1 RATES OF TREE GROWTH AND FOREST SUCCESSION IN THE ANCHORAGE-MATANUSKA VALLEY

• Main Authors: Area Alaska, John C. Reed, John C. Harms
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anchorage; Arctic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.511.1653; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic9-4-238.pdf

area studied includes the lowlands bordering Knik Arm and the lower portions of the valleys of the Knik and Matanuska rivers. I t extends from 61'07 ' to 61'45 ' north latitude. (Fig. 1). According to Sigafoos (1956) it lies in the Susitna-Copper River Spruce-Birch Forest Province. The vegetation types studied include those from sea level to tree line, which lies at an elevation of about 1,500 feet on the flanks of the Chugach Mountains and up to 2,000 feet on the flanks of the Talkeetnas. Dense alder stands extend several hundred feet above timberline. Scope of investigation The goal of the investigation was a forest cover type map primarily for military purposes. Choice of map units was governed by two primary con-siderations: logical continuity in forest succession, and ease of recognition on available aerial photographs (Stone, 1950). Eight principal forest cover types were distinguished. These are listed in the following table. Table 1. Principal forest cover types in the Anchorage area. I. Mature types undisturbed by recent fires 1. Pure black spruce forest 2. Pure white spruce forest 3. Birch-white spruce forest 4. Cottonwood-white spruce forest 5. Alder thickets 11. Types representing stages in regrowth following fires or recent aggradation by streams 1. Young birch-aspen-cottonwood stands (generally less than 40 years old) 2. Submature birch-white spruce forest 3. Submature cottonwood-white spruce forest