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.-;: '~, ;0;. ~ ~ " , , ~ ~ : I': I: 5. Vegetation Timberline occurs about 11,800 feet with alpine vegetation, rock outcrops, and talus slopes above this elevation. The vegetation below timberline, at higher elevations, is generally Engelmann spruce on north slopes with Douglas-fir on south slopes. As elevation decreases, aspen occurs interspersed with the spruce/fir vegetation types. At lower elevations ponderosa pine becomes more common, eventually changing to pinon/juniper at the lowest elevations. Other species include lodgepole pine, bristlecone pine, and limber pine. Riparian vegetation occurs in the valley bottoms and around wet areas. Within the forested areas, there are meadows composed of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. The southern portion of the area, south of Marmot Peak, contains pinon/juniper and oak brush. Approximately 67 percent of the total area is forested with the other 33 percent consisting of alpine lands, talus slopes, rock outcrops, meadows, and brushlands. 6. Capable Forest Land Much of the timber is mature or approaching maturity. Fires or previous logging has resulted in stands of po1etimber, seedlings and saplings, or areas with insufficient tree stocking to allow intensive management. Aspen, Engelmann spruce/ subalpine fir, ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and lodgepole pine are all present. Bristlecone pine, limber pine, and several nonforest types (alpine tundra, subalpine grasslands, Krummholz, etc.) are also represented in the vegetation mosaic. Early logging, occurred in the late 1800' s or early 1900's for production of railroad ties, mine props, house logs, and bridge timbers. It is not known whether this logging, wildfire, or logging followed by wildfire is responsible for the understocked, seedling/sapling and pole-size stands present in the area. 26 "',.08')0 \1 .'~ _f....