M331Ag Northern Absaroka Volcanic Mountains

Landscape Characteristics:

Steep mountains and ridgetops that formed in andesitic rocks. Elevations range from 5300 to 12000 feet. Drainage density is high. Wetlands and riparian areas are common. Lakes occur in some high elevation cirques.

Climate:

Mean annual precipitation ranges from 40 to 110 inches, about 65 percent falling as snow. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are cryic and typic ustic.

Potential Vegetation:

Douglas-fir forest/Western spruce-fir forest

Relationships of Dominant Map Unit Components:

Landform Geology Soil Taxa
Mountainsides/ridges Andesite Cryoboralfs/Cryoborolls/Cryochrepts
Valleys/foothills Andesite Cryoborolls/Cryochrepts

Disturbance and Land Use:

The primary natural disturbances are fire, insects, disease, and mass wasting. Land use is predominantly recreational development. Some timber harvest and mining activities also occur.