50 



hay meadows and pastures, and many of them are completely 

 dominated by Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass) . This 

 grass species is frequently introduced as a constituent of 

 permanent pastures, and is often cut for hay (Hitchcock et al. 

 1955-1969) ; it has undoubtedly supplanted native vegetation in 

 many areas along the drainage. However, three wetlands in the 

 drainage that are currently in good to excellent condition were 

 surveyed in detail. Notes on condition and dominant species are 

 given below: 



a. T28N, R33W, Sec. 9, E^: This area comprises the 

 largest contiguous intact wetland complex in the Bull 

 River drainage. The southern half of the wetland was 

 partially influenced by past beaver activity, and is 

 characterized by a high water table with numerous areas 

 of marshy ground or open water. The vegetation is 

 dominated by Carex rostrata (beaked sedge) and Carex 

 aquatilis (water sedge) . The northern portion of this 

 wetland is slightly higher in elevation, and the water 

 table is at or just below the substrate surface; it is 

 dominated almost exclusively by Carex lasiocarpa 

 (slender sedge) . 



The current Kootenai National Forest map shows this 

 wetland to be under the ownership of Champion 

 International, Inc.. Adjacent uplands, on Champion 

 lands north and east of the wetland, have been clear- 

 cut logged, but the wetland complex itself is currently 

 intact. 



b. T27N, R33W, Sec. 11, SW^-, : This wetland, adjacent to 

 the southernmost Highway 56 bridge over the Bull River, 

 consists of large marshes on the west and east sides of 

 an open freshwater lake. These marshes are dominated 

 by Carex lasiocarpa (slender sedge) , and are bordered 

 by a Spiraea douqlasii (Douglas spiraea) "hedge"; the 

 adjacent forest margin contains Pinus monticola 

 (western white pine) and Larix occidentalis (western 

 larch) . Small areas of floating sphagnum moss mats are 

 present along the western edge of the lake margin, and 

 support a population of Drosera rotundifolia (round- 

 leaved sundew) , a carnivorous plant adapted to such 

 acidic, nutrient-poor habitats. Dulichium arundinaceum 

 was also found in this same habitat. The lake has a 

 soft, muddy bottom and contains Nuphar varieqatum 

 (yellow water-lily) . 



This site is partially privately owned, but the lake is 

 on Kootenai National Forest lands. Better-drained 

 areas to the northwest, especially meadows, have been 

 seriously impacted by the invasion of Centaurea 



