Northern Rockies Ecoregion: Chapter 7 in <i>Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000</i>

Taylor, Janis L.

Abstract:

The Northern Rockies Ecoregion (Omernik, 1987; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997) covers approximately 162,746 km² (63,200 mi²), primarily in Idaho but also including areas in western Montana and northeastern Washington (fig. 1). Canada forms the northern border of the ecoregion. To the west it is bordered by the Columbia Plateau and Blue Mountains Ecoregions, to the south by the Snake River Basin Ecoregion, and to the east by the Canadian Rockies, Middle Rockies, Northwestern Great Plains, and Northwestern Glaciated Plains Ecoregions; also to the east, the Northern Rockies Ecoregion interfingers with the Montana Valley and Foothill Prairies Ecoregion, each enclosing some isolated areas of the other (fig. 1). The ecoregion is composed of a series of high, rugged mountain ranges, mostly oriented northwest-southeast, with intermontane valleys between them (fig. 2). The entire ecoregion was glaciated during the Pleistocene (1,800,000 to 11,400 years ago), and today numerous large lakes occupy basins formed by glacial action (Omernik, 1987; Habeck and Mutch, 1973). Streams draining these mountain ranges provide a water source for many western cities and towns (fig. 3). The Continental Divide, located at the highest elevations along the northern Rocky Mountains, separates rivers that flow westward into the Columbia River watershed from those that flow eastward into the Missouri River watershed.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

70041575

Citation Author:

Taylor, Janis L.

Citation Contributing Office:

Western Geographic Science Center

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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:

49.0

Citation LatS:

43.0

Citation LonE:

-109.0

Citation LonW:

-120.0

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Citation Phsyical Description:

Chapter 7: 9 p.

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Citation Public Comments:

This publication is Chapter 7 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-7

Citation Search Results Text:

Northern Rockies Ecoregion: Chapter 7 in Status and trends of land change in the Western United States--1973 to 2000; 2012; PP; 1794-A-7; 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); Taylor, Janis L.