Historic, Archive Document Do assume not content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. — United States Proceedings Department of Agriculture Symposium Forest Service on Ecology Intermountain Research Station and Management of General Technical Report INT-289 Riparian Shrub August 1992 Communities SHRUB RESEARCH CONSORTIUM USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory*, Provo, Utah, E. Durant McArthur (Chairman); Brigham Young University*, Provo, Utah, Jerran T. Flinders; USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mountain States Area*, Reno, Nevada, James A. Young; Utah State University*, Logan, Frederick D. Provenza; State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources*, Salt Lake City, David K. Mann; University of California, Los Angeles, Evan M. Romney; Colorado State University, Fort Collins, William K. Lauenroth; University of Idaho, Moscow, Steven J. Brunsfeld; University of Montana, Missoula, Don Bedunah; Montana State University, Bozeman, Carl L. Wambolt; University of Nevada-Reno, Paul T. Tueller; University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Stanley D. Smith; Oregon State University, Corvallis, Lee E. Eddleman; New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, Max P. Dunford; Texas A & M System, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, San Angelo, Darrell N. Ueckert; Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Ronald E. Sosebee; USDA Agricultural Research Service, High Plains Grassland Research Station, Cheyenne, D. Terrance Booth; USDA Agricultural Research Service, Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Jerry R. Barrow; University of Utah, Salt Lake City, James R. Ehleringer; Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, Cyrus M. McKell; University of Wyoming, Laramie, Rollin H. Abernethy. 'Charter members — Proceedings Symposium on Ecology and Management of Riparian Shrub Communities Sun Valley, ID, May 29-31, 1991 Compilers: WARREN P. CLARY, Project Leader, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Intermountain Research Station, Boise, ID E. DURANT McARTHUR, Project Leader, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Intermountain Research Station, Provo, UT DON BEDUNAH, Professor, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula CARL L. WAMBOLT, Professor, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman Publisher: Intermountain Research Station Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 324 25th Street Ogden, UT 84401 1 1 CONTENTS Page Reduction of Willow Seed Production by Ungulate Page Browsing in Yellowstone National Park Introduction: Ecology and Management of Riparian Charles E. Kay and Steve Chadde 92 Shrub Communities Vegetation, Breeding Bird, and Small Mammal Warren P. Clary and E. Durant McArthur 1 Biomass in Two High-Elevation Sagebrush — Riparian Habitats Section 1 Distribution and Ecology of Riparian Shrubs 3 Warren P. Clary and Dean E. Medin 100 Effects of Cattle Grazing Systems on Willow- Multivariate Analysis of Woody Plant Succession Dominated Plant Associations in Central Oregon on the Tanana River in Interior Alaska Bernard L. Kovalchik and Wayne Elmore 1 1 Phyllis C. Adams and Leslie A. Viereck 4 Political and Social Aspects of Riparian Area Distribution of Willows on Forest Lands of Nevada Management and Eastern California Thomas C. Roberts, Jr 120 M. E. Manning and W. G. Padgett 1 Reevaluation of Vegetative Cover Changes, Willow Community Types as Influenced by Valley Erosion, and Sedimentation on Two Bottom and Stream Types Watersheds—1912-1983 Howard G. Hudak and Gary L. Ketcheson 16 Richard Stevens, E. Durant McArthur, High-Water Indicator Plants Along Idaho Waterways James N. Davis 123 Roger Rosentreter 18 — Section 3 Natural and Artificial Rehabilitation of A Comparison Between Xeroriparian and Upland Riparian Areas 129 Vegetation of Beaver Dam Slope, Utah, as Desert Tortoise Habitat Recruitment and Growth of Pacific Willow and E. Durant McArthur and Stewart C. Sanderson 25 Sandbar Willow Seedlings in Response to Riparian Ecology in Zion National Park, Utah Season and Intensity of Cattle Grazing K. T. Harper, S. C. Sanderson, E. D. McArthur 32 Nancy L. Shaw 130 Water Sources of Plants Growing in Woodland, Rooting Hardwood Cuttings of Sitka and Thinleaf Alder Desert, and Riparian Communities: Evidence Bonita J. Java and Richard L. Everett 138 From Stable Isotope Analysis Seed Germination Data for Yellow Willow at a Nevada Lawrence B. Flanagan, James R. Ehleringer, Riparian Site Todd E. Dawson 43 Ellen Martens and James A. Young 142 Response of Riparian Shrubs to Declining Water Design Criteria for Revegetation in Riparian Zones of the / Availability Intermountain Area Keith Boggs and T. Weaver 48 Jack R. Carlson, Gary L. Conaway, Jacy L. Gibbs, Fire in a Riparian Shrub Community: Postburn J. Chris Hoag 145 Water Relations in the Tamarix-SalixAssodaWon Establishment and Growth Potential of Riparian Along the Lower Colorado River Shrubs in the Northern Sierra Nevada David E. Busch and Stanley D. Smith 52 Tony J. Svejcar, Gregg M. Riegel, Scott D. Clone Structure of Salmonberry and Vine Maple Conroy, James D. Trent 151 in the Oregon Coast Range Seed Source Evaluation of Four Native Riparian John Zasada, John Tappeiner, Mary O'Dea 56 Shrubs for Streambank Rehabilitation in the Section 2—Classification of Riparian Communities Pacific Northwest T. R. Flessner, D. C. Darris, S. M. Lambert 155 and Grazing Effects 61 Planting Techniques From the Aberdeen, ID, Plant Summary Flora of Riparian Shrub Communities Materials Centerfor Vegetating Shorelines and of the Intermountain Region With Emphasis on Riparian Areas Willows J. Chris Hoag 163 Sherel Goodrich 62 Use of Floodwater to Disperse Grass and Shrub Classification and Management of Riparian- Seeds on Native Arid Lands Wetland Shrub Sites in Montana Jerry R. Barrow 167 Paul L. Hansen 68 Section 4—Ecology and Management of Upland Preliminary Riparian Classification System for Shrubs 170 Private and State-Owned Lands in Utah Mark M. Petersen, David J. Somerville, Effects of a Simulated Pluvial Maximum Climate on Robert F. Sennett 79 Soil-Plant Water Relations and Potential Growth and Yield of Willows in Central Oregon Recharge Near Yucca Mountain, Nevada Compared to Reports in World Literature S. D. Smith, C. A. Herr, S. L. Hokett, Bernard L. Kovalchik 83 G. F. Cochran 171 Effects of Cattle Grazing on Shoot Population Potential Impacts of Western Juniper on the Dynamics of Beaked Sedge Hydrologic Cycle Douglas R. Allen and Clayton B. Marlow 89 Lee E. Eddleman and Patricia M. Miller 176 Page Page — Influence of Sagebrush on the Soil Microclimate Bitterbrush Seed Dormancy A Discussion J. R. Wight, F. B. Pierson, C. L. Hanson, D. T. Booth 208 G. N. Flerchinger 181 Prescribed Fire Effects on a Bitterbrush-Mountain To Krige or Not to Krige: A Spatial Variability Study Big Sagebrush-Bluebunch Wheatgrass of a Great Basin Saline Playa Community Debra E. Palmquist, Robert R. Blank, W. Wyatt Fraas, Carl L. Wambolt, James A. Young 186 Michael R. Frisina 212 Respiration and Growth in Seedlings of Comparison of Three Groups of Variables for Cold-Desert Shrubs Predicting Big Sagebrush Forage Production Bruce N. Smith, C. Mel Lytle, Lee D. Hansen, W. H. Creamer IV, C. L. Wambolt, R. J. Rossi 217 Josef Lipp, Hubert Ziegler 190 5— Section Field Trips 222 Plant-Soil Relationships of Greasewood, Torrey Saltbush, and Allenrolfea That Occur on Camas Prairie and Possible Evolutionary Links With Coarse-Textured Mounds on Playas Old World Artemisia Species: A Presymposium Tour Robert R. Blank, Debra E. Palmquist, Roger Rosentreter 223 James A. Young 194 Grazing-Riparian Issues: A Sawtooth National Sagebrush Communities on Clayey Soils of Recreation Area Field Trip Northeastern California: A Fragile Equilibrium Warren P. Clary and Nancy L. Shaw 228 Robert R. Blank, James D. Trent, James A. Young 198 Insect Galls and Chemical Composition of Leaves of White Rubber Rabbitbrush on Riparian and Dry Sites D. J. Weber and G. Wilson Fernandes 203 INTRODUCTION: ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF RIPARIAN SHRUB COMMUNITIES Warren Clary P. E. Durant McArthiir This publication consists ofpapers presented at the trip through mountain meadow riparian ecosystems, pro- seventh symposium in a series devoted to the biology and vided the opportunity for meeting participants to examine management ofwestern wildland shrubs. The symposium specific plant communities and observe the effects ofman- focus was on riparian shrub communities and their habi- agement. Forty-one papers and accounts ofthe field trips tats. Proceedings ofthe previous symposia have been are includedin this publication. published by the Intermountain Research Station The papers are presented in five sections including one (McArthur and others 1990; McArthur and Welch 1986; for field trips. Section 1 ofthe proceedings covers distri- Provenza and others 1987; Tiedemann and Johnson 1983; bution and ecology ofriparian shrubs. Here we learn of Tiedemann and others 1984; Wallace and others 1989). the environmental events often necessary for successional The Shrub Research Consortium (SRC) (see inside front progress in riparian habitats. Several presenters describe cover ofthe proceedings) sponsors this sjTnposia series. the channel type, valley bottom conditions, and elevations The timing ofthis riparian symposium was particularly necessary to support specific riparian shrub species and appropriate because ofcurrent concerns about values and communities, thus improving our understanding ofripar- condition ofriparian areas, how to rehabilitate riparian ian site potential. We obtain new information from other areas, and how to manage them for long-term benefits. papers on the depths ofplant water withdrawal, response Although riparian areas may constitute less than 1 per- ofriparian communities to drought and fire stiesses, and cent ofthe Western United States landscape, their bio- clonal expansion. The concept ofxeroriparian communi- logic andhydrologic importance is far out ofproportion ties is also presented. to their area. Riparian plant communities are typically Afirst step in effective study or management ofnatural composed ofdistinctive species and, compared to adjacent systems is to organize and classify the populations in communities, often have denser populations and larger in- question. Several papers in Section 2 present a back- dividuals. This creates an oasis effect producing ecosys- ground for understanding the composition and variability' tems rich in bird and animal life (Szaro 1989). Riparian ofriparian plant communities and habitats and, there- systems are so dynamic that the traditional climax and fore, provide bases for classification. Classification ofri- habitat-type concepts have been largely set aside and re- parian areas will aid in understanding many aspects in- placed with approaches such as riparian association and cluding the different responses to environmental stress. riparian complex (Campbell and Green 1968; Kovalchik Ungulate grazing is the most widespread riparian stress 1987; Winward and Padgett 1989). As afurther complica- in the Western United States. Information on different tion, the response ofriparian areas to grazing stress is of- responses to grazing animals and grazing systems byri- ten quite different than might be expected from upland parian plants and plant communities, small wildlife popu- experience (Clary and Webster 1990; Skovlin 1984). Cur- lations, and soils is presented. Riparian politics is also rently, the availability ofrehabilitation plant materials described. and techniques is relatively limited. Little information The multiple stresses ofgrazing in combination with was reported as recently as 1985 (Johnson and others recreation, road building, logging, mining, and flooding 1985), but experience in rehabilitation is expanding rap- and sedimentation from deteriorated watersheds have idly (Abell 1989). contributed to the depletion ofmany riparian areas. The This symposium washeld to acquaint individuals more recovery ofsuch areas is a priority action item for land familar with upland habitats with some ofthe current in- management agencies. Readers ofSection 3 will obtain formation on riparian areas. The symposium agenda con- information on the conditions required for natural estab- sisted ofa call to order by Durant McArthur, Chairman, lishment ofvarious woodyriparian plants. The selection SRC, a welcome by Carl Pence, Area Ranger, Sawtooth ofspecies, application ofseed technology, and methodol- National Recreational Area (SNRA), and 45 technical pre- ogy for use ofcuttings to artificially establish woody sentations. Two field trips, a premeeting tour ofunique plants are also described. Artemisia communities and an all-day midmeetingfield Afourth section covers ecology andmanagement ofup- land shrubs in the interest ofthe continuing goal ofSRC to promote and pubHcize a broad spectrum ofshrubland WarrenP.Claryis ProjectLeaderandSupervisoryRangeScientist research and management. Response to moisture stress, (BoiseForestrySciences Laboratory)and E. Durant^IcArthuris Project geographic races and metabolism, soil interactions, in- Leaderand ChiefResearch Geneticist(ProveShrubSciencesLaboratory), IntermountainResearchStation, ForestService, U.S. Departmentof sects and stress, seed dormancy, plant yields, and fire Agriculture. effects are among the subjects included. 1 The field trip reports, Section 5, take the reader Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1987. Riparian zone associations: through two informative excursions. The Pre-Wildland Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and WinemaNational Shrub Symposium Tour, en route to Sun Valley, focused Forests. R6 ECOLTP-279-87. Portland, OR: U.S. De- primarily on upland shrub communities on basaltic soils, partment ofAgriculture, Forest Service, Pacific North- several ofwhich have ratherlimited geographic distribu- west Region. 171 p. tions. The midmeetingfield trip traversed the spectacu- McArthur, E. Durant; Romney, Evan M.; Smith, lar SNRA. Special emphasis was given to the relationship Stanley D.; Tueller, Paul T., compilers. 1990. — between domestic livestock grazing and riparian-stream F*roceedings symposium on cheatgrass invasion, shrub conditions at several stops in these high-mountain mead- die-off, and other aspects ofshrubbiology and manage- ows. General interest stops included the SNRAhead- ment; 1989 April 5-7; LasVegas, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. quarters, scenic Redfish Lake, and the Sawtooth Fish INT-276. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Hatchery. Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 351 p. McArthur, E. Durant; Welch, Bruce L., compilers. 1986. — ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Proceedings symposium on the biology ofArtemisia and Chrysothamnus; 1984 July 9-13; Provo, UT. Gen. We thank the Shrub Research Consortium, Intermoun- Tech. Rep. INT-200. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of tain Research Station colleagues, and personnel ofthe Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Boise State University (BSU) Division ofContinuing Edu- Station. 398 p. cation for their assistance in planning and staging the Provenza, FrederickD.; Flinders, Jerran T.—; McArthur, symposium, and for those activities necessary for prep- E. Durant, compilers. 1987. Proceedings symposium aration ofthe proceedings. In particular, we thank on plant-herbivore interactions; 1985 August 7-9; cocompilers Don Bedunah and Carl Wamboltfor their Snowbird, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-222. Ogden, UT: continued support and, along with Ronald Sosebee and U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Forest Service, Inter- Lee Eddleman, for their leadership as session chairmen; mountain Research Station. 179 p. Roger Rosentreter for organizing andleading the pre- Skovlin, Jon M. 1984. Impacts ofgrazingon wetlands and meeting tour; Carl Pence for welcoming the symposium riparian habitat: areview ofourknowledge. In: Devel- participants; Bert Webster, Howard Hudak, Art Selin, oping strategies forrangeland management. Boulder, Seth Phalin, Jennifer Taylor, and Kenneth Britton for CO: Westview Press: 1001-1103. leadinginteresting discussions and helpingin many ways Szaro, Robert C. 1989. Riparian forest and scrubland on the midmeetingfield trip; Nancy Shaw, John Kinney, community types ofArizona and New Mexico. Desert Carla Oskoei, and Mering Hurd for assistance on field Plants. [Special Issue] 9(3-4): 70-138. trips and during the symposium; Linda Smithman, Tiedemann, Arthur R—.; Johnson, Kendall L., compilers. Connie Solis, Gary Jorgensen, and Steve Briggs for pro- 1983. Proceedings ^research and management ofbitter- jection assistance during the sessions; and Nancy Ness brush and clifirose in Western North America; 1982 and her staffat the BSU Division ofContinuing Educa- April 13-15; Salt Lake City, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. tion for presymposium publicity, local arrangements, INT-152. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, and generally keeping things glued together. Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Ex- periment Station. 279 p. REFERENCES Tiedemann, Arthur R.; McArthur, E. Durant; Stutz, Howard C; Stevens, Richard; Johnson, Kendall L., com- — Abell, Dana L., tech. coord. 1989. Proceedings ofthe pilers. 1984. Proceedings symposium on the biology of Californiariparian systems conference: protection, Atriplex and related chenopods; 1983 May 2-6; Provo, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-172. Ogden, UT: U.S. Depart- management, and restoration for the 1990's; 1988 September 22-24; Davis, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-110. ment ofAgriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain For- Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Forest est and Range Experiment Station. 309 p. Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experi- Wallace, Arthur; McArthur, E. Durant; Hafe—rkamp, ment Station. 544 p. Marshall R., compilers. 1989. Proceedings symposium on shrub ecophysiology and biotechnology; 1987 June Campbell, C. J.; Green, Win. 1968. Perpetual succession ofstream-channel vegetation in a semiarid region. Jour- 30-July 2; Logan, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-256. Ogden, nal ofthe ArizonaAcademy ofScience. 5(2): 86-98. UT: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Forest Service, In- Clary, Warren P.; Webster, Bert F. 1990. Riparian graz- termountain Research Station. 183 p. Winward, Alma H.; Padgett, Wayne G. 1989. Special con- ing guidelines for the Intermountain Region. Range- lands. 12(4): 209-212. siderations when classifyingriparian areas. In: Johnson, R. Roy; Ziebell, Charles D.; Patton, David R.; Ferguson, Dennis E.; Morgan, Penel—ope; Johnson, Ffolliott, Peter F.; Hamre, R. H., tech. coords. 1985. Ri- Frederic D., compilers. Proceedings land classifica- parian ecosystems and theirmanagement: reconciling tions based on vegetation: applications forresource conflicting uses: First North American riparian confer- management; 1987 November 17-19; Moscow, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-257. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of ence; 1985 April 16-18; Tucson, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-120. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department ofAgricul- Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research ture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Station: 176-179. Experiment Station. 523 p. 2