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7. 1 VEGETATION RESOURCES <br /> The landscape in the Climax area is generally composed <br /> of three contrasting bands of vegetation communities (see -Vege- <br /> tation Map, Appendix H and at the end of Section 7. 1) , willow in <br /> the valley-b-ottoms, the spruce-fir forest on the slopes, and <br /> alpine-tundra above. The willow (Salix spp. ) communities are <br /> predominately located in the Arkansas River valley and most <br /> bottom lands of tributary streams to the Arkansas River, Eagle <br /> River, and the Tenmile Creek. Assorted grasses , sedges (Carex <br /> spp. ) and forbs grow amongst the willow shrubs. <br /> The spruce-fir forest lies below 11, 800 feet elevation <br /> in the subalpine zone and is dominated by Engelmann spruce (Picea <br /> engelmanni) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) interspersed <br /> with communities of quaking aspen (Populas tremuloides) , lodg P e ole <br /> pine (Pinus contorta) and of willows and open meadows. Understory <br /> and open meadow plants include grasses, such as sheep fescue <br /> (Festuca ovina) , timothy, (Trisetum spicatum) ; forbs, such as <br /> western yarrow, (Achillea lanulosa) , pyrola (P rola sp <br /> p. ) ,pp. ) , ragwort <br /> (Senecio spp. ) , strawberry (Fragaria sop. ) , and soft-haired <br /> Arnica (Arnica mollis) ; and shrubs such as whortleberry (Vaccinium <br /> spp. ) , common juniper (Juniperus communis) , rose (Rosa spp. ) , <br /> shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) , and sage (Artemisia <br /> spp. ) . <br /> Early land uses of the area are still evidenced by <br /> large clearcut and burned sections which have not had opportunity <br /> 7-1 <br />