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Ecological site F043AD901MT

Montane Coniferous
Ponderosa Pine/rough fescue-Idaho fescue

Last updated: 5/06/2025
Accessed: 05/23/2026

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General information

Draft. A draft ecological site description is either incomplete or has not undergone quality control and quality assurance review.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 043A–Northern Rocky Mountains

This ecological site currently resides in the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 43A Northern Rocky Mountains. The area of MLRA 43A is expansive and is further divided into Land Resource Units (LRU). A detailed description of MLRA 43A can be found at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcs142p2_053624

This ecological site currently resides in the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 43A Northern Rocky Mountains. The area of MLRA 43A is expansive and is further divided into Land Resource Units (LRU). A detailed description of MLRA 43A can be found at:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=nrcs142p2_053624
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 043A–Northern Rocky Mountains

This MLRA is located in Montana (43 percent), Idaho (34 percent), and Washington (23 percent). It makes up about 31,435 square miles (81,460 square kilometers). It has no large cities or towns. It has many national forests, including the Okanogan, Colville, Kootenai, Lolo, Flathead, Coeur d’Alene, St. Joe, Clearwater, and Kaniksu National Forests.

This MLRA is in the Northern Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System. It is characterized by rugged, glaciated mountains; thrust- and block-faulted mountains; and hills and valleys. Steep-gradient rivers have cut deep canyons. Natural and manmade lakes are common.

The major Hydrologic Unit Areas (identified by four-digit numbers) that make up this MLRA are: Kootenai-Pend Oreille-Spokane (1701), 67 percent; Upper Columbia (1702), 18 percent; and Lower Snake (1706), 15 percent. Numerous rivers originate in or flow through this area, including, the Sanpoil, Columbia, Pend Oreille, Kootenai, St. Joe, Thompson, and Flathead Rivers.

This area is underlain primarily by stacked slabs of layered sedimentary or metasedimentary bedrock. The bedrock formations range from Precambrian to Cretaceous in age. The rocks consist of shale, sandstone, siltstone, limestone, argillite, quartzite, gneiss, schist, dolomite, basalt, and granite. The formations have been faulted and stacked into a series of imbricate slabs by regional tectonic activity. Pleistocene glaciers carved a rugged landscape that includes sculpted hills and narrow valleys filled with till and outwash. Continental glaciation over road the landscape in the northern half of the MLRA while glaciation in the southern half was confined to montane settings.

The average annual precipitation is 25 to 60 inches (635 to 1,525 millimeters) in most of this area, but it is as much as 113 inches (2,870 millimeters) in the mountains and is 10 to 15 inches (255 to 380 millimeters) in the western part of the area. Summers are dry. Most of the precipitation during fall, winter, and spring is snow. The average annual temperature is 32 to 51 degrees F (0 to 11 degrees C) in most of the area, decreasing with elevation. In most of the area, the freeze-free period averages 140 days and ranges from 65 to 215 days. It is longest in the low valleys of Washington, and it decreases in length with elevation. Freezing temperatures occur every month of the year on high mountains, and some peaks have a continuous cover of snow and ice.

The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Andisols, Inceptisols, and Alfisols. Many of the soils are influenced by Mount Mazama ash deposits. The soils in the area have a frigid or cryic soil temperature regime; have an ustic, xeric, or udic soil moisture regime; and dominantly have mixed mineralogy. They are shallow to very deep, are very poorly drained to well drained, and have most of the soil texture classes. The soils at the lower elevations include Udivitrands, Vitrixerands and Haplustalfs. The soils at the higher elevations include Dystrocryepts, Eutrocryepts, Vitricryands , and Haplocryalfs. Cryorthents, Cryepts, and areas of rock outcrop are on ridges and peaks above timberline

This area is in the northern part of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Grand fir, Douglas-fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, western larch, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, ponderosa pine, whitebark pine, and western white pine are the dominant overstory species, depending on precipitation, temperature, elevation, and landform aspect. The understory vegetation varies, also depending on climatic and landform factors. Some of the major wildlife species in this area are white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, grizzly bear, coyote, fox, and grouse. Fish, mostly in the trout and salmon families, are abundant in streams, rivers, and lakes.

More than one-half of this area is federally owned and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Much of the privately-owned land is controlled by large commercial timber companies. The forested areas are used for wildlife habitat, recreation, watershed, livestock grazing, and timber production. Meadows provide summer grazing for livestock and big game animals. Less than three percent of the area is cropland.

LRU notes

LRU D-RATTLESNAKE, MISSION MOUNTAINS, AND BOB MARSHALL.
The landscape is mountains, and the landforms are mountain slopes, alpine ridges and cirquelands and valley floors. The area includes the Whitefish, Swan and Flathead mountains. The Whitefish/Swan Mtns. are block faulted mountain ranges are formed from argillite, siltite and dolomite and strongly shaped by alpine glaciation. Glacial till covers much of the landscape. Some volcanic ash deposits. Flathead Mtns. are thrust faulted mountains that formed from shale, sandstone, limestone and conglomerate. These mountains have been strongly shaped by alpine glaciation. The elevation ranges from 2900 feet to 8000 feet for the Whitefish and Swan mountains and 3680 feet to 8500 feet for the Flathead mountains. The drainage density for both areas is moderate. The geology is mainly Belt series (Missoula group and others) and alluvium in the valley areas. There is Cambrian in the eastern portion of and Glacial geology throughout, Kootenai in the northeastern portion and Tertiary geology in the northern portion of the area. The soils of the mountains are predominantly till with volcanic ash and in the valley areas alluvium or outwash. The soil temperature regime is mainly cryic, and the soil moisture regime is mainly udic. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 50 inches to 70 inches with about 80% falling as snow for the entire area. Lakes occur in glacial cirques and in glacial valleys in the Whitefish and Swan mountains and a few in the glacial cirque basins in the Flathead mountains. The main vegetation for the area is Douglas fir forest types and western spruce-fir forest types. This LRU is predominantly all federally owned lands including Bob Marshall Wilderness, Flathead N.F., Great Bear Wilderness and Flathead Indian Reservation. There are small areas of Lolo N.F., Mission Mountain Wilderness, National Bison Range and Scapegoat Wilderness. Borders Swan River NWR, Glacier N.P. and the Lewis and Clark N.F. Landcover is predominantly conifer xeric-mesic and mesic-wet type, recently burned, Alpine sparse and barren and harvested forest areas. Specifically, in the Whitefish and Swan mountains, the land use is predominantly rural and suburban development and some timber harvest. In the Flathead mountains, the land use is predominantly wilderness and therefore human disturbances are minor. The primary natural disturbances are fire, insects and windthrow.

Classification relationships

This is related to the EPA land classification framework of: Level 3- 41 Canadian Rockies. Specifically, it includes Levels 41c, 41e, minor 41b (tiny amount of 41d, 15l and 15a).
This area is related predominantly to the USFS Province M333Cb Whitefish/Swan Mtns., and M333Ce Flathead Thrust Faulted Mtns. This LRU is roughly two-thirds Province Cb and a third Province Ce.

Ecological site concept

• Vegetation is dominated in the overstory by Ponderosa pine with an understory that has patchy common snowberry, and abundant native perennial bunchgrasses (rough fescue, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass and prairie junegrass) with a sparse ground hugging layer of prickly phlox, rosy pussytoes and kinnickinnic.
• Site is found in well-drained valleys that span the lower elevations, and at moderate elevations on southern and western aspects
• Site occurs primarily on lateral moraine and outwash terrace landforms, on footslope, toeslope positions, on low slopes ranging 1-15%, at elevations ranging 1400 to 1500 meters
• Surface not covered with >15% stones and/or boulders
• Soils are very deep, well drained and derived from outwash or till from metasedimentary rock, and subsurface textures are loamy skeletal. There can be a calcic layer.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) Pinus ponderosa
Shrub	(1) Spiraea betulifolia (2) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Herbaceous	(1) Festuca campestris (2) Festuca idahoensis

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Physiographic features

This ecological site is found in well-drained valleys that span the lower elevations, and at moderate elevations on southern and western aspects. Generally, the ponderosa pine zone is bordered at lower elevations by grasslands, and at higher elevations by Douglas fir sites. This ecological site occurs primarily on dune and outwash terrace landforms, on footslope, toeslope and summit positions, on low slopes ranging 1 to 15 percent, at elevations averaging 1400 meters.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Valley > Lateral moraine (2) Valley > Outwash terrace
Elevation	4265 – 4600 ft
Slope	1 – 15 %
Aspect	W, NW, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW

Climatic features

The climate is varies from the noted climate stations across this Ecological Site. The climate tables below are based on the nearest climate stations to the LRU.

Table 3 Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	10-80 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	70-120 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	20-20 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	10-90 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	60-130 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	10-30 in
Frost-free period (average)	50 days
Freeze-free period (average)	100 days
Precipitation total (average)	20 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 1. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 2. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 3. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 4. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 5. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 6 Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) SWAN LAKE [USC00248087], Bigfork, MT
(2) LINDBERGH LAKE [USC00245043], Seeley Lake, MT
(3) SEELEY LAKE RS [USC00247448], Bonner, MT
(4) OVANDO 9 SSE [USC00246304], Helmville, MT
(5) LINCOLN RS [USC00245040], Lincoln, MT
(6) ROGERS PASS 9 NNE [USC00247159], Wolf Creek, MT
(7) GIBSON DAM [USC00243489], Augusta, MT

Soil features

Soils associated with this ecological site are very deep, well drained and derived from outwash or till from metasedimentary rock. Soil textures typically are loamy, with surface textures ranging from fine sandy loam to sandy loam and subsurface textures range from sand to sandy loam. The very deep depth class means that there is no bedrock encountered within 150 cm. Soils are typically Haplocryepts defined as having little development in the subsoil. Typically, they have a cambic (minimal soil development) subsoil horizon below the ochric epipedon, sometimes a calcic or cambic subsoil horizon, but at least parts of the surface horizons are free of carbonates. There is a thin organic layer present, averaging 3 cm in depth.

(Soil Survey Staff, 2015). For more information on soil taxonomy, please follow this link:
http://http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/class/?cid=nrcs142p2_053580

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Outwash – metasedimentary rock (2) Till – metasedimentary rock
Surface texture	(1) Fine sandy loam (2) Sandy loam
Family particle size	(1) Fine-loamy (2) Coarse-loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Soil depth	60 – 0 in

Ecological dynamics

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

State 1
Reference State

Community 1.1
Reference

Canopy cover is sampled via ocular estimation of cover in a 100th acre circle centered on the soil pit. The overstory is dominated by Ponderosa pine in an open growing stand or moderate stocked stand with small gap dynamics in which small numbers of trees are dead and regeneration is infilling. There can be very low cover of Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) and common juniper (Juniperus communis). Overstory canopy cover averages 35%, and can range from 25 to 50%. The understory has the most frequently occurring species including Idaho fescue(average canopy cover is 9%), rough fescue (40%), common yarrow (4%), sulphur flowered buckwheat (8%)and rosy pussytoes (12%). Other common shrub species include creeping barberry (5%), white spirea (2%), and pussytoes (4%). Common forbs include smallflowered anemone (3%), blanketflower (trace), northern bedstraw (trace), western stoneseed (1%), false lily of the valley (3%) and American vetch (Vicia americana, 6%).

Foliar canopy cover is sampled via line point intercept method taken on a 100 foot line placed perpendicular to the slope. Foliar cover dataset of four sites indicates that the understory foliar cover is high (77%), ground cover is predominantly duff (89%), and moss (11%) and little bare soil (5%). Species with the highest foliar cover include rough fescue (30%), kinnickinik (12%) and Idaho fescue (3%). The vegetation structure is that of tall trees with average height of 80-120 feet and a multistoried understory. The top layer is 20-40 inches tall and includes common snowberry, Saskatoon serviceberry, rough fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass. There are two lower layers that include diverse shrubs, forb and grass species. One layer is at an average height of 10-18 inches tall and can include, sulphur flowered buckwheat, old man’s whiskers, prairie junegrass, blanketflower and the lower layer up to 10 inches tall that can include common yarrow, American vetch, northern bedstraw. The lowest layer, at the ground surface, includes rosy pussytoes and kinnickinnik.

This reference phase is maintained by frequent and low severity fires that do not significantly harm overstory, older, larger ponderosa pine trees but does reduce seedling and shrub cover to patches and reinitiates growth in the herbaceous cover. The open forest structure found in the reference phase allows for some resistance and resilience from insect pest and diseases. Although the threat is very low or rare because ponderosa pine is not a primary host, the presence of root rot pockets can shift the composition of this community away from its host species and create small patches of mortality. The understory of this community is low storied with the medium shrub common snowberry in clumps and the herbaceous layer varied but low growing with perennial bunchgrasses that can have high cover. This community is rarely prone to Armillaria root rot and highly prone to defoliation by various beetles on pine.

Forest overstory.Canopy cover is sampled via ocular estimation of cover in a 100th acre circle centered on the soil pit. The overstory is dominated by Ponderosa pine in an open growing stand or moderate stocked stand with small gap dynamics in which small numbers of trees are dead and regeneration is infilling. There can be very low cover of Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) and common juniper (Juniperus communis). Overstory canopy cover averages 35%, and can range from 25 to 50%.

Forest understory. The understory has the most frequently occurring species including Idaho fescue(average canopy cover is 9%), rough fescue (40%), common yarrow (4%), sulphur flowered buckwheat (8%)and rosy pussytoes (12%). Other common shrub species include creeping barberry (5%), white spirea (2%), and pussytoes (4%). Common forbs include smallflowered anemone (3%), blanketflower (trace), northern bedstraw (trace), western stoneseed (1%), false lily of the valley (3%) and American vetch (Vicia americana, 6%). <br /> Foliar canopy cover is sampled via line point intercept method taken on a 100 foot line placed perpendicular to the slope. Foliar cover dataset of four sites indicates that the understory foliar cover is high (77%), ground cover is predominantly duff (89%), and moss (11%) and little bare soil (5%). Species with the highest foliar cover include rough fescue (30%), kinnickinik (12%) and Idaho fescue (3%). The vegetation structure is that of tall trees with average height of 80-120 feet and a multistoried understory. The top layer is 20-40 inches tall and includes common snowberry, Saskatoon serviceberry, rough fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass. There are two lower layers that include diverse shrubs, forb and grass species. One layer is at an average height of 10-18 inches tall and can include, sulphur flowered buckwheat, old man’s whiskers, prairie junegrass, blanketflower and the lower layer up to 10 inches tall that can include common yarrow, American vetch, northern bedstraw. The lowest layer, at the ground surface, includes rosy pussytoes and kinnickinnik. <br /> <br /> This reference phase is maintained by frequent and low severity fires that do not significantly harm overstory, older, larger ponderosa pine trees but does reduce seedling and shrub cover to patches and reinitiates growth in the herbaceous cover. The open forest structure found in the reference phase allows for some resistance and resilience from insect pest and diseases. Although the threat is very low or rare because ponderosa pine is not a primary host, the presence of root rot pockets can shift the composition of this community away from its host species and create small patches of mortality. The understory of this community is low storied with the medium shrub common snowberry in clumps and the herbaceous layer varied but low growing with perennial bunchgrasses that can have high cover. This community is rarely prone to Armillaria root rot and highly prone to defoliation by various beetles on pine.

Dominant plant species

ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), tree
kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), shrub
rough fescue (Festuca campestris), grass
Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), grass
sulphur-flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum), other herbaceous

Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)

Table 5. Annual production by plant type

Plant type	Low (lb/acre)	Representative value (lb/acre)	High (lb/acre)
Grass/Grasslike	150	700	1335
Shrub/Vine	100	400	800
Forb	100	300	515
Total	350	1400	2650

Table 6. Soil surface cover

Tree basal cover	0-10%
Shrub/vine/liana basal cover	0-10%
Grass/grasslike basal cover	10-20%
Forb basal cover	0-10%
Non-vascular plants	0-10%
Biological crusts	0-0%
Litter	50-80%
Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3"	0-10%
Surface fragments >3"	0-10%
Bedrock	0%
Water	0%
Bare ground	0-10%

Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)

Height Above Ground (ft)	Tree	Shrub/Vine	Grass/ Grasslike	Forb
<0.5	0-5%	0-10%	0-10%	0-10%
>0.5 <= 1	0-5%	0-10%	10-20%	0-10%
>1 <= 2	0-5%	0-10%	40-50%	0-10%
>2 <= 4.5	0-5%	–	0-10%	–
>4.5 <= 13	0-10%	–	–	–
>13 <= 40	0-10%	–	–	–
>40 <= 80	10-30%	–	–	–
>80 <= 120	10-40%	–	–	–
>120	0-10%	–	–	–

Community 1.2
Mature patchy phase

Community 1.3
Vertical Difference Phase

Community 1.4
Stem Exclusion Phase

Community 1.5
Post Fire Disturbance

Pathway 1.1A
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Moderate to large size patches of tree mortality due to fire, insect, disease, windthrow. These patches are larger than those found in the reference phase and are due to larger and/or more severe fire severity in areas that are: overstocked, or with insect damage or competition for resources due to overstocked conditions. This occurs in areas with mixed severity fire (higher elevation, moister site conditions), and/or Douglas fir thickets (transition zones with Douglas fir forests or areas with fire suppression).

Pathway 1.1B
Community 1.1 to 1.5

This is a severe stand replacing fire event that returns the community to the initiation phase. This severe fire is in contrast to the high frequency and low severity fire that perpetuates the reference community which reduces shrub and seedling cover to patches, reinitiates forb and grass growth but does not significantly harm overstory ponderosa pine trees which are adapted to this historic fire regime.

Pathway 1.2A
Community 1.2 to 1.1

1.2A – Time and infilling of moderate sized patches with trees to a reference condition of an open stand with a historic fire regime of high frequency and low severity fire.

Pathway 1.2B
Community 1.2 to 1.5

1.2B – This is a severe stand replacing fire event that returns the community to the initiation phase

Pathway 1.3A
Community 1.3 to 1.1

1.3A – Time with no major disturbance to transition to the reference phase community

Pathway 1.3B
Community 1.3 to 1.5

1.3B – This is a severe stand replacing fire event that returns the community to the initiation phase

Pathway 1.4A
Community 1.4 to 1.3

1.4A – Time without fire to allow vertical differentiation of stand through small gaps from death due to disease, insects, small fires, windthrow.

Pathway 1.4B
Community 1.4 to 1.5

1.4B – This is a severe stand replacing fire event that returns the community to the initiation phase

Pathway 1.5A
Community 1.5 to 1.4

1.5A – Time with fire return interval extended to allow natural tree regeneration to grow into dense pole stands

State 2
Introduced Species State

Community 2.1

State 3
Fire Exclusion State

Community 3.1

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

T1A – Introduced grasses and/or weedy species dominate the understory with overstory of Ponderosa pine. This occurs with the introduction of these introduced/weedy species (through human or livestock use, proximity to development or other means), establishment and dominance of the native perennial bunchgrass community.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

T1B - Fire exclusion over long periods allowing stands to grow into homogenous, dense, multi-storied stands. This dense forest structure can increase fuel loads of ladder fuels in live trees, standing dead trees and woody and herbaceous litter on the ground. This increase in fuel loading and dense forest structure can change fire severity once fire occurs. In transitional areas close to Douglas fir forests, there may be thickets of Douglas fir occurring in ponderosa pine stands.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

R2A – Range management practices to convert introduced grass and/or weedy species dominated understory to native perennial bunchgrasses. This may not be feasible if the native plant composition is less than 10% and may be economically infeasible. As well, feasibility is dependent on the type of weed species and amount i.e. extreme cheatgrass or smooth brome coverage may be impossible to restore; soil condition and ability to restore must be taken into account.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

R3A – Forest stand structure, composition and historical fire regime restored by overstory thinning, ground and ladder fuels reduction, and prescribed fire. This may be economically infeasible, and is completely dependent on site conditions and will require numerous entries into a forest stand.

Additional community tables

Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)
Grass/Grasslike
1				150–1335
	rough fescue	FECA4	Festuca campestris	150–900	10–60
	Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	50–200	1–6
	bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSP6	Pseudoroegneria spicata	50–200	1–6
	low northern sedge	CACO10	Carex concinna	0–15	0–5
	Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	0–10	0–6
	Richardson's needlegrass	ACRI8	Achnatherum richardsonii	0–10	–
	Geyer's sedge	CAGE2	Carex geyeri	–	0–5
	squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	–	0–2
Forb
2				100–515
	silvery lupine	LUAR3	Lupinus argenteus	0–200	0–5
	silky lupine	LUSE4	Lupinus sericeus	0–100	0–2
	slender cinquefoil	POGR9	Potentilla gracilis	0–70	0–2
	alumroot	HEUCH	Heuchera	0–55	0–1
	old man's whiskers	GETR	Geum triflorum	0–30	0–5
	nodding onion	ALCE2	Allium cernuum	0–20	–
	aster	ASTER	Aster	0–15	0–2
	common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	0–10	0–2
	mouse-ear chickweed	CERAS	Cerastium	0–10	0–2
	Virginia strawberry	FRVI	Fragaria virginiana	0–5	0–1
	sulphur-flower buckwheat	ERUM	Eriogonum umbellatum	–	0–5
	western stoneseed	LIRU4	Lithospermum ruderale	–	0–2
	sticky purple geranium	GEVI2	Geranium viscosissimum	–	0–1
	sickletop lousewort	PERA	Pedicularis racemosa	–	0–1
Shrub/Vine
3				100–800
	kinnikinnick	ARUV	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	100–705	0–25
	creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	0–80	0–2
	Scouler's willow	SASC	Salix scouleriana	0–15	–
	pussytoes	ANTEN	Antennaria	–	0–5
	common snowberry	SYAL	Symphoricarpos albus	–	0–1
	Saskatoon serviceberry	AMAL2	Amelanchier alnifolia	–	0–1

Table 9. Community 1.1 forest overstory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height ft	Canopy cover (%)	Diameter in	Basal area (square ft/acre)
Tree
ponderosa pine	PIPO	Pinus ponderosa	Native	–	10-40	15-30	0
Douglas-fir	PSME	Pseudotsuga menziesii	Native	–	1-10	15-30	0

Table 10. Community 1.1 forest understory composition

Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Nativity	Height (ft)	Canopy cover (%)
Grass/grass-like (Graminoids)
rough fescue	FECA4	Festuca campestris	Native	–	0–65
Idaho fescue	FEID	Festuca idahoensis	Native	–	0–10
muttongrass	POFE	Poa fendleriana	Native	–	0–5
bluebunch wheatgrass	PSSP6	Pseudoroegneria spicata	Native	–	0–5
Columbia needlegrass	ACNE9	Achnatherum nelsonii	Native	–	0–2
Richardson's needlegrass	ACRI8	Achnatherum richardsonii	Native	–	0–2
Sandberg bluegrass	POSE	Poa secunda	Native	–	0–2
Geyer's sedge	CAGE2	Carex geyeri	Native	–	0–1
northwestern sedge	CACO11	Carex concinnoides	Native	–	0–1
squirreltail	ELEL5	Elymus elymoides	Native	–	0–0.5
Forb/Herb
sulphur-flower buckwheat	ERUM	Eriogonum umbellatum	Native	–	0–10
old man's whiskers	GETR	Geum triflorum	Native	–	0–5
western stoneseed	LIRU4	Lithospermum ruderale	Native	–	0–5
common yarrow	ACMI2	Achillea millefolium	Native	–	0–5
slender cinquefoil	POGR9	Potentilla gracilis	Native	–	0–5
silky lupine	LUSE4	Lupinus sericeus	Native	–	0–5
nodding onion	ALCE2	Allium cernuum	Native	–	0–5
aster	ASTER	Aster	Native	–	0–5
arrowleaf balsamroot	BASA3	Balsamorhiza sagittata	Native	–	0–5
Rocky Mountain goldenrod	SOMU	Solidago multiradiata	Native	–	0–5
silvery lupine	LUAR3	Lupinus argenteus	Native	–	0–3
yellow penstemon	PECO6	Penstemon confertus	Native	–	0–3
alumroot	HEUCH	Heuchera	Native	–	0–2
sticky purple geranium	GEVI2	Geranium viscosissimum	Native	–	0–2
houndstongue hawkweed	HICY	Hieracium cynoglossoides	Native	–	0–2
ballhead sandwort	ARCO5	Arenaria congesta	Native	–	0–1
streamside fleabane	ERGL2	Erigeron glabellus	Native	–	0–1
Oregon boxleaf	PAMY	Paxistima myrsinites	Native	–	0–1
sickletop lousewort	PERA	Pedicularis racemosa	Native	–	0–1
spearleaf stonecrop	SELA	Sedum lanceolatum	Native	–	0–1
fireweed	CHAN9	Chamerion angustifolium	Native	–	0–1
western pearly everlasting	ANMA	Anaphalis margaritacea	Native	–	0–0.5
stiff yellow Indian paintbrush	CALU14	Castilleja lutescens	Native	–	0–0.5
bluebell bellflower	CARO2	Campanula rotundifolia	Native	–	0–0.5
pepperweed	LEPID	Lepidium	Native	–	0–0.5
nineleaf biscuitroot	LOTR2	Lomatium triternatum	Native	–	0–0.5
Fern/fern ally
pussytoes	ANTEN	Antennaria	Native	–	0–5
Shrub/Subshrub
kinnikinnick	ARUV	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	Native	–	0–40
creeping barberry	MARE11	Mahonia repens	Native	–	0–5
raceme pussytoes	ANRA	Antennaria racemosa	Native	–	0–5
common snowberry	SYAL	Symphoricarpos albus	Native	–	0–2
russet buffaloberry	SHCA	Shepherdia canadensis	Native	–	0–2
white spirea	SPBE2	Spiraea betulifolia	Native	–	0–2
Saskatoon serviceberry	AMAL2	Amelanchier alnifolia	Native	–	0–1
snowbrush ceanothus	CEVE	Ceanothus velutinus	Native	–	0–1
Rocky Mountain juniper	JUSC2	Juniperus scopulorum	Native	–	0–0.5

Table 11. Community 1.2 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 12. Community 1.3 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 13. Community 1.4 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 14. Community 1.5 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 15. Community 2.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Table 16. Community 3.1 plant community composition

Group	Common name	Symbol	Scientific name	Annual production ()	Foliar cover (%)

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	05/23/2026
Approved by
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):

Dominant:

Sub-dominant:

Other:

Additional:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

Download reference sheet

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F043AD901MT

Montane Coniferous Ponderosa Pine/rough fescue-Idaho fescue

Last updated: 5/06/2025 Accessed: 05/23/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Montane Coniferous
Ponderosa Pine/rough fescue-Idaho fescue

Last updated: 5/06/2025
Accessed: 05/23/2026