Puget Lowland

Eastern Puget Riverine Lowlands – composed of floodplains and terraces. Western redcedar forest, western hemlock forest, and both riverine and wetland habitat were common before the 19^th Century. Subsequently, many of the wetlands were drained. Pastures, cropland, forests, and urban centers now dominate the landscape.

Floodplains and terraces with meandering rivers, oxbow lakes, and meander scars. Freshwater and estuarine wetlands.

0-800

Western redcedar, western hemlock; some red alder, black cottonwood, bigleaf maple, Sitka spruce.

Crop and pastureland (e.g., reclaimed wetland); some riparian deciduous woodland, coniferous forests, wetlands; rural/residential/suburban/urban/ industrial activity.

Eastern Puget Uplands – made up of rolling moraines and foothills and is a zone of transition. Both Puget Lowland and Cascadian vegetation associations occur with the latter most common in areas of greatest elevation and precipitation.

Rolling moraines and foothills with lakes and sinuous streams and rivers.

0-2677

Western hemlock western redcedar; some Douglas-fir.

Douglas-fir/western hemlock forests. Forestry, pasture and cropland, rural residential/suburban/urban development.

Central Puget Lowland – the heart of Puget Sound. Its undulating drift plains are heavily urbanized in the east and more rural and forested in the west. Well-drained, gravelly soils are common and exhibit limited moisture holding capacity and rather low agricultural productivity.

Undulating glacial drift plains with lakes and small, sinuous streams. Coastline is irregularly shaped. It is characterized by many bays and some cliffs.

0-1000

Western hemlock western redcedar; Douglas-fir; some red alder, bigleaf maple.

Urban/suburban/industrial activity especially in east. Elsewhere, Douglas-fir/western hemlock forests, forestry, limited agriculture, rural residential development.

Cascade

Western Cascades Lowlands and Valleys – characterized by a network of steep ridges and narrow valleys. Elevations are generally less than 3200 feet and are the lowest in the Cascades Ecoregion. The wet, mild climate promotes lush forests that are dominated by Douglas-fir and western hemlock. It is one of the most important timber producing areas in the Northwest.

Westerly trending ridges and valleys with reservoirs and medium gradient rivers and streams. U-shaped, glaciated valleys in the east.

800-4000

Western hemlock, western red cedar, Douglas-fir.

Douglas-fir/western hemlock/western redcedar/vine maple/red alder forests are widespread. Forestry and recreation are important land uses and pastureland occurs in lower valleys

Western Cascades Montane Highlands – composed of steep, glaciated mountains that have been dissected by high-gradient streams. It has lower temperatures than the Western Cascades Lowlands and Valleys and is characterized by a deep annual snow pack. Soils are of the frigid and cryic temperature regimes and support forests dominated by Pacific silver fir, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, Douglas-fir, and noble fir.

Steep, glaciated, dissected mountains and ridges with high to medium gradient streams and glacial rock-basin lakes.

2800-5900

Pacific silver fir, western hemlock, mountain hemlock, Douglas-fir; some noble fir. Snow-influenced.

Extensive Pacific silver fir/western hemlock/Douglas-fir/mountain hemlock/noble fir/subalpine fir/grand fir/white fir forests. Common land uses include forestry and reacreation. Ecoregion is an important regional water source.

Cascade Subalpine/Alpine – an area of high, glaciated, volcanic peaks that rise above subalpine meadows. Elevations range from 5600to 12000 feet. Active glaciation occurs on the highest volcanoes and decreases from north to south. The winters are very cold and the growing season is extremely short. Flora and fauna adapted to high elevations include herbaceous and shrubby alpine meadow vegetation and scattered patches of mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, and whitebark pine.

High, glaciated, volcanic peaks with cascading streams, glacial cirques, and tarns. Active snowfields and glaciers more common to the north. Active and dormant volcanoes.

5600-14410

Herbaceous and shrubby subalpine meadow vegetation; scattered mountain hemlock, subalpine fir stands.

Bare rock, glaciers, subalpine meadows, and forests. Land uses include back-country recreation. Ecoregion is an important regional water source.

North Cascade

North Cascades Lowland Forests – is composed of low mountains, broad glaciated valleys, and glacial-fed rivers that receive, on average, 60 to 90 inches of precipitation per year. Extensive, productive rainforests have developed under the mild maritime climate and are dominated by western hemlock, Douglas-fir, and western redcedar. Pastures occur in the valleys.

Low mountains and broad, glaciated valleys with permanent, medium gradient, glacial-fed rivers and streams. Reservoirs and glacial lakes.

400-3400

Western hemlock, western redcedar, Douglas-fir.

Mainly western hemlock/Douglas-fir/ western redcedar forests. Forestry is the dominant land use; rural residential development, recreation, and valley grazing also occurs. A mix of publicly and privately owned lands.

North Cascades Highland Forests – consists of steep, glaciated ridges, high-gradient streams, and tarns. Colder climatic conditions, deeper snow pack, and Pacific silver fir/mountain hemlock forests distinguish it from the North Cascades Lowland Forests.

Steep, glaciated ridges; with permanent, cascading glacial streams and glacial rock-basin lakes. Some rock outcroppings.

2800-6400

Pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, western hemlock; some subalpine fir.

Extensive forests composed primarily of Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock. Common land uses include forestry and recreation. Most of the land is in public ownership.

North Cascade Subalpine/Alpine – characterized by high mountain peaks, bare rock, glaciers, many tarns, plentiful precipitation, and sediment-laden glacial meltwater streams. Subalpine meadows occur around the taller peaks; their flora and fauna is adapted to the prevailing subarctic climate.

High mountain peaks with bare rock, glaciers, cirques. Permanent, high gradient, sediment-laden, glacial meltwater streams and glacial rock-basin lakes.

5500-10775

Herbaceous and shrub alpine meadow vegetation; some mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, subalpine larch.

Alpine meadows, bare rock, glaciers, snowfields, some subalpine forests. Wilderness recreation is a common land use. Most of the land is publicly owned and is a regional water source.