Site Basic Report 7/11/2006

Site Code BCD S.USIDHP*688

Site Class Standard site Name DOME LAKE

Defining Managed Area DOME LAKE RNA

State/Province Idaho Directions Dome Lake RNA lies at the northern end of the Bighorn Crags in the Salmon River Mountains, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the Salmon River, at a point about 17 miles (27.5 km) southwest of Shoup. | Access to the RNA is possible via several routes, none of which are quick and easy. One route follows: From the town of North Fork, head west on the Salmon River Road 033 for about 36 miles (58 km). The western trailhead for FS Trail 172 is on the south side of the Salmon River between river miles 201 and 202 (opposite of Colson Creek RNA), just west of the junction with FS Road 123 (Colson Creek Road). From the trailhead, FS Trail 172 heads south, switchbacking up the ridge west of Shell Creek and gaining about 5000 feet (1524 m) in elevation over about three air miles (4.8 km) as it climbs to an area just below the Horse Heaven Lookout. Just southeast of the lookout, FS Trail 172 joins the ridgeline that defines the western boundary of the RNA. Other routes include FS Trail 021 from Crags Campground, approximately a 10 mile hike (16 km), and the eastern trailhead of 172 which leaves from near the junction of the Salmon River Road 033 and Panther Creek Road 055. Minimum Elevation: 4,700 Feet 1,433 Meters Maximum Elevation: 9,316 Feet 2,840 Meters

Site Description Dome Lake RNA contains the entire upper portion of the Lake Creek watershed. Aproximately 4616 feet (1407 m) of vertical relief occurs in the area, representing an excellent cross section of upper elevation aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the Salmon River Canyon. Aquatic features include several steep-gradient streams of varying sizes and Dome Lake, a moraine-dammed lake relatively low in the drainage. Most of the area is dominated by coniferous forest habitat types, largely in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) series habitat types, although whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) stands occur on the upper ridges. Cliff, talus, and rock outcrop habitats occur in the RNA, largely at the upper elevations below the summit of Dome Mountain, elevation 9316 feet (2840 m). Forests at the middle elevations in the RNA burned in the 1986 Dome 2 Fire. There was high mortality of the tree canopy, but the understory responded to the fire with vigor. A population of the rare plant, Borsch's stonecrop (Sedum borschii), occurs near the summit of Dome Mountain.

Key Environmental Factors

Climate Description The climate of the Salmon River Mountains in central Idaho is primarily affected by the seasonal movement of two opposing weather systems. From late fall to early spring, the climate is influenced by cool and moist Pacific maritime air. Periodically this westerly flow is interrupted by outbreaks of cold, dry, continental air from Canada, which is normally blocked by mountain ranges to the east. During summer, westerly winds weaken and a Pacific high pressure system becomes dominant, resulting in decreased precipitation and more continental climatic conditions.

Land Use History The site has no known history of mining, grazing or timber harvest.

Cultural Features No cultural features are known to occur in the area. A cultural resource inventory has not been completed for the area.

Site Mapped Y - Yes Mapped Date

Designer Wellner, C. A. Boundary Justification Boundaries follow the ridgelines that define the upper Lake Creek watershed. Primary and Secondary Area 1,700.00 Acres 687.97 Hectares Primary Area 1,699.34 Acres 687.70 Hectares

Site Comments

Biodiversity Significance Biodiversity Significance Comments

Other Values

Other Values Comments Watershed values in this mountainous section of Idaho are high. Dome Lake is one of few moraine lakes in Idaho's established or proposed RNA system. Subalpine lakes at as low an elevation as Dome Lake are uncommon relative to its latitude in central Idaho. Protection Urgency P5 - No action to be taken on this site

Protection Urgency Comments Dome Lake is an established RNA that is also within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

Management Urgency

Management Urgency Comments

Conservation Intentions

Protection Comments Dome Lake is an established RNA that is also within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

Land Use Comments An outfitter/guide is currently permitted to use the Dome Lake vicinity. An outfitter camp is located near the western boundary of the RNA at Horse Heaven. This camp is primarily used during hunting season and there is likely use of parts of the RNA for hunting. Occasional use of Dome Lake for fishing may occur as well. Dome Lake is within the Frank Churhc-River of No Return Wilderness Area. The Wilderness area is designated within Management Area 7B of the Salmon NF Land and Resource Management Plan. The emphasis in area 7B is to maintain wilderness characteristics.

Natural Hazard Comments No natural hazards occur at the site.

Exotics Comments Populations of exotic plant species have not been documented. Dome Lake has been stocked with exotic fish species.

Offsite The site is within and surrounded by the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness which is designated as Management Area 7B in the Salmon NF Plan. The emphasis in area 7B is to maintain wilderness charateristics and provide for dispersed, non-motorized recreation. Information Needs Thorough inventories of the area are needed, in particular, to assess the changes brought about by the fire.

Management Needs It will be necessary to monitor the level of recreational use by the outfitter and clients.

Managed Area Relations Dome Lake RNA is wholly within the Salmon NF, North Fork RD, and the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The RNA lies along the boundary with the Cobalt RD. Element ID Scientific Name Common Name G-Rank S-Rank

7088 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Calamagrostis rubescens Douglas fir/pinegrass G5 S4?

7079 Picea engelmannii/Galium triflorum Engelmann spruce/sweetscented bedstraw G4 S3

7094 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Physocarpus malvaceus Douglas fir/mountain ninebark G5 S5

7072 Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium scoparium subalpine fir/grouse whortleberry G5 S5

7073 Abies lasiocarpa/Xerophyllum tenax subalpine fir/beargrass G5 S5

7059 Abies lasiocarpa/Menziesia ferruginea subalpine fir/menziesia G5 S5

7055 Abies lasiocarpa/Calamagrostis canadensis, Ledum glandulosum phase subalpine fir/bluejoint reedgrass, Labrador-tea phase G4 S2

6628 Sedum borschii Borsch's Stonecrop G4? S2

7099 Pseudotsuga menziesii/Vaccinium globulare Douglas fir/blue huckleberry G5? S2

7012 Pinus albicaulis-Abies lasiocarpa whitebark pine-subalpine fir cover type G5? S3

7071 Abies lasiocarpa/Vaccinium globulare subalpine fir/blue huckleberry G5 S4

Reference Code Full Citation U01RAB01IDUS Rabe, F. W. 2001. High mountain lake Research Natural Areas in Idaho. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-77. 182 pp. U96MAN07IDUS Mancuso, M., A. G. Evenden, and S. K. Rust. 1996. Establishment record for Dome Lake Research Natural Area within Salmon National Forest, Lemhi County, Idaho. Unpublished report prepared for U.S. Forest Service Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. 25 pp. plus appendices and maps. M79MIT04IDUS Mitchell, V. E., and E. H. Bennett, compilers. 1979. Geologic map of the Elk City Quadrangle, Idaho. Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology, Moscow.

Imagery Comments The following aerial photography provides coverage of the Dome Lake area: 7-4-81, USDA, 24, 614130, 380-123 through 380-125.