M333Bb Salish Mountains

Landscape Characteristics:

Glaciated mountains that formed in argillite, siltite, quartzite, and dolomite. Some volcanic ash layers remain, mostly on ridgetops. Elevations range from 2500 to 7600 feet. Drainage density is low to moderate.

Climate:

Mean annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 50 inches, about 70 percent falling as snow. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are cryic (frigid at lower elevations) and udic.

Potential Vegetation:

Douglas-fir forest/Western ponderosa forest

Relationships of Dominant Map Unit Components:

Landform Geology Soil Taxa
Valley floors Alluvium/outwash Eutrochrepts/Cryoboralfs/Udifluvents
Mountainsides/moraines Till/quartzite/argillite Cryoboralfs/Cryochrepts/Eutroboralfs/Eutrochrepts

Disturbance and Land Use:

The primary natural disturbances are fire and insect epidemics. Land use is predominantly timber harvest and rural/suburban development.