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Northern California Subalpine Woodland

EVT 7044Northern California Mesic Subalpine Woodland
CES206.911GNRTreeConifer
View on NatureServe Explorer
Summary
This ecological system occurs on ridges and rocky slopes around timberline at 2600 m (7900 feet) elevation in the central Sierra Nevada and 2450 m (8000 feet) in the southern Cascades. These woodlands are found on concave or mesic slopes in areas with long-lasting snowpack and better soil development than other drier and more exposed subalpine woodlands. The tree canopy is characterized by Tsuga mertensiana and may include Abies magnifica, Abies procera, Pinus albicaulis, and Pinus monticola. Mesic-site shrubs will include Cassiope mertensiana, Phyllodoce breweri, Phyllodoce empetriformis, Vaccinium membranaceum, and others. Juniperus communis is found in most stands of the northern Sierra Nevada. Penstemon davidsonii, as well as patches of grasses, sedges, and forbs grade into adjacent meadows.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system occurs on ridges and rocky slopes around timberline at 2600 m (7900 feet) elevation in the central Sierra Nevada and 2450 m (8000 feet) in the southern Cascades.
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

Abies magnifica, Abies procera, Juniperus communis, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus monticola, Tsuga mertensiana

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Phyllodoce breweri, Phyllodoce empetriformis, Vaccinium membranaceum

Short shrub/sapling

Cassiope mertensiana

Herb (field)

Limnanthes alba ssp. gracilis, Pedicularis racemosa, Penstemon davidsonii

Nonvascular

Gastroboletus vividus
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (8)

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 (3)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Snowshoe HareLepus americanusG5
Yellow-bellied MarmotMarmota flaviventrisG5
American ErmineMustela richardsoniiG5

Birds (4)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Common RavenCorvus coraxG5
Cassin's FinchHaemorhous cassiniiG5
Clark's NutcrackerNucifraga columbianaG5
Mountain ChickadeePoecile gambeliG5

Amphibians (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Crater Lake NewtTaricha granulosa mazamaeG5T1Q
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (4)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
a fungusGastroboletus vividusG3--
Slender MeadowfoamLimnanthes alba ssp. gracilisG4T3--
Whitebark PinePinus albicaulisG3G4Threatened
Crater Lake NewtTaricha granulosa mazamaeG5T1QUnder Review
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (10)

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
Pinus albicaulis / Penstemon davidsonii WoodlandG3 NatureServe
Pinus albicaulis - Tsuga mertensiana / Mixed Herbaceous WoodlandG3 NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana / Arabis platysperma ForestGNR NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana / Carex rossii ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana / Phyllodoce breweri ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana - Pinus albicaulis ForestGNR NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus contorta var. murrayana - Pinus monticola ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana - Pinus monticola ForestG3 NatureServe
Tsuga mertensiana / Sparse Understory ForestG3 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
CASNR
NVSNR
ORSNR
Roadless Areas (96)

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.

California (72)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest41.5%422.55
FreelLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit37.7%2,337.75
DardanellesLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit29.2%1,681.02
Mokelumne - CharityHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28.3%23.13
DardanellesEldorado National Forest27.4%900.36
EagleStanislaus National Forest25.6%1,668.42
Buckeye RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest25.5%231.21
NightStanislaus National Forest25.4%325.8
Granite Chief SLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit24.3%55.62
Hoover - Cattle CkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest23.1%56.07
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest21.9%211.86
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest21.4%316.62
Hoover - Emma LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21.0%85.77
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20.4%21.06
Jobs Peak (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20.1%1,840.14
Mokelumne - Hawkins PkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest18.1%1,207.98
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest17.4%1,471.68
Mt. EddyShasta-Trinity National Forest17.2%502.92
Iceberg - RodriquezHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest16.8%15.57
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest16.8%812.61
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest15.0%906.75
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest14.8%2,040.93
Iceberg - SlinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest14.3%90
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest14.2%1,546.29
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest13.4%3,064.32
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest10.9%170.73
RussianKlamath National Forest10.9%960.84
SherwinInyo National Forest10.6%134.64
South SierraSequoia National Forest10.6%341.82
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest10.4%276.66
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest10.2%34.2
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9.7%61.92
San JoaquinInyo National Forest9.4%744.48
Mokelumne - Mt. BullionHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8.9%487.71
Hoover - Twin LakesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8.4%3.42
Mt. BidwellModoc National Forest7.8%369.36
Murphy GladeShasta-Trinity National Forest7.2%29.43
Bald MountainTahoe National Forest6.8%161.64
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest6.7%159.03
Mt. RaymondSierra National Forest6.5%181.98
Mt. VidaModoc National Forest6.3%197.1
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5.0%114.39
South SierraInyo National Forest4.7%788.67
RinconSequoia National Forest4.6%1,026.63
Granite Chief NLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit4.5%10.8
MillModoc National Forest4.5%5.85
Condrey MountainRogue River National Forests4.4%162.63
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest4.2%306.9
PyramidLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit3.9%121.77
Box CampKlamath National Forest3.7%12.87
DomeStanislaus National Forest3.0%133.74
San JoaquinSierra National Forest2.8%252.72
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2.6%76.41
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest2.6%55.89
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest2.5%44.01
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2.3%47.43
Laurel McgeeInyo National Forest2.1%75.78
ShacklefordKlamath National Forest2.1%13.95
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest2.0%100.62
AgnewSequoia National Forest1.9%73.26
Independence CreekInyo National Forest1.8%98.1
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest1.5%49.68
Mt. HoffmanModoc National Forest1.5%59.58
Barney RileyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1.5%48.78
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest1.4%284.94
PyramidEldorado National Forest1.4%134.46
PowleyModoc National Forest1.1%28.53
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest1.1%50.85
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest1.0%59.85
Kings RiverSierra National Forest1.0%207.63
SnoozerKlamath National Forest0.9%89.82
ChannellSequoia National Forest0.7%130.59

Nevada (15)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Rose - Hunter Lk. WestHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54.8%3.06
Rose - BroncoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest51.7%181.26
Rose - Hunter Lk NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest44.8%27
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest39.9%50.13
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest29.8%284.4
LincolnLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit28.3%752.13
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest24.6%561.51
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest23.5%353.16
Rose - Gray CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20.8%30.69
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15.8%23.31
Mt. Rose RoadlessLake Tahoe Basin Management Unit13.0%27.72
Rose - Thomas Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10.1%14.67
Rose - North NotchHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8.9%5.04
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3.9%40.77
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1.3%24.66

Oregon (9)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
North PaulinaDeschutes National Forest27.1%2,158.29
South PaulinaDeschutes National Forest23.2%853.29
Mcdonald PeakRogue River National Forests11.9%452.34
Yamsay Mt.Winema National Forest11.0%299.34
Crane MountainFremont National Forest10.9%1,014.3
Buck CreekFremont National Forest6.0%239.94
AntlerFremont National Forest2.8%61.56
Drake - McdowellFremont National Forest1.6%38.07
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest1.6%95.67
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.