Brush Creek Research Natural Area

State:

Wisconsin

County:

Taylor

Forest:

Chequamegon

District:

Medford-Park Falls

Established:

2014

Acres:

272

Description:

Brush Creek RNA centers around a northern mesic forest of second-growth eastern hemlock-hardwood forest containing an exceptional super-canopy white pine component on rugged terminal moraine topography. Interspersed throughout the area are numerous forested stands of mixed conifer and hardwood swamps in kettle depressions and along riparian drainages. Also included is a forested reach of Brush Creek, a headwater, morainal stream with rocky, cascading segments alternating with black ash bottomland forest. The site includes and borders a glacially formed ice-walled lake plain. This site is embedded within an area recognized by the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative as an Important Bird Area (IBA) which by definition provides essential habitat to one or more species of breeding or non-breeding birds, such as rare red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) and northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).

Ecological Information

Physical and Climatic Conditions

Nearest weather station, with distance and direction from RNA:

The Medford 1 SW weather station is 20 miles southeast of the RNA.

Annual precipitation (type, seasonal distribution) :

Annual precipitation averages 33.2 inches (84.3 cm), 70% of which falls between April and September. Average seasonal snowfall is 40.3 inches (102.3 cm).

Maximum and minimum temperatures:

Temperatures average 58.6° F between April and September and between October and March temperatures average 23.9° F. Daily maximum temperatures average 51.3° F and daily minimum temperatures average 31.1° F.

Elevation:

Elevations range from 1,300 feet (396 m) to 1,370 feet (418 m) above sea level.

Geology and Soils:

Landform is terminal end moraine of the Chippewa Lobe. The terrain tends to be hummocky, with steep slopes and wet kettle depressions common. Upland soils are generally well-drained sandy loam. Moisture regime ranges from mesic to wet and nutrient status from medium to medium-rich. Soils include deep peat and Iron River-Milaca-Pence association. Peat soils occupy nearly level, broad peat basins. They are formed from sedges, grasses and woody peats more than 42 inches (107 cm) deep. These acidic soils often support scattered to dense stands of black spruce with tamarack and cedar common on sites with internal water movement. Soils of the Iron River-Milaca-Pence series occupy rolling to steep glacial uplands. They formed in shallow loamy deposits over sandy loam to loam glacial till or sandy, gravelly and cobbly outwash.

Aquatic Features:

Brush Creek is a headwater, morainal stream with rocky, cascading segments alternating with black ash (Fraxinus nigra) bottomland forest. Interspersed throughout the site are small ephemeral woodland ponds that occur in some of the glacial depressions.

Ecological Classification & Inventory

Section:

Northern Highlands (212X)

Subsection:

Perkinstown End Moraines (212Xe)

Landtype Association(s):

Perkinstown End Moraines (212Xe)

Plant Communities:

 

Complete Plant List

Common Shrub Species

Mountain maple (Acer spicatum), Bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis), American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis).

Common Herbaceous Species:

Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), Obscure (rare) clubmoss (Lycopodium obscurum), Bearded shorthusk (Brachyelytrum erectrum), Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), Bluebead (Clintonia borealis), Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens), Threeleaf goldthread (Coptis trifolia), Roughleaf ricegrass (Oryzopsis asperifolia), Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytonia), Mountain woodsorrel (Oxalis montana), Intermediate woodfern (Dryopteris intermedia), Long beechfern (Phegopteris connectilis), Dwarf red blackberry (Rubus pubescens), Shining clubmoss (Huperzia lucidula), Starflower (Trientalis borealis)

Common Fauna

Fauna typical of mesic northern forest and riverine communities is expected in the RNA.

Potential Research Topics

rush Creek provides unique opportunities to investigate forested ice-walled lake plain glacial features (eg. varved sediments) and the rich vegetation found there, Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) near the southwestern edge of its range, and habitat attracting large raptors.  Surveys of taxa not yet recorded include amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, bats, and other mammals.

Related link: Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program Brush Creek Hemlocks

Related Reports and Publications