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APPENDIX III—I-2 <br /> _.,.- -• U. S . Forest Service <br /> Thompson Creek Study Area <br /> Ecological Land Unit Description <br /> A. Land Capability <br /> The identification of land capability is based on an analysis of land and vegetative inventory data. <br /> This inventory identified ten ecosystems (ELU's), (=figure 5). Descriptions are as follows: <br /> Ecological Land Unit =1 <br /> Vegetation: Enaelmann Spruce and subalpine fir with a sparse understory of grasses and shrubs. <br /> Revegetation potential is moderate and production potential is high. <br /> Geomorphology: This unit is on mountain sideslopes. These slopes are generally in the 16-40 percent <br /> range. Erosion hazard and mass movement potentials are moderate. Soils are forming from basalts, <br /> sandstones, siltstones and shales. The unit is the source of high quality water with potential <br /> existing to increase water yields throuch vegetative manipulatiors. This unit only has fist and <br /> 2nd order streams because of its high position on the landscape. <br /> Wildlife: The most obvious spec:es Using this ELU include elk, black bear, porcupine, and pine <br /> squirrel. Less obvious are coyotes, snowshoe hares, pine marten, chipmunks, goshawks and a variety <br /> of small birds such as grey jay, whitecrowned sparrows, blackcapped chickadees and pine grosbeaks. <br /> Ecological Land Unit -42. <br /> Vegetation: This unit consists of seral aspen communities. Production potential is high and the <br /> revegetation potential is moderate. <br /> Geomorphology: This unit is on ;mountain sideslopes. These slopes are generally in the 16-40 <br /> percent range. Erosion hazards are moderate and mass move^ent potential is moderate to high. <br /> Soils are forming from basalts, sandstones, siltstones and shales. This unit is the source of nigh <br /> • quality water with potential to increase yields through vegetative manipulations. This unit con- <br /> tains 1st and 2nd order streams. <br /> Wildlife: This is one of the most productive ELU's from a wildlife standpoint on the Planning <br /> Unit.. Abundant forage exists for deer and elk. Less obvious species include coyotes, black bear, <br /> goshawk and numerous kinds of small rodents. A Hide variety of birds exists including tree <br /> swallows, Williamson's sapsuckers, robins, gray-headed juncos, and blue grouse. <br /> Ecological Land Unit =3 <br /> Vegetation: This unit has mountain meadows, shrubs and rock outcrops. Production potential varies <br /> on this unit, but it is generally high. Revegetation potential is moderate. <br /> Geomorphology: This unit is on mountain sideslopes. Slopes are generally in the 16-40 percent <br /> range with some areas being steeper. Erosion hazards and mass movement potentials are moderate. <br /> Soils are forming from basalt, sandstone, and shales. This unit is the source of high quality water <br /> with little potential for increased yields through vegetative manipulation. First, second and <br /> third order streams occur in this unit. <br /> Wildlife: The most obvious species :sina this ELU are elk, deer, red-tailed hawk and golden eagle. <br /> Less obvious are the snowshoe hare, black bear, various species of rodents and a variety of small <br /> birds- such as mountain bluebird, robin and kestrel . <br /> Ecological Land Unit =4 <br /> Vegetation: The primary overstory species is aspen. This unit has a moderate production potential. <br /> Revegetation ranges from moderate to very low. There are two limiting factors; the steep slopes <br /> and the fine textured soils. <br /> Geomorphology: This ELU occurs on steep slopes, usually 35 percent or steeper. The soil has a <br /> hiah erosion hazard. Some of the soils are forming on ;?arcos Shale and have a hich mass movement <br /> potential . The streams run from high elevation, steep aradlent. streams, to depositional streams <br /> with steep mountain sideslopes at the lower elevations. The potential to increase grater-yield <br /> • through vegetation manipulation is low. <br /> Wildlife: This is one of the ;most productive ELU's from a wildlife standpoint on the Plannino <br />` .. Unit. Abundant forage exists for deer and elk. Less obvious species include coyotes, black bear, <br /> aosha;rk and numerous kinds of small rodents. A. wide variety of birds exists including tree. <br /> swallows, Williamson's sapsuckers, robins, gray-headed juncos, and blue arouse. <br /> —42— <br />