Ecological site F044AY504WA

F043AY519WA	Warm-Frigid, Xeric, Loamy Slopes, low AWC subsoils (Douglas-Fir/Warm Dry Shrub) Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus Sites are on warm, dry aspects of hills and mountains. They are usually less about 30 inches deep with abundant rock fragments in the profile. Surfaces have some weak volcanic ash influence. Overstory species include Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca, and Pinus ponderosa. The understory is typified by Physocarpus malvaceus, Symphoricarpos albus, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Bromus vulgaris.
R043AY511ID	Organic Depressions 19-24" PZ Frigid Clearwater Mountains Found on floodplains and seeps at cooler higher elevation locations. Confined to depressions and other areas of water accumulation. Have mucky surface textures. Found where MLRA 44A transitions to MLRA 43A in upper reaches of valleys. Site vegetation is dominated by a mix of wetland adapted species including Salix, Carex, and Sphagnum
F043AY521WA	Warm-Frigid, Moist- Xeric Loamy Foothills/Mountainsides, ashy surface (Grand Fir Warm Dry Shrub) Abies grandis - Pseudotsuga menziesii / Physocarpus malvaceus - Symphoricarpos albus Found on lower Hill slopes, mountain slopes and terraces. Textures are loamy and sites lack a high water table. The soil surface has a distinct layer of volcanic ash material. Overstory species include Abies grandis and Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca. The understory is typified by Physocarpus malvaceus, Symphoricarpos albus, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Hieracium albiflorum.

F044AY505WA	Frigid, Udic, Sandy Hill slopes and Outwash terraces (Western Hemlock/Moist Forbes) Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora , Tsuga heterophylla / Asarum caudatum Found on sheltered sites with sandy parent material. Associated with sandy alluvial fans in Pend Oreille River Valley. While sites lack a high water table, reduced evapotranspiration helps promote more moisture demanding plant community. Overstory species include Tsuga heterophylla, and Thuja plicata. The understory is typified by subshrubs and forbs including Coptis occidentalis, Linnaea borealis ssp. Longiflora, Clintonia uniflora and Goodyera oblongifolia.
F043AY525WA	Frigid, Udic, Loamy Foothills/Mountainsides, mixed ash surface (Western Hemlock/Moist Forbes) Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora , Tsuga heterophylla / Asarum caudatum Found on higher, steeper hill and mountain slopes included in MLRA 43A. Sites lack high water table during spring. Overstory species include Tsuga heterophylla, and Thuja plicata. The understory is typified by subshrubs and forbs including Coptis occidentalis, Linna

Tree	(1) Tsuga heterophylla (2) Thuja plicata
Shrub	(1) Coptis occidentalis (2) Linnaea borealis ssp. longiflora
Herbaceous	(1) Clintonia uniflora (2) Goodyera oblongifolia

Landforms	(1) Foothills > Flood plain (2) Valley > Outwash terrace (3) Valley > Stream terrace (4) Mountains > Flood plain
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	1970 – 2885 ft
Slope	0 – 15 %
Water table depth	15 in
Aspect	W, NW, SE, S, SW

Flooding frequency	None to occasional
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	1475 – 4265 ft
Slope	0 – 40 %
Water table depth	12 – 18 in

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	80-100 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	130-140 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	30-30 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	70-100 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	120-140 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	20-30 in
Frost-free period (average)	90 days
Freeze-free period (average)	130 days
Precipitation total (average)	30 in

Parent material	(1) Volcanic ash (2) Till (3) Outwash (4) Alluvium (5) Glaciolacustrine deposits
Surface texture	(1) Ashy silt loam (2) Ashy sandy loam
Drainage class	Moderately well drained
Permeability class	Moderate
Depth to restrictive layer	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	3.2 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-60in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-60in)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (10-40in)	Not specified

Drainage class	Moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained
Permeability class	Moderate to very rapid
Depth to restrictive layer	30 – 200 in
Available water capacity (0-40in)	3 – 7.3 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-60in)	0 %
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-60in)	5 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (10-40in)	0 – 70 %

Common name	Symbol	Site index low	Site index high	CMAI low	CMAI high	Age of CMAI	Site index curve code	Site index curve basis
western white pine	PIMO3	60	93	118	180	100	–	–
grand fir	ABGR	60	98	76	149	100	–	–
western larch	LAOC	56	85	74	132	70	–	–
Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir	PSMEG	72	85	83	116	110	–	–
Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir	PSMEG	66	100	71	97	90	–	–

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	07/17/2026
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:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site F044AY504WA

Frigid, Udic, Loamy Foothills and Drainageways, high water table (Western Hemlock/Moist Forbes) Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora , Tsuga heterophylla / Asarum caudatum

Last updated: 9/07/2023 Accessed: 07/17/2026

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General information

MLRA notes

LRU notes

Classification relationships

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Frigid, Udic, Loamy Foothills and Drainageways, high water table
(Western Hemlock/Moist Forbes)
Tsuga heterophylla / Clintonia uniflora , Tsuga heterophylla / Asarum caudatum

Last updated: 9/07/2023
Accessed: 07/17/2026