Seward Wetland Mapping Project

Chugach National Forest Plant Community Descriptions

From: R.L. DeVelice, C.J. Hubbard, K. Boggs, S. Boudreau, M. Potkin, T. Boucher and C. Wertheim.  1999.  Plant Community Types of the Chugach National Forest: southcentral Alaska.  USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Alaska Region Technical Publication R10-TP-76.  Anchorage, AK.  375pp. (download 3.5Mb .pdf)

Vegetation- Salix sitchensis (Sitka willow) is the dominant tall shrub and is

well represented to abundant. Other willows are usually present and common

to abundant, with S. barclayi (Barclay willow) being the most consistent.

Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata (Sitka alder) is common to well represented in over

half the sites sampled. Low and dwarf shrubs are sparse. The most

consistent herbaceous species are Sanguisorba stipulata (Sitka burnet),

Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint reedgrass), and Equisetum arvense

(common horsetail).

Physical setting- Sitka willow is a common type on the Chugach National

Forest. It occurs on flood plains, flat lowlands, outwash plains, and high

relief hills. Sites sampled are on all aspects, on slopes to 35 percent, and at

elevations to 200 feet (one site at 825 feet elevation).

Seward Wetland Mapping Project : Contact: Mike Gracz Kenai Watershed Forum  Homer Field Office Old Town Professional Center 3430 Main Street Suite B1 Homer, AK  99603 907-235-2218

03 October 2006 15:50