Print Report
CEGL002639 Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis Riparian Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Douglas-fir / Water Birch Riparian Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association occurs in cool, narrow foothill canyons of the Colorado Front Range between 2015 and 2500 m (6600-8080 feet) elevation in the upper Arkansas and South Platte river basins and in Rio Grande National Forest. It has also been documented from box canyons in southeastern Utah at 1883 m (6175 feet) and may also occur in Nevada. Vegetation is limited to a narrow band along small, steep perennial streams in fairly shallow (165-343 cm [65-135 inches]), loamy alluvial soils, often with a high cover of surface rock. Pseudotsuga menziesii (15-50% cover) trees up to 35 m tall and Betula occidentalis (20-40% cover) are key indicators even if other tree and shrub species are present. Other tree species may include Acer negundo, Salix amygdaloides, Populus angustifolia, Populus tremuloides, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus ponderosa, Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, or Picea pungens. The shrub canopy may be thick and diverse and include Alnus incana, Acer glabrum, Ericameria nauseosa, Quercus gambelii, Rhus trilobata, Salix bebbiana, Salix ligulifolia, Salix monticola, Salix irrorata, Rosa woodsii, Jamesia americana, and Cornus sericea. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse due to heavy shade; more abundant species include Maianthemum stellatum, Eurybia glauca, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, Carex disperma, and Melilotus officinalis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Classification is based on 8 quantitative plots from Colorado and Utah. Closely related communities occur in the Snake Range of Nevada.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Pseudotsuga menziesii (15-50% cover) trees up to 35 m tall and Betula occidentalis (20-40% cover) are key indicators even if other tree and shrub species are present. Other tree species may include Acer negundo, Salix amygdaloides, Populus angustifolia, Populus tremuloides, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus ponderosa, Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, or Picea pungens. The shrub canopy may be thick and diverse and include Alnus incana, Acer glabrum, Ericameria nauseosa, Quercus gambelii, Rhus trilobata, Salix bebbiana, Salix ligulifolia (= Salix eriocephala var. ligulifolia), Salix monticola, Salix irrorata, Rosa woodsii, Jamesia americana, and Cornus sericea. The herbaceous layer is generally sparse due to heavy shade; more abundant species include Maianthemum stellatum, Eurybia glauca (= Aster glaucodes), Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, Carex disperma, and Melilotus officinalis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland association occurs in cool, narrow foothill canyons of the Colorado Front Range between 2015 and 2500 m (6600-8080 feet) elevation in the upper Arkansas and South Platte river basins and in Rio Grande National Forest. It has also been documented from box canyons in southeast Utah at 1883 m (6175 feet) and may also occur in Nevada. Vegetation is limited to a narrow band along small, steep perennial streams in fairly shallow (165-343 cm [65-135 inches]), loamy alluvial soils, often with a high cover of surface rock.
Sites with this association were sampled only in the Blue Mountains Ecoregion but this association may also occur in the Columbia Basin Ecoregion and northern part of the East Cascades Ecoregion of Oregon (Crowe et al. 2004). Valleys are north- and east-facing, moderately steep, narrow to wide and V-, trough- and flat-shaped with moderately steep to steep sideslopes. Most valley aspects are east- and southeast-facing. Rosgen (1996) stream types are C2 and C3. Soils are skeletal in subsoil horizons. Data are available for only two sites and show the average depth to 20-30% coarse fragments is 11 cm and to 23-35% coarse fragments is 38 cm.
Sites with this association were sampled only in the Blue Mountains Ecoregion but this association may also occur in the Columbia Basin Ecoregion and northern part of the East Cascades Ecoregion of Oregon (Crowe et al. 2004). Valleys are north- and east-facing, moderately steep, narrow to wide and V-, trough- and flat-shaped with moderately steep to steep sideslopes. Most valley aspects are east- and southeast-facing. Rosgen (1996) stream types are C2 and C3. Soils are skeletal in subsoil horizons. Data are available for only two sites and show the average depth to 20-30% coarse fragments is 11 cm and to 23-35% coarse fragments is 38 cm.
Geographic Range: Documented locations occur across the eastern half of the Colorado Rocky Mountains ecoregion in Colorado and in sheltered canyons of the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah. It may also occur in Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NV?, OR, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689056
Confidence Level: Low
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 | A3761 Blue Spruce Riparian Forest Alliance | A3761 | 1.B.3.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002639 Douglas-fir / Water Birch Riparian Woodland | CEGL002639 | 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: = Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis Association (Crowe et al. 2004)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii/Betula occidentalis (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Conifer / Betula occidentalis Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995) [includes Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis stands.]
= Douglas-fir/river birch (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Betula occidentalis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Douglas-fir/river birch (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Betula occidentalis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis Woodland (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Pseudotsuga menziesii/Betula occidentalis (Kittel et al. 1999b)
< Conifer / Betula occidentalis Community Type (Manning and Padgett 1995) [includes Pseudotsuga menziesii / Betula occidentalis stands.]
= Douglas-fir/river birch (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Betula occidentalis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1999a)
= Douglas-fir/river birch (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Betula occidentalis) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Carsey, K., G. Kittel, K. Decker, D. J. Cooper, and D. Culver. 2003a. Field guide to the wetland and riparian plant associations of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins, CO.
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Crowe, E. A., B. L. Kovalchik, and M. J. Kerr. 2004. Riparian and wetland vegetation of central and eastern Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Institute for Natural Resources, Oregon State University, Portland. 473 pp. [http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/ publications.html]
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, A. McMullen, and J. Sanderson. 1999b. A classification of riparian and wetland plant associations of Colorado: A user''s guide to the classification project. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO. 70 pp. plus appendices.
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, M. Damm, R. Rondeau, S. Kettler, and J. Sanderson. 1999a. A classification of the riparian plant associations of the Rio Grande and Closed Basin watersheds, Colorado. Unpublished report prepared by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Kittel, G., E. Van Wie, and M. Damm. 1997a. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the South Platte Basin (and part of Republican River Basin), Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Kittel, G., R. Rondeau, and A. McMullen. 1996. A classification of the riparian vegetation of the Lower South Platte and parts of the Upper Arkansas River basins, Colorado. Submitted to Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VIII. Prepared by Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Fort Collins. 243 pp.
- Manning, M. E., and W. G. Padgett. 1995. Riparian community type classification for Humboldt and Toiyabe national forests, Nevada and eastern California. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region. 306 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.