Wallowa Mountains - Ecology

Ecology

The higher precipitation of the mountains compared with the surrounding country has created a mesic habitat in the Wallowas. Vegetation in the region contains combinations of plants found in both the Rocky Mountains and the Cascades. At low elevations, Douglas Fir is the most common tree for slopes, whereas Picea engelmannii and Pinus contorta occur in valley bottoms, with Abies grandis common below 5,300 ft (1,600 m). In meadows and around springs and seeps, willows and sedge occur. At the higher elevations, above 7,000 ft (2,100 m), Abies lasiocarpa is dominate with Pinus albicaulis along side it on ridges and south facing slopes.