ICHmw1. Variant Summary

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3 ICHmw1 Variant Summary ~ Golden Moist Warm Interior Cedar - Hemlock Variant Location: Mid to lower elevations in the Rocky Mountains from the Kickinghorse to the Sullivan river, and northern Selkirk Mountains from Parson to Gold River. Elevation range: 750 to 1550 m (south aspect); 750 to 1500 m (north aspect). Climate: Moist Climatic Region; no climate data. The ICHmw1 is likely wetter than the ICHmk1; drier than the ICHwk1; and wanner and drier than ESSFwm. Soils, geology, and landforms: Limestone and shale are the main bedrock types in the Rocky Mountain Trench and Selkirk Mountain areas of the ICHmw1. These rock types, in addition to quartzite, phyllite, sandstone, and conglomerate, are also found in the Purcell Mountain areas of this variant. Morainal soils with silty to clayey surface textures occur on all slope positions. Glaciofluvial soils with silty or sandy surface textures are found on toe slopes. Glaciolacustrine soils with loamy or clayey textures and fluvial soils with loamy textures occur on level slopes. Limited areas of colluvial soils with silty to sandy textures occur on the steepest slopes. Some landforms are covered by a shallow deposit of silty eolian material. Zonal vegetation: Climax zonal sites have stands of Hw and Cw. Seral stands of Sxw, Bl, and Fd are common. Hw and Cw occur as subdominants in seral stands. Common shrubs include falsebox, false azalea, and western yew. A sparse herb layer includes queen s cup and bunchberry. Red-stemmed feathermoss and knight s plume moss are prevalent. Distinguishing the ICHmw1 from adjacent subzones/variants In the ICHwk1 - less Pl, Pw, and Fd most sites have: zonal sites also have: - more devil s club and oak fern dry sites have: - no common juniper, tall Oregon-grape, baldhip rose, round-leaved alumroot, pinegrass, or juniper haircap moss In the ICHmk1 - no Pw, Hw, western yew, oval-leaved blueberry, or most sites have: cladinas more heart-leaved arnica, pinegrass, and racemose pussytoes In the ESSFwm - more false azalea most sites have: - less Fd, Pw, Cw, Hw, Douglas maple, paper birch, saskatoon, red-osier dogwood, tall Oregon-grape, western yew, baldhip rose, highbush-cranberry, soopolallie, birch-leaved spirea, prince s pine, wild sarsaparilla, Hooker s fairybells, pink wintergreen, electrified cat s-tail moss, and step moss dry sites have: - no common juniper, kinnikinnick, parsley fern, roundleaved alumroot, pinegrass, or reindeer lichen Forest characteristics: Moderate fire return periods have led to a mosaic of climax and seral stands. Wildlife habitat: Valley bottom sites are important winter range for moose and elk, and form an important component adjacent to the Columbia River marshes. Snags are important to cavity-nesting birds. 130

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17 TABLE 6.1. (Concluded) a The following subzones and variants are grouped to match the level of information available for the species listed. IDFxh includes data from IDFxh, xw, and xm; IDFdm includes data from IDFdm and dk; ICHmk includes data from ICHmk and dk; ESSFdk and dc includes data from ESSFdk, dc, and dv; and ESSFwm, wc, vc includes data from ESSFwm, wc, vc, vv, wv, and wk. The IDFxw, xm, and dk, ICHdk, and ESSFdv, vv, wv, and wk are not found in the Nelson Forest Region. b R=red; B=blue; Y=yellow; G=green. c a=attribute dependent. Species requires old-growth forest attributes such as large dead trees or coarse woody debris (stand level). d=forest dependent. Species requires intact old-growth forests (landscape level). d Abundance is indicated by a lower or upper case letter. Common or abundant is an upper case letter. Uncommon, scarce, rare, or casual is a lower case letter. An upper case letter does not indicate abundance throughout a subzone variant, but nearly always refers to local abundance. However, if a species has a known abundance in only a small locality in a subzone or variant a lower case letter is used. Seasonality is indicated by a letter code. P - spring (March-May); S - summer (June -August); A - autumn (September-November); W - winter (December-February); M - migratory (Spring and Autumn); Y - yearlong. Some cases do not fit neatly into this scheme. For instance, a species which is known to be migratory, but has on occasion been seen in December in a particular subzone, would still be listed as M. All entries are based on the provincial wildlife data base prepared by Stevens (1992) for the Wildlife Interpretation Subgroup. e Totals refer to the total number of species known to occur in each subzone.

18 Chapter 5.2 Fens 79 TABLE Distribution of Fen Site Associations by biogeoclimatic zone BG BWBS SBPS PP SWB ESSF ICH IDF MS SBS CDF CWH MH Wf01 Water sedge Beaked sedge xx x xx xxx xxx xxx x i Wf02 Scrub birch Water sedge xxx x xx xx xx xx Wf03 Water sedge Peat-moss xx x Wf04 Barclay s willow Water sedge Glow mosss x xxx x x Wf05 Slender sedge Common hook-moss x xx xx xx xx Wf06 Slender sedge Buckbean x x x x Wf07 Scrub birch Buckbean Shore sedge x x x x Wf08 Shore sedge Buckbean Hook-moss x x x x x Wf09 Few-flowered spike-rush Hook-moss x x x Wf10 Hudson Bay clubrush Red hook-moss x Wf11 Tufted clubrush Star moss x x x x x Wf12 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass Marsh-marigold xxx Wf13 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass Shore sedge xx x Wf50 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass Peat-moss x xxx Wf51 Sitka sedge Peat-moss x xx xx Wf52 Sweet gale Sitka sedge xx xx s Wf53 Slender sedge White beak-rush x xx s x = incidental; < 5% of wetlands xx = minor; 5 25% of wetlands xxx = major; >25% of wetlands i = inland areas only s = southern subzones only

19 TABLE Fen Species Importance Table Species Wf01 Wf02 Wf03 Wf04 Wf05 Wf06 Wf07 Wf08 Shrubs Betula nana x xyzzz x xy x x xyzzz x Salix barclayi x x xyzzzz Salix pedicellaris x xyz xy xy xyzz xy Spiraea douglasii x x x x Myrica gale Herbs Carex utriculata xyzzz xyz xy xy xyz x x x and Carex aquatilis xyzzz xyzz xyzzz xyzz xyz x xyz x Dwarf Comarum palustre xy xyz xy xy xy xyzz xy Shrubs Calamagrostis canadensis x xy x xyzz x x x x Carex lasiocarpa x xyzzzz xyzzzz xy x Menyanthes trifoliata x x x xyzzz xyzzz xyzz Carex limosa x x x x xy xyzz xyzzz Carex chordorrhiza x x xy xyz xy Eleocharis quinqueflora x x Trichophorum alpinum x Trichophorum cespitosum Eriophorum angustifolium x xy xy x x xy xy Caltha leptosepala xy xy Carex anthoxanthea Equisetum fluviatile x x xy xy xy xy Carex magellanica x x Carex sitchensis xy xy xyz xyz x x Rhynchospora alba x Carex livida x x x x Eriophorum chamissonis x x x Vahlodea atropurpurea x Drosera anglica x x xy Hypericum anagalloides Triantha glutinosa x x xy Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Fauria crista-galli Senecio triangularis x x xyz xy Andromeda polifolia x xy xy Kalmia microphylla x x x Oxycoccus oxycoccos x x x x xy x Triglochin maritima x x x xy xy Drosera rotundifolia x x x Leptarrhena pyrolifolia xy x Platanthera dilatata x xy x x x Sanguisorba canadensis x xy Utricularia intermedia x x x xy Viola palustris x x x Lichens Sphagnum Group I xy xyz xyzz x x xyz x and Aulacomnium palustre x xyz xyz xyzz x x x x Mosses Drepanocladus spp. xyz x xy xyzz xyz xyz xyz Sphagnum Group II x xyz x x xyz xy Tomentypnum nitens x xyzz xyz xy x xyz xy Philonotis fontana xy xyz Calliergon stramineum x x x x x Scorpidium spp. x xy xyzz xy Campylium stellatum x x xy xy x x Warnstorfia spp. x xy x x xyz x xy Meesia triquetra x x xy xy 80 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification

20 Wf09 Wf10 Wf11 Wf12 Wf13 Wf50 Wf51 Wf52 Wf53 Common Name x x xy x scrub birch x x Barclay s willow xy x x bog willow x xyz x pink spirea x xyzzzz xyz sweet gale xy x x xy x x beaked sedge x xyz x xy xyz x x water sedge xy x x x xyz xy x marsh cinquefoil x x xy xy xy xy x bluejoint reedgrass x xyz xy x x x xyzzz slender sedge xyzzz xyz x x x xy x x buckbean xyz xyzz xyz x xyzz x x shore sedge xyzz x cordroot sedge xyzzzz x x few-flowered spike-rush xyzzzz x Hudson Bay clubrush x xyzzzz x xyz x tufted clubrush xyz x xyz xyzzzz xyzzz xyzzzz xy x narrow-leaved cotton-grass xy x xyzz xyz x x white mtn. marsh-marigold xy x yellow-flowered sedge x x x swamp horsetail x x xyz x poor sedge x x x xy x xyzzzz xyzzz x Sitka sedge xy xyzz white beak-rush xy x x pale sedge x xy Chamisso s cotton-grass xy xy x mountain hairgrass x xyzz xy x x x xy great sundew x x bog St. John s-wort x xyz xy xy xy sticky asphodel xy great bulrush xyz x deer-cabbage x x x x x arrow-leaved groundsel xyz x x bog-rosemary x x xy x xyz x x western bog-laurel x xyz x xy x bog cranberry xyz x seaside arrow-grass x xy x xy round-leaved sundew xy xy x x leatherleaf saxifrage xy x x xy x x x fragrant white rein orchid x x x xy xy x Sitka burnet x xy x flat-leaved bladderwort x x x x xy x marsh violet x xy xy x xyz xyzz xyzz x peat-moss Group I xy x x xyz xyz xy xy x glow moss xyz xy xy x x hook-mosses xy xyz xyz x x xyzz x peat-moss Group II xyz xyz x xy x x golden fuzzy fen moss xy xyz spring moss xy xyz x xy x x x straw spear-moss xy xyzz x x x sausage-moss xyzzz xyzzz xy yellow star-moss x x xy xy x hook-mosses xy x x three-ranked hump-moss Chapter 5.2 Fens 81

Wf11 Tufted clubrush Star moss Trichophorum cespitosum Campylium stellatum General Description The Tufted clubrush Star moss Fen Site Association is scattered throughout the Interior at middle to

21 Wf11 Tufted clubrush Star moss Trichophorum cespitosum Campylium stellatum General Description The Tufted clubrush Star moss Fen Site Association is scattered throughout the Interior at middle to subalpine elevations, most commonly in regions underlain with base-rich parent materials. These fens occur on level and gently sloping, groundwater-fed peatlands that are permanently saturated but rarely inundated. Sites have smooth, ribbed, or slightly hummocked topography and any depressions are water-filled. Trichophorum cespitosum and Campylium stellatum are constant dominants and occur mainly on drier microsites. Menyanthes trifoliata and calcium-encrusted Scorpidium scorpioides and Scorpidium revolvens are commonly found in very shallow pools. Most sites have a distinct dense and tenacious turfy peat. Deep peat is typical (to 5 m) but occasionally thin peat veneers occur. Fibrisols and Mesisols are typical soil types. Characteristic Vegetation Tree layer ( ) Shrub layer ( ) Herb layer ( ) Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Menyanthes trifoliata, Trichophorum cespitosum Moss layer ( ) Campylium stellatum, Sphagnum Group II Comments Soil Nutrient Regime A B C D E F The Wf11 occurs where extremely high ph limits the availability of phosphorous, making these sites nutrient-poor even though they have an abundance of cations.tufted clubrush dominated wetlands are also found in regions underlain by base-poor granitic parent material, such as coastal British Columbia, where phosphorus is also limited.these communities lack minerotrophic site indicators and have a Sphagnum-dominated moss layer. Tufted clubrush Peat-moss ecosystems (Wb52) are very common in coastal British Columbia but several sites have been observed in interior locations where the local geology is of igneous intrusive origin (e.g., Monashee Ranges). Soil Moisture Regime VM W VA MA SA N Ak ph VW Wetland Edatopic Grid St Sl Mo Dy VD Hydrodynamic Index 92 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification

22 Chapter 5.2 Fens 79 TABLE Distribution of Fen Site Associations by biogeoclimatic zone BG BWBS SBPS PP SWB ESSF ICH IDF MS SBS CDF CWH MH Wf01 Water sedge Beaked sedge xx x xx xxx xxx xxx x i Wf02 Scrub birch Water sedge xxx x xx xx xx xx Wf03 Water sedge Peat-moss xx x Wf04 Barclay s willow Water sedge Glow mosss x xxx x x Wf05 Slender sedge Common hook-moss x xx xx xx xx Wf06 Slender sedge Buckbean x x x x Wf07 Scrub birch Buckbean Shore sedge x x x x Wf08 Shore sedge Buckbean Hook-moss x x x x x Wf09 Few-flowered spike-rush Hook-moss x x x Wf10 Hudson Bay clubrush Red hook-moss x Wf11 Tufted clubrush Star moss x x x x x Wf12 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass Marsh-marigold xxx Wf13 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass Shore sedge xx x Wf50 Narrow-leaved cotton-grass Peat-moss x xxx Wf51 Sitka sedge Peat-moss x xx xx Wf52 Sweet gale Sitka sedge xx xx s Wf53 Slender sedge White beak-rush x xx s x = incidental; < 5% of wetlands xx = minor; 5 25% of wetlands xxx = major; >25% of wetlands i = inland areas only s = southern subzones only

23 TABLE Fen Species Importance Table Species Wf01 Wf02 Wf03 Wf04 Wf05 Wf06 Wf07 Wf08 Shrubs Betula nana x xyzzz x xy x x xyzzz x Salix barclayi x x xyzzzz Salix pedicellaris x xyz xy xy xyzz xy Spiraea douglasii x x x x Myrica gale Herbs Carex utriculata xyzzz xyz xy xy xyz x x x and Carex aquatilis xyzzz xyzz xyzzz xyzz xyz x xyz x Dwarf Comarum palustre xy xyz xy xy xy xyzz xy Shrubs Calamagrostis canadensis x xy x xyzz x x x x Carex lasiocarpa x xyzzzz xyzzzz xy x Menyanthes trifoliata x x x xyzzz xyzzz xyzz Carex limosa x x x x xy xyzz xyzzz Carex chordorrhiza x x xy xyz xy Eleocharis quinqueflora x x Trichophorum alpinum x Trichophorum cespitosum Eriophorum angustifolium x xy xy x x xy xy Caltha leptosepala xy xy Carex anthoxanthea Equisetum fluviatile x x xy xy xy xy Carex magellanica x x Carex sitchensis xy xy xyz xyz x x Rhynchospora alba x Carex livida x x x x Eriophorum chamissonis x x x Vahlodea atropurpurea x Drosera anglica x x xy Hypericum anagalloides Triantha glutinosa x x xy Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Fauria crista-galli Senecio triangularis x x xyz xy Andromeda polifolia x xy xy Kalmia microphylla x x x Oxycoccus oxycoccos x x x x xy x Triglochin maritima x x x xy xy Drosera rotundifolia x x x Leptarrhena pyrolifolia xy x Platanthera dilatata x xy x x x Sanguisorba canadensis x xy Utricularia intermedia x x x xy Viola palustris x x x Lichens Sphagnum Group I xy xyz xyzz x x xyz x and Aulacomnium palustre x xyz xyz xyzz x x x x Mosses Drepanocladus spp. xyz x xy xyzz xyz xyz xyz Sphagnum Group II x xyz x x xyz xy Tomentypnum nitens x xyzz xyz xy x xyz xy Philonotis fontana xy xyz Calliergon stramineum x x x x x Scorpidium spp. x xy xyzz xy Campylium stellatum x x xy xy x x Warnstorfia spp. x xy x x xyz x xy Meesia triquetra x x xy xy 80 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification

24 Wf 05 Slender sedge Common hook-moss Carex lasiocarpa Drepanocladus aduncus General Description Slender sedge Common hook-moss fens are common throughout the Interior at elevations below 1400 m. These fens occur on peat flats surrounding small lakes and ponds or in infilled palustrine basins. Prolonged shallow surface flooding and continual surface peat saturation are typical. Carex lasiocarpa and Drepanocladus aduncus are constant dominants. Other large water sedges, such as C. aquatilis and C. utriculata, are also common. There can be a very sparse shrub cover of Salix pedicellaris, S. candida, or Betula nana. The moss layer is usually well developed but is occasionally absent. Hookmosses usually dominate with occasional inclusions of other brown mosses. Deep peat deposits are common but some sites may occur on thin organic veneers. Mesisols are the most common soil type but Humisols and Fibrisols also occur. Characteristic Vegetation Tree layer ( ) Shrub layer ( ) Herb layer ( ) Carex aquatilis, C. lasiocarpa, C. utriculata Moss layer ( ) Drepanocladus aduncus Comments Some Wf 05 sites are marsh-like with deep flooding, low diversity, and virtually no moss layer.the related Wf 06 occurs on floating mats with a more equable water regime and hummock/hollow topography. Slendersedge fens (Wf 05, Wf 06) occur in locations similar to the Wf 01 but seem to represent sites with longer surface saturation and more basic soil water. Similar sites in coastal areas are described by the Wf53. Soil Moisture Regime VM W VW Wetland Edatopic Grid Soil Nutrient Regime A B C D E F VA MA SA N Ak ph St Sl Mo Dy VD Hydrodynamic Index 86 Wetlands of British Columbia: A Field Guide to Identification

ESSFwc1. Distinguishing the ESSFwc1 from adjacent subzones/variants

ESSFwc1. Distinguishing the ESSFwc1 from adjacent subzones/variants ESSFwc1 Variant Summary Columbia Wet Cold Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir Variant Location: Upper slopes in the Monashee and Selkirk mountains south of Revelstoke. Elevation range: 1450 to 1650 m (south