Cascades Ecoregion: Chapter 11 in <i>Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000</i>

Sorenson, Daniel G.

Abstract:

The Cascades Ecoregion (Omernik, 1987; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997) covers approximately 46,787 km² (18,064 mi²) in Washington, Oregon, and California (fig. 1). The main body of the ecoregion extends from Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, in the north, to Hayden Mountain, near State Highway 66 in southern Oregon. Also included in the ecoregion is a small isolated section south of Bend, Oregon, as well as a larger one around Mount Shasta, California. The ecoregion is bounded on the west by the Klamath Mountains, Willamette Valley, and Puget Lowland Ecoregions; on the north by the North Cascades Ecoregion; and on the east by the Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills Ecoregion. The Cascades Ecoregion is a forested, mountainous ecoregion, and it contains a large amount of Cenozoic volcanic rock and many active and inactive volcanoes, especially in the east (McNab and Avers, 1994). Elevations range from near sea level at the Columbia River to 4,390 m at Mount Rainier in Washington, with most of the ecoregion between 645 and 2,258 m. The west side of the ecoregion is characterized by long, steep ridges and wide river valleys. Subalpine meadows are present at higher elevations, and alpine glaciers have left till and outwash deposits (McNab and Avers, 1994). Precipitation in the Cascades Ecoregion ranges from 1,300 to 3,800 mm, falling mostly as rain and snow from October to June. Average annual temperatures range from –1ºC to 11ºC. The length of the growing season varies from less than 30 days to 240 days (McNab and Avers, 1994).

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

70042597

Citation Author:

Sorenson, Daniel G.

Citation Contributing Office:

Western Geographic Science Center

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Citation End Page:

131

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Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000: Volume A in Status and trends of land change in the United States--1973 to 2000 (PP 1794-A)

Citation LatN:

48.0

Citation LatS:

41.0

Citation LonE:

-121.0

Citation LonW:

-123.5

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Citation Phsyical Description:

Chapter 11: 9 p.

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Citation Public Comments:

This publication is Chapter 11 in Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000, which is Volume A in Status and trends of land change in the United States--1973 to 2000, PP 1794. Volume A consists of 30 chapters. For access to other chapters, please visit PP 1794-A.

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Professional Paper

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Citation Series Number:

1794-A-11

Citation Search Results Text:

Cascades Ecoregion: Chapter 11 in Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000; 2012; PP; 1794-A-11; Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000: Volume A in Status and trends of land change in the United States--1973 to 2000 (PP 1794-A); Sorenson, Daniel G.