies SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTHWESTERN dark brown soils used for crops and range and 17w Townsend Basin 43g Semiarid Pierre Shale Plains 30 20 100 60 120 km 16b Lochsa Uplands 17x Rattlesnake-Blackfoot-South Swan-Northern 41a Northern Front GLACIATED PLAINS (42): In Montana, its western till plain is an important grain 43k Dense Clay Prairie Albers equal area projection Ecoregion 42 has been divided into eleven farming area; in between, its central till plain 16e Glaciated and Canyons Garnet- Mountains 41b Crestal Alpine-Subalpine Zone Standard parallels 46° N and 48° N 16h High Idaho Batholith 41c Western Canadian Rockies 43l Missouri Breaks -Scrubland level IV ecoregions (42b, 42d, and 42i through has brown, aridic-ustic soils primarily used for 17y Townsend-Horseshoe-London Sedimentary 43m Judith Basin Grassland 42q) that separate areas of different terrain, grazing. Outwash terraces and end moraines Hills 41d Southern Carbonate Front land use, surficial deposits, soils, potential are found locally in Ecoregion 42 and contain Black-billed 41e Flathead Thrust Faulted Carbonate-Rich 43n Montana Central Grasslands magpies 43o Unglaciated Montana High Plains natural vegetation, and/or climate. many wildlife-rich ponds and wetlands. commonly Mountains Groundwater can be taken from the frequent the Ecoregion 42 extends eastward for hundreds 43p Pine Scoria Hills ecoregion’s glacial deposits and bedrock; yield open land of Nearly level to rolling terrain underlain by till is typical of the Northwestern Glaciated of miles from the foothills of the Rocky Ecoregion 42 43q Mesic Dissected Plains varies by lithologic unit and shale is usually especially Plains (42). Extensive farming of mostly wheat and barley occurs in parts of Ecoregion Mountains. Its eastern till plain is typified by Level III Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States 43s Non-calcareous Foothill Grassland 42 and has replaced the original shortgrass prairie. This photograph was taken east of the least productive rock type. Extensive grain farms and wheat storage near heavy Shelby, Montana. areas, such as these near Devon, are brush. 43t Shield-Smith Valleys Photo: © Allen 1 Coast Range 29 57 Huron/Erie Lake Plains typical of the rolling North Central Brown 77 Matheson, 1 2 2 Puget Lowland 30 Edwards Plateau 58 Northeastern Highlands 43u Limy Foothill Grassland Glaciated Plains (42o). http://www. 15 41 42 3 Willamette Valley 31 Southern Texas Plains 59 Northeastern Coastal Zone 10 photohome.com 49 4 32 60 Northern Appalachian Plateau 43v Pryor-Big Horn Foothills 48 82 1 3 5 Sierra Nevada 33 East Central Texas Plains and Uplands 4 11 42 6 Southern and Central 34 Western Gulf Coastal Plain 61 Erie Drift Plain 16 17 43 50 58 58 and Oak 35 South Central Plains 62 North Central Appalachians 51 46 50 63 Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain 9 17 7 Central California Valley 36 PRINCIPAL AUTHORS: Alan J. Woods (Dynamac Corporation), James M. Omernik (USEPA), John A. Nesser (U.S. 78 83 59 8 Southern California Mountains 37 Arkansas Valley 64 Northern 80 12 17 57 60 58 52 53 65 Southeastern Plains Forest Service), James Shelden (U.S. Forest Service), Comstock, Jeffrey A. (Indus Corporation), and Sandra H. Azevedo 56 62 9 Eastern Cascades Slopes and 38 18 62 Foothills 39 Ozark Highlands 66 Blue Ridge 44 47 57 61 67 10 Columbia Plateau 67 Ridge and Valley 5 19 64 84 40 Central Irregular Plains COLLABORATORS AND CONTRIBUTORS: Robert Bukantis (Montana Department of Environmental Quality), 13 54 11 Blue Mountains 41 Canadian Rockies 68 Southwestern Appalachians 55 70 21 40 63 69 Central Appalachians 1 7 20 25 12 Snake River Plain 42 Northwestern Glaciated Plains Chuck Gordon (Natural Resources Conservation Service), Bill Volk (Bureau of Land Management), Loren Bahls 70 Western Allegheny Plateau 27 66 13 Central Basin and Range 43 Northwestern Great Plains 6 ( Biological Station, University of Montana), Dan Svoboda (USFS), Wease A. Bollman (Rhithron 72 69 14 Mojave Basin and Range 44 Nebraska Sand Hills 71 Interior Plateau 43. Northwestern Great Plains 28 40 71 15 Northern Rockies 45 Piedmont 72 Interior River Valleys and Hills Biological Associates, Missoula, Montana), Thomas R. Loveland (U.S. Geological Survey), Anthony Selle (USEPA), 14 39 Ecoregion 43 is largely an unglaciated, semiarid, and rolling plain that is underlain by shale, siltstone, 8 16 Idaho Batholith 46 Northern Glaciated Plains 73 Mississippi Alluvial Plain 22 68 65 66 17 Middle Rockies 47 74 Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Alisa Gallant (Raytheon STX Corporation, Science Applications Branch, U.S. Geological Survey-Earth Resources and sandstone. It contains occasional buttes, badlands, ephemeral-intermittent streams, and a few 6 26 38 45 18 Wyoming Basin 48 Lake Agassiz Plain 75 Southern Coastal Plain 37 67 Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center), Cliff Montagne (Land Resources and Environmental Science, Montana State 81 23 36 73 63 76 Southern Florida Coastal Plain perennial . Low precipitation and high summer evapotranspiration rates restrict groundwater 19 Wasatch and Uinta Mountains 49 Northern Minnesota Wetlands The Forested Buttes (43d) ecoregion is The Sagebrush Steppe (43e) has heavy, 25 20 Colorado Plateaus 50 Northern Lakes and Forests 77 North Cascades University), and John Donahue (Department of , University of Montana) recharge rates. Rangeland is common, but spring wheat and alfalfa farming also occur; agriculture is 79 23 29 high and moist enough to support often alkali-rich soils that support sparse 21 Southern Rockies 51 North Central Hardwood 78 Klamath Mountains 74 affected by erratic precipitation and few opportunities for irrigation. Native grasslands persist, ponderosa pine forests and savannah. It 27 32 35 65 22 Arizona/New Mexico Plateau Forests 79 Madrean Archipelago vegetation cover typically dominated by 24 CITING THIS POSTER: Woods, Alan J., Omernik, James, M., Nesser, John A., Shelden, J., Comstock, J.A., Azevedo, stands 500–850 feet above the 33 23 Arizona/New Mexico Mountains 52 Driftless Area 80 Northern Basin and Range especially in areas of steep or broken topography. big sagebrush. Grazing is the primary land 30 73 24 Chihuahuan Deserts 53 Southeastern Wisconsin Till 81 Sonoran Basin and Range Sandra H., 2002, Ecoregions of Montana, 2nd edition (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and surrounding, largely unwooded plains of use and sheep are common. 25 High Plains 82 Laurentian Plains and Hills Ecoregions 43e and 43n. 34 75 Plains SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTHWESTERN buttes occur locally and can be covered in 83 Eastern and Hudson photographs). Map scale 1:1,500,000. 31 26 Southwestern Tablelands 54 Central Corn Belt Plains 27 Central Great Plains 55 Eastern Corn Belt Plains Lowlands GREAT PLAINS (43): In Montana, 17 level open ponderosa pine forests or savanna. 76 28 56 Southern Michigan/Northern 84 Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens This project was partially supported by funds from the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and IV ecoregions (43a through 43e, 43g, 43k Rangeland is extensive, especially in areas of Indiana Drift Plains Development, Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) program. through 43q, and 43s through 43v) have aridic soils, poor drainage, or dissected terrain; Map Source: USEPA, 2003 been recognized; they separate areas of farmland is found locally in Ecoregion 43 such distinct terrain, land use, soil, surficial as on the extensive Quaternary terrace deposits material, climate, and/or potential natural of the Judith River Basin. Most soils have a Pronghorns inhabit both vegetation. Rolling grassland is frigid temperature regime; only the grasslands and Large parts of the Northwestern Great Plains (43) ecoregion are dissected by ephemeral characteristic of large parts of Ecoregion 43, southernmost soils are mesic. brushlands and and intermittent streams. Ecoregion 43 is primarily used for rangeland and has a but wildlife-rich breaks and rough stony are common potential natural vegetation of grama - wheatgrass - needlegrass. This photograph in the North- shows the Willow Creek area north of Fort Peck Lake in Valley County. Surface mining for coal and associated western Great environmental impact occurs locally in the Plains (43). Northwestern Great Plains (43). Photo: Jerry USDA Natural Resources Wolff Conservation Service