You may need a year round vision. The Ceanothus looked sick because of the funky leaves, but the stand was healthy. The sap was running and the bark was quality. Likewise, we judge the Valeriana sitchensis when it's in full bloom, yet harvest when there is only a few sick looking dead leaves left aboveground. Appearances may be deceiving.
Beavers can make quite an impact on a meadow, like creating a lake.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi X nevadensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Ranunculus populago, Ribes lacustre, Anemone lyallii, Listera cordata . Dicot, many stamens with no floral cup, sepals often petal-like. Viola Middle Elevation Coniferous Woods Generally occurs at 4000', but it can vary wildly Hudsonian Zone - Lava dominated soils, often a dominant layer of Chimaphila umbellata . Canadian Zone - often a dominant layer of Xerophyllum tenax . Recent - Many plants can survive the cut and burn, many will not.