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Rocky Mountain Bigtooth Maple Canyon

EVT 7012Rocky Mountain Bigtooth Maple Ravine Woodland
CES306.814GNRTreeHardwood
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Summary
This ecological system occurs in cool ravines, on toeslopes and slump benches associated with riparian areas in the northern and central Wasatch Range and Tavaputs Plateau extending into southern Idaho, as well as in scattered localities in southwestern Utah, central Arizona and New Mexico. Substrates are typically rocky colluvial or alluvial soils with favorable soil moisture. These woodlands are dominated by Acer grandidentatum but may include mixed stands codominated by Quercus gambelii or with scattered conifers. Some stands may include Acer negundo or Populus tremuloides as minor components. It also occurs on steeper, north-facing slopes at higher elevations, often adjacent to Rocky Mountain Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland (CES306.818) or Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland (CES306.813).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
Occurs in the northern and central Wasatch Range and Tavaputs Plateau extending into southern Idaho, as well as in scattered localities in southwestern Utah, central Arizona and New Mexico.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree (canopy & subcanopy)

Quercus gambelii

Tree canopy

Abies concolor var. concolor, Acer glabrum, Acer grandidentatum, Acer negundo, Populus tremuloides

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Amelanchier alnifolia, Paxistima myrsinites, Physocarpus malvaceus, Prunus virginiana, Symphoricarpos oreophilus

Short shrub/sapling

Berberis repens

Herb (field)

Osmorhiza berteroi, Wyethia amplexicaulis
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (2)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Mammals (2)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Cinereus ShrewSorex cinereusG5
a dusky shrewSorex obscurusG5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (5)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Abies concolor / Acer grandidentatum ForestG4 NatureServe
Acer grandidentatum / Calamagrostis rubescens ForestG2 NatureServe
Acer grandidentatum / Quercus gambelii ForestG4 NatureServe
Acer grandidentatum - Quercus gravesii ForestG2 NatureServe
Acer grandidentatum - Quercus muehlenbergii ForestG2 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (3)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
IDSNR
NMSNR
UTSNR
Roadless Areas (75)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

Utah (75)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest53.5%370.98
FarmingtonWasatch-Cache National Forest43.1%1,901.61
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest35.3%482.76
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest31.5%420.12
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest30.4%107.64
418025Uinta National Forest30.0%3,967.11
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest29.3%1,149.48
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest27.0%1,269.09
HogsbackWasatch-Cache National Forest25.9%832.23
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest23.9%671.49
418011Uinta National Forest22.8%1,220.13
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest20.9%689.31
Public GroveWasatch-Cache National Forest18.5%473.94
418032Uinta National Forest17.5%1,090.44
418021Uinta National Forest16.8%426.51
418024Uinta National Forest16.4%3,441.69
418012Uinta National Forest15.0%1,568.34
WillardWasatch-Cache National Forest14.1%1,028.16
Lost PeakDixie National Forest12.7%212.13
Clarkston Mtn.Caribou National Forest11.9%342.18
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest11.1%847.98
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest10.3%474.75
418027Uinta National Forest10.2%573.57
FergusonFishlake National Forest10.0%231.39
418014Uinta National Forest9.9%388.08
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest9.8%676.98
418016Uinta National Forest9.1%1,295.19
Dog ValleyFishlake National Forest8.3%398.97
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest8.3%504.45
418041Uinta National Forest7.9%535.95
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest7.7%1,314.27
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest7.7%165.69
Levan PeakManti-Lasal National Forest7.7%690.84
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest7.7%191.43
418026Uinta National Forest7.3%416.07
Bull ValleyFishlake National Forest6.9%295.02
PyramidsFishlake National Forest6.6%345.87
Musinia PeakFishlake National Forest6.1%167.22
Cedar KnollManti-Lasal National Forest6.1%556.92
418040Uinta National Forest5.8%39.96
418037Uinta National Forest5.8%226.98
418029Uinta National Forest5.7%364.41
Upper South ForkWasatch-Cache National Forest5.3%357.66
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest5.2%612.36
418028Uinta National Forest5.0%687.51
CopleysFishlake National Forest4.9%231.21
Coal HollowManti-Lasal National Forest4.9%123.66
PavantFishlake National Forest4.5%777.15
North PavantFishlake National Forest4.0%862.29
Twelve Mile CreekManti-Lasal National Forest3.7%152.73
Cove CreekFishlake National Forest3.7%380.07
Steves MountainFishlake National Forest3.6%327.96
418015Uinta National Forest3.5%247.95
418007Uinta National Forest3.5%95.58
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest3.3%132.75
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest3.1%112.68
418013Uinta National Forest3.1%184.68
Cave CanyonDixie National Forest2.9%65.97
Stoddard MountainDixie National Forest2.8%148.95
418017Uinta National Forest2.6%205.2
Oak CreekManti-Lasal National Forest2.6%173.7
Birch CreekManti-Lasal National Forest2.5%81.99
Temple PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest2.5%243.72
Dairy ForkManti-Lasal National Forest2.1%258.3
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest2.1%488.07
418006Uinta National Forest1.9%88.29
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest1.9%407.07
Bull ValleyDixie National Forest1.8%80.1
FishhookDixie National Forest1.8%94.77
Big HorseshoeManti-Lasal National Forest1.5%106.83
GibsonWasatch-Cache National Forest1.3%28.53
Mollens HollowWasatch-Cache National Forest1.1%81.63
Mineral CanyonDixie National Forest1.1%36.36
Joe LottFishlake National Forest1.0%78.12
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest0.6%100.44
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.