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Ecological site R246XY012AK

Arctic Dwarf Scrub Sandy Coastal Plain

Last updated: 5/22/2025
Accessed: 10/19/2025

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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): 246X–Arctic Coastal Plain

The Arctic Coastal Plain MLRA (MLRA 246X) consists of level to gently rolling plains along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. This area makes up 22,235 square miles. It is mostly remote, sparsely populated wildland. Numerous rivers, mostly originating in the Brooks Range, drain to the Arctic Ocean. The largest being the Canning, Colville, Jago, Kongakut, Kuk, Utukok, and Sagavanirktok Rivers. Narrow, nearly level flood plains and stream terraces parallel the many rivers. The area is dotted by thousands of small and medium-size lakes and interconnecting wetlands. Many of the lakes are elongated thaw lakes, which are consistently oriented from north to northwest. Small sand dunes occur along the coastline, rivers, and plains. Elevation ranges from sea level to about 655 feet.

Permanent settlements include Point Lay, Wainwright, Utqiagvik, Nuigsut, and Kaktovik. The Prudhoe Bay oil fields and the northern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline are in the central part of the MLRA. The Dalton Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline bisect the area west of the Sagavanirktok River, terminating at Deadhorse. The community of Deadhorse provides much of the industrial infrastructure and many of the residential facilities associated with the oil fields and pipeline. Parts of the National Petroleum Reserve and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are in this MLRA.

Geology and Soils

This area was never glaciated (NRCS 2022). The bedrock geology consists of Cretaceous and Tertiary stratified sedimentary rocks and uplifted continental deposits. The modern landscape is mantled with Quaternary deposits of alluvial, eolian, or glaciofluvial origin.

This MLRA is in the zone of continuous permafrost. Areas without permafrost in the soil profile are limited to tidal flats, large sand dunes, and soils directly adjacent to large rivers. Thick layers of permafrost occur in both fine textured and coarse textured deposits across the area. Depth to the base of the permafrost layer ranges between 500 and 2000 feet. Periglacial features, such as beaded drainages, patterned ground (ice-wedge polygons, thaw gullies, pingos, and frost boils) occur throughout the MLRA.

The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Gelisols. Most have an aquic soil moisture regime. The Gelisols are shallow or moderately deep to permafrost, occur on fine and coarse textured sediments, and are generally poorly drained or very poorly drained. Common Gelisol suborders are Histels, Orthels, and Turbels. The Histels have a glacic layer and/or thick accumulations of surface organic material and are associated with ice-wedge troughs of polygons, vegetated lake basins, swales, and low-gradient drainageways. The Orthels and Turbels have comparably thinner surface organic material and occur on flood plains, stream terraces, plains, and the centers of low- and high-center polygons. Miscellaneous (non-soil) areas make up about 20 percent of this MLRA. The most common are water, riverwash, and beaches.

Climate
The average annual precipitation in this area is 4 to 8 inches. Brief, cool summers and long, very cold winters characterize the arctic climate. The average annual snowfall is about 20 to 40 inches. The average annual temperature ranges from 11 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The average freeze-free period is between 43 and 76 days but freezing temperatures can occur in any month.

Vegetation
The wet soils prevalent across this MLRA support extensive swaths of tussock tundra and wet sedge meadow tundra (Viereck et al. 1992). The drier sites and low uplands support dwarf scrub dominated by various ericaceous shrubs and dwarf willow. On shallow, rocky soils and exposed sites, lichens and scattered herbs dominate the ground layer. Flood plains support a mixture of low willow scrub and scattered herbs. Fire is not common in this MLRA (AICC 2022).

LRU notes

The bulk of the MLRA is associated with the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Mapping (CAVM) subzone D with a small portion of the Northern most lands falling into subzone C (CAVM 2022). Arctic subzone D is associated with vegetation that have herbaceous and dwarf shrub communities that are commonly 4 to 15 inches tall, while subzone C has an herbaceous and dwarf shrub layer that are typically less than 6 inches tall (CAVM 2022). At this time, these differences in community structure are recognized with large differences in annual production expected; but unique ecological sites for each CAVM bioclimate subzone were not developed.

Classification relationships

Landfire BpS – 16890 - Alaska Arctic Non-Acidic Dryas Dwarf- Shrubland
Landfire BpS – 17130 – Alaska Arctic Active Inland Dune
(Landfire 2009)

Ecological site concept

-Associated with well drained and excessively drained soils on inland dunes. The reference state is associated with stabilized dunes, while an alternate state is associated with active dunes, blowouts, and eroded bluffs.
-Soils formed in sandy eolian deposits.
-Soils do not pond. While inland dunes typically do not flood, active dunes close to rivers flood frequently. During the growing season, a water table does not occur in the soil profile.
-Soils are considered very deep without restrictions in the soil profile.
-The reference plant community is dwarf scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) with a diverse assembled of vegetation. Common plants include entireleaf mountain-avens, white arctic mountain heather, alpine sweetgrass, and Flavocetraria lichen. The alternate state is sparsely vegetated and commonly characterized as open low scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) with willow and grass pioneering species. Common species include feltleaf willow, grayleaf willow, barrenground willow, American dunegrass, and Pumpelly’s brome.

Associated sites

R246XY002AK	Arctic Sedge Loamy Frozen Terraces Occurs on stream terraces without a mosaic of vegetation associated with ice-wedge polygons. Associated with sedge-Dryas tundra.
R246XY004AK	Arctic Shrub Sandy Flood Plains Occurs on low floodplain of rivers and incised drainageways. Associated with seral herbaceous communities and low willow thickets.
R246XY005AK	Arctic Ice-Wedge Polygon Complex Occurs downslope on adjacent depressions with a mosaic of vegetation related to both low- and high-center, ice-wedge polygons.
R246XY008AK	Arctic Sedge Peat Frozen Drainageways Occurs downslope on adjacent drainageways. Associated with low willow thickets and wet sedge meadow vegetation.
R246XY009AK	Arctic High-Center Polygon Complex Occurs on the same slopes and stream terraces but in lower positions with a mosaic of vegetation associated with high-center, ice-wedge polygons. Dominant vegetation is tussock tundra.
R246XY014AK	Arctic Sedge Peat Frozen Depressions Occurs downslope on adjacent depressions without a mosaic of vegetation related to ice-wedge polygons. Associated with wet sedge meadow tundra.

Similar sites

R246XY002AK	Arctic Sedge Loamy Frozen Terraces Ecological site 002 commonly has entireleaf mountain-avens but at much lower cover and wetland sedges at much higher cover.

R246XY002AK

Arctic Sedge Loamy Frozen Terraces

Ecological site 002 commonly has entireleaf mountain-avens but at much lower cover and wetland sedges at much higher cover.

Figure 1. Photo of floodplain, active and stabilized dunes, younger stream terraces, and older stream terraces adjacent to Judy Creek in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	Not specified
Shrub	(1) Dryas integrifolia (2) Cassiope tetragona
Herbaceous	(1) Anthoxanthum monticola (2) Flavocetraria cucullata

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Physiographic features

-Associated with inland dunes. These dunes occur on flood plains, meander scrolls, stream terraces, and eolian plains. Active dunes are most prevalent directly adjacent to flood plains that bisect eolian plains, while stabilized dunes occur on stream terraces and slopes of eolian plains. Portions of stabilized dunes occasionally have blowouts. River and lake bluffs share similar soils and vegetation as dunes.
-Elevation occurs between 10 and 330 feet.
-While most dunes are gently sloping, some active dunes can be moderately steep. Given the low relief, aspect is not relevant for this ecological site concept.
-Active dunes on flood plains flood frequently for very brief durations. Stabilized dunes do not flood.
-Stabilized dunes have a water table at deep depths, while active dunes have no water table in the soil profile.
-Associated with negligible to low amounts of runoff to adjacent, downslope ecological sites.

Figure 2. Photo on a stabilized dune on the eolian plains in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Figure 3. Photo of stabilized dunes with small blowouts on stream terraces and meanders scroll in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Figure 4. The greyed in portion of this figure indicates where a high concentration of stabilized dunes occur in the Arctic Coastal Plain MLRA (Carter 1981).

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Coastal plain > Plain (2) Coastal plain > Dune (3) Coastal plain > Dune (4) Coastal plain > Blowout (5) Coastal plain > Bluff (6) River valley > Stream terrace (7) River valley > Flood plain (8) River valley > Meander scroll
Runoff class	Negligible
Flooding duration	Very brief (4 to 48 hours)
Flooding frequency	None to frequent
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	10 – 330 ft
Slope	4%
Water table depth	40 – 60 in
Aspect	Aspect is not a significant factor

Table 3. Representative physiographic features (actual ranges)

Runoff class	Not specified
Flooding duration	Not specified
Flooding frequency	Not specified
Ponding frequency	Not specified
Elevation	10 – 820 ft
Slope	20%
Water table depth	Not specified

Climatic features

Very short, cool summers and long, very cold winters characterize the arctic climate associated with this ecological site. Given its far North latitude, this Arctic Coastal Plains MLRA experiences long-periods of continuous light in the summer (85 days in Utqiagvik) and continuous darkness in the winter (65 days in Utqiagvik). Mean annual temperature for the Arctic Coastal Plains MLRA typically ranges from 11 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest months span June through August with mean normal temperatures ranging from 40 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit (PRISM 2008). The coldest months span December through March with mean normal temperatures ranging from -19 to -9 degrees Fahrenheit (PRISM 2008). This MLRA is arid with mean annual precipitation ranging from 4 to 8 inches. Approximately half of the annual precipitation occurs during the months of July through September. The average annual snowfall ranges from 20 to 40 inches (USDA 2022). The ground is consistently covered with snow from October through May March.

Table 4. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (characteristic range)	10-28 days
Freeze-free period (characteristic range)	43-76 days
Precipitation total (characteristic range)	4-8 in
Frost-free period (actual range)	3-48 days
Freeze-free period (actual range)	23-94 days
Precipitation total (actual range)	3-9 in
Frost-free period (average)	17 days
Freeze-free period (average)	61 days
Precipitation total (average)	6 in

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 5. Monthly precipitation range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 6. Monthly minimum temperature range

Characteristic range

Actual range

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Figure 7. Monthly maximum temperature range

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Figure 8. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Figure 9. Annual precipitation pattern

Figure 10. Annual average temperature pattern

Climate stations used

(1) BARROW POST ROGERS AP [USW00027502], Barrow, AK
(2) KUPARUK [USC00505136], Prudhoe Bay, AK
(3) PRUDHOE BAY [USC00507780], Prudhoe Bay, AK

Influencing water features

Due to its landscape position, this ecological site is neither associated with or influenced by streams or wetlands. Precipitation and throughflow are the main source of water for this ecological site.

Moist to wet depressions can occur between active and stabilized dunes in the MLRA, which are termed interdunes. The vegetation on moist soils was observed to be a willow-sedge shrub tundra and is associated with ecological site R246XY002AK. The vegetation on wet soils was observed to be wet sedge meadow tundra and is associated with ecological site R246XY014AK.

Depth to the water table may decrease following summer storm events or spring snowmelt and increase during extended dry periods.

Wetland description

Not a wetland.

Soil features

-Soils formed in sandy eolian deposits. On flood plain and stream terraces, parent material is commonly reworked alluvium blown in from exposed riverbanks and point bars.
-Rock fragments do not occur on the soil surface or in the soil profile.
-Surface mineral horizon textures are fine sands.
-Soils are considered very deep and typically without restrictions in the soil profile. On occasion, permafrost occurs in stabilized dunes ranging from moderate to deep depths (37 to 51 inches).
-The pH of the soil profile ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.

Reference State
-Associated with stabilized dunes.
-Mineral soils are capped with up to one inch of organic material.
-These mesic soils are considered well drained.

Alternate State
-In the National Petroleum Reserve – Beaufort Coastal Plain soil survey area, alternate state soils on active dunes, blowouts, and eroded bluffs are commonly the Arrakis soil series. These are Entisols in the soil suborder of Udipsamments.
-Mineral soils are exposed and lack an organic cap.
-These dry soils are considered excessively drained.

This Arctic Dwarf Scrub Sandy Coastal Plain ecological site is correlated to two soil components: Arrakis and Teshekpuk. Arrakis is associated with active dunes and blowouts and classifies as an Entisol in the great group Udipsamments. Teshekpuk is associated with stabilized dunes and classifies as an Inceptisol in the great group Humigelepts.

Figure 11. Photo of an Arrakis soil that was mapped on active dunes on a flood plain in the National Petroleum Reserve-Beaufort Coastal Plain soil survey.

Figure 12. Photo of a Teshekpuk soil that was mapped on stabilized dunes on the eolian plains in the National Petroleum Reserve-Beaufort Coastal Plain soil survey.

Table 5. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Eolian deposits (2) Alluvium
Surface texture	(1) Fine sand
Family particle size	(1) Sandy
Drainage class	Well drained to excessively drained
Permeability class	Very rapid
Depth to restrictive layer	Not specified
Soil depth	60 in
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	1.6 – 2.4 in
Calcium carbonate equivalent (10-40in)	Not specified
Clay content (0-20in)	2 – 5%
Electrical conductivity (10-40in)	Not specified
Sodium adsorption ratio (10-40in)	1
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (10-40in)	6.6 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-60in)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-60in)	Not specified

Table 6. Representative soil features (actual values)

Drainage class	Not specified
Permeability class	Not specified
Depth to restrictive layer	37 in
Soil depth	Not specified
Surface fragment cover <=3"	Not specified
Surface fragment cover >3"	Not specified
Available water capacity (0-40in)	Not specified
Calcium carbonate equivalent (10-40in)	Not specified
Clay content (0-20in)	Not specified
Electrical conductivity (10-40in)	Not specified
Sodium adsorption ratio (10-40in)	Not specified
Soil reaction (1:1 water) (10-40in)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (0-60in)	Not specified
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (0-60in)	Not specified

Ecological dynamics

Longitudinal and parabolic dunes are common on an eolian plain that covers an approximate 4,350 square mile expanse of the Arctic Coastal Plain MLRA (figure 3; Carter 1981). These dunes were formed by deposition of windblown sandy deposits during the Pleistocene with these deposits being up to 65 feet thick (Carter 1981). These dunes are often 0.5 miles in length and occur on flood plain, stream terraces, and plains. Active dunes are common on bluffs and floodplains that bisect this eolian plain. On occasion, stabilized dunes experience severe wind erosion resulting in blowouts, which are saucer-, cup-, or trough-shaped depressions.

Dunes and bluffs have excessively drained soils and vegetation experiences droughty conditions. Precipitation on dunes and bluffs are the major hydrologic input. After a rain event, available water is rapidly drained through the porous sandy soil profile. During most of the growing season, depth to internal free water in the profile is thought to be below the rooting zone of plants, which results in droughty conditions.

These droughty conditions result in unique assemblages of vegetation in the MLRA. The vegetation on stabilized dunes is primarily composed of dwarf shrubs dominated by entireleaf mountain-avens, white arctic mountain heather, and alpine bearberry. While having much less cover, a diverse array of graminoids, forbs, moss, and lichen species co-occur on dunes. Several species are considered rare (i.e. Eurasian Junegrass, Drummond’s bluebells, and buff fleabane; Cortes-Burns et al. 2009).

Dune Succession

On active dunes and blowouts, grasses and willows invade the sandy soils but with low cover. Feltleaf willow is common on flood plains, while grayleaf willow is common on terraces and slopes of plains. American dunegrass is common closer to the coast (Peterson and Billings 1978), while Pumpelly’s brome, Eurasian Junegrass, and red fescue are common further from the coast. These early successional species catch and stabilize shifting sands and eventually dwarf scrubs, forbs, lichens, and moss invade and increase in cover. On the Meade River in this MLRA, this secondary wave of plant establishment was dominated by entireleaf mountain-avens, white arctic mountain heather, mountain harebell, Flavocetraria lichen, and Racomitrium moss (Peterson and Billings 1978). These species were also dominant on many of the stabilized dunes common across the National Petroleum Reserve. As vegetation cover increases, permafrost aggrandizes deep and often below the soil profile. Dunes are then further stabilized. The transition from active dunes and blowouts to stabilized dunes can take hundreds of years (Peterson and Billings 1978; Landfire 2009).

State and transition model

More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text

Ecosystem states

1. Reference State

2. Active Dunes and Blowout State

T1	-	The vegetation on stabilized dune is damaged or destroyed resulting in a blowout.
T2	-	Vegetation invades and slowly stabilizes soils taking several hundred years.

State 1 submodel, plant communities

1.1. entireleaf mountain-avens - white arctic mountain heather / alpine sweetgrass / Flavocetraria lichen - white worm lichen

State 2 submodel, plant communities

2.1. willow

State 1
Reference State

Figure 13. Stabilized dunes on a stream terrace in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Figure 14. A longitudinal dune on a plain in the National Petroleum Reserve. These dunes are often half a mile in length.

Figure 15. The greyed in portion of this figure indicates where a high concentration of stabilized dunes occur in the Arctic Coastal Plain MLRA (Carter 1981).

One plant community has been documented within the reference state. Stabilized dunes are common on stream terraces and slopes of plains throughout the MLRA.

Dominant plant species

entireleaf mountain-avens (Dryas integrifolia), shrub
white arctic mountain heather (Cassiope tetragona), shrub
alpine bearberry (Arctostaphylos alpina), shrub

Community 1.1
entireleaf mountain-avens - white arctic mountain heather / alpine sweetgrass / Flavocetraria lichen - white worm lichen

Figure 16. Typical vegetation associated with community 1.1.

Figure 17. The image shows the sharp transition from dwarf scrub vegetation on dunes (image left) to sedge dominant vegetation common on stream terraces and plains in this MLRA (image right).

Community 1.1 is characterized as dwarf scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) with the dominant plants being a mixture of entireleaf mountain-avens, white arctic mountain heather, and alpine bearberry. Other commonly observed species include dwarf birch, lingonberry, alpine sweetgrass, Flavocetraria lichen, and white worm lichen. Graminoids and forbs have low cover but are highly diverse including many rare and/or endemic species. The binomial name of these and other less common associated plants can be found in the below dominant plant species table. Dwarf shrubs (less than 8 inches in height) and to a much lesser extent moss and lichen are the dominant vegetative strata.

Dominant plant species

entireleaf mountain-avens (Dryas integrifolia), shrub
white arctic mountain heather (Cassiope tetragona), shrub
alpine bearberry (Arctostaphylos alpina), shrub
dwarf birch (Betula nana), shrub
lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), shrub
marsh Labrador tea (Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens), shrub
tealeaf willow (Salix pulchra), shrub
netleaf willow (Salix reticulata), shrub
alpine sweetgrass (Anthoxanthum monticola ssp. alpinum), grass
Bigelow's sedge (Carex bigelowii), grass
smallawned sedge (Carex microchaeta), grass
spike sedge (Carex nardina), grass
wideleaf polargrass (Arctagrostis latifolia), grass
(Flavocetraria cucullata), other herbaceous
whiteworm lichen (Thamnolia vermicularis), other herbaceous
arctic dactylina lichen (Dactylina arctica), other herbaceous
narrowleaf saw-wort (Saussurea angustifolia), other herbaceous
meadow bistort (Polygonum bistorta), other herbaceous
alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum), other herbaceous
thrift seapink (Armeria maritima), other herbaceous

State 2
Active Dunes and Blowout State

Figure 18. Blowouts on stabilized dunes were occasionally observed in the Arctic Coastal Plain MLRA.

One plant community has been documented within the alternate state. Active dunes are most common near flood plains. Blowouts occur on stabilized dunes throughout this MLRA. The vegetation is sparse and these landforms are often considered miscellaneous areas with bare soil. This state also accounts for unstable soils on lake and river bluffs.

Dominant plant species

feltleaf willow (Salix alaxensis), shrub
grayleaf willow (Salix glauca), shrub
barrenground willow (Salix niphoclada), shrub
Richardson's willow (Salix richardsonii), shrub
red fescue (Festuca rubra), grass
Pumpelly's brome (Bromus inermis ssp. pumpellianus var. pumpellianus), grass
American dunegrass (Leymus mollis), grass
Eurasian Junegrass (Koeleria asiatica), grass
Pacific alpine wormwood (Artemisia glomerata), other herbaceous
Lake Huron tansy (Tanacetum bipinnatum), other herbaceous
Siberian sea thrift (Armeria maritima ssp. sibirica), other herbaceous
alpine milkvetch (Astragalus alpinus), other herbaceous

Community 2.1
willow

Figure 19. A blowout on a stabilized dune in the Arctic Coastal Plain. Blowouts occur after disturbance of vegetation on stabilized dunes.

Figure 20. Active dune on a flood plain in the National Petroleum Reserve - Beaufort Coastal Plain soil survey area.

Community 2.1 is sparsely vegetated and is often miscellaneous bare ground. At times these blowouts can be characterized as open low scrub (Viereck et al. 1992) with the dominant plant being willow. Graminoids and forbs have low cover but are highly diverse including many rare and/or endemic species. Feltleaf willow and Richardson's willow are common colonizing active dunes near floodplain, while grayleaf willow commonly colonizes blowouts on dunes on plains. Barrenground willow was common on both. The binomial name of these and other associated plants can be found in the below dominant plant species table.

Dominant plant species

feltleaf willow (Salix alaxensis), shrub
grayleaf willow (Salix glauca), shrub
barrenground willow (Salix niphoclada), shrub
Richardson's willow (Salix richardsonii), shrub
red fescue (Festuca rubra), grass
Pumpelly's brome (Bromus inermis ssp. pumpellianus var. pumpellianus), grass
American dunegrass (Leymus mollis), grass
Eurasian Junegrass (Koeleria asiatica), grass
obtuse sedge (Carex obtusata), grass
Pacific alpine wormwood (Artemisia glomerata), other herbaceous
Lake Huron tansy (Tanacetum bipinnatum), other herbaceous
Siberian sea thrift (Armeria maritima ssp. sibirica), other herbaceous
alpine milkvetch (Astragalus alpinus), other herbaceous
Drummond's bluebells (Mertensia drummondii), other herbaceous
northern Jacob's-ladder (Polemonium boreale), other herbaceous
hairy braya (Braya pilosa), other herbaceous
dwarf fireweed (Chamerion latifolium), other herbaceous

Transition T1
State 1 to 2

Reference State

Active Dunes and Blowout State

The vegetation on stabilized dune is damaged or destroyed. As the ground cover is removed, wind transports sandy soils off the dune resulting in a blowout.

Transition T2
State 2 to 1

Active Dunes and Blowout State

Reference State

Pioneering willow and graminoids stabilize shifting sands providing habitat for dwarf shrubs, forbs, and lichen to invade. A dwarf scrub mat forms and largely covers previously bare soils. The process of forming stabilized dunes takes hundreds of years (Landfire 2009).

Additional community tables

Interpretations

Animal community

Not available

Hydrological functions

Not available

Recreational uses

Not available

Wood products

Not available

Other information

Not available

Supporting information

Inventory data references

The vegetation modeled for this site has limited data coverage across the MLRA and is considered provisional. The associated model was largely developed from literature review, NRCS staff with working knowledge of the area, and sample plots from the National Petroleum Reserve – Beaufort Coastal Plain soil survey (AK760). Tier 2 sampling plots used to develop the reference state are below:

Tier 2 sampling plots used to develop the grazing state. Plot numbers as recorded in NASIS with associated plant community.

Community 1.1
2021AK185681, S2021AK185694, 2021AK185703, 2021AK185714, 2021AK185104, 2021AK185300, 2021AK185315, 2021AK185316, 2021AK185318, 2021AK185319, 2021AK185320, 2021AK185409, 2021AK185415, 2021AK185426, 2023AK185401, 2023AK185822, 2023AK185115, 2023AK185100

Community 2.1
2024AK185013, 2024AK185018
Additional Observations of a blowout in the National Petroleum Reserve:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=70.01839779867433&nelng=-153.03615689935012&place_id=any&subview=map&swlat=70.01653526521382&swlng=-153.04504037560744&user_id=blainespellman&verifiable=any

References

Schoeneberger, P.J. and D.A. Wysocki. 2012. Geomorphic Description System. Natural Resources Conservation Service, 4.2 edition. National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.
Smith, R.D., A.P. Ammann, C.C. Bartoldus, and M.M. Brinson. 1995. An approach for assessing wetland functions using hydrogeomorphic classification, reference wetlands, and functional indices.
United States Department of Agriculture Staff. 2008. Hydrogeomorphic Wetland Classification System: An Overview and Modification to Better Meet the Needs of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
United States Department of Agriculture, . 2022. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin.
Viereck, L.A., C. T. Dyrness, A. R. Batten, and K. J. Wenzlick. 1992. The Alaska vegetation classification. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-286..

Other references

Carter, D. 1981. A Pleistocene Sand Sea on the Alaska Arctic Coastal Plain. Science, Vol. 211, No. 4480, pp. 381-382.

Cortes-Burns, H., Carlson, M.L., Lipkin, R., Flagstad, L., and D. Yokel. 2009. Rare vascular plants of the North Slopes, A review of the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of 31 rare plant taxa that occur in Alaska's North Slope Region. USDI, BLM, BLM Alaska Technical Report 58.

LANDFIRE. 2009. LANDFIRE National Vegetation Dynamics Models. USDA Forest Service and US Department of Interior. Washington, DC.

Peterson, K.M. and W.D. Billings. 1978. Geomorphic processes and vegetational change along the Meade River sand bluffs in northern Alaska. Arctic. 31(1): 7-23.

PRISM Climate Group. 2018. Alaska – average monthly and annual precipitation and minimum, maximum, and mean temperature for the period 1981-2010. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. https://prism.oregonstate.edu/projects/alaska.php. (Accessed 4 September 2019).

Scenarios network for Alaska and arctic planning (SNAP). Historical Monthly Temperature – 1km, 1901-2009. http://ckan.snap.uaf.edu/dataset/. (Accessed 5 May 2021).

SNAP. Historical monthly and derived precipitation products downscaled from CRU TS data via the delta methods – 2km, 1901-2009. http://ckan.snap.uaf.edu/dataset/. (Accessed 5 May 2021).

Contributors

Blaine Spellman
Gabriel Benitez
Tyler Annetts

Approval

Blaine Spellman, 5/22/2025

Acknowledgments

Marji Patz provided quality control review of these provisional ecological sites.

Rangeland health reference sheet

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.

Author(s)/participant(s)
Contact for lead author
Date	05/26/2025
Approved by	Blaine Spellman
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production