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Northern Rockies

Ecoregion in WA, British Columbia, ID, MT

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The Northern Rockies ecoregion is mountainous and rugged. Despite its inland position, both climate and vegetation are typically, but not always, marine-influenced. Douglas-fir, subalpine fir, Englemann spruce, and ponderosa pine and Pacific indicators such as western red cedar, western hemlock, and grand fir occur in the ecoregion. The vegetation mosaic is different from that of the Idaho Batholith (16) and Middle Rockies (17) which are not dominated by maritime species. The Northern Rockies ecoregion is not as high nor as extensively snow- and ice-covered as the Canadian Rockies (41), although alpine characteristics occur at highest elevations and include numerous glacial lakes. Granitic rocks and associated management problems are less extensive than in the Idaho Batholith. Thick volcanic ash deposits blanket large portions of The Northern Rockies ecoregion and are more widespread than in Ecoregion 16. Logging and mining are common and have caused stream water quality problems in the region.

— EPA

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Ecoregion