M332Eb East Pioneer Mountains

Landscape Characteristics:

Block faulted mountains that formed predominantly in limestone. Alpine glaciation has modified much of the landscape. Elevations range from 6000 to 9500 feet. Drainage density is moderate.

Climate:

Mean annual precipitation ranges from 10 to 20 inches, about 20 percent falling as snow. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are cryic and typic ustic.

Potential Vegetation:

Douglas-fir forest/Western spruce-fir forest/Alpine meadows and barren

Relationships of Dominant Map Unit Components:

Landform Geology Soil Taxa
Mountainsides/uplands Limestone/granite/volcanics Cryoborolls/Cryochrepts/Cryoboralfs
Alpine slopes/ridges Limestone/granite/volcanics Cryoborolls/Cryochrepts/Cryorthents

Disturbance and Land Use:

The primary natural disturbance is fire. Land use is predominantly timber harvest and livestock grazing.