Ecosystems

Washington’s diverse geography and climate create a range of habitats for the more than 3,000 vascular plants native to our state. In addition to these plants there are hundreds of species of mosses, lichens and liverworts. This state’s native plants have adapted to live in places with less than 5 inches of rainfall to places with more than 200 inches of rain; from sea level to the alpine zones of our highest mountains.

	Alpine Ecosystem The harsh environment of the true alpine zone (about 5,500 feet and above) reduces most vegetation to "dwarf" status.

	Motane Ecosystem These are the mountain forests of Washington which lie roughly between 1,500 and 3,000 feet.

	Ponderosa Ecosystem The stately ponderosa pine inhabits the dry vegetation zones east of the Cascade crest. While ponderosa pine may dominate the vegetation, it is accompanied by a diverse array of other plants, depending on the site.

	Shrubsteppe Ecosystem Dryness characterizes the rainshadow east of the Cascade Mountains. The most obvious plants you see from the highways are the scrubby, shrubby combinations of sagebrush, rabbitbrush and buckwheat interspersed with bright yellow balsamroot, purple lupine, white phlox and bunchgrasses. Grazing Lands Forum 2007 Forum addressed livestock grazing on public lands (much of this land is shrubsteppe) in Washington.

	San Juan and Olympic Rainshadow Ecosystem Occurring in the rainshadow of the Olympics this ecosystem is found on the eastside of the Olympics and includes areas around Sequim and Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Island.

	Sub-alpine Ecosystem Islands of mountain hemlock, subalpine fir, and Englemann spruce surrounded by wildflower meadows characterize Washington’s subalpine.
	West Lowland Forest Ecosystem Within this extensive vegetation zone are some unique plant communities. The coastal rainforest with its super abundant rain fall, old growth forest stands, and Garry Oak woodland prairies in scattered patches and larger openings in southwest Washington.