
Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site VX226X00A109
Aleutian Shallow Cliffs and Slopes
Last updated: 6/14/2025
Accessed: 10/22/2025
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 226X–Aleutian Islands-Western Alaska Peninsula
MLRA 226X is the only MLRA in the Aleutian Alaska Region. It makes up about 5,190 square miles (13,450 square kilometers). The chain of islands includes west of Unimak Island to Attu Island, the Pribilof Islands, and the Sanak Islands. Characteristics and weather patterns of the far western end of the Alaska Peninsula is being included in this MLRA. It is bordered on the south by the Pacific Ocean and on the north by the Bering Sea (the Pribilof Islands are bordered on all sides by the Bering Sea). The coastline is complex, with many prominent headlands, sea cliffs, and narrow, steep-walled bays. Elevation ranges from sea level to more than 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) on many of the islands. Islands drain into the North Pacific and the Bering Sea by numerous short, steep-gradient rivers and streams. Lakes make up less than 2 percent of the area.
Geology
This MLRA includes more than 50 volcanoes, with an estimated 27 with activity since the 1950s. Volcanic rocks and unconsolidated deposits from the Quaternary and Tertiary period overlie a submarine ridge of Tertiary sedimentary rocks. Glacial ice once covered the eastern part of the area to approximately Umnak Island. West of Umnak, only the upper elevations were glaciated. Glaciers account for only 1.5 percent, occurring on the highest volcanoes. Volcanic activity has mantled most of the area with thick deposits of silty volcanic ash, sandy and gravelly cinders, and volcanic rubble. Lower elevations have areas of glacial influenced landforms. Recent coastal and fluvial deposits occur in scattered areas along the coast and on flood plains.
Water
Precipitation is adequate for crops generally. Permanent mountain streams feed most of the MLRA. The surface water generally is suitable for all uses. The ground water used in this MLRA is primarily from unconsolidated river valley sediments and bedrock aquifers. Iron is commonly high in the ground water, causing staining and precipitate in pipes. Wells are shallow with constant recharge by freshwater (rainfall and runoff); and are highly susceptible to contamination from runoff. The intrusion of seawater can be a problem along the coast.
Soils
The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Andisols and Histosols. Miscellaneous areas (cinder land, rock outcrop, water, riverwash, and beaches) make up about 45 percent of this MLRA. The main soils are: Cryofibrists are poorly drained or very poorly drained and formed in thick deposits of organic material, along the margins of streams and lakeshores.
Tsammana series, Andic Dystrocryepts, Aquandic Dystrocryepts and Vitrandic Dystrocryepts are coarse marine sediments underlain by volcanic deposits. Zolotoi series and other Haplocryands are shallow to deep, well drained to excessively drained, and formed in moderately thick or thick deposits of silty to sandy volcanic ash and coarse sandy to gravelly cinders over basalt bedrock. Polovina series and other Vitricryands are shallow to deep, well drained to excessively drained, and formed in moderately thick or thick deposits of silty to sandy volcanic ash and coarse sandy to gravelly cinders over basalt bedrock.
Biological Resources
Higher elevation vegetation consists of a mosaic of dwarf shrub scrub and lower elevations are wet and dry grasslands. Peatland vegetation consists of low ericaceous shrub scrub. No naturally occurring forests occur on the islands. Aleutian shield fern, Steller sea lion, and the Aleutian Canada goose are currently listed as threatened or endangered. The area is an important winter habitat and nesting habitat for waterfowl and a variety of other birds. Some of the eastern islands support small herds of caribou.
Land Use
Commercial fishing is the primary enterprise, with fur seal harvesting for pelts and meat, Reindeer herding, and small cattle herds. Subsistence hunting, fishing, and gathering are critical for local residents. The major resource concerns are water erosion and mass wasting of soils. Overgrazing by reindeer has impacted vegetation and introduction of rats, dogs, cats, and foxes has severely impacted the nesting bird populations.
LRU notes
MLRA 226X, although very size-limited, contains a very complex and dynamic of weather patterns driven by the Pacific air currents on the southern exposure of the islands, and the Bering Sea to the north. The mixing or colliding of these two systems, creates very dramatic and intense storm systems that batter the islands. Weather variables from the Pacific to the Bering Sea, extent from west to east, as well as the extreme elevational gradient moving from sea level to Alpine life zone lends to a community diversity that is difficult to describe across an MLRA extent. Land Resource Units (LRUs) will need to be developed for this MLRA, as more extensive soils survey mapping is completed.
Classification relationships
Alaska-Aleutian province of the Pacific Mountain System.
USFS Description of Ecoregions of the United States
100 Polar Domain
120 Tundra Division
126 Bering Tundra (Southern) Province
M120 Tundra Division - Mountain Province
M127 Aleutian Oceanic Meadow--Heath Province
(USFS, 1994)
United States National Vegetation Classification
C04. Polar & High Montane Scrub, Grassland & Barrens Class
S12. Temperate to Polar Alpine & Tundra Vegetation Subclass
F031. Polar Tundra & Barrens Formation
D044. Arctic Tundra & Barrens Division
(USNVC, 2019)
LandFire BpS Model/Description Version: Nov. 2024
- 16520 Alaskan Pacific-Aleutian Alder-Salmonberry-Copperbush Shrubland
- 16510 Aleutian Mesic Herbaceous Meadow
(Landfire, 2009)
Ecological site concept
- Soils occur on cliff faces along the coastline, on escarpments, and other bedrock driven landforms.
- Soils are shallow to moderately deep to bedrock.
- No water table is associated with this site
- No ponding and no flooding, isolated areas of seeps may occur.
- Rock fragments are common in the profile and stone/boulder fields may be prevalent.
- Vegetation is sparse, however in areas where slope allows access, there is grazable tundra.
- Areas along the coastline may have an influence of ocean spray, introducing salt-tolerant species.
- This ecological site is the host to rare and endangered species.
Associated sites
VX226X00A107 |
Aleutian Steep Tundra Slopes Tephra dipslopes occur on the backslope of uplifts and along basalt influenced slopes with deep soils. The community is a more continuous cover of dwarf scrub and herbaceous species. |
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VX226X00A113 |
Aleutian Shrub Meadow Ashy Slopes Organic Ashy Slopes occur on the backslope of uplifts and along basalt influenced slopes with deep soils with an organic cap. The community is a robust Crowberry Mat with other ericaceous shrubs and sedges intermixed. Lichen and other bryophytes are common. |
Similar sites
VX226X00A102 |
Aleutian Dwarf Scrub Volcanics The volcanic cones and lava flows are shallow soils and have a similar Crowberry mat. The Shallow Cliffs and Slopes will have less of a mat cover with patches of grasses and interspersed shrubs and forbs. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
(1) Vaccinium ovalifolium |
Herbaceous |
(1) Athyrium filix-femina |
Legacy ID
R226XY109AK
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