The Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills ecoregion is a Level III ecoregion designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, and California. In the rain shadow of the Cascade Range, the eastern side of the mountains experiences greater temperature extremes and receives less precipitation than the west side. Open forests of ponderosa pine and some lodgepole pine distinguish this region from the Cascades ecoregion, where hemlock and fir forests are more common, and from the lower, drier ecoregions to the east, where shrubs and grasslands are predominant. The vegetation is adapted to the prevailing dry, continental climate and frequent wildfire. Volcanic cones and buttes are common in much of the region.[1][2]
The Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills ecoregion has been subdivided into ten Level IV ecoregions, as described below. Level IV mapping is not yet complete in California, and the information below includes only the sections in Washington and Oregon.
^ This article incorporates public domain material from Thorson, TD; Bryce, SA; Lammers, DA; et al. Ecoregions of Oregon(PDF). United States Geological Survey. (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs; with a Reverse side).
^ This article incorporates public domain material from Pater, D; Bryce, SA; Kagan, J; et al. Ecoregions of Western Washington and Oregon(PDF). United States Geological Survey. (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs; with a Reverse side).
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WWF and the EPA divide the mountains into three ecoregions: the Sierra Nevada, the Klamath Mountains, and the EasternCascadesSlopesandFoothills (occurring...
slopes significantly influence native plant communities; they are products of the prevailing topographic trend. Forests on steep, north-facing slopes...
The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon...
bowl-like basin east of the Cascades. Cold air damming causes this Arctic air to bank up along the easternCascadeslopes, especially into the lower passes...
Nearctic realm. Ecoregions are listed by biome: EasternCascades forests (EasternCascadesSlopesandFoothills) Great Basin montane forests Klamath–Siskiyou...
on drier, south- and west-facing slopes underlain by sandstone. Pastureland or hayland occur on nearly level ridgetops, benches, and valley floors. Population...
Columbia Plateau ecoregion and higher elevations falling within the EasternCascadesSlopesandFoothills. Bighorn sheep, mule deer, and elk are among the large...
savanna, and woodland, it forms part of the boundary between the more heavily forested eastern country and the almost treeless Great Plains, and also marks...
and sagebrush grassland. North-facing slopes may support Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, subalpine conifers, aspen, and snowberry. South-facing slopes may...
island region merges into the higher elevation eastern Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains of eastern Arizona (southern Anasazi region). The sky islands...
the broad upland flats, ridges, andslopes, minor glacial till outcrops occur near the base of some of the side slopes. Silty clay loam soils have developed...
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This article incorporates public domain material from Thorson, TD; Bryce, SA; Lammers, DA; et al. Ecoregions of Oregon (PDF). United States Geological Survey. (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs; with a Reverse side).
