Sharrow and Kuntz measured the level of elk (Cervus canadensis) grazing on three subalpine green fescue (Festuca viridula) meadows in Mt. Rainier National Park, and simulated grazing at different intensities (25, 50, 75%) and times during the growing season (early, mid, late). Elk utilization of forage in subalpine meadows was very low during the two years of the study. Less than half of the green fescue plants showed signs of browsing and only about 10% of the phytomass was removed on the majority of grazed plants, indicating that concerns about increased elk use in this area may not be valid. In the clipping experiment, as the level of defoliation increased total phytomass production increased, while the number of reproductive stems and standing phytomass at the end of the growing season decreased. The results of this study suggest that the forage species in the subalpine meadows of Mt. Rainier National Park can tolerate heavy grazing at varying times throughout the growing season. However, although grazing does not reduce vegetative production, reproduction is limited by heavy grazing and therefore if elk grazing intensity dose increase in the future, management may be required to maintain the composition of these grasslands.
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