Copper Plateau is a nearly level to rolling plain in south central Alaska, nestled between mountain ranges, characterized by a subarctic continental climate, black spruce forests, poorly defined drainage, and a history as the site of Glacial Lake Ahtna.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Copper Plateau
CEC Level III Code
6.1.3
CEC Level II Code
6.1 Boreal Cordillera
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Copper Plateau, CEC 6.1.3 |
| Geographic Range | The Copper Plateau is a large, nearly level to rolling plain nestled between the Alaska Range, Wrangell Mountains, and Pacific Coastal Mountains in south central Alaska, occupying the site of Glacial Lake Ahtna. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Copper Plateau has a subarctic continental climate characterized by cool summers, very cold winters due to its cold-air sink location, a mean annual temperature of approximately -2°C, and mean annual precipitation ranging from 250 to 460 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The Copper Plateau is a nearly level to rolling plain, ranging from 420 to 900 m in elevation, occupying the site of Glacial Lake Ahtna, with silty or clayey soils over lacustrine deposits and coarse glacial tills. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation is dominated by black spruce forests and tall scrub, interspersed with wetlands, with black cottonwood, willow, and alder lining the rivers and streams. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Copper Plateau is home to wildlife such as black and brown bears, caribou, moose, wolverines, beaver, ruffed grouse, arctic grayling, burbot, and sockeye salmon, supporting subsistence hunting and fishing activities. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation is dominated by black spruce forests and tall scrub, interspersed with wetlands, with black cottonwood, willow, and alder lining the rivers and streams.
The Copper Plateau is home to wildlife such as black and brown bears, caribou, moose, wolverines, beaver, ruffed grouse, arctic grayling, burbot, and sockeye salmon, supporting subsistence hunting and fishing activities.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter / early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe places to emerge | Keep some leaf litter and stems; plan for early-blooming natives; avoid spring pesticide “cleanup” treatments |
| Spring | Steady food as populations ramp up | Plant or protect early and mid-season bloomers; provide shallow water (pebbles in a dish) |
| Summer | High-energy nectar; diverse flowers; nesting materials | Aim for multiple flower shapes/colors; keep a small bare-soil patch; avoid mowing everything at once |
| Late summer / fall | “Last chance” nectar; fuel for overwintering | Add late bloomers; let some plants go to seed; reduce tidying so shelter remains |
| Winter (or dormant season) | Shelter from cold and disturbance | Leave stems, seedheads, and leaf litter; avoid cutting everything down; plan next year’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers (often shrubs and early perennials) to feed emerging pollinators.
Summer bridge: reliable mid-season flowers that keep food available during peak activity.
Fall finisher: late bloomers (often asters/goldenrods where appropriate) to fuel the end of the season.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
