Print Report

CEGL000648 Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Riparian Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Water Birch Riparian Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This lush, deciduous, riparian woodland occurs in mountains and canyons of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado on stream terraces or floodplains bordering streams. Elevation ranges from 1450-2600 m. This community is one of the wetter Populus angustifolia plant associations, which indicates a perennial source of water. Some stands occur on hillside seeps. Substrate is well-drained, rocky and coarse-textured alluvial soil. Water tables are generally between 0.5-4 m below the surface. The upper tree canopy is open (typically less than 60% cover) and is dominated by Populus angustifolia, with Acer negundo occasionally codominating in late-seral stands. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Juniperus scopulorum are scattered in some stands. Betula occidentalis forms a moderate to dense short-tree/tall-shrub canopy, often forming a thicket along the stream. Other species, such as Alnus incana, Acer grandidentatum, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, and several species of Salix, including Salix lutea, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, and Salix bebbiana, may be present. The moderately dense short-shrub layer may include Cornus sericea, Paxistima myrsinites, Rosa spp., Mahonia repens, Ribes aureum, Symphoricarpos spp., and Rhus trilobata on drier sites. The herbaceous layer may be sparse to dense, depending on the density of the shrub and tree layers. Common species include Equisetum arvense, Osmorhiza berteroi, Carex pellita, Maianthemum stellatum, Achillea millefolium, and the introduced species Bromus inermis, Poa pratensis, and Taraxacum officinale. The dominance of Betula occidentalis separates this association from other Populus angustifolia riparian woodlands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: The upper tree canopy is open (typically 10-60% cover) and is dominated by Populus angustifolia, with Acer negundo occasionally codominating in late-seral stands. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Juniperus scopulorum are scattered in some stands. Betula occidentalis forms a moderate to dense short-tree/tall-shrub canopy, often forming a thicket along the stream. Other species, such as Alnus incana, Acer grandidentatum, Acer glabrum, Amelanchier alnifolia, and several species of Salix, including Salix lutea, Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia), Salix irrorata, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra (= Salix lasiandra), and Salix bebbiana, may be present. The moderately dense short-shrub layer may include Cornus sericea, Mahonia repens, Paxistima myrsinites, Prunus virginiana, Rosa spp., Rhus trilobata, Ribes aureum, Ribes inerme, Rubus parviflorus, Symphoricarpos spp., and Rhus trilobata on drier sites. The herbaceous layer may be sparse to dense, depending on the density of the shrub and tree layers. Common species include Achillea millefolium, Angelica ampla, Equisetum spp., Osmorhiza berteroi (= Osmorhiza chilensis), Carex pellita (= Carex lanuginosa), Carex utriculata, Glyceria striata, Maianthemum stellatum, Phragmites australis, Rudbeckia laciniata, and the introduced species Agrostis gigantea, Bromus inermis, Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis, Melilotus spp., Taraxacum officinale, and Trifolium repens (Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a). The dominance of Betula occidentalis separates this association from other Populus angustifolia riparian woodlands.

Dynamics:  This association is dependent on a high water table (Betula occidentalis) and periodic scouring floods (Populus angustifolia).
Environmental Description:  This lush, deciduous, riparian woodland occurs in mountains and narrow canyons of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado on stream terraces or floodplains bordering streams. Elevation ranges from 1450-2600 m (4760-8525 feet). This community is one of the wetter Populus angustifolia plant associations, which indicates a perennially high water table. Some stands occur on hillside seeps. Substrates are typically well-drained, coarse-textured, rocky alluvium. Soils often have a surface layer of partially decomposed organic matter 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) thick. Subsurface layers are very coarse, with 10-60% gravel or cobbles. Subsurface textures range from clay loams to loamy sands (Padgett et al. 1989, Kittel et al. 1999b, Carsey et al. 2003a). Water tables are generally between 0.5-4 m below the surface.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in the mountains and canyons of Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. These riparian woodlands are a major type in the Wasatch Mountains but appear to be a minor association elsewhere.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, ID, NV, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.Nc Rocky Mountain-Great Basin Montane Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D195 1.B.3.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nc.1 Engelmann Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Red-osier Dogwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Macrogroup M034 1.B.3.Nc.1
Group 1.B.3.Nc.1.a Engelmann Spruce - Blue Spruce - Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian & Swamp Forest Group G506 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Alliance A3759 Narrowleaf Cottonwood Riparian Forest Alliance A3759 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000648 Narrowleaf Cottonwood / Water Birch Riparian Woodland CEGL000648 1.B.3.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis (Padgett et al. 1988b)
= Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Community Type (Padgett et al. 1989)
= Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Community Type (Walford 1996)
= Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003b)
= Populus angustifolia / Betula occidentalis Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
>< Populus angustifolia / Salix exigua - Betula fontinalis Habitat Type/Association (Komarkova 1986) [Betula occidentalis is missing from sampled stand.]
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-07-05
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