Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks plant association descriptions and identification keys

Crawford, Rex; Chappell, Christopher; Thompson, Catharine; Rocchio, F

The Mount Rainier (MORA), North Cascades (NOCA) and Olympic National Parks (OLYM) vegetation classification project was a collaborative effort between the NCCN and the Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP) to create a vegetation classification at the association level for these three large parks. The association level is the finest scale of the National Vegetation Classification System (NVC). The system is hierarchical and uses both structural characteristics and species composition to classify vegetation types. The vegetation classification for these parks was developed to a great extent from existing national, regional and local vegetation classifications. Previous classification work incorporated into this study included: 1) the 2005 coastal forests correlation project (CFCP Meidinger et al. 2005), 2) the 2005 version of the NVC (FDGC 2008, NatureServe 2005) and 3) the WNHP state vegetation classification. Vegetation plots used in re-enforcing, validating, and developing the classification units included legacy plots collected on the parks, and map assessment plots and plant classification inventory plots collected by NPS field crews between 2005 and 2007. Plot data collected during the course of the project were assigned to previously defined associations and plots not falling within the variation of existing types were used to define new classification units when appropriate The final classification evaluated 3396 plots: 2479 legacy plots and 917 classification plots from NPS crews. Based on this classification, a total of 311 upland and forested wetland associations are described. Over half (188) of the described associations are tree-dominated, 53 are shrub-dominated, 43 are herbaceous-dominated and 27 are sparse vegetation types. Of those associations, forty-nine may occur in the parks based on description from literature in adjacent areas but are not represented by current plot data from within park boundaries. 50 herbaceous and shrub-dominated wetland types are classified separately. The association descriptions include scientific name, common name, a NatureServe Code when present, acronym (that cross-references to synthesis tables), NVC hierarchy levels including alliance, classification confidence, range in Washington, environmental features, USFWS wetland classification, vegetation description, state conservation rank, rank justification, comments, and plant association synonyms in previous classifications. Along with the association descriptions, a field key to plant association identification was also generated, with a separate key for the wetland types. Additional supporting information includes synthesis tables of constancy and cover values, and tabular environmental data. The plant associations described in this report reflect the most current and comprehensive vegetation classification not only for the parks, but for the region. The field keys and descriptions which comprise this report create a new framework for measuring, monitoring and mapping vegetation in the NCCN.

Vegetation classification of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks plant association descriptions and identification keys

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