Appendix A: Regional summaries - Northwest

Abstract

Forests in the Northwest region (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) represent a complex array of composition and structure. These complexities indicate the diverse range of soils and the physical environment which affect soil and plant interactions. In this region the textural classes range from gravel to heavy clay, many are skeletal (> 35% rocks), and many are derived from volcanic materials (Isaac and Hopkins 1937). Today, these forests and soils are being impacted by warmer, drier years often associated with El Niño or the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (or both), below-average snowpack and streamflow, below-average forest growth, and an above-average risk of fire (Mote et al. 2005). This regional summary describes the two distinct areas of the northwestern United States: the Pacific (coastal) Northwest and the Inland Northwest. It also provides an overview of some of the management challenges.

Parent Publication

• Forest and rangeland soils of the United States under changing conditions: A comprehensive science synthesis

Citation

Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Gardner, Brian; McDaniel, Paul; Campbell, Steve. 2020. Appendix A: Regional summaries - Northwest. In: Pouyat, Richard V.; Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Patel-Weynand, Toral; Geiser, Linda H., editors. 2020. Forest and rangeland soils of the United States under changing conditions: A comprehensive science synthesis. Springer, Cham. p. 252-259.