Vegetation Environmental

The overstory of this type is 30% Alnus crispa and 10% Populus balsamifera. The overstory height is 3 meters. Populus balsamifera regeneration is important to the understory with a cover value of 20%. The major species of the shrub layer are Shepherdia canadensis (10% cover) and Salix setchelliana (3% cover). The herbaceous cover is composed of Dryas drummondii (75%), Agropyron violaceum (5% cover) Oxytropis species (5%cover), Carex aurea and Senecio pauperculus

This community is found at an altitude of 232 meters on alluvial/colluvial deposits. The ground surface is 30% unvegetated sand. This is a younger successional type than M2 which is also found on gravel bars. Alnus crispa is more important to the overstory than in M2. Salix alaxensis was important in the understory, and Alnus crispa was absent from M2. The type M3 is found at a lower altitude than M2 and is found in the Tanana lowland as opposed to M1 and M2 which are found in the northern foothills. This type was not aged.