A Floristic Inventory and Spatial Database for
Fort Wainwright, Interior Alaska
CHARLES RACINE, ROBERT LICHVAR, BARBARA MURRAY, GERALD TANDE,
ROBERT LIPKIN, AND MICHAEL DUFFY
INTRODUCTION
LITERATURE REVIEW
The purpose of this study is to provide an in-
No comprehensive flora has been produced for
ventory and analysis of the existing flora of Fort
the Fort Wainwright area of Alaska, even though
Wainwright (FWA), a 370,450-hectare (915,000-
the Fairbanks area is the center of activity for most
acre) army base in interior Alaska near Fairbanks
of interior Alaska's population and is also a cen-
(Fig. 1). The floristic inventory is in support of the
ter for many of the State's natural resource agen-
U.S. Army's Integrated Training Area Manage-
cies and the research facilities at the University of
ment (ITAM) program and provides a record of
Alaska.
the plant genetic biodiversity on FWA. In addi-
The nearest detailed vascular floristic surveys
tion, the record also helps support data needs in
have been completed for the White Mountains, 105
response to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the
km (65 mi) north of the base (Juday 1988, 1989);
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and
the Ray Mountains, 200 km (130 mi) northwest of
AR 420-74 for Natural ResourcesLand, Forest and
Fairbanks (Kassler 1980); and various bluffs along
Wildlife Management. The inventory includes
the Yukon and Charley Rivers, 200 km (130 mi)
both vascular plants and ground-inhabiting
northeast of the base (Alaska Planning Group
cryptogams (lichens, mosses, and liverworts). The
1974a, b, d, Batten et al. 1979, Kassler 1979,
latter group is an important component of the
Howenstein et al. 1985, Young 1976a, b). Various
Alaskan flora and vegetation. This inventory at
surveys of localized areas of interest have been
FWA during 1995 follows a similar floristic inven-
conducted over the years by herbarium research-
tory completed for Fort Richardson during 1994.
ers of the University of Alaska Museum (e.g.,
Additional objectives include:
Murray 1994), and several species lists have been
1. Compile a preliminary list of potential spe-
compiled by the Institute of Northern Forestry for
cies that might occur on FWA from her-
the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest over the
barium and literature sources.
course of ongoing, long-term, ecological research
2. Subdivide FWA into floristic inventory ar-
on the boreal forest (Foote 1992, 1995, Viereck et
eas to provide for representative collections
al. 1993). Other generally less complete lists have
from all parts of the facility.
been made for area-specific vegetation studies of
3. Collect triplicate sets of all voucher vascular
the Fairbanks area (see Methods).
plant specimens and a duplicate set of cryp-
togams. This includes as comprehensive a
collection of vascular plants as possible but
STUDY AREA
only common ground-cover cryptogams.
4. Identify the specimens collected in the field
Location
to the appropriate subspecific level and con-
Fort Wainwright Military Installation (FWA) is
duct final verification of specimens by spe-
located south and east of Fairbanks in interior
Alaska (Fig. 1) between 64 15′ and 65 00′ north
cialists at the Univeristy of Alaska Museum.
latitude and 148 40′ and 146 30′ west longitude.
5. Characterize briefly the landscape and flo-
ristic setting of FWA.
Study area boundaries for this investigation were
6. Provide species lists for FWA to include re-
defined by the Base boundaries found on the four
lationships to floristic regions and habitats.
1:50,000-scale Defense Mapping Agency "Fort
7. Compile a list of references useful for those
Wainwright Military Installation Maps, North
without technical training for identification
(Cantonment and northern part of Tanana Flats),
of cryptogams, with emphasis on illustrated
South (Tanana Flats including Blair Lakes area),
works.
East (Yukon Maneuver Area) and West (Tanana
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