Battle Creek
Location
Potential Research Topics:
Because of its old-growth character, Battle Creek RNA will serve as a reference area for study of forest succession, and management techniques used elsewhere. Possible topics include: old-growth forest, carbon storage and dynamics, climate reconstructions, bats, bryophytes, cold-water stream studies, and riparian ecology under forest canopy.
Ecological and Physical Description
Battle Creek Research Natural Area contains high quality northern mesic forest with large white pine and eastern hemlock bordering a half-mile (0.8 km) stretch of the North Branch of the Oconto River. This community grades into an ecologically significant northern wet-mesic forest. The super-canopy pines provide habitat for numerous wood warblers and the state-protected bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus), which uses the site. This stand is a relatively rich habitat with a diverse herbaceous layer and sparse mid-story. The RNA also contains a spring-fed, closed canopy stream containing course woody debris, and it is bordered by northern wet-mesic forest dominated by white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) with lesser amounts of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and black ash (Fraxinus nigra).
Annual precipitation averages 33.1 inches (84.1 cm). Average seasonal snowfall is 64.7 inches (164 cm).
The Lakewood 3 NE weather station (station no. 474523) is 5 miles east of the RNA.
Bedrock of the RNA is igneous, metamorphic, and volcanic rock and between 100 feet and 50 feet of the land surface. Geomorphologic processes were glacial meltwater and till deposition. The majority of the area contains very deep somewhat excessively drained soils, which are shallow to stratified sandy outwash (Pence series). Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid in the loamy part of the solum; moderately rapid to very rapid in the sandy part of the solum; and rapid or very rapid in the substratum. Slopes range from 0 to 45 percent.
The RNA also has a small area of well-drained fine sandy loam soils (Padus series) on 6-15 percent slope. These soils formed mostly in loamy alluvium and are underlain by stratified sandy outwash on glacial lake plains, outwash plains, stream terraces, eskers, kames, and moraines. In addition, the RNA has a small area of Menahga sands on slopes of 0-6 percent adjacent to the North Branch of the Oconto River. The Menahga series consists of very deep, excessively drained to well drained soils that formed in sandy glacial outwash sediments on outwash plains, valley trains, and some moraines and drumlins.
The adjacent Oconto River is fast-moving and clear with exposed bedrock and boulders; is a high quality hard-water stream having slightly alkaline water. The entire stream is classed as trout water with brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), brown trout (Salmo trutta), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) inhabiting the waters. Combined with the large trees of the RNA, it is very scenic. The RNA also protects a quarter mile segment of Battle Creek, a spring-fed, closed canopy stream containing course woody debris.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonicera Canadensis | American fly honeysuckle | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Corylus spp | hazel | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Viola pubescens | downy yellow violet | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Trillium grandiflorum | large-flowered trillium | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Actaea spp | baneberry | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Streptopus lanceolatus v. longipes | rosy twisted stalk | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Dryopteris intermedia | fancy wood fern | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| family Parulidae | wood warblers | Common Fauna | ||
| Haliaeetus leucocephalus | protected bald eagle | Common Fauna |