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- Tsuga mertensiana (mountain hemlock) and Picea sitchensis

(Sitka spruce) are codominants in this type. Vaccinium ovalifolium (early

blueberry) is abundant and the indicator for this type. Other common

shrubs are Echinopanax horridum (devil’s club), Menziesia ferruginea (rusty

menziesia), and Rubus spectabilis (salmonberry). Low and dwarf shrubs are

essentially absent. The most consistent common forbs are Rubus pedatus

(fiveleaf bramble), Cornus canadensis (bunchberry), and Listera cordata

(heartleaf twayblade). Gymnocarpium dryopteris (oak fern) is the most

common fern.

Physical setting- Mountain hemlock-Sitka spruce/early blueberry is one of

the most common types in Prince William Sound. It occurs on low and high

relief hills, gently sloping hills, broken, dissected, and non-disturbed

mountain side slopes, and sea slopes. Sites sampled are on all aspects, on

slopes up to 85 percent, and at elevations to 1200 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