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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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,
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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
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Experiment Station. 523 p.
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