General information

Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.

MLRA notes

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 224X–Cook Inlet Lowlands

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 224X consists of lowlands and lower mountain slopes of the Susitna and Matanuska Valleys, western Kenai Peninsula, and west side of Cook Inlet. It makes up about 10,965 square miles (28,400 square kilometers). The terrain is a broad expanse of braided flood plains, high gradient rivers, rolling plains, terraces and hills bordered by the surrounding mountains. This MLRA contains a large percentage of Alaska's total population and includes the most extensive road systems in the state. Major rivers include the Susitna, Yentna, Little Susitna, Matanuska, Kenai, and Deep Creek that all drain into Cook Inlet. The largest lakes are Tustumena, Skilak, and Beluga Lake.

Climate is highly variable ranging from temperate maritime to continental subarctic. Winter arctic weather systems are common in the northern portion of the MLRA. The average annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 60 inches (380 to 1,525 millimeters). The average annual snowfall is about 60 to 120 inches (150 to 305 centimeters). The average annual temperature is about 27 to 36 degrees F (-3 to 2 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 65 to 160 days, decreasing with elevation.

Vegetation ranges from spruce/birch forests to dwarf scrub/herbaceous alpine communities at high elevations. Saltwater meadows along the coast and wetlands and extensive marsh occur throughout the lowlands across the valley. In most years precipitation is adequate for crops, with limited irrigation. Major rivers are affected by high sediment-laden glacial meltwater and ice dam damage and flooding is a risk during spring thaw. Water is hard or very hard, with high potential levels of iron, but is otherwise of excellent quality.

The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Spodosols, Histosols, Entisols, and Inceptisols. Water, riverwash, beaches, and other miscellaneous (non-soil) areas are 15 percent of this MLRA. Glacial and volcanic ash wind-blown deposits influence much of the area. Glacial deposits and active fluvial deposits are common.

The MLRA is visited by a great number of migrating birds and supports large populations of waterfowl. Most of the rivers and streams are important spawning grounds for salmon (Chinook, coho, and red salmon). Peonies, hay, potatoes, and hardy vegetables are important agriculture with a few dairy and beef cattle farms present. Commercial logging and subsistence firewood gathering are locally important, as is subsistence gathering. Other major industries in the area include commercial fishing, fish processing, and oil and gas extraction. Tourism and wildland recreation are becoming increasingly important.

The major resource concerns are water erosion and water quality. Aquifers are highly susceptible to contamination from runoff. The intrusion of seawater can be a problem along Cook Inlet. Rapid development and off-road recreation are creating significant damage to the wildlands.

LRU notes

This MLRA is a transitional zone between temperate maritime and continental subarctic climatic zones. Arctic winter weather patterns are present in northern areas. With this transition, there are major variations in climatic influences and vegetative responses. With further soil survey and vegetative surveys, this MLRA will be evaluated for potential Land Resource Unit (LRU) development.

Classification relationships

Coastal Trough Province of the Pacific Mountain System

USFS Description of Ecoregions of the United States
100 Polar Domain
130 Subarctic Division
M135 Alaska Range Humid Tayga--Meadow Province

United States National Vegetation Classification
C01. Forest & Woodland Class
S15. Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass
F001. Boreal Forest & Woodland Formation
D014. North American Boreal Forest and Woodland Division
M156. White Spruce - Black Spruce Boreal Montane Woodland Group

LandFire BpS Model/Description Version: Nov. 2024
- 16790 Alaska Sub-boreal White-Lutz Spruce-Hardwood Forest and Woodland
- 16050 Western North American Boreal Mesic Birch-Aspen Forest
- 16012 Western North American Boreal Treeline White Spruce-Hardwood Woodland - Boreal Transition
(Landfire, 2024)

Ecological site concept

- Describes sloping forested areas on deep to very deep, non-organic, mineral soils
- Parent material varies and includes loess, ash deposits, silty deposits from glacial outwash, and till.
- Located on moraines, till plains, mountain slopes, hills, ridges, and plains
- No influence from ground water, and vegetation is not hydrologically driven. Upslope positions contribute runoff during major precipitation and snow melt events with no major impacts.

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species