Print Report

CEGL000944 Populus fremontii - Salix gooddingii Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fremont Cottonwood - Goodding''s Willow Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian woodland community occurs from the Trans-Pecos region of western Texas to the Mojave Desert in southeastern California and southern Nevada, north into the Colorado Plateau in western Colorado and southern Utah. Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii may be nearly equal in abundance, or either may dominate. The understories of most examples have been considerably altered by grazing and other factors, thus the shrub layer is generally lacking. A large variety of shrub and tree saplings may be present; however, these do not form a true shrub layer. An herbaceous layer is often present and dominated by a mix of annuals and short-lived perennials. This association is dependent upon a subsurface water supply which varies considerably throughout the growing season. Major flood events and consequent flood scour, overbank deposition of water and sediments, and stream meandering are important factors that shape this community. Soils are typically stratified sands, loams, and gravels. This deciduous woodland typically towers above the surrounding vegetation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau. In Trans-Pecos Texas this woodland is dependent on a subsurface water supply and varies considerably with the water table levels. Major flood events and consequent flood scour, overbank deposition of water and sediments, and stream meandering are important factors that shape this community. These woodlands once occupied the floodplains and riverbanks of most perennial waterways within its range, but have mostly been replaced by disturbance types dominated by exotic species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This community occurs as small isolated stands or as narrow bands that parallel the stream channel or border potholes. This deciduous woodland typically towers above the surrounding vegetation, with Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii as the dominant species. These species may be nearly equal in abundance, or either may dominate. Individuals of Populus fremontii are scattered or occur in groves and may reach 30 m in height and 2 m in diameter. Other species that may occur in the canopy/subcanopy include Populus deltoides ssp. wislizeni, Acer negundo, Salix lasiolepis, Salix amygdaloides, Fraxinus berlandieriana, Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Fraxinus velutina, Juglans microcarpa, Prosopis pubescens, Prosopis glandulosa, and Prosopis velutina. The understory of most examples has been considerably altered by grazing and other factors, thus the composition and cover of the native understory is difficult to ascertain. The understory is highly variable with an open coverage of shrubs and small trees 1-5 m tall, that do not form a true shrub or subcanopy layer, and include such species as Prosopis spp., Baccharis salicifolia, Ericameria nauseosa, Atriplex canescens, Rhus aromatica, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Salix exigua, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea (= Sambucus mexicana), Rhamnus spp., Morus microphylla, and Amorpha fruticosa. The woody exotics Elaeagnus angustifolia and various species of Tamarix can be abundant. The herbaceous stratum varies in composition and coverage but is characterized by mixed annuals and short-lived perennials. While most examples now have a herbaceous flora dominated by exotic species, in particular Cynodon dactylon, native species reported from this community include Amaranthus palmeri, Amsinckia spp., Anemopsis californica, Boerhavia coccinea, Bowlesia incana, Carex spp., Chloracantha spinosa, Conyza canadensis var. canadensis, Cucurbita spp., Datura wrightii, Distichlis spicata, Euthamia occidentalis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Lemna spp., Oenothera spp., Sorghum halepense, Sporobolus wrightii, and Trifolium longipes ssp. shastense. Exotic plant species found in this community include Tamarix chinensis, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Cynodon dactylon, Bromus rubens, Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum, Pennisetum setaceum, Schismus spp., Sisymbrium irio, and Erodium spp.

Dynamics:  This association is dependent on periodic flooding and a water table that remains high throughout the growing season. As riparian terraces become isolated from the water table, the understory of this community will shift toward upland species such as Ericameria nauseosa, Prosopis spp., Artemisia tridentata, and Artemisia ludoviciana.
Environmental Description:  This deciduous woodland is best developed along alluvial floodplains of large, low-gradient, perennial streams that flow through wide, unconstrained valleys. It has also been recorded surrounding perennially wet potholes within intermittent canyon drainages, as well as in the floodplains of intermittent streams. The vegetation is dependent upon a subsurface water supply and varies considerably with the height of the water table. Major flood events and consequent flood scour, overbank deposition of water and sediments, and stream meandering are important factors that shape this community. Soils are typically stratified sands, loams, and gravels classified as Torrifluvents or Ustifluvents, with Haplustolls on more stable sites. These coarse-textured, alluvial sediments have a low water-holding capacity and low nutrient availability.
Geographic Range: This riparian community occurs widely across the southwestern U.S., from the Trans-Pecos region of western Texas to the Mojave Desert in southeastern California and southern Nevada, north into the Colorado Plateau in western Colorado and southern Utah and likely the southern Great Basin and northern Sonoran Desert. It also likely extends south into northern Mexico but more research is needed.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, CO?, MXCHH?, MXSON?, NM, NV, TX, UT


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division D013 1.B.3.Nd
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup M036 1.B.3.Nd.2
Group 1.B.3.Nd.2.b Western Interior Riparian Forest & Woodland Group G797 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Alliance A3803 Fremont Cottonwood - Velvet Ash - Goodding''s Willow Riparian Forest & Woodland Alliance A3803 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL000944 Fremont Cottonwood - Goodding''s Willow Riparian Woodland CEGL000944 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus fremontii / Salix gooddingii Community Type (Szaro 1989)
= Populus fremontii-Salix gooddingii Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Populus fremontii-Salix gooddingii Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
? Salix gooddingii - Populus fremontii (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.211.04]
= Broadleaf Cottonwood / Willow Woodland (Boles and Dick-Peddie 1983)
? IIA7d. Western Cottonwood - Willow Riverfront Forest (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): E. Milford and E. Muldavin

Author of Description: E. Milford, E. Muldavin, J. Coles, G. Kittel, K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-18-18
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