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<br />e. SUBALPINE LOAM <br /> <br />Physical Characteristics <br /> <br />(1) Physiographic Features: This site takes in <br />mountain parks and other open grassland, <br />generally within the spruce-fir zone. In some <br />places it is interspersed with aspen groves. <br />Topography is mostly rolling, with gentle to <br />moderate slopes, but some areas are steep. <br /> <br />Slopes range up to about 40%, but are between 6 <br />and 25% on much of the site. Slope is not a <br />determining factor within the site itself, <br />although it has had some effect on vegetation. <br />It may be as high as 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in <br />the drier southern mountains. Upper elevations <br />is about that of timberl ine--ll,500 feet (3,505 m) <br />over much of the state and up to 11,800 feet <br />(3,597 m) in some southern portions. <br /> <br />(2) Climatic Features: Average annual precipitation <br />is at least 20 inches (0.51 m) and may be much <br />higher. At least 60% of the moisture falls as <br />snow. June is a dry month on much of the site, <br />but in near-normal years, soil moisture from <br />snowmelt carries over until summer rains begin. <br />Light afternoon showers are frequent through <br />mid and late summer. The optimum growing <br />season of major native plants is early June to <br />late July. The mean annual temperature ranges <br />between about 30 - 400 F. (-1.1 to 4.40 C). <br />Average frost-free period is generally 50 days <br />or less. <br /> <br />Evaporation rates are relatively low. The <br />ground is well covered by snow during coldest <br />weather and snowmelt is relatively late. The <br />typical plant community seems to be associated <br />with depth and duration of snow pack. It is <br />absent from some areas where winds commonly <br />blow off a large amount of snow, even though <br />elevation, general soil characteristics, and <br />total precipitation seem to be right for it. <br /> <br />(3) Native (potential) Vegetation: Large bunch- <br />grasses give the site a lush grassland aspect. <br />Thurber fescue is always present and usually ~ <br />dominant. Parry oatgrass is co-dominant in <br />some places, but is scarce or absent in other <br />localities. Arizona fescue shows up on lower <br /> <br />(\ :,." .~. - :r.., <br />\.>\.. '...) t,' <br /> <br />B-9 <br />