ABSTRACT
The complex topography of the Inland Northwestern United States (58.4 million ha) interacts with soils and a highly variable climate to provide a mosaic of dry and moist mixed conifer forest settings. Approximately 20% of the area is covered by dry forests dominated by Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii and contains a diversity of lower vegetation ranging from a grass savannah on the less-productive sites to shrub and forb dominated vegetation on the more-productive sites. An estimated 18% of the area is covered by moist mixed conifer forests with some places growing up to 10 different conifer species, in addition to a diversity of surface vegetation often dominated by shrub and forb vegetation (e.g., with Pinus monticola and Tsuga heterophylla).
