Pleasant Valley PRNA

Pleasant Valley proposed Research Natural Area (pRNA) was selected to represent diverse vegetational, geomorphologic and riparian conditions. The pRNA drops into the Snake River as a steep narrow canyon before opening into a relatively broad valley with Pleasant Valley Creek flowing through the center. The broad aspect of the valley has steep side slopes with a large, flat bench. The west slope of Hells Canyon has steep sides that rise abruptly and furrow into small rugged precipitous draws. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) are the dominant tree species. Slenderbush buckwheat, smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), ninebark (Physocarpus), snowberry (Gaultheria), douglas hawthorne, and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus) dominate the shrubland.  Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), red three-awn, bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), Sandberg wheatgrass, prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), and Giant wildrye (Leymus condensatus) dominate the grassland. The riparian zone includes Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), cottonwood (Populus), blackbead elder, hackberry  (Celtis spp.), white alder (Alnus rhombifolia), and mock orange (Philadelphus).