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Idaho Conservation Data Center Idaho Department of Fish and Game PO Box 25 Boise, Idaho 83707 Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions for riparian and wetland ecological systems: Results from Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Fairfield Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen ecological system, Goat Creek Wetland Sawtooth National Forest

Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions ...ii SUGGESTED CITATION Idaho Conservation Data Center. 2007. Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions for riparian

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Page 1: Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions ...ii SUGGESTED CITATION Idaho Conservation Data Center. 2007. Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions for riparian

Idaho Conservation

Data Center

Idaho Department of

Fish and Game

PO Box 25

Boise, Idaho

83707

Use of monitoring data to

describe reference conditions

for riparian and wetland

ecological systems:

Results from Sawtooth

National Recreation Area and

Fairfield Ranger District,

Sawtooth National Forest,

Idaho

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen ecological system,

Goat Creek Wetland

Sawtooth National Forest

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ABSTRACT

This pilot project used wetland and riparian vegetation plot data collected during inventory and monitoring to characterize the reference condition of ecological systems in 16 twelve-digit hydrologic units (HUC 12s) on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Fairfield Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest and adjacent areas. HUC 12s were classified using cluster analysis according to spatially derived hydrologic, geologic, and climate data into 4 ecological groups (sloped fens and meadows, basin fens and meadows, montane stream valleys, foothill stream valleys). HUC 12s were also organized into 3 reference condition classes (minimally impacted, impacted, highly impacted) based on spatially derived and observed indicators of ecological condition. Vegetation plots sampled between 2001 and 2006 from these HUC 12s were classified by ecological system and plant association. Community composition and environmental data were then summarized by ecological system for each condition class in each ecological group. Across the study area 6 ecological systems encompassing 56 plant associations were summarized. Of the 7 sites sampled on the Sawtooth National Forest in 2006, 3 were in excellent ecological condition, within minimally impacted HUC 12s, and 4 were in good to ecological condition, within impacted HUC 12s. Results of this pilot project can be used in the design of ecological restoration and monitoring. Diagnostic plant species for each system in an ecological group should be considered when designing plant material increase projects. The cover and constancy of diagnostic species in minimally impacted HUC 12s can be used as targets for restoration of degraded systems in the same ecological group.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Fairfield Ranger District staff provided valuable ideas on potential reference areas to sample. Numerous Idaho Conservation Data Center staff assisted with the project. Beth Colket and Georgana Porkorney assisted with field data collection. Georgana Porkorney entered field data and Lisa Hahn provided database management help. Steve Rust advised on data analysis. Prior to 2006, various IDCDC staff assisted with field work, data management, and GIS.

KEY WORDS

riparian, wetland, vegetation, ecological system, plant association, reference condition, watershed, ecological group, Sawtooth National Forest

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SUGGESTED CITATION

Idaho Conservation Data Center. 2007. Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions for riparian and wetland ecological systems: Results from Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Fairfield Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID. 36 pp. plus appendices.

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INTRODUCTION 2 STUDY AREA

Geology 4 Climate 4 Hydrology 7

METHODS Sample Site Selection 8 Vegetation and Environmental Field Sampling 8 Reference Condition Analysis 9 HUC 12 Ecological Groups 10 Vegetation Classification and Environmental Characterization 11

RESULTS Reference Conditions 11

Elk Creek (minimally impacted) 12 Lower Valley Creek (minimally impacted) 16 Stanley Lake Creek (minimally impacted) 16 Boardman Creek (impacted) 16 Skeleton Creek (impacted) 16 South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek (impacted) 16

HUC 12 Ecological Groups 17 Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows 17 Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows 20 South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys 20 Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys 20

Vegetation by Ecological Group, System, and Reference Condition 21 Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows 21 Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows 24 South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys 25 Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys 27

DISCUSSION 28 MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS 29 LITERATURE CITED 31

LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Twelve-digit (6th level) hydrologic units used in the analysis. 6 Table 2. Analysis of reference condition at HUC 12 and site scales. 14

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Study area. 5 Figure 2. Reference condition classes for HUC 12s. 13 Figure 3. Cluster diagram and classification of ecological groups. 18 Figure 4. Distribution of HUC 12s by ecological group. 19 Figure 5. Mapped and sampled ecological systems in study area. 22

LIST OF APPENDICES Plant associations and ecological systems sampled Mean cover and constancy of plant species and ground features Environmental features for ecological systems

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INTRODUCTION

Wetland vegetation, inclusive of riparian areas, forms a critical link between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Hansen et al. 1995). Intact wetland habitats are vitally important for maintaining properly functioning streams and lake systems within natural disturbance regimes (USDI BLM 1998, Sawtooth National Forest 2003, Kershner et al. 2004). Wetland ecosystems with appropriate vegetative composition and structure function to (Novitzki et al. 1986, Adamus et al. 1991, Brinson 1993, Hansen et al. 1995):

stabilize streambanks

reduce sedimentation

maintain proper water chemistry and nutrient cycling for aquatic ecosystems

shade water and maintain proper temperatures for aquatic organisms

supply large woody debris for diverse channel characteristics and aquatic habitat

retain floodwaters

recharge groundwater

support stream baseflows

promote floodplain development and terrestrial habitat

provide primary habitats for biota, including numerous at-risk species

Maintaining and restoring functional characteristics of wetland and riparian habitat are high priorities for public land management agencies. Activities related to this goal occur within an adaptive management and restoration context at a local watershed scale (Quigley et al. 1997, Sawtooth National Forest 2003). Inventory and monitoring are key elements needed for development of management and restoration plans (USDI BLM 1998, Winward 2000, Kershner et al. 2004, Henderson et al. 2005, Burton et al. 2007). Wetland inventory, assessment, monitoring, and restoration are most effective when designed around fundamental ecological processes (Brinson 1993, USDI BLM 1998, Faber-Langendoen et al. 2006). Wetlands (especially riparian areas) are dynamic and have a range of vegetative structure and composition states (Hansen et al. 1995, Weixelman et al. 1996, Walford et al. 2001). These are often in balance with natural disturbance and hydrologic regimes and reflect the geomorphic evolution of watersheds. Key drivers in the function and formation of wetland and riparian ecological systems include climate, hydrology, geology, and soils (Brinson 1993). Climate influences the temperature of soils, precipitation timing and amount, snowpack size, and pattern of melting (Hansen et al. 1995, Weixelman et al. 1996). Resultant hydrologic regimes determine streamflow patterns and volume. Climate and hydrology, in turn, act upon bedrock lithology. Differential erosion and weathering rates create a variety of soil parent materials and sediment transport regimes that determine where soil forms. Underlying geologic structure, topography, and elevation combined with past glaciations affect drainage patterns, valley shapes, and valley sizes. These factors ultimately determine settings for wetland formation (Weixelman et al. 1996, Walford et al. 2001).

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Central Idaho wetlands occur in riverine, depressional, sloped, or lacustrine settings (Adamus et al. 1991, Brinson 1993). The depth and frequency of flooding in these settings is a major factor in development of specific wetland vegetation communities (Hansen et al. 1995). Riverine settings result from dynamic floodplain processes. Floodplain width is partly a function of valley width and gradient (Weixelman et al. 1996). Frequently flooded gravel bars, sites for early seral plant communities, eventually become overlain by fine sediments as channels laterally migrate. Different riparian vegetation types occur on less frequently flooded terraces, the relics of floodplains later incised by stream channels. Multiple terrace complexes result in glacial troughs or valleys that receive large deposition events (common in the Idaho batholith). Floodplain soils are often variable, ranging from fine-textured loams in gently sloped valleys to coarse sand and gravel in steeper streams (Hansen et al. 1995, Weixelman et al. 1996, Walford et al. 2001) (e.g., mid elevations of the Sawtooth Range). Soil texture often determines drainage, aeration, nutrient availability, chemistry, and element cycling. Soil formation is also influenced by cold air drainage, growing season length, and saturation. Cold and saturated conditions limit microbial activity and chemical reactions resulting in accumulation of organic matter, or peat. Sloped wetlands are often supported by groundwater discharge, such as at fault-line springs or the base of gravelly glacial moraines, but also occur in meadows fed by snowmelt. Peat can accumulate in these settings if climates are cold and groundwater perennial (e.g., in the Stanley Basin, Cape Horn, and Bull Trout Lake areas) (Moseley et al. 1994). Wetlands occurring in similar landscape or watershed settings reflect similar climatic, hydrologic, geologic, and soil influences. As a result, they often have common emergent properties, including vegetation and functions (Adamus et al. 1991, Brinson 1993, Johnson 2005). This allows for the profiling, or characterization of watersheds according to the abundance and diversity of specific hydrologic and geomorphic settings present (Spivey and Ainslie 2004, Johnson 2005). Applied to landscape-scale wetland assessment and monitoring, a watershed’s profile can be compared to that of reference watersheds having the same profile (Tiner 2002, Johnson 2005). Making comparisons between watersheds first requires classification of watersheds into similar ecological groups based on environmental characteristics (Johnson 2005). Classification of watersheds can be based on multivariate analysis of spatial attributes (Johnson 2005). Reference watersheds are widely used in monitoring wetland condition and restoration progress (Harris 1999; Tiner 2002; Grafe 2002a, b; Johnson 2005). The description of reference characteristics is accomplished by analyzing ecological integrity and placing watersheds in appropriate condition classes (Tiner 2002; Grafe 2002a, b; Johnson 2005). Ideally, a network of reference watersheds will span the gradient from undisturbed to highly disturbed. Many methods for assessing watershed or wetland integrity and rating their condition and value relative to each other are used (Oechsli and Frissell 2003, Bottum 2004, Hruby 2004, Jones 2004, Tiner 2004, Hahn et al. 2005). GIS-based landscape-scale assessment of mapped indicators of impacts (e.g., land cover, land use, hydrologic alteration, road network, water quality, etc.), supplemented by field observations at the site level (Tiner 2002, Tiner 2004), are commonly used. To inform restoration and management planning, Harris (1999) used

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multivariate analysis of vegetation plot data to describe the structure and composition of riparian plant communities and functional groups for specific geomorphic landforms of reference stream reaches. The goal of this pilot project was to use wetland and riparian vegetation plot data collected on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (NRA) and Fairfield Ranger Districts (RD) of the Sawtooth National Forest (NF) to characterize vegetation and ecological condition in selected reference watersheds. Specific objectives were to:

describe vegetation in terms of diagnostic species for ecological systems and to compare composition across different reference conditions;

establish baseline monitoring plots to assess current riparian and wetland conditions in high quality, functioning areas on the Sawtooth NF;

describe and classify the landscape, hydrology, geomorphology, geology, and other environmental features, as well as functional characteristics, of riparian and wetland plant associations and ecological systems; and

identify riparian and wetland reference sites, as well as special, scarce, or fragile habitats (e.g., peatlands, geothermal areas, meadows) on the Sawtooth NF

STUDY AREA

This project focused on Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley tributaries of the upper Salmon River and the South Fork Boise River basin (Figure 1). Field sampling in 2006 occurred within portions of the Sawtooth NRA and Fairfield RD on the Sawtooth NF (Table 1). Selected watersheds with wetland vegetation plot data from adjacent areas on the Boise and Salmon-Challis NFs were also included. The Sawtooth Wilderness was not included. The study area was completely within the Idaho Batholith Section of the Middle Rocky Mountain Steppe Ecoregion (Bailey 1980). Geology

The Idaho Batholith is the dominant geological formation within the study area. The region is faulted and uplifted, characterized by highly weathered intrusive rocks and localized sedimentary and basalt outcrops (Bond and Wood 1978, Bailey 1980). High elevations of the study area, especially the Sawtooth Range and vicinity, were heavily influenced by Quaternary glaciations. Cirques, U-shaped glacial trough valleys (some containing large lakes), moraines, kettle depressions, and basins filled with drift and outwash are all common. The batholith formed about 63-135 million years before present. It is characterized by a mix of granite and other intrusive rocks, including quartz monzonite, monzonite, grandodiorite, quartz diorite, and diorite (Bond and Wood 1978); these rocks form coarse sand and gravel soil upon erosion and weathering. Climate

Several climatic regimes exist in the study area. Lower elevation drainages (below about 1,675 m [5,500 ft]) on the western and southern portions of the Sawtooth and adjacent ranges (e.g., South Fork Payette River, all forks of the Boise River, and many of their tributaries) have warm, dry summers, and mild, moist winters.

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Figure 1. Study area.

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Table 1. Twelve-digit (6th level) hydrologic units used in the analysis.

HUC 12 Name 12 Digit Hydrologic Unit Code

HUC ID#

National Forest - Ranger District

Year(s) Sampled

Boardman Creek 170501130303 49 Sawtooth - Fairfield 2006

Skeleton Creek 170501130304 36 Sawtooth - Fairfield 2006

South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek 170501130403 26 Sawtooth - Fairfield 2006

Elk Creek 170602010403 68 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA 2006

Lower Valley Creek 170602010405 72 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA 2006

Stanley Lake Creek 170602010406 70 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA 2006

Huckleberry Creek 170602010305 79 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA 2005, 2001

Salmon River - Hell Roaring Creek 170602010301 3 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA 2005, 2001

Queens River 170501110601 9 Boise - Idaho City 2005

Middle Fork Boise River - James Creek 170501110503 22 Boise - Idaho City 2005, 2004

South Fork Payette River - Wapiti Creek 170501200201 74 Boise - Lowman 2004

Upper Warm Springs Creek 170501200204 64 Boise - Lowman 2004, 2001

South Fork Boise River - Dog Creek 170501130508 51 Boise - Mountain Home 2004

South Fork Boise River - Wagontown Creek 170501130504 45 Boise - Mountain Home 2004

Upper Middle Fork Salmon River - Swamp Creek 170602050301 59 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork 2003, 2002

Pole Creek 170602010105 10 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA 2002

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Mid-elevation mountain slopes (e.g., about 1,675-1,980 m [5,500-6,500 ft], depending on aspect) are significantly cooler and moister, but not necessarily extremely so. This is in contrast to the deep snow, high annual precipitation, and cool average temperatures found at high elevations of the Sawtooth and adjacent ranges. Based on data from nearby weather stations (Lowman and Anderson Ranch Dam) total annual precipitation averages about 49-66 cm (19.3-25.8 inches) (Idaho State Climate Services 2007). The wettest months are November through March, when about 5-10 cm (1.9-3.9 inches) of precipitation falls each month (predominantly as snow). Shallow snowpacks, peaking at about 25- 48 cm (10-19 inches) in depth, are characteristic. Winter minimum temperatures average about -10.1 to -5.4 C (13.9-22.3 F) and maximum temperatures about 0.8- 3.1 C (33.4-37.5 F). During cold air inversion periods, significant amounts of ice can accumulate on streambanks. The growing season is from late April through September, although areas with localized cold air drainage may differ. Summer high temperatures average about 30 C (mid to upper 80’s F). April through June is moderately moist, with 3- 5 cm (1-2 inches) of rain falling each month. Except for occasional thunderstorms, the period from late June to late September is dry. Another climatic regime occurs in Stanley Basin, Sawtooth Valley, and adjacent areas, such as Bull Trout Lake. These higher elevation basins (about 1,980-2,285 m [6,500-7,500 ft]) are generally cold and relatively dry. Average annual moisture and temperature decreases from northwest to southeast across the area due to a rain shadow created by the Sawtooth Range and cold air pooling in the Sawtooth Valley. Stanley, the nearest weather station, averages 34 cm (13.2 inches) of precipitation per year with about 2- 4 cm (0.9-1.7 inches) falling per month from November through June (Idaho State Climate Services 2007). Snow accumulates from December into April, but the average snowpack peaks at only 51 cm (20 inches). Winter minimum temperatures are near -17.8 C (0 F) from December through February. Minimum temperatures average below freezing from September through mid-May, and frosts often occur during summer months. Many lakes are frozen late into the spring, or early summer at higher elevations. Snow can occur any month, but only rarely in July and August. Summer maximum temperatures average about 25.6 C (78.0 F). Except for occasional thunderstorms, July to mid September is dry. Hydrology

Most headwater streams originate in high elevation cirque basins of the Sawtooth and adjacent ranges. Streams then cascade into wide, lower gradient glacial troughs. Some valleys hold large moraine-dammed lakes (i.e., Redfish Lake). After entering lakes or meandering through U-shaped valleys, streams carve through moraines and bedrock with moderate to high gradients and mostly narrow floodplains. Eventually, streams enter either broad, low gradient basins filled with glacial outwash (e.g., Cape Horn Meadows, Stanley Basin, Sawtooth Valley) or deep river canyons with relatively broad floodplains (e.g., South Fork Boise River). Other streams in the study area originate from either mid-slope or toeslope springs. Spring-fed systems often occur at the base of moraines along the east base of the Sawtooth Range and in the Bull Trout Lake area. Groundwater presumably originates as precipitation and percolates through the porous glacial till (Moseley et al. 1994).

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While low elevation snowpacks melt by April or May (even in the Sawtooth Valley), high elevation snowpack melt peaks in late May or June. This situation creates a small early spring peak flow and a large late spring flood peak along most streams and rivers. Late lying snow, combined with groundwater discharge, sustain stream flows throughout the drought-prone summer and frozen winter months. The breakup of ice on streams and rivers, especially at lower elevations during mild winter periods, can also be an important floodplain disturbance. METHODS

Sample Site Selection

Sites representing intact riparian and wetland vegetation with functioning processes were chosen for sampling. Spatial layers, databases, and literature were reviewed to identify potential reference sites. At a landscape scale, watersheds with high aquatic ecologic integrity, inventoried roadless areas, bull trout habitat, vacant grazing allotments, and minimal area of recent wildfire were identified using GIS (Quigley et al. 1997, Oechsli and Frissell 2003, Sawtooth National Forest 2003). Within intact watersheds, stream habitat representing natural conditions (Overton et al. 1995) and high quality reference sites used in PACFISH/INFISH Biological Opinion (PIBO) monitoring (Henderson et al. 2005) were identified. The Idaho Wetland Information System (IWIS) (Hahn et al. 2005) and IDCDC conservation site database (IDCDC 2007) were also queried. The IWIS database contained information on wetland classification, size, unique features (e.g., rare plants or animals), potential threats, and other values. Conservation sites represented a variety of wetland ecosystems with intact ecological processes, exemplary native plant communities, unique geologic features, or important habitat. Each site record contained information pertaining to location, biological significance, ecological processes and functions, condition and integrity, and conservation status. Wetlands from the Stanley Basin and Sawtooth Valley inventoried by Bottum (2004) were included in the conservation site database. These sites included Research Natural Areas (RNAs), proposed Special Interest Areas (SIAs) for botanical resources, and other high quality wetlands (Moseley et al. 1994). Of the suite of potential reference sites, a sub-sample was selected for sampling in 2006. Other sites used in the analysis (sampled between 2001 and 2005 on the Boise and Salmon-Challis NFs) were selected using similar methods. Vegetation and Environmental Field Sampling

Plots were placed in the middle of relatively homogeneous stands of wetland vegetation at least twice the plot size, so as to avoid ecotones. Plots sampled in 2006 were permanently marked for future monitoring needs. Stands were located without preconceived bias and prior placement within an existing classification scheme. Vegetation was sampled on 20 x 5 m plots in stands with trees and on 10 x 5 m plots in shrubby or herbaceous stands with standard methods similar to Bourgeron et al. (1992) and Jankovsky-Jones et al. (2001). Occasionally, plot dimensions were altered

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to fit narrow valley bottoms, but the 100 or 50 square m area was maintained. At each plot, vegetation data were recorded, including:

canopy cover of each species; cover of ground surface features, including non-vascular plants, downed wood, etc.; sub-samples of peatland bryophytes were also recorded

height of vegetation strata and diameters at breast height of all trees and snags rooted in plot

Hydrologic, geomorphic, and other environmental data were recorded at each plot or cluster of closely situated plots, including:

plot location, general site description, and apparent disturbance history

valley landform variables (e.g., slope, aspect, valley shape, width, gradient, etc.), geomorphic substrate, and adjacent vegetation

fluvial surfaces (height above bankfull) and microtopography

information for determining Rosgen stream type (e.g., width/depth and entrenchment ratios, sinuosity, etc.) (Rosgen 1996)

percentage of pools, glides, runs, and riffles; channel and bank materials

presence of aggradation or downcutting

presence/absence of woody debris

streambank stability

floodplain connectivity; beaver activity

disturbances observed within sample site area (e.g., natural processes, roads, recreation sites, recent livestock use, logging, mining, hydrologic alteration, etc.)

Soil descriptions were available for a portion of 2001-2005 plots used in the analysis. At these plots, a small diameter soil pit was dug and soil features recorded, including:

type of organic horizon; pH of peat

horizon thickness and texture

soil structure, consistence, drainage

coarse fragments

depth to water table

depth to redoximorphic features

rooting depth

parent material

Reference Condition Analysis

The widely used hierarchical classification of watersheds mapped by the U. S. Geological Survey (Seaber et al. 1987) was chosen for GIS assessment of reference condition. This classification aggregates watersheds or parts of watersheds into coded hydrologic units. Twelve-digit (6th level) hydrologic units (HUC 12s) were used for this analysis (Grafe 2002a, b, Oechsli and Frissell 2003, Johnson 2005).

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Although sample sites were initially chosen for their relatively high ecological integrity, their observed condition varied across multiple spatial scales. Analysis of condition was conducted at both the HUC 12 and sample site scales. At the HUC 12 scale, GIS was used to evaluate positive indicators of ecological integrity (Hahn et al. 2005, Henderson et al. 2005). These included the percent in an inventoried roadless area, if headwaters were protected in the Sawtooth Wilderness, and if the HUC 12 was identified as having high aquatic integrity (i.e., functioning aquatic ecosystems; Oechsli and Frissell 2003). Stressors negatively impacting the integrity of HUC 12s (Grafe 2002a, b; Tiner 2004, Hahn et al. 2005, Johnson 2005) were then evaluated, including road density and the density of streams with impaired water quality. At the sample site scale, known positive ecological values of each wetland were identified. Positive values included the overall conservation class rating (Class I being the most biologically significant and intact, followed by Class II; Bottum 2004), if the site was designated as an RNA or proposed SIA, if the site was reference quality for PIBO monitoring (Henderson et al. 2005), or if the stream represented natural conditions (Overton et al. 1995). For each HUC 12, the number of positive values present and the percent roadless was summed (with Class I wetlands given extra weight) to obtain a positive value subtotal. Stressors negatively impacting wetlands observed during field sampling within (or immediately adjacent to) sites were summed (Bottum 2004, Hruby 2004, Hahn et al. 2005). These included recent fire, roads, livestock grazing, mining activities, hydrologic alteration, home development, motorized trails, and non-motorized recreation. The presence of recent fire in the HUC 12, adjacent home development, motorized trails, and non-motorized recreation were weighted less heavily because their negative effects were observed to be minimal relative to other impacts. The relative condition ranking equaled the negative condition subtotal subtracted from the positive subtotal. The HUC 12s were then placed in reference condition classes (minimally impacted, impacted, or highly impacted) based on their ranking. Those with rounded ranks greater than 1 were placed in minimally impacted, between 1 and -1 classified as impacted, and less than -1 highly impacted. HUC 12 Ecological Groups

Multivariate analysis techniques performed in PC-ORD version 4.25 (McCune and Mefford 1999, McCune and Grace 2002) were used to classify and ordinate HUC 12s into ecological groups according to their soil, climatic, hydrologic, and geomorphic characteristics (Johnson 2005). Sixteen HUC 12s from the study area that contained vegetation plots were the units of analysis (Table 1). Available spatial layers were used to calculate the percent of each HUC 12 comprised of different land position classes (e.g., aspect, slope, topographic position, heat load), mean annual precipitation classes (Idaho State Climate Services 2007), bedrock lithology units (Quigley et al. 1997), soil units (STATSGO), and stream order segments. These values were assumed to represent the hydrologic and geomorphic setting for each HUC 12 (Johnson 2005).

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Potential ecological groups were derived by hierarchical, polythetic, agglomerative cluster analysis using Sorenson (Bray-Curtis) distance measure and the group average linkage method (PC-ORD v. 4.25, McCune and Mefford 1999). Relationships between groups were then examined by Bray-Curtis ordination with a relative Sorenson distance measure and minimum deviation endpoint selection method (PC-ORD v. 4.25, McCune and Mefford 1999). Results were then checked against field observations and expert opinion used for the final classification. Vegetation Classification and Environmental Characterization

To accommodate the range of variability inherent in dynamic riparian and wetland plant communities, vegetation plots were classified at two scales (Harris 1999). To represent functional groups of communities sampled within a HUC 12, plots were assigned to ecological systems (Comer et al. 2003, NatureServe 2004) based on their composition and environmental settings. Ecological systems represent recurring groups of biological communities found in similar physical environments and influenced by similar dynamic ecological processes, such as flooding (Comer et al. 2003). Ecological systems are conceptualized as groups of plant community types (or associations) that co-occur within landscapes having similar ecological processes, substrates, and/or environmental gradients. A system typically occurs at intermediate geographic scales of 10’s to 1,000’s of hectares and persists for at least 50 years (Comer et al. 2003). This temporal scale allows typical successional dynamics to be integrated into the description of the system. This mid-scale classification is hierarchical in that it encompasses the National Vegetation Classification of plant communities (Grossman et al. 1998) as well as functional groups such as riparian complexes (Winward 2000) or ecological types (Weixelman et al. 1996). Vegetation and environmental data, including percent introduced species and mean species per plot, were summarized by ecological system for each ecological group. To accommodate habitats in the study area inadequately represented by the current classification system, a proposed ecological system (Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh) was included. To reduce complexity in the dataset, the Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow and Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow systems, which often co-occur and blend, were merged. Vegetation plots were also assigned to plant associations using existing community classifications for the study area (Tuhy 1981, Tuhy and Jensen 1982, Mutz and Queiroz 1983). Because many plots represented types not previously described within the study area, regional classifications were also used (Youngblood et al. 1985, Padgett et al. 1989, Hansen and Hall 2002, Hansen et al. 1995, Jankovsky-Jones et al. 2001, Cooper and Jones 2004, Crowe et al. 2004) or new associations were proposed. RESULTS

Reference Conditions

Of the potential reference areas identified prior to sampling, 6 HUC 12s were selected for sampling in 2006 (Table 1). The 6 HUC 12s were classified as minimally impacted,

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8 as impacted, and 2 highly impacted (Table 2; Figure 2). In the minimally impacted class, Lower Valley Creek, Stanley Lake Creek, and Elk Creek were sampled on the Sawtooth NRA during inventory and monitoring in late July, 2006 (Figure 2). Lower Valley Creek was the second highest ranked HUC 12, while Stanley Lake Creek and Elk Creek were the fourth and fifth highest ranked, respectively. Two of the 3 other highly ranked HUC 12s were also located on the Sawtooth NRA, specifically Salmon River - Hell Roaring Creek and Huckleberry Creek. These HUC 12s contain Mays Creek, Bull Moose, and Huckleberry fens, all protected within the Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA. These fens were sampled during 2001 (Bottum 2004) and 2005 inventory and monitoring. The sixth highest ranked HUC 12 was Upper Warm Springs Creek, which contained wetlands sampled at Bull Trout Lake and Banner Creek fen on the Boise NF. In the impacted class, Boardman Creek, South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek, and Skeleton Creek HUC 12s were sampled on the Fairfield Ranger District during inventory and monitoring in early August, 2006 (Table 2; Figure 2). Pole Creek, sampled on the Sawtooth NRA during 2002 (Bottum 2004), was also in the impacted class. Although it contained the Pole Creek Exclosure RNA and an active beaver dam complex, roads and livestock grazing negatively impacted unprotected meadows and fen outside the exclosure. The other impacted HUC 12s were located on the Boise or Salmon-Challis NFs. In this class, roads crossing or adjacent to wetlands were the most widespread negative impact to wetland integrity, while livestock grazing and water quality degradation were localized (e.g., Cape Horn Meadows-Dry Creek and Blind Summit Fen Wetland Conservation Sites). Both highly impacted HUC 12s were located on the Boise NF. The South Fork Boise River - Wagontown Creek HUC 12 (located between Featherville and Pine) was impacted by roads and hydrologic alteration, with nearby housing development. The Middle Fork Boise River - James Creek HUC 12, encompassing the Atlanta area, was impacted by present and historic mining related activities (including roads and hydrologic alteration), recent high intensity wildfires, and sheep grazing. The reference conditions of HUC 12s sampled on the Sawtooth NF in 2006 are summarized below. Elk Creek (minimally impacted)

This predominantly roadless basin was minimally impacted by non-motorized recreation (hiking, mountain biking around margins). Impacts from past livestock use were apparent in upper reaches, but native wetland vegetation was colonizing exposed soil and gullied stream reaches. Wetlands were sampled within the the Elk Meadow Wetland Class II Conservation Site (identified in Bottum 2004). Elk Creek was identified as having high aquatic ecologic integrity (Oechsli and Frissell 2003).

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Figure 2. Reference condition classes for HUC 12s included in the analysis.

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Table 2. Analysis of reference condition at HUC 12 and sample site scales.

HUC 12 Integrity Sample Site Values

HUC 12 Name HUC ID#

% Roadless in HUC

Headwaters in Wilderness

High Aquatic Integrity HUC

Class I Site

Class II Site

RNA, pSIA

PIBO Reference

Site

Natural Condition Stream

Positive Condition Subtotal

Salmon River - Hell Roaring Creek

3 0.81 1 1 2 1 1 6.81

Lower Valley Creek 72 0.69 1 1 1 1 4.69

Huckleberry Creek 79 0.92 1 1 1 1 4.92

Stanley Lake Creek 70 0.77 1 1 2.77

Elk Creek 68 0.99 1 1 2.99

Upper Warm Springs Creek 64 0.94 2 yes 1 3.94

Pole Creek 10 0.74 1 1 2.74

Queens River 9 0.86 1 1.86

South Fork Boise River - Dog Creek

51 0.56 1 1.56

Upper Middle Fork Salmon River - Swamp Creek

59 0.65 1 1 2.65

Boardman Creek 49 0.67 1 1.67

South Fork Payette River - Wapiti Creek

74 0.72 1 1.72

South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek

26 0.87 0.87

Skeleton Creek 36 0.92 0.92

South Fork Boise River - Wagontown Creek

45 0 0

Middle Fork Boise River - James Creek

22 0.61 1 1.61

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Table 2 continued.

HUC 12 Stressors Sample Site Stressors

HUC ID#

Road Density

Impaired Water Quality Stream

Density

Recent Fire

Road Livestock Grazing

Mining Hydrologic Alteration

Home Development

Motorized Trail

Recreation Negative Condition Subtotal

Relative Condition Ranking

Reference Status

3 0.05 0.00 1 0.5 -1.55 5.26 Minimally Impacted

72 0.04 0.18 0.5 -0.72 3.97 Minimally Impacted

79 0.03 0.00 1 -1.03 3.89 Minimally Impacted

70 0.02 0.00 -0.02 2.75 Minimally Impacted

68 0.11 0.00 0.5 -0.61 2.38 Minimally Impacted

64 0.00 0.00 0.5 1 0.5 -2.00 1.94 Minimally Impacted

10 0.01 0.00 1 1* -2.01 0.73 Impacted

9 0.15 0.00 0.5 1 -1.65 0.21 Impacted

51 0.01 0.00 1 0.5 -1.51 0.05 Impacted

59 0.23 0.23 0.5 1 1 -2.96 -0.31 Impacted

49 0.09 0.00 1 0.5 0.5 -2.09 -0.42 Impacted

74 0.02 0.17 0.5 1 0.5 -2.19 -0.47 Impacted

26 0.13 0.00 1 0.5 -1.63 -0.76 Impacted

36 0.02 0.00 1 0.5 0.5 -2.02 -1.10 Impacted

45 0.01 0.00 1 1 -2.01 -2.01 Highly Impacted

22 0.03 0.00 0.5 1 1 1 1 -4.53 -2.92 Highly Impacted

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Lower Valley Creek (minimally impacted)

Although reaches with impaired water quality, roads, and ranch impacts occurred in the basin’s lower half, the upper half had high ecological integrity, including the protected headwaters within the Sawtooth Wilderness. Plots were sampled at the Goat Creek Class II Wetland Conservation Site (identified in Bottum 2004), located immediately below the wilderness boundary. This site contained high quality fen, wet meadow, and forested communities bordering Goat Creek. This reach of Goat Creek represented natural conditions (Overton et al. 1995) and is a reference stream for PIBO monitoring (Henderson et al. 2005). No negative impacts from development, livestock grazing, or recreation were observed at the site in 2006. Stanley Lake Creek (minimally impacted)

This HUC 12 contained a high quality fen and forested wetland sampled at the Stanley Lake Inlet (identified in Moseley et al. 1994). Although roads and recreation activity were observed around Stanley Lake, the headwaters of Stanley Lake Creek are within the Sawtooth Wilderness. No negative impacts from development or recreation were observed within the sampled wetland. The extremely saturated conditions limited human activities. Stanley Lake Creek was identified as having high aquatic ecologic integrity (Oechsli and Frissell 2003). Boardman Creek (impacted)

Boardman Creek was identified as having high aquatic ecologic integrity (Oechsli and Frissell 2003). The sample site occurred in the lower basin. The upper basin, draining the Soldier Mountains, was impacted by roads. A trail, used by motorcycles, horse packers, and hikers traverses the valley bottom, locally negatively impacting riparian communities and water quality at crossings and non-buffered areas. The riparian plot was sampled about 30 m upstream of where the trail crossed the stream for the second time upstream of the confluence with the South Fork Boise River. The trail was located about 15 m away from the plot on the opposite terrace. The site is within an active sheep allotment, but no livestock grazing signs were observed during sampling. Skeleton Creek (impacted)

This HUC 12, draining the southern Sawtooth Range foothills, was 92% roadless. Dispersed campsites and roads are common near the confluence with the South Fork Boise River. A heavily used motorcycle, horse packing, and hiking trail traverses the valley bottom, locally negatively impacting riparian communities and water quality at crossings and non-buffered areas. Plots were sampled within a wetland created by active beaver dams. The site is within an active sheep allotment, but no livestock grazing signs were observed. South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek (impacted)

This HUC 12, remotely located at the southern end of the Sawtooth Range, was 87% roadless. However, road density was the third highest of all HUC 12s analyzed. Two sites were sampled, Emma Creek and the Upper South Fork Boise River. Dispersed

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campsites, roads, and historic logging were located in the HUC 12 but located well away from sampled wetlands. A trail used by motorcycles and horse packers traverses the Upper South Fork Boise River valley bottom, locally negatively impacting riparian communities and water quality at crossings and non-buffered areas. The motorcycle and hiking trail in Emma Creek was located above the riparian zone. The site is within an active sheep allotment, but no livestock grazing signs were observed. HUC 12 Ecological Groups

HUC 12s were classified into 4 ecologically similar groups based on multivariate analysis of hydrologic, climate, and geologic variables (Figures 3 and 4). HUC 12s in the Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows group were clearly separated from all others in the first branch of the cluster dendrogram. The South Fork Payette River - Wapiti Creek HUC 12 was separated from all other HUC 12s in the second branch. This HUC 12 apparently had a unique combination soil, precipitation, and stream order variables. After consideration of field observations, the range of environmental variables, and vegetation, the South Fork Payette River - Wapiti Creek HUC12 was best placed within the Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys group. The Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows group separated in the third branch followed by South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys and then Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

HUC 12s in this group were Elk Creek, Salmon River - Hell Roaring Creek, Lower Valley Creek, Huckleberry Creek, Stanley Lake Creek, and Pole Creek. Headwater streams in this group originated in high elevation cirque basins of the Sawtooth and adjacent ranges. Streams dropped steeply into wide, low gradient glacial trough valleys where they meandered through alluvium or entered lakes. They eventually cut through large moraines and glacial outwash-filled basins before their confluence with the Salmon River. Drumlins and kettle ponds were also present, indicative of glacial activity. With the exception of Pole Creek which drained pyroclastic and sedimentary rock of the southern White Cloud Mountains, bedrock lithology was Sawtooth granite. Soils were mostly derived from glacial drift. Overall, these HUC 12s were characterized by bottom slope topographic positions, variable aspects, and flat to moderate slopes (0-24%). Heat loads were low to medium. Average annual precipitation ranged from moderate (46-71 cm [18-28 inches]) in rain-shadowed basins to high in headwater cirques (112-132 cm [44-52 inches]). Hydrology was dominated by 4th and 5th order streams and their 1st and 2nd order tributaries originating from springs or high mountain basins. Surveys occurred at lower elevations in glacial troughs supporting meadows, fens, and highly sinuous willow and dwarf birch-lined (Salix spp. and Betula nana) streams with occasional beaver activity. Sloped fens occurred at springs emanating from moraine toeslopes. Elevations of sample sites were 1,980-2,255 m (6,500-7,400 ft). Forested wetlands of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) surrounded meadows and fens, while Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) lined higher gradient streams located on mountains or moraines.

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39

10

22

26

36

45

49

51

59

64

68

70

72

74

79

Ecological Groups

Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

370727968109262236494551596474

HUC ID# HUC 12 Name HUC ID# HUC 12 Name

3 Salmon River - Hell Roaring Creek 51 South Fork Boise River - Dog Creek

72 Lower Valley Creek 59 Upper Middle Fork Salmon River - Swamp Creek

79 Huckleberry Creek 49 Boardman Creek

70 Stanley Lake Creek 74 South Fork Payette River - Wapiti Creek

68 Elk Creek 26 South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek

64 Upper Warm Springs Creek 36 Skeleton Creek

10 Pole Creek 45 South Fork Boise River - Wagontown Creek

9 Queens River 22 Middle Fork Boise River - James Creek

Figure 3. Cluster diagram and dendrogram showing classification of HUC 12 ecological groups based on

results of cluster analysis. Table shows corresponding HUC 12 names for ID#s used above.

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Figure 4. Distribution of HUC 12s by ecological group.

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Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

This group consisted of the Upper Middle Fork Salmon River - Swamp Creek and Upper Warm Springs Creek HUC 12s. It was characterized by gently sloping terraces and plains of glacial outwash surrounded by moderate relief mountains. Occasional kettle ponds, lakes, and low moraine ridges indicated glacial activity. Bedrock lithology was mostly gneissic. Soils were mainly derived from alluvium. These HUC 12s were characterized by bottom slope topographic positions, variable aspects, and flat to moderate slopes (0-24%). Heat loads were low to medium. Average annual precipitation was mostly 71-112 cm (28-44 inches). Hydrology was dominated by 4th and 5th order streams and their 1st and 2nd order tributaries originating from valley-bottom or toeslope springs or from mountain basins. Elevations of sample sites were 2,010-2,135 m (6,600-7,000 ft). Gently sloped environments supported wet to mesic meadows ringed by forested wetlands of lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) and drained by meandering willow-lined streams. Kettle ponds, sometimes filled with meadow vegetation, and larger lakes also occurred in these settings. Spring-fed fens occurred on both basin bottoms and mountain slopes. South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

This group consisted of the South Fork Boise River - Dog Creek, Boardman Creek, Skeleton Creek, and South Fork Boise River - Wagontown Creek HUC 12s. Occurring mostly below the lower-elevation limit of Pleistocene glaciation, this group was characterized by steep-sided V-shaped stream valleys of foothills and low mountains that drain into flat-bottomed canyons near the South Fork Boise River. Lithology was mixed intrusive rock, including gneiss, granodiorite, and granite. Soils were also mixed, derived from residuum and alluvium. HUC 12s in this group had mostly southerly aspects at bottom slope topographic positions with low to moderate steepness (2-24%). Heat loads were medium to high. Average annual precipitation was mostly 51-61 cm (20-24 inches) at lower elevations and 71-112 cm (28-44 inches) in higher elevation headwaters. Hydrology was dominated by 1st and 2nd order streams and the South Fork Boise River. Elevations of sample sites were 1,310-1,675 m (4,300-5,500 ft). Steeper gradient sream terraces were mostly dominated by Drummond’s willow (Salix drummondiana) or Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), while canyon terraces and floodplains supported Booth’s willow, dusky willow (Salix melanopsis), black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Beaver activity was observed in lower gradient canyons. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

This group consisted of the Queens River, South Fork Payette River - Wapiti Creek, South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek, and Middle Fork Boise River - James Creek HUC 12s. It was characterized by a combination of high gradient streams in V-shaped valleys at mid-elevations of the Sawtooth Range, alluvial fans, and rivers in broad U-shaped glacial trough valleys. Lithology was mixed intrusive rock, including gneiss, granodiorite, and granite. Soils were also mixed, derived from weathered bedrock residuum, alluvium, and glacial outwash. These HUC 12s were characterized by toeslope to mid-slope positions with mostly southerly aspects and moderate to steep

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slopes (6-35%). Heat loads were low to high. Average annual precipitation was about 71-122 cm (28-48 inches). Hydrology was dominated by 1st and 2nd order streams originating either in cirque basins or side slopes (e.g., avalanche chutes) that drainined into the upper basins of 3rd-5th order rivers. Elevations of sample sites were 1,525-2,010 m (5,000-6,600 ft). Tributary stream terraces were shrubby, dominated by gray alder (Alnus incana) and red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), with occasional Engelmann spruce and black cottonwood or quaking aspen (Populus spp.). Valley bottoms of larger streams supported thickets of Booth’s willow (Salix boothii) or forested wetlands dominated by Engelmann spruce. Toeslope and alluvial fan seeps were common, often having dense alderleaf buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia). Beaver activity was observed in lower gradient drainages. Vegetation by Ecological Group, Ecological System, and Reference Condition

Across all ecological groups, 6 ecological systems were represented (Figure 5; Appendix 1, Tables 1-4). Of these, Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen (n = 31) was most frequently sampled followed by Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland (n = 23). Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh was the least frequently sampled (n = 2). Fifty-six plant associations were represented within these systems, with the most frequently sampled being common to fens: lodgepole pine/bog blueberry (Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum) (n = 7), beaked sedge (Carex utriculata) (n = 4), few-flower spikerush (Eleocharis quinqueflora) (n = 4), and tufted bulrush (Trichophorum caespitosum) (n = 3). Shrub associations dominated by Booth’s willow were the most frequently sampled riparian shrubland types. Across all ecological groups, plant species diversity was the same for HUC 12s in the minimally impacted and impacted reference condition classes (both 20 mean species per plot) but slightly higher for the highly impacted class (24). Across all ecological groups, the percent of the sampled flora consisting of introduced species was lowest in the minimally impacted class (2%), followed by the impacted (7%) and highly impacted classes (10%). Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Four ecological systems encompassing 13 plant associations were sampled in minimally impacted HUC 12s and 2 ecological systems with 4 plant associations sampled in impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 1, Table 1). Within the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen ecological system, the percent of flora represented by introduced species was higher in impacted HUC12s than minimally impacted (5% versus 3%) (Appendix 2, Table 1). The cover of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was higher in the impacted group. In 2006, 3 associations were sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring, including Buxbaum’s sedge (Carex buxbaumii) at Goat Creek and beaked sedge and dwarf birch-bog blueberry (Betula nana-Vaccinium uliginosum) at Stanley Lake Inlet Wetland. In a lodgepole pine/bog blueberry stand adjacent to the latter association at Stanley Lake Inlet Wetland, bristlystalked sedge (Carex leptalea) (a rare boreal disjunct) was observed.

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Figure 5. Mapped (NatureServe 2004) and sampled (i.e., points on map) riparian and wetland ecological

systems in study area. Fen and Marsh systems are represented only by points.

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All sampled stands were in excellent ecological condition with no recent human-caused disturbance or introduced species observed. Diagnostic species (those with the highest constancy and/or cover) for the fen system were lodgepole pine, bog blueberry, dwarf birch, shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora floribunda), sweetberry honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea), Wolf’s willow (Salix wolfii), beaked sedge, Buxbaum’s sedge, Cusick’s sedge (Carex cusickii), few-flower spikerush, livid sedge (Carex livida), tufted bulrush, water sedge (Carex aquatilis), alpine leafybract aster (Symphyotrichum foliaceum), alpine meadowrue (Thalictrum alpinum), felwort (Swertia perennis), meadow zizia (Zizia aptera), sundew (Drosera intermedia), and various non-Sphagnum moss species. This system occurred at about 2,000-2,300 m (6,560-7,545 ft) elevation on slopes averaging about 5%. It was located on peat at lower slopes and on bottoms of broad glacial-carved valleys in areas of groundwater upwelling at bases of moraines (Appendix 3, Table 1). The pH of fens averaged 6.12. For the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland system, both the percent introduced species (7% versus 3%) and mean species per plot (21 versus 18) were higher in impacted HUC12s (Appendix 2, Table 2). The cover of fowl bluegrass (Poa palustris) and Kentucky bluegrass each averaged 10% in impacted HUC 12s. In 2006, 2 associations were sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring at the Elk Meadow Wetland Conservation Site, including Lemmon’s willow/water sedge (Salix lemmonii/Carex aquatilis) and Wolf’s willow/bluejoint (Salix wolfii/Calamagrostis canadensis). Both were in excellent ecological condition, with no recent human-caused disturbance or introduced species. Diagnostic species for this system were Booth’s willow, Lemmon’s willow, sweetberry honeysuckle, Wolf’s willow, beaked sedge, bluejoint, water sedge, and woolly sedge (Carex pellita). This system occurred at about 2,000-2,300 m (6,560-7,545 ft) elevation on gently sloped floodplain terraces and bottoms of broad U-shaped, alluvium or glacial till-filled valleys (Appendix 3, Table 1). It was found along low to mid-order, riffle-run creeks classified as C4 Rosgen stream types. Beaver activity was observed. Ninety-nine percent of streambanks were stable within minimally impacted HUC 12s, compared to 67% in impacted HUC 12s. Sampled soil was sandy clay loam with intermixed gravel and a groundwater table 75 cm deep. Introduced species were minimal in the Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow system (3% of the sampled flora) (Appendix 2, Table 3). In 2006, the diamondleaf willow/water sedge-beaked sedge association (Salix planifolia var. monica/Carex aquatilis-Carex utriculata) was sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring at the Elk Meadow. It was in excellent ecological condition with no recent human-caused disturbance and only a trace amount of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) observed. Diagnostic species were diamondleaf willow, shrubby cinquefoil, sweetberry honeysuckle, Wolf’s willow, Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), beaked sedge, tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa), water sedge, flat-top pussytoes (Antennaria corymbosa), globe penstemon (Penstemon globosus), and Sierra shootingstar (Dodecatheon jeffreyi). This system occurred at about 2,000 m (6,560 ft) elevation on gently sloped bottoms of broad glacial-carved, glacial till-filled valleys

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(Appendix 3, Table 1). It was found along sinuous creeks classified as E5 and C4 Rosgen types. No introduced species were sampled in the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland and diversity was 25 mean species per plot (Appendix 2, Table 4). In 2006, 2 associations were sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring at Goat Creek, including Engelmann spruce/bluejoint (Picea engelmannii/Calamagrostis canadensis) and lodgepole pine/bog blueberry. Both were in excellent ecological condition with no recent human-caused disturbance observed. Diagnostic species were Engelmann spruce (primarily mature, large diameter trees), lodgepole pine (young to mature trees), bog blueberry, dwarf bilberry (Vaccinium caespitosum), dwarf birch, shrubby cinquefoil, sweetberry honeysuckle, bluejoint, water sedge, sidebells wintergreen (Orthilia secunda), and spearleaf arnica (Arnica longifolia). This system occurred at about 2,000 m (6,560 ft) elevation on gentle to moderately-sloped stream terraces (averaging 5%) in both wide glacial-carved valleys and relatively narrow gorges carved through moraine deposits (Appendix 3, Table 1). It was found along riffle-dominated creeks classified as B2a and E4 Rosgen stream types. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Four ecological systems encompassing 21 plant associations were sampled in minimally impacted HUC 12s and 2 systems with 6 plant associations sampled in impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 1, Table 2). Within the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen, no introduced species were sampled in plots within any HUC12s. Mean species per plot was higher in impacted HUC12s compared to minimally impacted (10 versus 7) (Appendix 2, Table 5). Diagnostic species for this system in this ecological group were diverse, including lodgepole pine (primarily small diameter trees), bog blueberry, diamondleaf willow, , analogue sedge (Carex simulata), beaked sedge, Buxbaum’s sedge, few-flower spikerush, mountain sedge (Carex scopulorum), mud sedge (Carex limosa), tufted bulrush, tufted hairgrass, water sedge, brook saxifrage (Saxifraga odontoloma), cleftleaf groundsel (Packera cymbalaroides), elephanthead lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica), felwort, and white marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala, both subspecies). Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), English sundew (Drosera anglica), peatmoss (Sphagnum spp.), tall cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium), and undergreen willow (Salix commutata) were diagnostic at Banner Creek Fen. Livid sedge and non-Sphagnum mosses were diagnostic at Cape Horn Meadows. This system occurred at about 2,000-2,200 m (6,560-7,220 ft) elevation on gently sloping bottoms of broad glacial-carved valleys filled with outwash (Appendix 3, Table 2). Fens occurred in areas of groundwater upwelling. Within the Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow system, introduced species represented 13% of the sampled flora in impacted HUC12s compared to 4% in minimally impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 2, Table 6). Mean species per plot was slightly higher in impacted HUC12s (12 versus 10). The cover of Kentucky bluegrass was also higher. Diagnostic species were diamondleaf willow, sweetberry honeysuckle, Wolf’s

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willow, beaked sedge, pullup muhly (Muhlenbergia filiformis), russet sedge (Carex saxatilis), tufted hairgrass, water sedge, woodrush sedge (Carex luzulina), flat-top pussytoes, globe penstemon, small camas (Camassia quamash), tall groundsel (Senecio hydrophiloides), and western mountain aster (Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum). The constancy and cover of meadow barley (Hordeum brachyantherum), smallwing sedge (Carex microptera), and brown sedge (Carex subfusca) were higher in impacted than minimally impacted HUC 12s. This system occurred at about 2,000-2,200 m (6,560-7,220 ft) elevation on gently sloping bottoms and toeslopes of broad glacial-carved valleys filled with outwash (Appendix 3, Table 2). Meadows occurred on sandy clay loam soil with intermixed gravel. These sites were sometimes flooded by adjacent sinuous, low-order streams classified as Rosgen E4 and E5 stream types. The Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland system had relatively high diversity (39 species per plot) and few introduced species (3% of sampled flora) (Appendix 2, Table 7). Diagnostic species for this system were Drummond’s willow, Eastwood’s willow (Salix eastwoodiae), sweetberry honeysuckle, bluejoint, fringed brome (Bromus ciliatus), water sedge, alpine leafybract aster, darkwoods violet (Viola orbiculata)Lyall’s angelica (Angelica arguta), and starry false lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum stellatum). This system occurred at about 2,100-2,200 m (6,890-7,220 ft) elevation on gently sloping stream terraces in broad glacial-carved valleys filled with outwash and alluvium (Appendix 3, Table 2). Shrublands occurred on sandy clay loam soil with intermixed alluvial gravel. These sites were flooded by adjacent low-order streams classified as Rosgen C4 types. No introduced species were documented with the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland, although diversity was high (43 species per plot) (Appendix 2, Table 8). Diagnostic species were Engelmann spruce (young trees), subalpine fir (primarily young trees), dwarf bilberry, grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium), Drummond’s rush (Juncus drummondii), American globeflower (Trollius laxus), arrowleaf ragwort (Senecio triangularis), Columbian monkshood (Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum), fivestamen miterwort (Mitella pentandra), fringed willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum), Howell’s marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii), sidebells wintergreen, and Sierra shootingstar. This system occurred at about 2,100-2,200 m (6,890-7,220 ft) elevation on sloped (average 6%) spring-fed sites in broad glacial-carved valleys (Appendix 3, Table 2). South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

Three ecological systems encompassing 6 plant associations were sampled in impacted HUC 12s and 2 ecological systems with 4 plant associations were sampled in highly impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 1, Table 3). Within the Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland system, 27% of the sampled flora was introduced in highly impacted HUC 12s compared to 14% in the impacted group (Appendix 2, Table 9). The mean species per plot was higher in impacted HUC 12s than highly impacted HUC 12s (22 versus 16). Diagnostic species

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on infrequently flooded alluvial terraces were ponderosa pine (primarily mature, large diameter trees), common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), and Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). Black cottonwood (primarily young trees), dusky willow, greenleaf willow (Salix lucida ssp. caudata), narrowleaf willow (Salix exigua), shrubby willowherb (Epilobium suffruticosum), common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris), lakeshore sedge (Carex lenticularis), field horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and wild mint (Mentha arvensis) were diagnostic on floodplain cobble bars and streambanks. Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) cover was similar in both impacted and highly impacted HUC 12s (4.0 versus 5.4%). There was high diversity of introduced species, each with of cover 1% or less, including Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) which had 1% cover in highly impacted HUC 12s versus trace cover in the impacted group. This ecological system occurred on active floodplain cobble bars, streambanks, and adjacent sandy alluvium terraces in wide flat-bottomed canyons at elevations at about 1,300-1,400 m (4,265-4,595 ft) (Appendix 3, Table 3). The system was sampled along large-order streams and rivers classified as Rosgen C3 and B3 types. In impacted HUC 12s, 90 % of streambanks were stable compared to 80% in highly impacted HUC 12s. Soil types included sandy loams. Within the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland system, introduced species comprised 24% of the flora sampled in highly impacted HUC 12s compared to 8% in impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 2, Table 10). Canada thistle cover was 6.0% in highly impacted HUC 12s versus 3.0% in the impacted group. Cover of both Kentucky bluegrass (5.1%) and fowl bluegrass (1.6%) were higher in impacted HUC 12s compared to the highly impacted group. In 2006, 3 associations were sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring, including Drummond’s willow/mesic forbs (Salix drummondiana/mesic forbs) at Boardman Creek and Booth’s willow/mesic forbs (Salix boothii/mesic forbs) and Lemmon’s willow/whitestem gooseberry/mesic forbs (Salix lemmonii/Ribes inerme/ mesic forbs) at Skeleton Creek. The stand in Boardman Creek was in excellent ecological condition, with no introduced species or human-caused disturbance observed. The Lemmon’s willow stand in Skeleton Creek was in fair to good condition, somewhat degraded by introduced species invasion including Kentucky bluegrass (10% cover), fowl bluegrass (3%), Canada thistle (3%), and smooth brome (Bromus inermis) (1%). The Booth’s willow stand was in good ecological condition, having 2% cover of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) and trace Kentucky bluegrass, fowl bluegrass, and common mullein (Verbascum thapsus). In Skeleton Creek, introduced species were colonizing alluvium deposited behind active beaver dam complexes (the soil was not disturbed by human activities). At both Boardman and Skeleton Creek, foot and motorized trails traverse valley bottoms 15 to 40 m from sampled stands but caused no significant impacts to riparian vegetation. Diagnostic species for the shrubland system were American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Booth’s willow, Drummond’s willow, Lemmon’s willow, red-osier dogwood, whitestem gooseberry (Ribes inerme), Wood’s rose (Rosa woodsii), blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus), bluejoint, fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), bedstraw (Galium spp.), common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum), fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium), giant mountain aster (Canadanthus modestus), starry false lily-of-the-

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valley, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), and western meadowrue (Thalictrum occidentale). This system occurred on floodplains and alluvial terraces of moderately-wide V-shaped valleys and broad flat-bottomed canyons at elevations at about 1,400-1,600 m (4,590-5,250 ft) (Appendix 3, Table 3). Slopes averaged between 3 and 13%. It was located along mid-order, riffle-pool streams classified as B2a and B3 Rosgen types. They had large amounts of large woody debris and occasional beaver activity. Sampled soil was silty clay loam over loamy sand with a deep groundwater table. Two percent of the sampled flora was introduced species within the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland system (Appendix 2, Table 11). Diagnostic species were Douglas-fir (primarily mature large diameter trees), ponderosa pine (mature large diameter trees), creeping barberry (Mahonia repens), red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum), thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus), blue wildrye, Mexican bedstraw (Galium mexicanum ssp. asperulum), feathery false lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule), largeleaf sandwort (Moehringia macrophylla), starry false lily-of-the-valley, starwort (Stellaria spp.), and western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis). This system occurred on sandy alluvial terraces of moderately-wide V-shaped valleys with an average elevation of 1,400 m (4,590 ft) (Appendix 3, Table 3). Slopes averaged 6%. It was located along low-order, riffle-pool streams classified as B2a Rosgen types. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

Three ecological systems encompassing 13 plant associations were sampled within impacted HUC 12s and 3 ecological systems with 4 plant associations in highly impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 1, Table 4). For the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland system, both species diversity and the percent of the sampled flora that was introduced were the same in impacted and highly impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 2, Table 12). In 2006, 2 associations were sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring, including black cottonwood/red-osier dogwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa/Cornus sericea) at Emma Creek and Engelmann spruce/red-osier dogwood (Picea engelmannii/Cornus sericea) on the Upper South Fork Boise River. Both were late-seral stands in excellent ecological condition with no recent human-caused disturbance observed. Other than a trace amount of fowl bluegrass in the spruce stand, no introduced species were observed. Diagnostic species for this system were black cottonwood (mature large diameter trees), Douglas-fir (mature large diameter trees), Engelmann spruce (primarily mature large diameter trees), quaking aspen (young trees), alderleaf buckthorn, black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii), common snowberry, gray alder, prickly currant (Ribes lacustre), red-osier dogwood, Saskatoon serviceberry, twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata), whitestem gooseberry, blue wildrye, Columbia brome (Bromus vulgaris), fringed willowherb, heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia), sweetcicely (Osmorhiza berteroi), and western meadowrue. This system occurred on alluvial terraces and colluvial slopes of moderately-wide, flat-bottomed V-shaped valleys at elevations at about 1,600-1,900 m (5,250-6,235 ft) (Appendix 3, Table 4). Slopes averaged 8 to 10%. The system was located along low to mid-order

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streams classified as B5 Rosgen types with large amounts of large woody debris in the channel. Soils were sandy clay loams and clay loams, sometimes gravelly at depth, with deep groundwater tables. Within the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland system, mean species per plot in impacted HUC 12s was 12 compared to 40 in highly impacted HUC 12s (Appendix 2, Table 13). The percent of introduced species was higher in the impacted than the highly impacted group (7% versus 0%). In 2006, 3 associations were sampled and permanently marked for future monitoring, including Booth’s willow/mesic forbs (Salix boothii/mesic forbs) and gray alder/mesic forbs (Alnus incana/mesic forbs) on the Upper South Fork Boise River, and gray alder/red-osier dogwood (Alnus incana/Cornus sericea) on Emma Creek. All 3 were in excellent ecological condition with no recent human-caused disturbance observed. Other than a trace amount of Kentucky bluegrass in the alder stand on the Upper South Fork, no introduced species were observed. Diagnostic species were diverse, including alderleaf buckthorn, Booth’s willow, gray alder, northern black currant (Ribes hudsonianum), red-osier dogwood, Scouler’s willow (Salix scouleriana), thimbleberry, whitestem gooseberry, basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus) (on edges), blue wildrye, Cusick’s sedge, Dewey’s sedge (Carex deweyana), arrowleaf ragwort, common cowparsnip, falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea var. pseudaurea), starry false lily-of-the-valley, stinging nettle, tall ragwort (Senecio serra), western coneflower, western meadowrue, and western sweetroot (Osmorhiza occidentalis). This system occurred on alluvial terraces and floodplains of relatively narrow V-shaped valleys at elevations at about 1,600-1,900 m (5,250-6,235 ft) (Appendix 3, Table 4). Slopes averaged 24%. The system was located along mid to large-order streams classified as A2a+ and B2 Rosgen types. Soils were gravelly or cobbly sandy clay loams with deep groundwater tables at time of sampling. Within the Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh system, diversity was higher in highly impacted HUC 12s compared to impacted (39 versus 11), but the percent of the flora that were introduced species was similar (about 10%) (Appendix 2, Table 14). Diagnostic species were fowl mannagrass, rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra), swordleaf rush (Juncus ensifolius), American speedwell (Veronica Americana), fringed willowherb, and muskflower (Mimulus moschatus). Environmental settings included both the margin of a relict beaver pond located on the bottom of a moderately-wide glacier-influenced valley and a sloped spring in a V-shaped valley. Elevations were about 1,500-1,800 m (4,920-5,905 ft) (Appendix 3, Table 4). The stream feeding the pond was classified as an E6 Rosgen type. Soils included peaty muck on the pond margin and gravelly sandy clay loam over gravel at the spring. DISCUSSION

HUC 12s in the study area were successfully classified into reference condition classes and ecological groups using methods similar to Harris (1999), Tiner (2002), Johnson (2005), and others. Cluster analysis was useful in interpreting complex spatially-derived environmental data and could be similarly applied to classifying reference condition and ecological system composition in future applications (Harris 1999). Differences between minimally impacted, impacted, and highly impacted HUC 12s were often, but

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not always, supported by field observations. The percent of the sampled flora consisting of introduced species (both in a HUC 12 and within a particular ecological system) and percent of stable streambanks in a stream reach were often useful indicators of reference condition. Natural variability due to chance establishment of introduced species and localized site management history (not explicitly examined) were possible causes of inconsistent results. The influence of small sample sizes was also important. Differences in cover and constancy of species of a system between reference conditions were difficult to interpret because samples were not paired and sample numbers low. For these reasons, differences were not tested for statistical significance. To increase utility of this kind of project, all HUC 12s across the forest or a large geographic area (e.g., an ecological section on the forest) could be classified to ecological groups and reference condition. A sampling scheme consisting of randomly located, spatially distributed plots/transects stratified by ecological group, ecological system, and condition class, could be designed that would allow statistical inference of differences within strata over time. Results of this pilot project can be used in the design of ecological restoration and monitoring projects within HUC 12s included in the analysis. They can also be applied in other HUC 12s in the same ecological groups. The diagnostic species for each ecological system in an ecological group should be considered integral to the function of the system. They form basic lists of keystone species that should be present in existing or restored systems. These species should be considered when designing seed or plant material collection and propagation projects for particular watersheds or systems. The cover and constancy (Appendix 2) of diagnostic species for systems in minimally impacted HUC 12s (or impacted HUC 12s when minimally impacted reference conditions do not exist) can be considered targets for restoration of degraded systems in the same ecological group. When the cover and constancy of diagnostic species is approximated, then the system can be considered, at least in-part, successfully restored. Alternatively, the composition of an ecological system documented during monitoring can be compared to that of the reference ecological system described here for a particular ecological group to determine if restoration is necessary (Harris 1999). It is important to recognize that historic natural conditions may not reflect future ecosystem conditions due to the influence of climate change on hydrology. Species composition summaries presented in this report should be considered preliminary, subject to refinement as additional plot data is collected within an ecological group and/or ecological system. MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Forest-wide, a program to monitor ecological systems in relation to livestock, recreation activity, or other human-caused disturbances can be used to identify and avoid potential impacts to the systems. Methods to assess and monitor the integrity of ecological systems exist, including protocol specific to systems described in this report (Faber-Langendoen et al. 2006). The protocol for sampling vegetation used in this project does not perform well when used for repeated monitoring at fine scales, such as the stream reach (Coles-Ritchie 2004). It does work as a way to sample and characterize ecological system composition (Faber-Langendoen et al. 2006).

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In general, maintenance of beaver where they currently exist, or reintroduction into suitable habitat where they are currently absent, is especially important for sustaining the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland and Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh ecological systems. Fully functioning floodplain processes (e.g., unconfined stream meandering, natural flood regimes) are important for long-term sustainability of Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland ecological systems. While beaver activity and natural floodplain disturbance increase exposure of alluvial soils that are susceptible to introduced species invasion, these processes are critical to the proper functioning of these systems. Due to extreme environmental conditions (cold temperatures, persistent high moisture), the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen, and to a lesser degree Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow ecological systems resist invasion by introduced species. However, the fen system is sensitive to long-term climate change and activities that directly disturb peat soil and existing hydrology. Grass and forb dominated mesic meadows are susceptible to soil disturbance by livestock grazing and should be monitored more frequently than adjacent sedge-dominated wetter meadows that have persistently wet conditions. Sites sampled in 2006 within the Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows ecological group were in excellent ecological condition and no need for immediate management actions were identified based on field observations. Continued maintenance of existing roadless areas in Stanley Lake Creek, Lower Valley Creek, and Elk Creek and current management will help ensure that the minimally impacted reference conditions at Stanley Lake Inlet, Goat Creek, and Elk Meadow Wetland Conservation Sites will likely be perpetuated. Of these sites, Elk Meadow has the highest risk of potential impacts from recreation activities, especially mountain bikes crossing the center of the wet meadow complex. Construction of boardwalk-type trails through wet parts of the meadow could minimize future soil damage and invasion of trailside introduced species. The Pole Creek HUC 12 was not a focus of inventory and monitoring in 2006. This HUC 12 encompasses Pole Creek Meadows and Pole Creek Exclosure RNA, an important wetland complex recognized by Bottum (2004) and others. Maintenance of beaver at the site is important for sustaining systems. Management recommendations for other HUC 12s in this ecological group are found in recent Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA stewardship monitoring reports. The fen system at Pole Creek should be mapped and managed similar to other peatlands on the forest. In the South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys ecological group, both HUC 12s sampled (Boardman Creek and Skeleton Creek) were primarily impacted by roads and other human-caused disturbances in their upper watersheds. Potential downstream effects, such as sediment deposition, were not apparent from field observations. Ecological systems sampled in 2006 were in good ecological condition and not directly affected by nearby recreation trails or other human-caused disturbances. Small patches of Canada thistle in lower Skeleton Creek should be monitored and controlled if necessary. Maintenance of beaver in lower Skeleton Creek will help ensure that the Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland ecological system will persist.

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When trails are reconstructed they could be located well above riparian zones. Banks at stream crossings could be hardened with rocks to prevent erosion points. Several introduced species present in this ecological group are forage grasses that can be competitive with native graminoids (e.g., smooth brome). Additional introductions, via contaminated hay, drift from pastures, livestock or recreation transport, or deliberate seeding should be minimized through control and prevention methods along trails and roads. No need for other immediate management actions was identified from field observations. Sites sampled within the Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys ecological group were in excellent condition. The South Fork Boise River - Bear Creek HUC 12 containing these sites was impacted mainly by roads, dispersed recreation, and historic logging but riparian vegetation was not affected. Continued maintenance of existing roadless areas in Emma Creek and the Upper South Fork Boise River and current management will help ensure that current conditions will likely persist. No need for other immediate management actions was identified based on field observations. Wetland inventory, assessment, monitoring, and restoration are enhanced by consideration of fundamental processes driving ecological system development and persistence (Brinson 1993, USDI BLM 1998, Faber-Langendoen et al. 2006). Basing restoration targets on broader scale ecological system processes and composition, rather than specific composition and structure of desired plant associations, can allow for the inherent unpredictability in restoration trajectories under changing hydrologic conditions. This pilot project was an attempt to roll-up riparian and wetland vegetation monitoring and plant association inventory into a watershed and ecological system-based approach to adaptive management and restoration. LITERATURE CITED

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Padgett, W. G., A. P. Youngblood, and A. H. Winward. 1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah and southeastern Idaho. R4-Ecol-89-01. USDA, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 191 pp.

Quigley, T. M., and S. J. Arbelbide, editors. 1997. An assessment of ecosystem

components in the Interior Columbia Basin and portions of the Klamath and Great Basins. Vol. I–IV. Gen. Tech. Report PNW-GTR-405. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Portland, OR.

Rosgen D. 1996. Applied river morphology. Wildland Hydrology. Pagosa Springs, CO.

363 pp.

Sawtooth National Forest. 2003. Final Forest Plan Revision Sawtooth National Forest. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Sawtooth National Forest, Twin Falls, ID.

Seaber, P.R., F. P Kapinos, and G. L. Knapp, 1987. Hydrologic Unit Maps. U. S.

Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2294, United States Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado.

Smith, D. R., Ammann, A., Bartoldus, C., and Brinson, M. M. 1995. An approach for

assessing wetland functions using hydrogeomorphic classification, reference wetlands, and functional indices. Technical Report WRP-DE-9, U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS., NTIS No. AD A307 121.

Spivey, M. L. and B. Ainslie. 2004. Landscape Profiling and Better Wetland Restoration: How HGM Can Help. 2004 ESRI Federal User Conference U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4. gis2.esri.com/library/userconf/proc04/docs/pap1193.pdf

Tiner, R. W. (compiler). 2002. Watershed-based wetland planning and evaluation. A

collection of papers from the Wetland Millennium Event (August 6-12, 2000; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada). Distributed by the Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc., Berne, NY. 141 pp.

Tiner, R. W. 2004. Remotely-sensed indicators for monitoring the general condition of

“natural habitat” in watersheds: an application for Delaware’s Nanticoke River watershed. Ecological Indicators 4 (2004) 227–243.

Tuhy, J. S. 1981. Stream bottom community classification for the Sawtooth Valley,

Idaho. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow. 230 pp. Tuhy, J. S., and S. Jensen. 1982. Riparian classification for the Upper Salmon/Middle

Fork Salmon River drainages, Idaho. White Horse Associates, Smithfield, UT. 183 pp.

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36

USDI, Bureau of Land Management. 1998. Riparian area management: a user guide to assessing proper functioning condition and the supporting science for lotic areas. Technical Reference 1737-15, National Applied Science Center, Denver, CO.

Walford, G., G. Jones, W. Fertig, S. Mellman-Brown, and K. Houston. 2001. Riparian

and wetland plant community types of the Shoshone National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-85. 122 pp.

Weixelman, D. A., D. C. Zamudio, and K. A. Zamudio. 1996. Central Nevada riparian

field guide. USDA Forest Service, Toiyabe National Forest, Sparks, NV. Winward, A. H. 2000. Monitoring the vegetation resources in riparian areas. Gen. Tech.

Rep. RMRS-GTR-47. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Youngblood, A. P., W. G. Padgett, and A. H. Winward. 1985. Riparian community type

classification of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-8501. USDA, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT. 78 pp.

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APPENDIX 1

Plant associations and ecological systems sampled by ecological group, HUC 12, reference site, and ranger district.

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Table 1. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows Minimally Impacted

Date Sampled

Plot Name

HUC 12 ID#

Plant Association Ecological System Reference Site X IDTM83 Y IDTM83 National Forest - District

27-Jul-2006

ELKM01 68 Salix planifolia var. monica/Carex aquatilis-Carex utriculata

Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Elk Meadow Wetland Conservation Site

2411962 1452093 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

27-Jul-2006

ELKM02 68 Salix wolfii/Calamagrostis canadensis

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Elk Meadow Wetland Conservation Site

2411247 1451519 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

27-Jul-2006

ELKM03 68 Salix lemmonii/Carex aquatilis (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Elk Meadow Wetland Conservation Site

2411158 1451431 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

26-Jul-2006

GOAT01 72 Carex buxbaumii Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Goat Creek 2421084 1444143 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

26-Jul-2006

GOAT02 72 Picea engelmannii/ Calamagrostis canadensis

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Goat Creek 2421604 1444668 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

26-Jul-2006

GOAT03 72 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Goat Creek 2421018 1443959 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

28-Jul-2006

STAN01 70 Carex utriculata Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Stanley Lake Inlet Wetland

2414678 1449299 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

28-Jul-2006

STAN02 70 Betula nana-Vaccinium uliginosum (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Stanley Lake Inlet Wetland

2414748 1449279 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

13-Sep-2001

BUMO01 79 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Bull Moose Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2429723 1431398 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

13-Sep-2001

BUMO02 79 Salix wolfii/Carex utriculata Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Bull Moose Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2429721 1431350 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

13-Sep-2001

BUMO03 79 Carex utriculata Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Bull Moose Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2429291 1431526 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

13-Sep-2001

BUMO04 79 Eleocharis quinqueflora Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Bull Moose Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2429767 1431401 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

5-Aug-2005

BUMO05 79 Eleocharis quinqueflora Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Bull Moose Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

669893* 4882815* Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

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4-Aug-2005

HUCK01 79 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Huckleberry Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

669657* 4880098* Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

4-Aug-2005

HUCK02 79 Trichophorum caespitosum Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Huckleberry Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

669726* 4880144* Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

12-Sep-2001

MAYS01 3 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Mays Creek Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2431463 1424480 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

12-Sep-2001

MAYS02 3 Salix wolfii/Deschampsia caespitosa

Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Mays Creek Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2431911 1424299 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

12-Sep-2001

MAYS03 3 Trichophorum caespitosum-Carex livida

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Mays Creek Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

2431178 1424505 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

2-Aug-2005

MAYS04 3 Eleocharis quinqueflora Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Mays Creek Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

671849* 4875937* Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

3-Aug-2005

MAYS05 3 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Mays Creek Fen-Sawtooth Valley Peatlands RNA

671805* 4875939* Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

Impacted

7-Aug-2002

POLE01 10 Salix boothii/mesic graminoids Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Pole Creek Meadows-Pole Creek Exclosure RNA

2440593 1412483 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

8-Aug-2002

POLE02 10 Salix lemmonii/Carex utriculata (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Pole Creek Meadows-Pole Creek Exclosure RNA

2441273 1412695 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

8-Aug-2002

POLE03 10 Betula nana-Salix wolfii (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Pole Creek Meadows-Pole Creek Exclosure RNA

2439794 1412446 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

8-Aug-2002

POLE04 10 Salix wolfii/Swertia perennis Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Pole Creek Meadows-Pole Creek Exclosure RNA

2439606 1412428 Sawtooth - Sawtooth NRA

* = X, Y in UTM NAD27

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Table 2. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows Minimally Impacted

Date Sampled

Plot Name

HUC 12 ID#

Plant Association Ecological System Reference Site X IDTM83 Y IDTM83 National Forest - District

27-Jul-2004

BACF01 64 Trichophorum caespitosum Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399678 1457199 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF02 64 Carex buxbaumii Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399678 1457199 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF03 64 Carex saxatilis Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399676 1457120 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF04 64 Eleocharis quinqueflora Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2398739 1457232 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF05 64 Carex utriculata-Eleocharis quinqueflora

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2398739 1457232 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF06 64 Carex luzulina Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2398701 1457109 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF07 64 Eriophorum angusifolium Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399131 1457463 Boise - Lowman

27-Jul-2004

BACF08 64 Carex limosa Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399131 1457463 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

BACF09 64 Hordeum brachyantherum Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399361 1457096 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

BACF10 64 Carex microptera Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399361 1457096 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

BACF11 64 Deschampsia caespitosa Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399166 1457398 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

BACF12 64 Salix wolfii/Deschampsia caespitosa

Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399319 1457511 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

BACF13 64 Carex simulata Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399442 1457484 Boise - Lowman

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28-Jul-2004

BACF14 64 Menyanthes trifoliata Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399612 1457444 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

BACF15 64 Eleocharis quinqueflora/ Sphagnum spp.

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399612 1457444 Boise - Lowman

29-Jul-2004

BACF16 64 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Banner Creek Fen-Proposed Special Botanical Area

2399562 1457211 Boise - Lowman

14-Sep-2001

BUTL01 64 Salix wolfii/Carex aquatilis Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Bull Trout Lake Wetland Conservation Site

2399949 1455763 Boise - Lowman

14-Sep-2001

BUTL02 64 Carex utriculata Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Bull Trout Lake Wetland Conservation Site

2400002 1455754 Boise - Lowman

29-Jul-2004

SWAR01 64 Abies lasiocarpa/Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Bull Trout Lake Wetland Conservation Site

2398606 1456309 Boise - Lowman

29-Jul-2004

SWAR02 64 Salix commutata/Carex scopulorum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Bull Trout Lake Wetland Conservation Site

2398475 1456367 Boise - Lowman

28-Jul-2004

WARM01 64 Salix drummondiana/ Calamagrostis canadensis

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Bull Trout Lake Wetland Conservation Site

2399491 1456930 Boise - Lowman

Impacted

18-Jul-2003

BLSU01 59 Trichophorum caespitosum Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Blind Summit Fen Wetland Conservation Site

2412542 1459296 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork

18-Jul-2003

BLSU02 59 Pinus contorta/Vaccinium uliginosum

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Blind Summit Fen Wetland Conservation Site

2412588 1459281 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork

18-Jul-2003

BLSU03 59 Carex livida Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Blind Summit Fen Wetland Conservation Site

2412580 1459339 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork

9-Aug-2002

CAHO01 59 Betula nana-Vaccinium uliginosum (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Cape Horn Meadows-Dry Creek Wetland Conservation Site

2411001 1462273 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork

9-Aug-2002

CAHO02 59 Carex utriculata Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Cape Horn Meadows-Dry Creek Wetland Conservation Site

2410970 1462103 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork

9-Aug-2002

CAHO03 59 Deschampsia caespitosa Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet-Mesic Meadow

Cape Horn Meadows-Dry Creek Wetland Conservation Site

2411022 1461991 Salmon-Challis - Yankee Fork

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Table 3. South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys Impacted

Date Sampled

Plot Name

HUC 12 ID#

Plant Association Ecological System Reference Site X IDTM83 Y IDTM83 National Forest - District

8-Aug-2006

BOAR01 49 Salix drummondiana/mesic forbs

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Boardman Creek 2424140 1378783 Sawtooth - Fairfield

11-Aug-2006

SKEL01 36 Salix lemmonii/Ribes inerme/

mesic forbs (undescribed) Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Skeleton Creek 2417949 1377807 Sawtooth - Fairfield

11-Aug-2006

SKEL02 36 Salix boothii/mesic forbs Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Skeleton Creek 2418013 1377826 Sawtooth - Fairfield

2-Sep-2004

DOGC01 51 Salix boothii/Cornus sericea (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Dog Creek 2393871 1370803 Boise - Mountain Home

2-Sep-2004

DOGC02 51 Pseudotsuga menziesii/ Cornus sericea

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Dog Creek 2393624 1370847 Boise - Mountain Home

1-Sep-2004

SFBO10 51 Pinus ponderosa/ Symphoricarpos albus

Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland

South Fork Boise River Floodplain-Featherville to Pine

2394392 1369859 Boise - Mountain Home

Highly Impacted

2-Sep-2004

SFBO11 45 Salix boothii/Calamagrostis canadensis

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

South Fork Boise River Floodplain-Featherville to Pine

2397267 1375536 Boise - Mountain Home

2-Sep-2004

SFBO12 45 Salix melanopsis/Phalaris arundinacea (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland

South Fork Boise River Floodplain-Featherville to Pine

2397156 1375545 Boise - Mountain Home

2-Sep-2004

SFBO13 45 Salix melanopsis/alluvial bar Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland

South Fork Boise River Floodplain-Featherville to Pine

2397048 1375522 Boise - Mountain Home

2-Sep-2004

SFBO14 45 Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa/alluvial bar

Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland

South Fork Boise River Floodplain-Featherville to Pine

2397076 1375446 Boise - Mountain Home

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Table 4. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys Impacted

Date Sampled

Plot Name

HUC 12 ID#

Plant Association Ecological System Reference Site X IDTM83 Y IDTM83 National Forest - District

9-Aug-2006

EMMA01 26 Alnus incana/Cornus sericea Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Emma Creek 2427623 1394670 Sawtooth - Fairfield

9-Aug-2006

EMMA02 26 Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa/Cornus sericea

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Emma Creek 2428148 1394999 Sawtooth - Fairfield

10-Aug-2006

SFBO15 26 Picea engelmannii/ Cornus sericea

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Upper South Fork Boise River

2425679 1394446 Sawtooth - Fairfield

10-Aug-2006

SFBO16 26 Salix boothii/mesic forbs Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Upper South Fork Boise River

2425633 1394447 Sawtooth - Fairfield

10-Aug-2006

SFBO17 26 Alnus incana/mesic forbs Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Upper South Fork Boise River

2425614 1394507 Sawtooth - Fairfield

15-Sep-2005

QURI01 9 Rhamnus alnifolia/mesic forbs Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Queens River 2403742 1403693 Boise - Idaho City

15-Sep-2005

QURI02 9 Salix boothii/Rhamnus alnifolia (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Queens River 2403742 1403693 Boise - Idaho City

15-Sep-2005

QURI03 9 Cornus sericea Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Queens River 2403764 1403644 Boise - Idaho City

7-Jul-2004

WBEA01 74 Salix scouleriana Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Bear Creek RNA 2403682 1441988 Boise - Lowman

7-Jul-2004

WBEA02 74 Alnus incana/Cornus sericea Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Bear Creek RNA 2403688 1441997 Boise - Lowman

8-Jul-2004

WBEA03 74 Leymus cinereus Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Bear Creek RNA 2403521 1441701 Boise - Lowman

8-Jul-2004

WBEA04 74 Rhamnus alnifolia/mesic forbs Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Bear Creek RNA 2403530 1441794 Boise - Lowman

8-Jul-2004

WBEA05 74 Populus tremuloides/ Amelanchier alnifolia/tall forbs

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane

Bear Creek RNA 2403642 1441595 Boise - Lowman

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Riparian Woodland

26-Jul-2004

WWAP01 74 Alnus incana/mesic graminoids

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Wapiti Creek-Grandjean Wetland

2403884 1440301 Boise - Lowman

26-Jul-2004

WWAP02 74 Glyceria striata Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh

Wapiti Creek-Grandjean Wetland

2403795 1440579 Boise - Lowman

26-Jul-2004

WWAP03 74 Salix boothii/Rhamnus alnifolia (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Wapiti Creek-Grandjean Wetland

2403795 1440579 Boise - Lowman

Highly Impacted

15-Sep-2005

MFBO11 22 Populus tremuloides/Rhamnus alnifolia/Elymus glaucus (undescribed)

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Middle Fork Boise River-Atlanta

2408929 1401349 Boise - Idaho City

13-Jul-2004

WMON01 22 Ribes hudsonianum Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Atlanta Gold Mine Site 2409969 1399771 Boise - Idaho City

14-Jul-2004

WMON02 22 Glyceria striata Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh

Atlanta Gold Mine Site 2409833 1400007 Boise - Idaho City

14-Jul-2004

WMON03 22 Picea engelmannii/Cornus sericea

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Atlanta Gold Mine Site 2409867 1400091 Boise - Idaho City

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APPENDIX 2 Mean cover and constancy of plant species and ground features for ecological systems sampled in each ecological group by reference condition.

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Table 1. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Minimally Impacted

n = 14 Impacted n = 2

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover Constancy

Mean Cover

t Pinus contorta 0.57 2.8 0.00 0.0

t Pinus contorta seedling 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Dasiphora floribunda 0.71 3.1 1.00 11.5

s Vaccinium uliginosum 0.64 20.9 0.00 0.0

s Betula nana 0.57 16.9 1.00 25.5

s Lonicera caerulea 0.50 6.4 0.50 20.0

s Salix planifolia var. monica 0.50 3.5 0.00 0.0

s Salix wolfii 0.43 10.0 1.00 65.0

s Spiraea douglasii 0.14 6.5 0.00 0.0

s Ledum glandulosum 0.07 10.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix 0.07 5.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix brachycarpa 0.00 0.0 1.00 6.5

ss Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

g Carex utriculata 1.00 19.0 1.00 6.5

g Carex aquatilis 0.79 5.8 0.50 10.0

g Carex echinata 0.64 1.6 0.00 0.0

g Deschampsia caespitosa 0.64 0.8 1.00 0.1

g Eleocharis quinqueflora 0.57 19.5 0.50 0.1

g Calamagrostis canadensis 0.50 2.9 0.50 1.0

g Trichophorum caespitosum 0.36 32.3 0.00 0.0

g Juncus balticus 0.36 1.0 1.00 6.5

g Carex livida 0.29 15.3 0.00 0.0

g Carex canescens 0.21 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex buxbaumii 0.14 35.3 0.00 0.0

g Juncus alpinoarticulatus ssp. nodulosus 0.14 0.9 0.00 0.0

g unknown graminoid 0.14 0.5 0.00 0.0

g Carex disperma 0.14 0.3 0.00 0.0

g Carex luzulina 0.07 5.0 0.00 0.0

i g Poa pratensis 0.07 3.0 1.00 3.0

g Carex saxatilis 0.07 3.0 0.00 0.0

g Agrostis humilis 0.07 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Danthonia intermedia 0.07 0.7 0.50 0.1

g Carex cusickii 0.07 0.3 1.00 40.0

g Muhlenbergia filiformis 0.07 0.1 0.50 1.0

i g Poa palustris 0.07 0.1 0.50 0.1

g Agrostis 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Agrostis idahoensis 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Agrostis scabra 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex aurea 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Eriophorum angustifolium 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Bromus ciliatus 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Muhlenbergia richardsonis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Phleum alpinum 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex simulata 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Festuca occidentalis 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Swertia perennis 0.57 2.7 1.00 15.0

f Pedicularis groenlandica 0.50 2.2 1.00 0.6

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f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.36 5.8 0.00 0.0

f Spiranthes romanzoffiana 0.36 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Packera cymbalarioides 0.29 1.2 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.29 0.5 1.00 20.0

f Antennaria corymbosa 0.29 0.4 0.00 0.0

f Drosera intermedia 0.21 12.3 0.00 0.0

f Packera pseudaurea var. pseudaurea 0.21 1.4 0.00 0.0

f unknown seedling 0.21 0.2 0.00 0.0

f Gentiana calycosa 0.21 0.2 0.50 0.1

f Fragaria virginiana 0.14 1.6 1.00 3.0

f Saxifraga oregana 0.14 0.4 0.00 0.0

f unknown forb 0.14 0.3 0.00 0.0

f Achillea millefolium 0.14 0.1 1.00 0.6

f Solidago multiradiata 0.07 2.5 0.00 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.07 0.1 0.50 0.1

f Stellaria longipes 0.07 0.1 0.50 1.0

f Cardamine 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Castilleja miniata 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Galium trifidum 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Hypericum anagalloides 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Stellaria 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Veronica americana 0.07 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Antennaria anaphaloides 0.00 0.0 1.00 15.0

f Thalictrum alpinum 0.00 0.0 1.00 15.0

f Castilleja cusickii 0.00 0.0 1.00 1.0

f Zizia aptera 0.00 0.0 0.50 30.0

f Polemonium occidentale 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

f Potentilla gracilis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

f Cerastium nutans 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Erigeron lonchophyllus 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Trifolium longipes 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.21 1.2 0.00 0.0

fe Selaginella selaginoides 0.07 0.2 0.00 0.0

fe Equisetum laevigatum 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

mean species per plot 5 21

% introduced 0.03 0.05

tree cover 1.8 0.0

shrub cover 25.1 85.0

graminoid cover 63.1 50.0

forb and horsetail cover 5.0 65.0

fern cover 0.0 0.0

moss and lichen cover 28.0 16.5

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 9.4 5.1

gravel 0.0 0.0

rock 0.0 0.1

litter 39.3 65.0

downed wood 0.7 3.0

basal vegetation 11.8 10.0

water 13.4 0.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

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Table 2. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Minimally Impacted

n = 2 Impacted n = 2

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover Constancy

Mean Cover

t Picea engelmannii 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

t Picea engelmannii seedling 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Salix wolfii 1.00 35.0 1.00 2.0

s Salix lemmonii 0.50 80.0 0.50 90.0

s Lonicera caerulea 0.50 40.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix planifolia var. monica 0.50 6.0 0.00 0.0

s Vaccinium uliginosum 0.50 1.0 0.00 0.0

s Dasiphora floribunda 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Salix boothii 0.00 0.0 1.00 31.5

s Ribes inerme 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

s Salix drummondiana 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

s Betula nana 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

s Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Carex aquatilis 1.00 25.0 1.00 5.5

g Calamagrostis canadensis 1.00 22.5 1.00 16.5

g Carex utriculata 1.00 4.0 1.00 45.0

g Deschampsia caespitosa 0.50 7.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex vesicaria 0.50 5.0 0.00 0.0

g Bromus ciliatus 0.50 0.1 0.50 3.0

g Agrostis exarata 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Torreyochloa pallida var. pauciflora 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Trisetum wolfii 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex pellita 0.00 0.0 0.50 30.0

g Agrostis scabra 0.00 0.0 0.50 10.0

g Carex microptera 0.00 0.0 0.50 10.0

i g Poa palustris 0.00 0.0 0.50 10.0

i g Poa pratensis 0.00 0.0 0.50 10.0

g Carex pachystachya 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

g Hordeum brachyantherum 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

g Agrostis idahoensis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex cusickii 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex praegracilis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex saxatilis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Juncus balticus 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Luzula parviflora 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Poa 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex athrostachya 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Carex aurea 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Juncus 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Antennaria corymbosa 1.00 3.6 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 1.00 3.5 0.50 0.1

f Galium trifidum 1.00 0.6 0.50 0.1

f Viola palustris 1.00 0.6 0.00 0.0

i f Taraxacum officinale 1.00 0.1 0.50 0.1

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f Polemonium occidentale 0.50 1.0 0.50 1.0

f Fragaria virginiana 0.50 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.50 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.50 0.1 1.00 0.1

f Geum macrophyllum 0.50 0.1 1.00 0.6

f Stellaria longipes 0.50 0.1 0.50 0.1

f Cardamine 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Castilleja miniata 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Mimulus 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Penstemon globosus 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Potentilla diversifolia 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Ranunculus aquatilis 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Veronica americana 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

f Arenaria 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Cerastium 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Galium triflorum 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Veronica 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Viola 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.50 0.1 0.00 0.0

mean species per plot 18 21

% introduced 0.03 0.07

tree cover 0.1 0.0

shrub cover 80.0 75.0

graminoid cover 45.0 85.0

forb and horsetail cover 7.5 1.6

fern cover 0.0 0.0

moss and lichen cover 1.0 15.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 27.5 0.1

gravel 0.1 0.0

rock 0.0 0.0

litter 55.0 70.0

downed wood 0.0 6.5

basal vegetation 15.0 10.0

water 0.0 0.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 3. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow

Minimally Impacted n = 2

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover

s Salix wolfii 1.00 22.5

s Lonicera caerulea 1.00 5.1

s Salix planifolia var. monica 0.50 80.0

s Dasiphora floribunda 0.50 20.0

s Betula nana 0.50 1.0

g Deschampsia caespitosa 1.00 16.0

g Carex aquatilis 1.00 15.1

g Carex utriculata 1.00 1.0

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g Juncus balticus 0.50 20.0

g Carex simulata 0.50 1.0

g Carex vesicaria 0.50 1.0

g Muhlenbergia filiformis 0.50 1.0

g Carex leporinella 0.50 0.1

f Penstemon globosus 1.00 7.0

f Antennaria corymbosa 1.00 5.0

f Dodecatheon jeffreyi 0.50 5.0

f Gayophytum decipiens 0.50 1.0

f Cirsium scariosum 0.50 0.1

f Epilobium anagallidifolium 0.50 0.1

f Erigeron lonchophyllus 0.50 0.1

f Eurybia integrifolia 0.50 0.1

f Galium trifidum 0.50 0.1

f Gentiana calycosa 0.50 0.1

f Geum macrophyllum 0.50 0.1

f Pedicularis groenlandica 0.50 0.1

f Polygonum 0.50 0.1

f Senecio hydrophiloides 0.50 0.1

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 0.50 0.1

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.50 0.1

mean species per plot 15

% introduced 0.03

tree cover 0.0

shrub cover 70.0

graminoid cover 40.0

forb and horsetail cover 12.5

fern cover 0.0

moss and lichen cover 35.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0

soil 20.0

gravel 0.0

rock 0.0

litter 35.0

downed wood 0.1

basal vegetation 10.0

water 0.5

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 4. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Minimally Impacted n = 2

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover

t Picea engelmannii 0.50 40.0

t Picea engelmannii giant tree 0.50 15.0

t Picea engelmannii medium tree 0.50 20.0

t Picea engelmannii sapling 0.50 5.1

t Picea engelmannii seedling 0.50 1.0

t Pinus contorta 1.00 15.1

t Pinus contorta medium tree 0.50 10.0

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t Pinus contorta pole tree 0.50 20.1

t Pinus contorta sapling 0.50 5.1

t Pinus contorta seedling 1.00 0.1

t Abies lasiocarpa 0.50 0.1

t Abies lasiocarpa sapling 0.50 0.1

t Abies lasiocarpa seedling 0.50 0.1

s Lonicera caerulea 1.00 3.5

s Vaccinium caespitosum 1.00 3.0

s Vaccinium uliginosum 0.50 50.0

s Betula nana 0.50 40.0

s Dasiphora floribunda 0.50 15.0

s Salix planifolia var. monica 0.50 4.0

s Salix wolfii 0.50 4.0

s Ribes lacustre 0.50 3.0

s Ledum glandulosum 0.50 2.0

s Lonicera involucrata 0.50 1.0

s Salix eastwoodiae 0.50 1.0

s Salix barclayi 0.50 0.1

s Spiraea douglasii 0.50 0.1

s Vaccinium scoparium 0.50 0.1

g Calamagrostis canadensis 1.00 17.5

g Carex aquatilis 0.50 30.0

g Carex saxatilis 0.50 5.0

g Carex scopulorum 0.50 2.0

g Carex utriculata 0.50 2.0

g Calamagrostis rubescens 0.50 0.1

g Carex 0.50 0.1

g Carex canescens 0.50 0.1

g Carex disperma 0.50 0.1

g Carex echinata 0.50 0.1

g Deschampsia caespitosa 0.50 0.1

f Arnica longifolia 0.50 10.0

f Orthilia secunda 0.50 5.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.50 3.0

f Fragaria virginiana 0.50 2.0

f Thalictrum occidentale 0.50 2.0

f Angelica arguta 0.50 1.0

f Aquilegia formosa 0.50 1.0

f Arnica cordifolia 0.50 1.0

f Dodecatheon jeffreyi 0.50 1.0

f Viola palustris 0.50 1.0

f Unknown 0.50 0.2

f Antennaria corymbosa 0.50 0.1

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 0.50 0.1

f Cirsium scariosum 0.50 0.1

f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.50 0.1

f Listera cordata 0.50 0.1

f Osmorhiza berteroi 0.50 0.1

f Osmorhiza purpurea 0.50 0.1

f Parnassia fimbriata 0.50 0.1

f Senecio triangularis 0.50 0.1

f Streptopus amplexifolius 0.50 0.1

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 0.50 0.1

mean species per plot 25

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% introduced 0.00

tree cover 35.0

shrub cover 50.0

graminoid cover 35.0

forb and horsetail cover 10.5

fern cover 0.0

moss and lichen cover 6.0

Sphagnum moss cover 6.0

soil 1.0

gravel 0.1

rock 0.0

litter 50.0

downed wood 3.1

basal vegetation 15.0

water 20.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 5. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Fen

Minimally Impacted n = 11 Impacted n = 4

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover Constancy Mean Cover

t Pinus contorta 0.18 12.6 0.25 20.0

t Pinus contorta medium tree 0.09 8.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus contorta pole tree 0.09 7.0 0.25 20.1

t Pinus contorta sapling 0.09 10.0 0.25 2.0

t Pinus contorta seedling 0.18 2.6 0.25 0.1

s Salix planifolia var. monica 0.36 4.5 0.50 15.5

s Vaccinium uliginosum 0.27 22.3 0.75 16.7

s Lonicera caerulea 0.27 3.4 0.50 6.5

s Salix commutata 0.09 30.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix eastwoodiae 0.09 10.0 0.00 0.0

s Ledum glandulosum 0.09 1.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix tweedyi 0.09 1.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix wolfii 0.09 0.1 0.50 2.0

s Lonicera involucrata 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Vaccinium caespitosum 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Betula nana 0.00 0.0 0.50 25.0

s Dasiphora floribunda 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.1

ss Gaultheria humifusa 0.09 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Eleocharis quinqueflora 0.82 20.2 1.00 16.8

g Carex utriculata 0.82 12.5 1.00 2.5

g Carex echinata 0.55 1.4 0.50 0.1

g Carex limosa 0.45 20.6 0.00 0.0

g Carex aquatilis 0.45 5.4 0.50 10.0

g Deschampsia caespitosa 0.45 4.8 0.75 10.0

g Muhlenbergia filiformis 0.36 1.3 0.75 0.7

g Agrostis humilis 0.36 0.6 0.00 0.0

g Carex buxbaumii 0.27 23.4 0.00 0.0

g Carex saxatilis 0.18 5.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex luzulina 0.18 2.6 0.50 0.6

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g Agrostis idahoensis 0.18 0.6 0.00 0.0

g Carex canescens 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Luzula campestris 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Trichophorum caespitosum 0.09 70.0 0.50 35.0

g Carex scopulorum 0.09 60.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex simulata 0.09 50.0 0.00 0.0

g Eriophorum angustifolium 0.09 30.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex illota 0.09 3.0 0.00 0.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex neurophora 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Eleocharis acicularis 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Juncus alpinoarticulatus ssp. nodulosus 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex livida 0.00 0.0 1.00 26.0

g Juncus balticus 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.6

g Carex viridula ssp. viridula 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.6

g Agrostis scabra 0.00 0.0 0.25 0.1

g Danthonia intermedia 0.00 0.0 0.25 0.1

f Pedicularis groenlandica 0.82 1.3 0.50 1.6

f Utricularia minor 0.55 4.5 0.00 0.0

f Packera cymbalarioides 0.55 3.7 0.75 2.0

f Dodecatheon jeffreyi 0.55 3.0 0.50 2.0

f Spiranthes romanzoffiana 0.55 0.3 1.00 0.1

f Menyanthes trifoliata 0.36 19.3 0.00 0.0

f Drosera anglica 0.36 12.6 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 0.27 4.7 0.00 0.0

f Swertia perennis 0.27 2.0 0.75 1.7

f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.27 1.7 0.50 5.1

f Mimulus primuloides 0.27 1.7 0.50 1.0

f Comarum palustre 0.27 1.4 0.25 3.0

f Utricularia macrorhiza 0.18 17.5 0.00 0.0

f Caltha leptosepala 0.18 14.5 0.75 3.0

f Polygonum bistortoides 0.18 8.0 0.00 0.0

f Potamogeton gramineus 0.18 3.0 0.00 0.0

f Ranunculus alismifolius 0.18 1.1 0.00 0.0

f Erigeron peregrinus 0.18 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Pedicularis contorta 0.18 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.18 0.1 0.50 2.0

f Unknown 0.18 0.1 0.25 1.0

f Epilobium anagallidifolium 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Galium trifidum 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Gentianopsis simplex 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Platanthera dilatata 0.18 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii 0.09 15.0 0.00 0.0

f Saxifraga odontoloma 0.09 15.0 0.00 0.0

f Polemonium occidentale 0.09 8.0 0.00 0.0

f Mitella pentandra 0.09 4.0 0.00 0.0

f Viola orbiculata 0.09 4.0 0.00 0.0

f Senecio triangularis 0.09 3.0 0.00 0.0

f Antennaria corymbosa 0.09 2.0 0.50 3.0

f Gentiana calycosa 0.09 2.0 0.50 0.1

f Hypericum anagalloides 0.09 1.0 0.75 0.4

f Gentiana affinis 0.09 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Fragaria virginiana 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

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f Saxifraga oregana 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Stellaria crispa 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Stellaria longipes 0.09 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Thalictrum alpinum 0.00 0.0 0.50 2.0

f Solidago 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Camassia quamash 0.00 0.0 0.25 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.45 3.1 0.25 1.0

fe Equisetum laevigatum 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

mean species per plot 7 10

% introduced 0.00 0.00

tree cover 2.3 5.0

shrub cover 10.4 30.0

graminoid cover 64.5 65.0

forb and horsetail cover 34.2 10.0

fern cover 0.0 0.0

moss and lichen cover 35.7 23.8

Sphagnum moss cover 6.8 0.0

soil 5.2 6.0

gravel 0.0 0.0

rock 0.0 0.0

litter 11.8 56.3

downed wood 0.1 1.0

basal vegetation 10.2 11.3

water 37.7 2.5

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 6. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow & Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Mesic Meadow

Minimally Impacted n = 8 Impacted n = 2

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover Constancy Mean Cover

t Pinus contorta 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

t Pinus contorta seedling 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Salix planifolia var. monica 0.50 11.5 0.00 0.0

s Salix wolfii 0.25 50.0 0.00 0.0

s Lonicera caerulea 0.13 15.0 0.00 0.0

s Spiraea douglasii 0.13 10.0 0.00 0.0

s Vaccinium uliginosum 0.13 2.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex aquatilis 0.88 10.9 0.00 0.0

g Carex utriculata 0.63 24.6 1.00 31.5

g Deschampsia caespitosa 0.50 28.8 1.00 35.0

g Muhlenbergia filiformis 0.50 17.8 0.00 0.0

g Trisetum wolfii 0.50 0.6 0.00 0.0

g Hordeum brachyantherum 0.25 37.5 1.00 0.1

g Carex microptera 0.25 36.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex luzulina 0.25 28.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex multicostata 0.25 4.5 0.00 0.0

g Agrostis idahoensis 0.25 1.6 0.00 0.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 0.25 1.6 0.00 0.0

g Eleocharis quinqueflora 0.25 1.5 0.00 0.0

g Carex athrostachya 0.25 1.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex leporinella 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

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g Carex saxatilis 0.13 70.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex subfusca 0.13 15.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex illota 0.13 3.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex praticola 0.13 3.0 0.00 0.0

g Pascopyrum smithii 0.13 2.0 0.00 0.0

g Agrostis humilis 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Bromus ciliatus 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex buxbaumii 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex jonesii 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Carex pachystachya 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Danthonia intermedia 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Luzula campestris 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

g Phleum alpinum 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

i g Poa pratensis 0.13 0.1 1.00 1.6

g Carex 0.13 0.1 0.50 10.0

g Agrostis scabra 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Agrostis variabilis 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Bromus carinatus 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Juncus balticus 0.00 0.0 1.00 6.5

i g Alopecurus pratensis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Carex praegracilis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

i g Lolium pratense 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.63 5.0 0.50 3.0

f Antennaria corymbosa 0.50 10.3 0.00 0.0

f Senecio hydrophiloides 0.50 1.3 1.00 20.0

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 0.38 20.0 0.50 20.0

f Penstemon globosus 0.38 10.4 1.00 45.0

f Dodecatheon jeffreyi 0.38 5.3 0.00 0.0

f Spiranthes romanzoffiana 0.38 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.38 0.4 0.00 0.0

f Eurybia integrifolia 0.25 3.0 0.00 0.0

f Galium trifidum 0.25 1.5 0.00 0.0

f Packera cymbalarioides 0.25 1.5 0.00 0.0

f Geum macrophyllum 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Pedicularis groenlandica 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Potentilla gracilis 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Rorippa 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Stellaria longipes 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.25 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Epilobium anagallidifolium 0.25 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Hypericum anagalloides 0.25 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Ranunculus alismifolius 0.13 10.0 0.00 0.0

f Achillea millefolium 0.13 8.0 0.00 0.0

f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.13 5.0 0.00 0.0

f Mimulus primuloides 0.13 4.0 0.00 0.0

f Collomia linearis 0.13 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Polygonum 0.13 1.0 0.50 0.1

f Polygonum bistortoides 0.13 1.0 0.50 3.0

f Draba 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Fragaria virginiana 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Nemophila breviflora 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Plagiobothrys scouleri 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Potentilla diversifolia 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Saxifraga oregana 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

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i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 7. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Minimally Impacted

n = 1

i? Lf Species Mean Cover

s Salix drummondiana 40.0

s Salix eastwoodiae 40.0

s Lonicera caerulea 15.0

s Vaccinium uliginosum 8.0

s Spiraea douglasii 6.0

s Lonicera involucrata 5.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 40.0

g Bromus ciliatus 15.0

g Carex aquatilis 15.0

g Trisetum wolfii 3.0

g Agrostis humilis 1.0

g Carex aurea 1.0

f Veronica peregrina 0.13 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Botrychium simplex 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Caltha leptosepala 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Collinsia parviflora 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Erigeron coulteri 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Gentianopsis simplex 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Platanthera dilatata 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

i f Rumex crispus 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Viola 0.13 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Camassia quamash 0.00 0.0 1.00 15.0

f Gentiana affinis 0.00 0.0 0.50 10.0

f Lomatium bicolor var. leptocarpum 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

f Ranunculus acriformis 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

f Agoseris grandiflora 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Castilleja cusickii 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Trifolium longipes 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

mean species per plot 10 12

% introduced 0.04 0.13

tree cover 0.0 0.0

shrub cover 18.9 0.0

graminoid cover 81.0 70.0

forb and horsetail cover 32.3 80.0

fern cover 0.0 0.0

moss and lichen cover 19.0 10.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 12.4 30.0

gravel 1.0 0.0

rock 0.0 0.0

litter 53.8 45.0

downed wood 1.8 0.0

basal vegetation 13.1 15.0

water 0.4 0.0

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g Luzula campestris 1.0

g Agrostis exarata 0.1

g Carex luzulina 0.1

g Carex utriculata 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.1

f Angelica arguta 25.0

f Viola orbiculata 15.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 10.0

f Maianthemum stellatum 5.0

f Fragaria virginiana 4.0

f Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum 3.0

f Swertia perennis 3.0

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 2.0

f Dodecatheon jeffreyi 2.0

f Saussurea americana 2.0

f Senecio triangularis 2.0

f Galium trifidum 1.0

f Hypericum anagalloides 1.0

f Packera cymbalarioides 1.0

f Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum 1.0

f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.1

f Platanthera dilatata 0.1

f Stellaria calycantha 0.1

f Stellaria longipes 0.1

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.1

f Trollius laxus 0.1

f Veronica wormskjoldii 0.1

mean species per plot 39

% introduced 0.03

tree cover 0.0

shrub cover 90.0

graminoid cover 70.0

forb and horsetail cover 80.0

fern cover 0.0

moss and lichen cover 7.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0

soil 2.0

gravel 0.1

rock 0.0

litter 60.0

downed wood 1.0

basal vegetation 10.0

water 20.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

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Table 8. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Minimally Impacted

n = 1

i? Lf Species Mean Cover

t Abies lasiocarpa 15.0

t Abies lasiocarpa pole tree 7.0

t Abies lasiocarpa sapling 10.0

t Abies lasiocarpa seedling 4.0

t Picea engelmannii 15.0

t Picea engelmannii large tree 4.0

t Picea engelmannii pole tree 2.0

t Picea engelmannii sapling 10.0

t Picea engelmannii seedling 1.0

s Vaccinium scoparium 15.0

s Vaccinium caespitosum 7.0

s Ledum glandulosum 1.0

s Salix drummondiana 1.0

s Salix scouleriana 1.0

s Vaccinium uliginosum 1.0

s Lonicera involucrata 0.1

s Lonicera utahensis 0.1

s Salix eastwoodiae 0.1

ss Gaultheria humifusa 0.1

g Juncus drummondii 3.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 2.0

g Carex scopulorum 2.0

g Agrostis humilis 1.0

g Carex disperma 1.0

g Luzula parviflora 1.0

g Deschampsia caespitosa 0.1

g Luzula campestris 0.1

f Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii 50.0

f Dodecatheon jeffreyi 40.0

f Trollius laxus 15.0

f Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum 10.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 8.0

f Mitella pentandra 8.0

f Orthilia secunda 8.0

f Senecio triangularis 5.0

f Claytonia cordifolia 4.0

f Erigeron peregrinus 4.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 3.0

f Arnica mollis 1.0

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 1.0

f Fragaria virginiana 1.0

f Pedicularis contorta 1.0

f Polemonium occidentale 1.0

f Viola orbiculata 1.0

f Cardamine pensylvanica 0.1

f Ligusticum tenuifolium 0.1

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f Osmorhiza berteroi 0.1

f Pyrola asarifolia 0.1

f Stellaria crispa 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 2.0

mean species per plot 43

% introduced 0.0

tree cover 30.0

shrub cover 25.0

graminoid cover 10.0

forb and horsetail cover 90.0

fern cover 0.0

moss and lichen cover 40.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0

soil 2.0

gravel 0.0

rock 0.0

litter 25.0

downed wood 15.0

basal vegetation 15.0

water 3.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 9. South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

Rocky Mountain Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland

Impacted Highly Impacted

n = 1 n = 3

i? Lf Species Mean Cover Constancy

Mean Cover

t Pinus ponderosa 80.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus ponderosa giant tree 50.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus ponderosa medium tree 25.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus ponderosa pole tree 2.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa 10.0 1.00 8.4

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa large tree 2.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa pole tree 8.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa sapling 0.0 0.33 15.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa seedling 0.0 1.00 3.4

s Symphoricarpos albus 70.0 0.00 0.0

s Amelanchier alnifolia 7.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix lutea 5.0 0.00 0.0

s Rosa woodsii 4.0 0.33 0.1

s Rubus idaeus 1.0 0.00 0.0

s Cornus sericea 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Salix melanopsis 0.0 0.67 55.0

s Salix lucida ssp. caudata 0.0 0.33 15.0

s Salix exigua 0.0 0.33 7.0

i g Phalaris arundinacea 4.0 1.00 5.4

g Carex pellita 0.1 0.67 0.1

i g Poa pratensis 0.1 0.33 0.1

g Elymus glaucus 0.1 0.00 0.0

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g Agrostis scabra 0.0 1.00 0.4

i g Agrostis stolonifera 0.0 1.00 0.4

i g Poa palustris 0.0 0.67 0.6

g Carex lenticularis 0.0 0.33 15.0

g Eleocharis palustris 0.0 0.33 7.0

i g Poa compressa 0.0 0.33 1.0

g Agrostis exarata 0.0 0.33 0.1

i g Bromus japonicus 0.0 0.33 0.1

g Juncus bufonius 0.0 0.33 0.1

g Juncus ensifolius 0.0 0.33 0.1

i g Poa bulbosa 0.0 0.33 0.1

g Torreyochloa pallida var. pauciflora 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Thalictrum occidentale 4.0 0.00 0.0

f Maianthemum stellatum 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Solidago gigantea 1.0 0.67 0.1

i f Cirsium arvense 0.1 0.33 1.0

f Galium mexicanum ssp. asperulum 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Galium triflorum 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Pterospora andromedea 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Vicia americana 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Viola 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Mentha arvensis 0.0 0.67 4.1

f Epilobium suffruticosum 0.0 0.67 3.5

i f Plantago major 0.0 0.67 2.1

i f Euphorbia esula 0.0 0.67 0.1

f Cicuta douglasii 0.0 0.33 2.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.0 0.33 2.0

f Brassicaceae 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Canadanthus modestus 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Collomia linearis 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Epilobium brachycarpum 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Gnaphalium palustre 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Lepidium virginicum 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Myosotis laxa 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Polygonum 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Polygonum amphibium 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Polygonum douglasii 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Rumex 0.0 0.33 0.1

i f Rumex acetosella 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Symphyotrichum ascendens 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.0 0.33 0.1

i f Trifolium repens 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Trifolium variegatum 0.0 0.33 0.1

f Unknown 0.0 0.33 0.1

i f Verbascum thapsus 0.0 0.33 0.1

fe Equisetum hyemale 0.1 0.00 0.0

fe Equisetum arvense 0.0 0.33 20.0

fe Equisetum variegatum 0.0 0.33 0.1

mean species per plot 22 16

% introduced 0.14 0.27

tree cover 80.0 8.3

shrub cover 80.0 43.4

graminoid cover 5.0 14.7

forb and horsetail cover 7.0 13.0

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fern cover 0.0 1.0

moss and lichen cover 0.0 2.7

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 0.1 23.3

gravel 0.0 21.7

rock 0.0 30.0

litter 80.0 10.7

downed wood 8.0 2.0

basal vegetation 10.0 6.7

water 0.0 2.7

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 10. South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Impacted Highly Impacted

n = 4 n = 1

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover Mean Cover

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa 0.25 1.0 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa seedling 0.25 1.0 0.0

s Salix boothii 1.00 36.5 90.0

s Salix drummondiana 0.75 18.7 2.0

s Ribes inerme 0.75 12.7 4.0

s Rosa woodsii 0.50 7.5 0.1

s Alnus incana 0.50 3.1 0.0

s Salix lemmonii 0.25 60.0 10.0

s Rubus idaeus 0.25 40.0 0.0

s Cornus sericea 0.25 30.0 0.0

s Salix lucida ssp. caudata 0.25 10.0 0.0

s Salix melanopsis 0.25 10.0 0.0

s Rhamnus alnifolia 0.25 8.0 0.0

s Lonicera involucrata 0.25 4.0 5.0

s Spiraea douglasii 0.25 2.0 0.0

g Elymus glaucus 1.00 2.3 0.0

g Glyceria striata 0.75 1.0 0.0

i g Poa pratensis 0.50 5.1 1.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 0.50 4.0 20.0

i g Poa palustris 0.50 1.6 0.0

g Agrostis exarata 0.50 0.6 0.0

g Bromus vulgaris 0.50 0.1 0.0

g Carex microptera 0.50 0.1 0.0

g Carex pellita 0.25 6.0 1.0

g Carex deweyana 0.25 4.0 0.0

g Cinna latifolia 0.25 3.0 0.0

g Bromus ciliatus 0.25 2.0 0.0

g Dactylis glomerata 0.25 2.0 0.0

i g Bromus inermis 0.25 1.0 0.0

g Carex hoodii 0.25 1.0 0.0

g Carex lenticularis 0.25 1.0 0.0

g Deschampsia elongata 0.25 1.0 0.0

g Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 0.25 1.0 0.0

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i g Agrostis stolonifera 0.25 0.1 0.1

g Bromus carinatus 0.25 0.1 0.0

g Carex 0.25 0.1 0.0

g Juncus ensifolius 0.25 0.1 0.0

g Carex subfusca 0.00 0.0 7.0

g Carex utriculata 0.00 0.0 1.0

f Heracleum maximum 1.00 10.8 0.0

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 1.00 4.1 0.0

f Urtica dioica 1.00 1.6 0.0

f Thalictrum occidentale 0.75 7.3 0.0

f Maianthemum stellatum 0.75 6.3 0.0

f Canadanthus modestus 0.75 6.0 0.0

f Geum macrophyllum 0.75 1.7 1.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.75 1.0 0.0

f Solidago canadensis 0.75 1.0 0.0

f Agastache urticifolia 0.75 0.1 0.0

f Corydalis caseana ssp. cusickii 0.50 4.0 0.0

f Mentha arvensis 0.50 2.0 0.0

f Polemonium occidentale 0.50 2.0 0.0

f Rudbeckia occidentalis 0.50 2.0 0.0

f Angelica arguta 0.50 0.6 0.0

f Galium triflorum 0.50 0.6 0.0

f Circaea alpina 0.50 0.1 0.0

f Galium aparine 0.25 20.0 0.0

f Packera pseudaurea var. pseudaurea 0.25 5.0 0.0

f Mitella pentandra 0.25 4.0 0.0

i f Cirsium arvense 0.25 3.0 6.0

f Symphyotrichum eatonii 0.25 3.0 0.0

f Galium mexicanum ssp. asperulum 0.25 2.0 8.0

f Claytonia cordifolia 0.25 2.0 0.0

f Actaea rubra 0.25 1.0 0.0

f Arnica chamissonis 0.25 1.0 0.0

i f Verbascum thapsus 0.25 0.1 0.1

f Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Anaphalis margaritacea 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Cardamine breweri 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Cardamine oligosperma 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Cirsium canovirens 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Descurainia 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Galium trifidum 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Hackelia floribunda 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Mimulus lewisii 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Montia chamissoi 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Osmorhiza berteroi 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Platanthera dilatata 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Silene menziesii 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Stellaria 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.25 0.1 0.0

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Veronica americana 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Viola orbiculata 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Solidago gigantea 0.00 0.0 3.0

fe Equisetum arvense 0.50 0.6 0.0

fe Cystopteris fragilis 0.25 1.0 0.0

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mean species per plot 21 17

% introduced 0.08 0.24

tree cover 0.0 0.0

shrub cover 82.0 98.0

graminoid cover 13.5 30.0

forb and horsetail cover 38.8 20.0

fern cover 1.0 1.0

moss and lichen cover 2.0 0.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 5.5 0.0

gravel 1.0 0.0

rock 6.5 0.0

litter 52.5 50.0

downed wood 11.3 40.0

basal vegetation 12.5 10.0

water 8.8 0.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 11. South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Impacted

n = 1

i? Lf Species Mean Cover

t Pseudotsuga menziesii 50.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii large tree 20.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii medium tree 30.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii pole tree 8.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii sapling 2.0

t Pinus ponderosa 30.0

t Pinus ponderosa giant tree 15.0

t Pinus ponderosa large tree 5.0

t Pinus ponderosa medium tree 8.0

s Cornus sericea 25.0

s Rubus parviflorus 20.0

s Acer glabrum 15.0

s Mahonia repens 7.0

s Ribes inerme 4.0

s Amelanchier alnifolia 2.0

s Prunus emarginata 2.0

s Ribes aureum 2.0

s Salix scouleriana 2.0

s Alnus incana 0.1

g Elymus glaucus 4.0

g Carex deweyana 1.0

g Glyceria striata 1.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 0.1

g Carex subfusca 0.1

g Cinna latifolia 0.1

g Scirpus microcarpus 0.1

f Maianthemum stellatum 5.0

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f Galium mexicanum ssp. asperulum 3.0

f Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule 3.0

f Moehringia macrophylla 3.0

f Rudbeckia occidentalis 3.0

f Stellaria 3.0

f Galium triflorum 2.0

f Silene menziesii 2.0

f Angelica arguta 1.0

f Canadanthus modestus 1.0

f Osmorhiza berteroi 1.0

f Urtica dioica 1.0

f Agastache urticifolia 0.1

f Cardamine oligosperma 0.1

f Corydalis caseana ssp. cusickii 0.1

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.1

f Mimulus moschatus 0.1

f Osmorhiza occidentalis 0.1

f Pterospora andromedea 0.1

f Stellaria crispa 0.1

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.1

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.1

f Thalictrum sparsiflorum 0.1

fe Athyrium filix-femina 0.1

mean species per plot 38

% introduced 0.02

tree cover 70.0

shrub cover 70.0

graminoid cover 6.0

forb and horsetail cover 25.0

fern cover 1.0

moss and lichen cover 0.1

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0

soil 0.1

gravel 0.1

rock 7.0

litter 80.0

downed wood 4.0

basal vegetation 10.0

water 0.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 12. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland

Impacted n = 3 Highly Impacted n = 2

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover Constancy Mean Cover

t Picea engelmannii 0.33 70.0 0.50 30.0

t Picea engelmannii giant tree 0.33 60.0 0.00 0.0

t Picea engelmannii large tree 0.33 15.0 0.50 20.0

t Picea engelmannii medium tree 0.00 0.0 0.50 10.1

t Picea engelmannii pole tree 0.33 2.0 0.50 1.1

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t Picea engelmannii seedling 0.33 1.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa 0.33 70.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa giant tree 0.33 30.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa medium tree 0.33 20.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa pole tree 0.33 30.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa sapling 0.33 1.0 0.00 0.0

t Populus tremuloides 0.33 70.0 0.50 50.0

t Populus tremuloides medium tree 0.00 0.0 0.50 7.0

t Populus tremuloides pole tree 0.33 30.0 0.50 30.0

t Populus tremuloides sapling 0.33 40.1 0.50 26.0

t Populus tremuloides seedling 0.33 4.0 0.50 0.1

t Pinus ponderosa 0.33 10.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus ponderosa giant tree 0.33 10.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus ponderosa medium tree 0.33 8.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus contorta 0.33 8.0 0.00 0.0

t Pinus contorta medium tree 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

t Abies lasiocarpa 0.33 7.0 0.00 0.0

t Abies lasiocarpa medium tree 0.33 2.0 0.00 0.0

t Abies lasiocarpa sapling 0.33 5.0 0.00 0.0

t Abies lasiocarpa seedling 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii 0.33 2.0 0.50 20.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii large tree 0.00 0.0 0.50 20.0

t Pseudotsuga menziesii sapling 0.33 2.0 0.00 0.0

s Lonicera involucrata 1.00 4.3 0.50 0.1

s Symphoricarpos albus 1.00 2.1 0.50 1.0

s Cornus sericea 0.67 35.0 0.50 40.0

s Amelanchier alnifolia 0.67 7.6 0.50 25.0

s Alnus incana 0.67 5.0 0.50 2.0

s Acer glabrum 0.67 3.1 0.00 0.0

s Salix boothii 0.67 2.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix drummondiana 0.67 0.6 0.00 0.0

s Mahonia repens 0.67 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Rhamnus alnifolia 0.33 30.0 1.00 41.5

s Crataegus douglasii 0.33 30.0 0.00 0.0

s Salix melanopsis 0.33 10.0 0.00 0.0

s Spiraea douglasii 0.33 10.0 0.00 0.0

s Ribes lacustre 0.33 9.0 0.50 3.0

s Ribes inerme 0.33 3.0 0.50 8.0

s Sorbus scopulina 0.33 2.0 0.50 0.1

s Rosa woodsii 0.33 1.0 0.50 2.0

s Ribes cereum 0.33 1.0 0.00 0.0

s Prunus virginiana 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Rubus idaeus 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Salix bebbiana 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

s Rubus parviflorus 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

s Salix scouleriana 0.00 0.0 0.50 3.0

s Spiraea ×pyramidata 0.00 0.0 0.50 2.0

s Spiraea betulifolia 0.00 0.0 0.50 2.0

ss Chimaphila umbellata 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Elymus glaucus 1.00 6.4 1.00 10.5

g Bromus vulgaris 0.67 2.5 1.00 0.6

g Bromus carinatus 0.67 0.6 0.50 0.1

g Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 0.67 0.6 0.00 0.0

g Carex deweyana 0.67 0.1 0.50 0.1

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g Melica bulbosa 0.33 2.0 0.50 0.1

g Carex geyeri 0.33 1.0 0.50 0.1

g Calamagrostis rubescens 0.33 0.1 1.00 0.6

g Festuca subulata 0.33 0.1 1.00 0.6

g Cinna latifolia 0.33 0.1 0.50 0.1

g Festuca occidentalis 0.33 0.1 0.50 0.1

g Glyceria striata 0.33 0.1 0.50 0.1

g Carex amplifolia 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex backii 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex disperma 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex multicostata 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Carex pachystachya 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

i g Poa palustris 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

g Bromus ciliatus 0.00 0.0 1.00 0.1

g Carex 0.00 0.0 1.00 0.1

g Agrostis exarata 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

g Agrostis scabra 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Deschampsia elongata 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

g Trisetum canescens 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Thalictrum occidentale 1.00 4.0 1.00 8.0

f Angelica arguta 1.00 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 1.00 1.4 0.00 0.0

f Osmorhiza berteroi 1.00 0.7 0.50 5.0

f Silene menziesii 1.00 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Canadanthus modestus 0.67 3.5 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.67 3.1 0.50 1.0

f Maianthemum stellatum 0.67 2.5 0.50 0.1

f Packera pseudaurea var. pseudaurea 0.67 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Galium triflorum 0.67 1.6 1.00 1.0

f Heracleum maximum 0.67 1.6 0.00 0.0

f Fragaria virginiana 0.67 1.5 0.00 0.0

f Galium mexicanum ssp. asperulum 0.67 1.1 0.50 2.0

f Rudbeckia occidentalis 0.67 1.1 0.00 0.0

f Pyrola asarifolia 0.67 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum 0.67 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Osmorhiza occidentalis 0.67 0.6 0.00 0.0

f Geum macrophyllum 0.67 0.1 0.50 0.1

f Senecio serra 0.67 0.1 0.50 0.1

f Cirsium 0.67 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Kelloggia galioides 0.67 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Eurybia conspicua 0.33 2.0 0.50 0.1

f Erigeron coulteri 0.33 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Mimulus guttatus 0.33 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Streptopus amplexifolius 0.33 2.0 0.00 0.0

f Agastache urticifolia 0.33 1.0 0.50 0.1

f Urtica dioica 0.33 1.0 0.50 0.1

f Artemisia ludoviciana 0.33 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Solidago canadensis 0.33 1.0 0.00 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.33 0.2 0.50 5.0

f Achillea millefolium 0.33 0.1 1.00 0.1

f Arnica cordifolia 0.33 0.1 0.50 5.0

f Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule 0.33 0.1 0.50 0.1

f Aquilegia formosa 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

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f Claytonia cordifolia 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Corydalis caseana ssp. cusickii 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Erigeron speciosus 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Galium aparine 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Gentiana affinis 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Geranium viscosissimum 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Hackelia micrantha 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Lomatium dissectum 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Lomatium grayi 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Mertensia ciliata 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Penstemon procerus 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Platanthera dilatata 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Polygonum douglasii 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Potentilla arguta 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Symphyotrichum eatonii 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Veratrum californicum 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Viola adunca 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

f Actaea rubra 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

f Cardamine 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Circaea alpina 0.00 0.0 0.50 1.0

f Descurainia pinnata 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Fragaria vesca 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Goodyera oblongifolia 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Hieracium cynoglossoides 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

i f Lactuca serriola 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

i f Lepidium campestre 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Mimulus moschatus 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Orthilia secunda 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Senecio triangularis 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Solidago gigantea 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

f Veronica americana 0.00 0.0 0.50 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.33 4.0 0.00 0.0

fe Equisetum hyemale 0.33 0.1 0.00 0.0

mean species per plot 34 34

% introduced 0.02 0.03

tree cover 73.3 55.0

shrub cover 63.3 75.0

graminoid cover 10.7 13.5

forb and horsetail cover 25.7 17.0

fern cover 0.0 0.0

moss and lichen cover 1.0 1.5

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 9.7 20.0

gravel 0.4 1.1

rock 2.3 0.1

litter 50.0 55.0

downed wood 21.7 12.5

basal vegetation 13.3 12.5

water 1.7 0.1

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

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Table 13. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland

Impacted Highly Impacted

n = 12 n = 1

i? Lf Species Constancy Mean Cover

Mean Cover

t Picea engelmannii 0.08 5.0 0.0

t Picea engelmannii pole tree 0.08 2.0 0.0

t Picea engelmannii sapling 0.08 1.0 0.0

t Picea engelmannii seedling 0.08 2.0 0.0

t Pinus contorta 0.08 2.0 0.0

t Pinus contorta seedling 0.08 2.1 0.0

s Ribes inerme 0.58 9.0 0.0

s Lonicera involucrata 0.50 4.9 0.1

s Rhamnus alnifolia 0.42 60.0 0.0

s Alnus incana 0.42 46.0 0.0

s Salix boothii 0.42 42.2 0.0

s Salix drummondiana 0.42 10.4 0.0

s Cornus sericea 0.33 43.5 1.0

s Prunus virginiana 0.25 3.0 0.0

s Ribes hudsonianum 0.25 2.4 60.0

s Salix scouleriana 0.17 40.1 0.1

s Rubus parviflorus 0.17 17.5 10.0

s Spiraea ×pyramidata 0.17 7.0 0.0

s Spiraea douglasii 0.17 6.0 0.0

s Mahonia repens 0.17 2.1 0.0

s Rosa woodsii 0.17 1.1 0.0

s Ribes lacustre 0.08 10.0 1.0

s Acer glabrum 0.08 3.0 0.0

s Salix melanopsis 0.08 2.0 0.0

s Rosa gymnocarpa 0.08 1.0 0.0

s Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa 0.08 0.1 3.0

s Amelanchier alnifolia 0.08 0.1 0.0

s Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea 0.08 0.1 0.0

s Sorbus scopulina 0.08 0.1 0.0

s Vaccinium caespitosum 0.08 0.1 0.0

s Ribes viscosissimum 0.00 0.0 7.0

s Spiraea betulifolia 0.00 0.0 0.1

ss Linnaea borealis 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Elymus glaucus 0.75 3.5 0.0

g Glyceria striata 0.50 2.7 3.0

g Carex deweyana 0.33 6.3 0.0

g Calamagrostis canadensis 0.33 2.6 0.0

g Bromus ciliatus 0.25 5.0 0.1

g Carex backii 0.25 1.7 0.0

g Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata 0.25 0.7 0.0

g Cinna latifolia 0.25 0.7 1.0

g Bromus carinatus 0.25 0.7 0.0

g Leymus cinereus 0.17 35.1 0.0

i g Poa pratensis 0.17 20.1 0.0

g Carex cusickii 0.17 12.0 0.0

g Carex 0.17 2.1 0.0

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g Carex aquatilis 0.17 1.5 0.0

g Festuca subulata 0.17 1.1 0.1

g Bromus vulgaris 0.17 1.1 0.0

g Poaceae 0.17 0.1 0.1

g Trisetum wolfii 0.08 10.0 0.0

g Festuca occidentalis 0.08 8.0 0.0

g Calamagrostis rubescens 0.08 5.0 0.0

g Carex echinata 0.08 5.0 0.0

g Carex pellita 0.08 5.0 0.0

g Agrostis scabra 0.08 2.0 0.0

g Carex aurea 0.08 2.0 0.0

g Carex geyeri 0.08 2.0 0.0

g Carex multicostata 0.08 2.0 0.0

i g Bromus tectorum 0.08 1.0 0.0

g Juncus ensifolius 0.08 1.0 0.0

g Agrostis exarata 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Carex canescens 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Carex disperma 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Carex hoodii 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Carex rossii 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Melica bulbosa 0.08 0.1 0.0

i g Phleum pratense 0.08 0.1 0.0

g Carex pachystachya 0.00 0.0 0.1

f Thalictrum occidentale 0.67 4.5 3.0

f Urtica dioica 0.67 4.1 2.0

f Rudbeckia occidentalis 0.58 2.7 0.0

f Heracleum maximum 0.58 2.3 0.0

f Galium triflorum 0.58 1.0 1.0

f Maianthemum stellatum 0.50 4.4 0.1

f Geum macrophyllum 0.50 1.4 0.1

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 0.42 0.5 2.0

f Solidago canadensis 0.42 2.4 0.0

f Symphyotrichum foliaceum 0.42 1.6 0.0

f Angelica arguta 0.42 1.0 0.0

f Galium aparine 0.42 0.8 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 0.42 0.7 1.0

f Agastache urticifolia 0.42 0.5 0.0

f Packera pseudaurea var. pseudaurea 0.33 4.8 0.0

f Achillea millefolium 0.33 1.1 0.0

f Aconitum columbianum ssp. columbianum 0.33 0.8 1.0

f Viola orbiculata 0.33 0.3 0.0

f Polygonum douglasii 0.33 0.1 0.0

f Osmorhiza occidentalis 0.25 6.3 0.0

f Polemonium occidentale 0.25 3.1 0.0

f Osmorhiza berteroi 0.25 0.4 0.1

f Mimulus guttatus 0.25 0.4 0.0

i f Verbascum thapsus 0.25 0.4 0.0

f Unknown 0.25 0.1 0.0

f Senecio serra 0.17 7.6 0.0

f Canadanthus modestus 0.17 2.1 0.0

f Galium mexicanum ssp. asperulum 0.17 1.1 1.0

f Hackelia patens 0.17 1.1 0.0

f Thalictrum sparsiflorum 0.17 1.1 0.0

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f Symphyotrichum eatonii 0.17 1.0 0.0

f Botrychium virginianum 0.17 0.6 0.0

f Descurainia incana ssp. incana 0.17 0.6 0.0

f Listera convallarioides 0.17 0.6 0.0

f Platanthera dilatata 0.17 0.6 0.0

i f Taraxacum officinale 0.17 0.6 0.0

f Circaea alpina 0.17 0.1 8.0

f Actaea rubra 0.17 0.1 4.0

i f Chenopodium album 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Collomia grandiflora 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Lactuca biennis 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Lupinus sericeus ssp. sericeus 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Nemophila breviflora 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Phacelia heterophylla 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Stellaria longipes 0.17 0.1 0.0

i f Tragopogon dubius 0.17 0.1 0.0

f Fragaria virginiana 0.08 10.0 0.0

f Pyrola asarifolia 0.08 8.0 0.0

f Galium trifidum 0.08 6.0 0.0

f Lomatium dissectum 0.08 5.0 0.0

f Geranium viscosissimum 0.08 3.0 0.0

f Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule 0.08 2.0 0.0

f Mertensia paniculata 0.08 2.0 0.0

f Moehringia macrophylla 0.08 1.0 0.1

f Aquilegia formosa 0.08 1.0 0.0

i f Cirsium vulgare 0.08 1.0 0.0

f Corydalis caseana ssp. cusickii 0.08 1.0 0.0

f Silene menziesii 0.08 1.0 0.0

f Mitella pentandra 0.08 0.1 2.0

f Stellaria crispa 0.08 0.1 1.0

f Disporum trachycarpum 0.08 0.1 0.1

f Veronica americana 0.08 0.1 0.1

f Apiaceae 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Arabis 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Botrychium crenulatum 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Brassicaceae 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Cerastium 0.08 0.1 0.0

i f Cirsium arvense 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Cirsium subniveum 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Collinsia parviflora 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Corydalis aurea 0.08 0.1 0.0

i f Lactuca serriola 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Lithospermum ruderale 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Mentha arvensis 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Phacelia hastata 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Potentilla glandulosa 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Sedum stenopetalum 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Stellaria 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Stellaria calycantha 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Viola purpurea 0.08 0.1 0.0

f Senecio triangularis 0.00 0.0 7.0

f Streptopus amplexifolius 0.00 0.0 3.0

f Mimulus moschatus 0.00 0.0 1.0

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f Anaphalis margaritacea 0.00 0.0 0.1

f Epilobium glaberrimum 0.00 0.0 0.1

f Fragaria vesca 0.00 0.0 0.1

f Listera 0.00 0.0 0.1

f Saxifraga odontoloma 0.00 0.0 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.25 3.4 0.0

fe Cystopteris fragilis 0.08 0.1 0.0

fe Equisetum hyemale 0.08 0.1 0.0

mean species per plot 12 40

% introduced 0.07 0.00

tree cover 0.6 0.0

shrub cover 79.3 80.0

graminoid cover 22.8 4.0

forb and horsetail cover 26.6 30.0

fern cover 0.1 0.0

moss and lichen cover 6.3 4.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 7.4 50.0

gravel 1.5 0.1

rock 9.9 1.0

litter 52.5 25.0

downed wood 8.2 5.0

basal vegetation 11.3 10.0

water 2.7 5.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

Table 14. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed, Emergent Marsh, and Springs

Impacted Highly Impacted

n = 1 n = 1

i? Lf Species Mean Cover

Mean Cover

s Salix boothii 2.0 0.1

s Rubus parviflorus 0.0 5.0

s Cornus sericea 0.0 4.0

s Salix scouleriana 0.0 3.0

s Sambucus racemosa 0.0 3.0

s Rhamnus alnifolia 0.0 2.0

s Ribes hudsonianum 0.0 2.0

s Ribes lacustre 0.0 2.0

s Amelanchier alnifolia 0.0 0.1

s Ribes viscosissimum 0.0 0.1

s Spiraea betulifolia 0.0 0.1

g Juncus ensifolius 60.0 1.0

g Glyceria striata 50.0 50.0

g Agrostis scabra 5.0 0.1

g Carex cusickii 2.0 0.0

g Sparganium angustifolium 1.0 0.0

i g Agrostis stolonifera 0.1 0.0

g Eleocharis palustris 0.1 0.0

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g Carex pachystachya 0.0 4.0

g Agrostis exarata 0.0 3.0

g Bromus carinatus 0.0 3.0

g Deschampsia elongata 0.0 2.0

g Carex deweyana 0.0 1.0

g Cinna latifolia 0.0 1.0

g Carex athrostachya 0.0 0.1

g Melica bulbosa 0.0 0.1

f Veronica anagallis-aquatica 3.0 0.0

f Epilobium ciliatum 2.0 27.0

f Veronica americana 0.1 15.0

f Mimulus moschatus 0.0 20.0

f Mimulus lewisii 0.0 4.0

f Circaea alpina 0.0 2.0

f Urtica dioica 0.0 2.0

i f Trifolium pratense 0.0 1.0

f Angelica arguta 0.0 1.0

f Galium triflorum 0.0 1.0

f Geum macrophyllum 0.0 1.0

f Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 0.0 0.1

i f Cirsium vulgare 0.0 0.1

f Fragaria virginiana 0.0 0.1

i f Lactuca serriola 0.0 0.1

i f Lepidium campestre 0.0 0.1

f Thalictrum occidentale 0.0 0.1

fe Equisetum arvense 0.0 0.1

mean species per plot 11 39

% introduced 0.09 0.10

tree cover 0.0 0.0

shrub cover 2.0 20.0

graminoid cover 90.0 60.0

forb and horsetail cover 6.0 70.0

fern cover 0.0 0.0

moss and lichen cover 15.0 25.0

Sphagnum moss cover 0.0 0.0

soil 30.0 30.0

gravel 0.0 0.1

rock 0.0 0.1

litter 10.0 15.0

downed wood 0.0 5.0

basal vegetation 50.0 10.0

water 0.0 15.0

i? = nativity; i = introduced Lf = lifeform; t = trees; s = shrubs; ss = subshrubs; g = graminoids; f = forbs; fe = ferns or fern allies

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APPENDIX 3

Environmental features for ecological systems sampled in each ecological group by reference condition.

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Table 1. Stanley Basin-Sawtooth Valley Sloped Fens and Meadows

Geomorphic, Soil, and Hydrologic Characteristics

Subalpine-Montane Fen

Subalpine-Montane Fen

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Alpine-Montane

Wet Meadow

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Woodland

Minimally Impacted

Impacted Minimally Impacted

Impacted Minimally Impacted

Minimally Impacted

aspect (range) 20-200 1-168 34-76 295-335 50-69 78-344

slope (%) 5 6 1 2 2 5

elevation (ft) 6731 7305 6726 7340 6759 6777

elevation (m) 2052 2227 2050 2237 2060 2065

bedrock lithology calc-alkaline intrusive

mixed miogeosynclinal

calc-alkaline intrusive

mixed miogeosynclinal

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

landform moraine moraine allluvial basin floodplain alluvial basin moraine

topographic position lower slope valley bottom valley bottom terrace valley bottom terrace

valley shape U-flat bottom U-shaped U-flat bottom U-flat bottom U-flat bottom U-flat bottom

valley width >300 m 31-100 m >300 m 31-100 m >300 m 31-100 m

horizon angle east (%) 7 14 10 23 13 22

horizon angle north (%) 12 19 7 15 2 15

horizon angle south (%) 15 6 26 11 12 26

horizon angle west (%) 14 3 17 10 9 32

soil parent material peat peat glacial till mixed alluvium glacial till glacial till

total soil depth (cm) 78

depth to watertable (cm) 75

litter/duff thickness (cm) 3

peat thickness (cm) 0

soil layer 1 thickness (cm) 38

soil layer 1 texture sandy clay loam

soil layer 1 coarse fragments (%) 0

soil layer 1 coarse fragments type

soil layer 2 thickness (cm) 37

soil layer 2 texture clay loam

soil layer 2 coarse fragments (%) 1

soil layer 2 coarse fragments type gravel

Rosgen stream type C4 E5 & C4 B2a & E4

stream order 1 & 2 3 2 3 2

aquatic habitat run run-riffle glide run-riffle

stable streambanks (% of banks) 99 67 100 92

large woody debris (% of channel bottom) 0 0 3

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Table 2. Bull Trout Lake-Cape Horn Basin Fens and Meadows

Geomorphic, Soil, and Hydrologic Characteristics

Subalpine-Montane Fen

Subalpine-Montane Fen

Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow & Mesic Meadow

Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow & Mesic Meadow

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Woodland Minimally

Impacted Impacted Minimally

Impacted Impacted Minimally

Impacted Minimally Impacted

aspect (range) 10-348 0-260 132-340 280-339 250 32

slope (%) 2 2 2 2 3 6

elevation (ft) 6925 6663 6927 6630 6915 6985

elevation (m) 2111 2031 2111 2021 2108 2129

bedrock lithology calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

landform alluvial basin alluvial basin alluvial basin alluvial basin alluvial terrace toeslope

topographic position valley bottom valley bottom valley bottom valley bottom terrace mid-slope

valley shape U-flat bottom U-flat bottom U-flat bottom U-flat bottom U-flat bottom U-flat bottom

valley width >300 m >300 m >300 m >300 m >300 m 101-300 m

horizon angle east (%) 10 12 13 5 12 20

horizon angle north (%) 16 6 11 5 15 12

horizon angle south (%) 11 8 13 4 13 36

horizon angle west (%) 9 10 20 6 7 14

soil parent material peat peat glacial till mixed alluvium mixed alluvium gravelly alluvium

total soil depth (cm) 56 53 47

depth to watertable (cm) 0 68 16

litter/duff thickness (cm) 3 2 4

peat thickness (cm) 39 7 0

soil layer 1 thickness (cm) 39 20 28

soil layer 1 texture fibrous peat sandy clay loam sandy clay loam

soil layer 1 coarse fragments (%) 2 3 10

soil layer 1 coarse fragments type wood gravel & wood mixed

soil layer 2 thickness (cm) 18 27 15

soil layer 2 texture mucky clay loam clay loam sand

soil layer 2 coarse fragments (%) 3 23 5

soil layer 2 coarse fragments type gravel gravel gravel

Rosgen stream type E4 & E5 C4

stream order 1 1

aquatic habitat pool-glide

stable streambanks (% of banks) 99 97 95

large woody debris (% of channel bottom) 1 5

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Table 3. South Fork Boise River Foothill Stream Valleys

Geomorphic, Soil, and Hydrologic Characteristics

Lower Montane Riparian Woodland

and Shrubland

Lower Montane Riparian

Woodland and Shrubland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Woodland

Impacted Highly Impacted Impacted Highly Impacted Impacted

aspect (range) 278 170-206 15-203 32 178

slope (%) 3 2 13 3 6

elevation (ft) 4300 4415 5082 4418 4585

elevation (m) 1311 1346 1549 1469 1398

bedrock lithology calc-alkaline intrusive calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

landform alluvial terrace floodplain alluvial terrace alluvial terrace alluvial terrace

topographic position terrace floodplain floodplain terrace terrace

valley shape canyon canyon V-flat bottom canyon V-shaped

valley width 101-300 m >300 m 31-100 m >300 m 31-100 m

horizon angle east (%) 40 22 58 35 22

horizon angle north (%) 17 7 34 10 60

horizon angle south (%) 10 11 33 25 59

horizon angle west (%) 35 31 54 30 45

soil parent material sandy alluvium sandy alluvium sandy alluvium sandy alluvium sandy alluvium

total soil depth (cm) 52 38

depth to watertable (cm) 75

litter/duff thickness (cm) 11 5

peat thickness (cm) 0 0

soil layer 1 thickness (cm) 41 25

soil layer 1 texture sandy loam silty clay loam

soil layer 1 coarse fragments (%) 0 0

soil layer 1 coarse fragments type

soil layer 2 thickness (cm) 8

soil layer 2 texture loamy sand

soil layer 2 coarse fragments (%) 0

soil layer 2 coarse fragments type

Rosgen stream type B3 C3 B3 & B2a B2a

stream order 5 5 3 2

aquatic habitat riffle-glide riffle-pool pool-riffle

stable streambanks (% of banks) 90 80 99 100

large woody debris (% of channel bottom) 0 0 21 5

Page 80: Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions ...ii SUGGESTED CITATION Idaho Conservation Data Center. 2007. Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions for riparian

Table 4. Sawtooth Range Montane Stream Valleys

Geomorphic, Soil, and Hydrologic Characteristics

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Woodland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Woodland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Subalpine-Montane Riparian

Shrubland

Montane-Foothill Aquatic

Bed and Emergent Marsh

Montane-Foothill Aquatic Bed and Emergent Marsh

Impacted Highly Impacted Impacted Highly Impacted Impacted Highly Impacted

aspect (range) 170-285 110-343 149-360 345 320 344

slope (%) 10 8 24 12 1 12

elevation (ft) 5926 5545 5483 6100 5060 5870

elevation (m) 1806 1690 1671 1859 1542 1789

bedrock lithology calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

calc-alkaline intrusive

landform alluvial terrace toeslope alluvial terrace alluvial terrace alluvial basin alluvial deposit

topographic position terrace mid-slope floodplain terrace valley bottom stream channel

valley shape V-flat bottom V-flat bottom V-shaped V-shaped U-flat bottom V-flat bottom

valley width 31-100 m 31-100 m 10-30 m 10-30 m 31-100 m 31-100 m

horizon angle east (%) 27 21 42 24 10 17

horizon angle north (%) 46 13 49 14 18 11

horizon angle south (%) 31 19 31 27 17 23

horizon angle west (%) 24 19 30 19 12 10

soil parent material mixed alluvium sandy alluvium mixed alluvium gravelly alluvium mucky peat sandy alluvium

total soil depth (cm) 76 62 46 100 33

depth to watertable (cm) 68 80 89 0 35

litter/duff thickness (cm) 8 10 6 0 1

peat thickness (cm) 0 0 0 0 0

soil layer 1 thickness (cm) 24 9 34 100 16

soil layer 1 texture sandy clay loam clay loam sandy clay loam peaty muck sandy clay loam

soil layer 1 coarse fragments (%) 1 2 34 0 10

soil layer 1 coarse fragments type gravel wood gravel-cobble gravel

soil layer 2 thickness (cm) 44 16 37 16

soil layer 2 texture sandy clay sandy clay loam sandy clay sandy loam

soil layer 2 coarse fragments (%) 30 2 5 30

soil layer 2 coarse fragments type gravel gravel gravel gravel

Rosgen stream type B5 A2a+ & B2 E6

stream order 3 & 4 1 3 & 4

aquatic habitat pool-glide riffle-run pool run-riffle

stable streambanks (% of banks) 100 96 100 70

large woody debris (% of channel bottom) 15 11 0

Page 81: Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions ...ii SUGGESTED CITATION Idaho Conservation Data Center. 2007. Use of monitoring data to describe reference conditions for riparian