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- Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata (Sitka alder) is abundant and

dominates this tall shrub type. Echinopanax horridum (devil’s club) is a

codominant that is well represented to abundant. Sambucus racemosa (red

elderberry) is often well represented. Low and dwarf shrubs are absent.

Dryopteris dilatata (wood fern) is common to abundant. Other species often

in this type are Streptopus amplexifolius (twistedstalk), Athyrium filixfemina

(lady fern), and Gymnocarpium dryopteris (oak fern).

Physical setting- Sitka alder-devil’s club is a major tall shrub type in the

Portage, Placer, and Twentymile wetland area and in the Kenai Mountains. In

the wetland area this type is usually found on flood plains. Sites sampled in

the wetland area are mostly on northerly aspects with slopes to 45 percent

(but most sites are level) and elevations to 400 feet. In the Kenai

Mountains this type occurs on dissected and non-disturbed side slopes.

Sites sampled in the Kenai Mountains are on all aspects, on slopes up to 80

percent, and at elevations to 1950 feet.

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

04 October 2006 16:07