Rangeland monitoring in Willmore Wilderness Park

RANSELAND MONITOfttNS
IN

WILLMORE WILDERNESS PARK

Progress Report for
Foothills Model Forest

Prepared by

Cameron Lane

Michael Willoughby

1998

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016

https://archive.org/details/rangelandmonitorOOIane

Progress Report I, 1998 1

INTRODUCTION

Willmore Wilderness Park is a 4597 square kilometre area in west-central Alberta located
adjacent to the north side of Jasper National Park and east of the British Columbia border.
Established in 1959, it spans a broad transition zone from boreal forest to Rocky Mountains.
Being a wilderness park, and managed under such legislation, the main use of the park is for
recreation. Motorized vehicle use is prohibited within the park, instead cross country skiers,
hikers and back country horse users provide significant levels of traffic on the network of trails
scattered throughout the park’s valleys and mountain passes. The majority of use in the park
each year is during the summer and fall months. The use on the rangelands comes in the form of
recreational horse use, commercial guides and outfitters, offering backcountry trail riding,
camping in the summer, and hunting in the fall.

The increasing levels of horse use in Willmore has created concern for the condition of
native ranges found throughout the park. With most of the park being heavily forested, grazing
opportunities are limited to the valley bottoms and moist, semi-open drainages. Trails
throughout the park generally follow the more accessible valley bottoms. Traditional camping
sites located along many trails are receiving heavier intensities of grazing pressure than they can
presently sustain. As a result, change to the species composition and the productivity of the
native ranges are occurring in some areas. The invasion of non-native species on heavily used
areas and the retention of adequate supplies of winter forage for wildlife are also areas of
concern.

Recently, there has also been concern with the rate the native grasslands have been
encroached by shrubs. This is a serious problem because most of the productive grasslands
become inaccessible and less productive for both horses and wildlife. It is believed that the lack
of fire within the Park has allowed shrubs to expand onto the remaining grassland community
types.

A detailed classification of the rangeland resource in Willmore was completed by Bork
(1994). It included lists of plant community types, major plant species, forage production and
response to grazing pressure. At this time it was also recognised that long-term monitoring of a
number of these types was required to determine, range condition and trend, the effect of horse
and wildlife grazing on biomass production, soils and watersheds and to determine the
successional changes on these rangelands in the presence and absence of grazing and fire
disturbance. In 1998 a number of sites were established to examine the effects of shrub
encroachment onto grasslands, the effect of prescribed burning on shrub and tree cover and the
effect of horse and wildlife grazing on grassland vegetation. The specific objectives of the study
were to:

1 . Monitor shrub encroachment onto a Arctic Rough fescue-Tufted hairgrass dominated
community type near Eagles Nest Cabin.

2. Monitor shrub encroachment onto a Tufted hairgrass-Sedge dominated community type at
Sunset Creek.

3. Monitor the effect of a 1990 prescribed bum on a Bog birch-Willow/Bog sedge-Sedge
dominated community type at Monaghan Flats.

4. Monitor the effect of a prescribed bum on an Aspen forest dominated community at Kvass
flats in the presence and absence of horse grazing.

Progress Report I, 1998 2

5. Monitor the successional changes of a moderately to heavily grazed Slender wheatgrass-Sedge
dominated community in the presence and absence of horse grazing at the Sulphur River cabin.

6. Monitor the effect of big horn sheep and wildlife grazing on a White Mountain avens-Sedge
dominated community at Hayden ridge.

7. Assess overall range condition and determine appropriate carrying capacities (Horse Use
Days) for specific range community types throughout the park.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF WILLMORE WILDERNESS PARK

Willmore covers both foothill and mountain landforms and receives both boreal and
cordilleran climate influences with significant variations in temperature, elevation, slope and
precipitation (Strong 1992). The result is a wide array of plant communities in transition across
the span of the park. The higher elevations of the park are represented by the Alpine and
Subalpine subregions, with only limited corridors along the lower elevation, i.e. river valleys,
which are indicative of the Upper Foothills subregion (Strong and Thompson 1995).

Alpine subregion

The alpine environment generally occurs above timberline. Ogilvie (1969), found
timberline to be controlled by low temperature, wind desiccation, avalanching and snow depth.
The alpine plants and communities show adaptations to these extreme environmental conditions.
The alpine plant communities tend to be low growing where they are protected from the wind
and benefit from the warmer temperatures close to the ground (Ogilvie 1969). On south facing,
wind swept ridges the bog sedge and white dryad communities are found. At slightly lower
elevations where snow accumulates the low growing willow communities predominate (arctic
willow, snow willow, rock willow). On the north facing slopes where snow accumulates the
blackening sedge and heather community types are found. In the valley bottoms below
timberline the willow, bog birch, and grassy meadow community types are typical. The sequence
of plant communities in the Alpine and upper Subalpine is outlined in Willoughby and Smith
(1998).

Subalpine subregion

The subalpine subregion is a Rocky Mountain altitudinal vegetation zone with its upper
boundary formed by the Alpine subregion, whereas the lower boundary abuts the Montane,
Foothills parkland and the Upper Foothills subregions. In Alberta, the subalpine extends from
1525 m to 2175 m at its southernmost occurrence and from 1360 m to 2000 m in the vicinity of
Grande Cache (Strong 1992). The subalpine has a cordilleran climate characterised by snowy,
cold winters and showery cool summers. Annual precipitation ranges from 329 mm to 916 mm,
with maximum precipitation falling during July. The subalpine receives more precipitation
during the winter months than any subregion (Strong 1992). The mean summer temperatures
averages 9.4 °C and winter temperatures typically average -8.9 °C with December and January

Progress Report I, 1998 3

being the coldest months. The cold winter temperatures help to maintain the snowpack which
makes this an important watershed area.

The majority of the vegetation is dominated by serai lodgepole pine forests at lower
elevations with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forests being more common at higher
elevations. At timberline dwarf spruce, subalpine and whitebark pine are typical of the transition
to the Alpine subregion. Imperfectly drained bottomlands are dominated by willow, bog birch,
sedge, tufted hairgrass and California oatgrass species and the steep south facing slopes are often
dominated by fescue, hairy wildrye, wheatgrass and junegrass species (Willoughby and Smith
1998).

Upper Foothills subregion

This subregion is found in an elevation range below the subalpine and above the Lower
Foothills subregions. It ranges in elevation from 1200- 1500m at lower latitudes and from 1000-
1250 m at higher latitudes. It is dominated by closed canopy lodgepole pine forests with the
potential climax species on reference sites being white spruce and black spruce. This subregion
can be distinguished from the Subalpine subregion by the lack of engelmann spruce and from the
Lower Foothills by the lack of aspen.

This subregion has a boreal climate which is modified by the Rocky Mountains. The
average annual precipitation is 538 mm with over half the precipitation received in the summer
months (340 mm). The temperature averages 1 1.5 °C in the summer and -6.0 °C in the winter.
These temperatures are milder and not nearly as extreme as the other subregions within the
Boreal forest and Foothills natural regions.

The native grass and shrubland community types are found in the valley bottoms
adjacent to streams and rivers throughout the Upper Foothills subregion. Deep snow
accumulations and/or cold air drainage prevent trees from growing in these valley bottoms
(Daubenmire 1978). These grass and shrublands, historically burned frequently further
preventing tree encroachment. The sequence of grass and shrubland community types in the
Upper Foothills is outlined in Willoughby and Smith (1997).

METHODS

The transects established in Willmore will become part of the Alberta Environmental
Protection’s permanent rangeland reference area program. The Rangeland Reference Area
program administered by the Land and Forest Service was established by the Eastern Rockies
Forest Conservation Board to assess range condition and monitor trend on rangelands within the
boundaries of the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve (RMFR). To date fifty-nine reference areas
have been established throughout the foothills of Alberta extending from south of Blairmore to
Willmore Park. These areas include permanently marked grazed and ungrazed transects.

Species composition data has been recorded on these transects since 1953 when many of the sites
were established. Recently, the data of many of these sites has been analysed in order to
determine the successional pathways in the presence and absence of grazing. This long-term
data used in conjunction with a detailed ecological classification of the range community types
will help to determine the health of the forested rangelands in the province.

Progress Report I, 1998 4

Reference sites were established on areas that represented primary range. Originally sites
thought to be in poor range condition were selected. These sites were usually represented by
open grasslands on south- facing slopes, benchlands and terraces. The reference sites were not
located near salt or within 100-ft. (30-m) of a fence. The preferred distance from a water source
was greater than 1000-ft. (300-m) but less than 1-mi. (1.6-km).

The majority of the reference sites consist of a fenced exclosure and a 100-ft (33-m)
transect inside and outside the exclosure. The outside transect was situated 25-ft (8-m) or greater
from the edge of the exclosure. A number of reference areas consist only of permanently marked
transects. At 3 -in. (7-cm) intervals, the basal frequency of the plant species were recorded using
Parker's loop (Parker 1954). In 1982, the canopy cover of the plant species was also recorded (at
6-ft. (1.8-m) intervals) using a 20x50 cm Daubenmire frame. Presently, the transects are being
recorded every three years. All the basal frequency data prior to 1980 was converted to canopy
cover using regression analysis. In Willmore all transects are 30 m long and each transect will be
read every 2 m. Forbs, grass, moss and lichen canopy cover will be recorded in a 20x50 cm
quadrat and canopy cover of shrubs will be recorded in a 1 m2 quadrat. At each transect one to
five 50x100 cm quadrats were clipped , separated into trees, shrubs, forbs and graminoids, oven
dried and weighed. The recommended stocking rate is based on 50% of the total production and
the fact one horse unit requires 682 kg of dry weight material for one month of grazing.

A combination of both ordination (DECORANA) (Gauch 1982) and cluster analysis
(SAS) will be used to group the inside and outside transects of different years. These techniques
combine the sites based on the similarity of species composition. The groupings from cluster
analysis are overlain on the site ordination.

RESULTS

Willoughby (1997,1998) has found that it takes 20-30 years of continuous monitoring
before species composition changes can be detected from reduced grazing pressure or as a result
of shrub encroachment. It is likely that it will take longer to detect species composition changes
in the grass and shrublands of Willmore because of the harsh growing conditions found in the
mountainous terrain. The results outlined here will discuss the general ecology, objectives and
expected results for each site established in Willmore in 1998.

Eagles Nest Cabin transect

This transect was established in a Arctic Rough fescue-Tufted Hairgrass dominated
community just south of Eagles Nest cabin (Appendix A) to examine the effect of shrub
encroachment onto the native grasslands. This community type is transitional between the
Subalpine and Upper Foothills subregions. It represents the transition zone from the dry
Junegrass/Sage dominated slopes to the moist tufted hairgrass, sedge dominated community
types (Willoughby and Smith 1997). These grasslands are fairly moist and have well developed
soils which makes them very productive. Morgantini and Russell (1983), found that rough
fescue dominated community types were the primary foraging areas for elk in the Ya Ha Tinda
area. The presence of rough fescue likely makes this community type important for wildlife in
Willmore.

Progress Report I, 1998 5

Succession in the absence of disturbance is to a Bog birch/Rough fescue dominated
community (Willoughby and Smith 1997). The Bog birch community type generally has a half
to a third less forage than the rough fescue dominated community types.

Sunset Creek transect

This transect was established in a Tufted hairgrass-Sedge dominated community type at
the confluence of the Sunset creek and the North Berland river (Appendix A) in order to examine
the effect of shrub encroachment onto the native grasslands. This community type is typical of
moist meadows in both the Subalpine and Upper Foothills subregions (Willoughby and Smith
1997). This community type is drier than the pure sedge meadows, but moister than the rough
fescue dominated community types.

Willoughby (1998) found that when this community is protected from grazing or fire for
25-30 years, willow and bog birch expand and tufted hairgrass and sedge decline in the Upper
Foothills subregion. The decline in graminoid cover also results in a decline in available forage
production (2200 to 1800 kg/ha).

Monaghan burn transect

This transect was established at Monaghan flats (Appendix A) in order to examine the
effect of the 1990 prescribed bum on the Bog birch-Willow/Bog sedge dominated community.
The purpose of the original bum was to reduce willow and bog birch cover in an effort to
increase forage supply (MacCallum and Yakimchuk 1992). Initial results indicate that there has
been a decline in willow cover and an increase in bog birch cover to near pre-bum levels in 1998
(Table 1).

Table 1 : Percent cover and composition for willow and bog birch on Monaghan flats for prebum
1990, post bum 1990,1991 and 1998.

%cover %composition

Year

90

90

91

98

90

90

91

98

Willow

34

20

27

10

75

93

90

45

Bog birch

11

1

3

12

26

7

10

55

MacCallum and Yakimchuk (1992) found burning of the Monoghan flats meadow
initially reduced the height and canopy cover of birch and willow and shifted the composition to
favour willow, but they felt that both bog birch and willow would increase to pre-bum levels
within 7-10 years. Eight years after the bum bog birch had recovered to pre-bum levels and
willow had declined. The decline in willow is likely the result of not having the transect located
in exactly the same place as the previous transects. The increase in bog birch cover after fire is
similar to the results Bork et al. (1996) found at Seven Mile flats in the Upper Foothills

Progress Report I, 1998 6

subregion. They found that bog birch continued to increase in cover despite being burned 3
times in 10 years. They felt that periodic burning (3-5 year interval) would be needed to control
bog birch regrowth.

The presence of bog sedge in this community indicates that this community type is
located within the Subalpine subregion. Willoughby and Smith (1998) found that bog sedge
cover increased when one moved from the Upper Foothills to the Subalpine subregion. It is
important that this site continued to monitored because there is no other prescribed bum sites
within the Subalpine subregion that are currently being monitored.

Kvass burn exclosure

This exclosure was established in a burned aspen stand adjacent to Kvass flats (Appendix
A) in order to examine the effects of fire and horse grazing on aspen regeneration and forage
production. Currently, the dominant vegetation of the burned site is rose and hairy wildrye and
there is little evidence of aspen regeneration. It also appears there has been a dramatic increase
in forage supply from an unbumed aspen forest 500 kg/ha (Bork 1994) to over 1600 kg/ha in the
burned area (Table 3). However, further work will have to be done in the adjacent unbumed
aspen forest in order to make direct comparisons between pre and post burning at this site.

Sulphur exclosure

This exclosure was established in a Slender wheatgrass-Sedge dominated community
type, near the Sulphur River cabin (Appendix A). The site has been extensively utilized by
horses. Bork (1994) felt that this community type represented heavily grazed tufted hairgrass or
rough fescue dominated community types. It was felt that heavy grazing pressure caused fescue
or hairgrass to decline in the stand and allowed sedge and slender wheatgrass to increase. By
establishing an exclosure at this site the successional pathways of this community type in the
presence and absence of grazing can be determined. An understanding of the successional
pathways will allow range condition of this site and similar community types within Willmore to
be determined.

Hayden ridge exclosure

This wildlife exclosure was established by a MSc student in a White mountain avens
dominated community in the mid 1970's (Appendix A). These white mountain aven
communities are extensively utilized by bighorn sheep during the winter months because they
remain snow free. Transect readings from both inside and outside the exclosure indicate only
slight differences between the grazed and ungrazed transects (Table 2). The outside transect has
a larger number of species which one would expect in a grazed situation (Willoughby 1995).

The inside transect has a lower number of species and evidence of low growing woody species
(willow, bilberry) which are not found on the outside transect. The increase in woody species
inside the exclosure maybe the result of increased moisture and not the result of being ungrazed
by wildlife. Exclosures in Southern Alberta tend to be moister in the absence of grazing because
the increased litter inside the exclosure tends to catch more snow. Efforts are currently being

made to locate the original data from this study.

Progress Report I, 1998 7

Progress Report I, 1998 8

Table 2. Species canopy cover inside and outside the Hayden ridge exclosure in Willmore
Wilderness Park in 1998.

Species In Out

Grasses

Bog sedge

6

1

Hairy wildrye

6

9

Arctic rough fescue

T

T

Forbs

White mountain avens

39

42

Alpine hedysarum

2

T

Alpine bistort

4

3

White camas

1

1

Shrubs

Dwarf bilberry

T

-

Rock willow

T

-

Lichens

Reindeer lichen

40

10

Dog lichen

-

2

Species richness

19

25

DISCUSSION AND MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Monitoring these reference sites in Willmore will establish a benchmark to determine the
ecological climax and successional changes of these range communities. It will provide an
assessment of range condition of similar range types altered by domestic or wildlife grazing,
flooding, or lack of natural wild fire. Understanding succession and the ecological diversity of
these range types will assist in developing management schemes throughout the park.

In addition to monitoring species diversity, biomass production was also collected to
determine the amount of forage available for domestic and wildlife grazing. Based on current
biomass production (kg/ha) carrying capacities of each site were assessed based on 50%
allocation of total production and 1 .5 Animal Units for a horse. This establishes a stocking rate
(Horse Days per hectare) to enable land managers to allocate appropriate amount of horse use
levels that sustain the natural range types within a given area (Table 3).

However, it must be understood that to ensure the continued productivity and survival of
some native range types, particularly those that have been overgrazed, much lower stocking rates
are needed for range recovery to occur. Domestic grazing can also be used, in conjunction with
prescribed fire, to restrict shrub and tree encroachment thereby protecting these natural range
types.

Monitoring species composition and biomass production establishes an ecological

Progress Report I, 1998 9

evaluation of how these range types are changing overtime based on current management
practices. It provides information on the condition of the park and provides guidelines on how to
manage these range types to maximize species richness, diversity, productivity, wildlife habitat,
and aesthetics.

Table 3. Biomass production and stocking rates for sites monitored in Willmore Wilderness
Park, 1998.

Site Description

Range Community Types

Biomass

Production

(kg/ha)

Stocking Rate
(H.D./ha)

Kvass Flats

Aspen-Rose/Hairy Wild Rye

1645

37

Sulphur-Kvass

Slender Wheatgrass - Sedge

693

15

Monoghan Flats

Bog birch-Willow/Bog Sedge

2022

45

Hayden Ridge

White Mountain Avens

289

Non-use

Sunset Creek

Tufted Hairgrass-Sedge

2264

50

Eaglesnest

Arctic Rough Fescue-Tufted
Hairgrass

1374

30

Progress Report I, 1998 10

LITERATURE CITED

Bork, E. 1994. Ecological classification and management of native range in Willmore
Wilderness Park. Alberta Environmental Protection. Forest Management Division. Edmonton,
AB. Pub. no. T/282. 65pp.

Bork, E, D. Smith and M.G. Willoughby. 1996. Prescribed burning of bog birch.
Rangelands. 18: 4-7.

Daubenmire, R. 1978. Plant Geography. Academic Press. New York. 338 pp.

Gauch, H.G. 1982. Multivariate analysis in community ecology. Cambridge University
Press. Cambridge, 298 pp.

Ogilvie, R.T. 1969. The mountain forest and alpine zones of Alberta. In Vegetation Soils
and Wildlife. Edited by J.G. Nelson and M.J. Chambers. Methuen Publications, Toronto, pp 24-
44.

Parker, K.W. 1954. A method for measuring trend in range condition on national forest
ranges. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 26pp.

MacCallum, B. and R. Yakimchuk. 1992. Evaluation of the effects of one prescribed bum
on a Willow/Bog birch meadow in the Subalpine Ecoregion of Alberta. Rocky Mtn. Elk
Foundation and Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division. 50pp.

Morgantini, L.E. and W.B. Russell. 1983. An assessment of three selected elk winter
ranges in the Rocky Mountain Region. Alberta Fish and Wildlife. Edmonton, AB. 265 pp.

Strong, W.L. 1992. Ecoregions and ecodistricts of Alberta. Vol. I. Alberta Forestry Lands
and Wildlife, Land Information Services Division, Resource Information Branch, Edmonton,

AB. T/244. 77pp.

Strong, W.L. and J.M. Thompson. 1995. Ecodistricts of Alberta. Summary of
Biophysical Attributes. Alberta Environmental Protection, Resource Data Division. Edmonton,
AB. Pub. no. T/319. 91pp.

Willougbhy, M.G. 1995. Species diversity and how it is affected by livestock grazing on
Alberta’s Eastern slopes. Proceedings Fifth International Rangeland Congress. Salt Lake City,
Utah. July 1995. Pg. 610-611.

Willoughby, M.G. and D. Smith. 1997. Range plant community types and carrying
capacity for the Upper Foothills subregion. Dept, of Environmental Protection. Land and Forest
Service. Edmonton. AB. Pub. No. T/356. 76pp.

Progress Report I, 1998 1 1

Willoughby, M.G. and D. Smith. 1998. Range plant community types and carrying
capacity for the Subalpine subregion. Dept, of Environmental Protection. Land and Forest
Service. Edmonton. AB. 108pp.

Willoughby, M.G. 1997. Rangeland Reference Areas; Castle River range condition and
trend from 1953-1995. Dept, of Environmental Protection. Land and Forest Service. Edmonton.
AB. Pub. No. T/358. 22pp.

Willoughby, M.G. 1998. Rangeland Reference Areas; Seven mile creek range condition
and trend from 1964-1997. Dept, of Environmental Protection. Land and Forest Service.
Edmonton. AB. Pub. No. T/403. 20pp.

APPENDIX A:

SITE DESCRIPTIONS AND PHOTOS

Eagle’s nest cabin transect

Region - Northeast Slopes; District - Foothills; Date established - 1998; Location -
Twp. 52, Rge. 4 Sec. 22 NW W6 (N 53.30.477, W1 18.29.946); Elevation -1614 m;
Nutrients - permesotrophic; Drainage - well; Moisture - subhygric; Geological
formation: Old flood plain, Glacial Fluvial parent material; Soil Classification - Orthic
Regosol; Description of Area - rough fescue, hairy wildrye, tufted hairgrass meadow
surrounded by willow and bog birch shrublands; Major species present, rough fescue
(Festuca scabrella), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), slender wheatgrass
(Agropyron trachycaulum), hairy wildrye (Elymus innovatus) sedge spp (Carex spp.)
Veiny meadow rue (Thalictrum venulosum), yellow beardtongue (Penstemon confertus);
Serai stage - young edaphic climax; Transect locations -30 m long, read every 2 m
starting at 2 m, read on right hand side of the tape, read from west to east; This transect
was one of a number of transects established to monitor shrub encroachment onto the
remaining grassland meadows within Willmore Wilderness Park.

■

.

■

Sunset transect

Region - Northeast Slopes; District - Foothills; Date established - 1998; Location -
Twp. 54, Rge. 5 Sec. 30 SE W6 (N 53.41.982, W 118.43.600); Elevation -1630 m;
Nutrients - permesotrophic; Drainage - well; Moisture - subhygric-hygric; Parent
material: Fluvial; Soil Classification: Cumulic Humic Regosol; Description of Area -
tufted hairgrass meadow surrounded by willow and bog birch shrublands; Major species
present tall lungwort (Mertensia paniculata), monkshood (Aconitum delphinifolium),
tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum),
sedge spp (Carex spp.) Veiny meadow rue (Thalictrum venulosum); Serai stage - young
edaphic climax; Transect locations - 30 m long, read every 2 m starting at 2 m, read on
right hand side of tape from north to south; This transect was one of a number of
transects established to monitor shrub encroachment onto the remaining grassland
meadows within Willmore Wilderness Park.

Monoghan bum transect

Region - Northeast Slopes; District - Foothills; Date established - 1998; Location -
Twp. 53, Rge. 7 Sec. 23 SE W6 (N 53.35.227, W1 18.55.172); Elevation -1530 m;
Nutrients - permesotrophic; Drainage - well; Moisture - subhygric; Soil Classification -
Orthic Humic Regosol; Parent material-alluvial deposits on top of outwash gravels;
Description of Area - Bog birch , willow shrubland which was burned in the spring of
1990; Major species present, Bog birch (Betula glandulosa), willow (Salix spp.), bog
sedge (Kobresia myosuroides), slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum), sedge spp
(Carex spp.) California oatgrass (Danthonia califomica), strawberry (Fragaria virginiana);
Serai stage - young edaphic climax; Transect locations - 30 m long, read every 2 m
starting at 2 m, read on right hand side of tape from east to west; This transect was
established to monitor the effects of the 1990 bum on bog birch and willow cover at
Monoghan flats within Willmore Wilderness Park.

'

■

Kvass bum exclosure

Region - Northeast Slopes; District - Foothills; Date established - 1998; Location -
Twp. 56, Rge. 9 Sec. 3 NEW6(N 53.49.02, W1 19.14.850); Elevation -1060 m; Aspect
- 180°; Slope - 20%; Nutrients - mesotrophic; Drainage - well; Moisture - mesic; Soil
Classification - Orthic Humic Regosol; Parent material - coarse textured colluvial
deposits, on slopes above the Smoky River; Description of Area - aspen stands which
were burned in 1996; Major species present, slender wheatgrass (Agropyron
trachycaulum), sedge spp (Carex spp.) hairy wildrye (Elymus innovatus) snowberry
(Symphoricarpos occidentalis), rose (Rosa acicularis), strawberry (Fragaria virginiana),
Lindley’s aster (Aster ciliolatus), showy aster (Aster conspicuus); Serai stage - early
serai; Exclosure construction - 20 x 30 m with wood and steel posts and two strands of
barbed wire; Transect locations - 30 m long, read every 2 m starting at 2 m, read on right
hand side of tape from north to south, the outside transect is located 3 m to the east of the
exclosure and is read from north to south; This exclosure was established to monitor the
effects of the prescribed bum at Kvass flats in Willmore Wilderness Park

Sulphur exclosure

Region - Northeast Slopes; District - Foothills; Date established - 1998; Location -
Twp. 54, Rge. 8 Sec. 13 NE W6 (N 53.40.080, W1 19.02.196); Elevation -1634 m;
Nutrients - mesotrophic; Drainage - well; Moisture - mesic - subhygric; Soil
Classification - Orthic Regosol; Parent material - coarse textured fluvial deposits,
adjacent to the Sulphur River; Description of Area - grazed sedge, slender wheatgrass
meadow surrounded by willow and bog birch shrublands; Major species present, slender
wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum), sedge spp (Carex spp.) , sheep fescue (Festuca
saximontana), alpine milkvetch (Astragalus alpinus), mouse eared chickweed (Cerastium
arvense), strawberry (Fragaria virginiana); Serai stage - young edaphic climax; Exclosure
construction - 20 x 30 m with wood and steel posts and two strands of barbed wire;
Transect locations - 30 m long, read every 2 m starting at 2 m, read on right hand side of
tape from north to south, outside transect located 3 m on north side of the exclosure and
read from south to north; This exclosure was established to monitor shrub encroachment
and recovery of heavily grazed grassland meadows within Willmore Wilderness Park.

Hayden ridge exclosure

Region - Northeast Slopes; District - Foothills; Date established - 1976?; Location -
Twp. 55, Rge. 7 Sec. 21 NE W6 (N53.46.170 W1 18.58.608); Elevation - 1878 m; Aspect
- 180°; Slope - 30%; Nutrients - submesotrophic; Drainage - rapidly; Moisture -
subxeric; Soil Classification - non-soil; Parent material - coarse textured sandstone shale
deposits, on ridge tops overlooking the Sulphur River; Description of Area - dry
windswept snow free ridges; Major species present, white mountain avens (Dryas
integrifolia, D. octopetala), bog sedge (Kobresia myosuroides), hairy wildrye (Elymus
innovatus) alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum), reindeer lichen (Cladina spp); Serai
stage - mature edaphic climax; Exclosure construction - 20 x 30 m with wood and steel
posts and 8 ft page wire; Transect locations - 30 m long, read every 2 m starting at 2 m,
read on right hand side of tape from northeast to southwest, the outside transect is
located 3 m to the east of the exclosure and is read from south to north; This exclosure
was established in the mid 1970’s to monitor the effects of the bighorn sheep grazing in
Willmore Wilderness Park

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