Vegetation Environmental

The shrub overstory of this type is composed of Salix alaxensis with a height of 2.5 meters and 20% cover. The other major species of the shrub layer are Shepherdia canadensis (5% cover), Salix glauca (5% cover) and Potentilla fruticosa (2% cover). Species occasionally found in this type are Salix arbusculoides (5% cover), Salix barrattiana (2% cover) and Betula nana (10% cover). The major species of the herbaceous layer are Dryas octopetala (30% cover), Aster sibiricus (10% cover), Anemone parviflora (10% cover), Arctostaphylos rubra (30% cover), Salix reticulata (10% cover), Festuca altaica (10% cover), Hedysarum alpinum (5% cover), Anemone parviflora (5% cover), and Epilobium latifolium (5% cover). Species that occur occasionally in this type were Oxytropis borealis, Draba alpina, and Carex sciropoidea. The major species of the nonvascular layer are Hylocomium splendens (5% cover), Pleurozium schreberi (1% cover), Stereocaulon species (1% cover), and Peltigera scabrosa.

This is a gravel bar community, and the ground surface is 25% unvegetated. The type is found at an average altitude of 1,060 meters on alluvial deposits. The range in elevation is 1,038 to 1,082 meters. The average slope is 7%, and the range is 0% to 13%. The aspect is 296 degrees.