The Suitability Of Commercially Available Grass Species for Revegetation of Montana Ski Area

Abstract

Subalpine areas that were disturbed by ski run construction and then seeded with commercially available grass seed from 2 to more than 10 years ago were examined at 6 Montana ski areas. Species adaptability to subalpine environments was estimated by comparing the species that had become established with those that had been seeded, as well as by presence. Special notice was made of species that had persisted for a decade or longer. Bromus inermis, Festuca ovina, F. rubra, Dactylis glomerata, Agropyron trachycaulum, and A. dasystachyum had become successfully established and were persistent in most areas. These species should establish successfully in similar subalpine habitats if seeded for erosion control and revegetation.