Vegetation Environmental

Alnus crispa, 2.5 meters tall, dominates the shrub overstory with 67% cover. Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra (10% cover, height 1.2 meters) dominates the shrub understory with frequent associates being Alnus crispa (10% cover), Betula nana (5% cover), Viburnum edule (10% cover), Vaccinium uliginosum (3% cover) and Spiraea beauverdiana (10% cover). The herbaceous layer contains the major species Equisetum arvense (75% cover), Carex bigelowii (25% cover), Arctagrostis latifolia (25% cover), Poa arctica (25% cover) and Polemonium acutiflorum (15% cover). Occasional associates in the herbaceous layer are Vaccinium vitis-idaea (2% cover), Rubus arcticus (25% cover), Equisetum sylvaticum (50% cover) and Petasites hyperboreus (25% cover). The nonvascular layer contains the following major species with their associated mean cover values: Polytrichium commune (2% cover) and Hylocomium splendens. Occasional associates were Sphagnum species (5% cover), Rhytidium rugosum (2% cover) and Rhacomitrium langinosum.

This plant association is found with an average slope of 9% and an aspect of 316 degrees. The slope ranges from 0% to 17%. The average altitude is 780 meters ranging from 703 to 817 meters. It is a stream valley with wet rocky soil. Rock was hit at an average depth of 15 centimeters. The ground surface is 205 unvegetated covered with humus.