Horseshoe Bay
Location
Ecological and Physical Description
The RNA features cobble beaches, wooded dunes, northern fens, interdunal wetlands, rich conifer swamps, Great Lakes marshes, and hardwood-conifer swamps. Notable are extensive areas of shallow pools underlain by marl and occurring on both current and former shorelines of Lake Huron. A number of Federal and state listed species have been observed within the RNA, including four state threatened plant species: sedge (Carex scirpoidea), crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), hyssop-daisy (Erigeron hyssopifolius), northern meadow-rue (Thalictrum venulosum); one Federal and state threatened plant, Great Lakes goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii); the state threatened osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and the Federal and state threatened American bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Average annual precipitation is 29.9 inches (76 cm), and average annual snowfall is 78 inches (198 cm).
The nearest NOAA weather station is #1492 in Cheboygan, Michigan, which is 24 miles (38.6 km) from the approximate center of the RNA at the narrow west end of Lake
The quaternary geology is lacustrine sands and thin till over bedrock. The bedrock geology is Pointe aux Chenes Shale and St. Ignace Dolomite, which typically lie less than 50 feet below the surface. Soils of the south unit consist mainly of Markey and Carbondale mucks and Rosecommon mucky sand. The north unit contains Markey and Carbondale mucks, the Eastport-Rosecommon complex, Solona loam, Deford mucky loamy fine sand, and Ingalls fine sand.
Martineau Creek and an unnamed stream flow through the south unit. The Carp River lies adjacent to the southern boundary of the north unit. An unnamed intermittent stream flows through the central area of the north unit. A high water table is a prominent feature, and ponds and standing water are common.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda glaucophylla | Bog-rosemary | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Aronia melanocarpa | chokeberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Chamaedaphne calyculata | leatherleaf | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Cornus sp. | dogwood | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Epigea repens | trailing arbutus | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Gaultheria procumbens | wintergreen | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Gaylussacia baccata | black huckleberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Juniperus horizontalis | creeping juniper | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Kalmia polifolia | swamp laurel | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Ledum groenlandicum | Labrador tea | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Rhamnus alnifolia | American alder-buckthorn | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Salix spp. | willows | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Alnus rugosa | speckled alder | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | bearberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Diervilla lonicera | bush honeysuckle | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Gaultheria sp. | wintergreen | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Ribes triste | swamp red current | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Shepherdia canadensis | rabbit-berry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Potentilla fruticosa | shrubby five-fingers | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Eleocharis spp. | Spike rushes | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Empetrum nigrum) | crowberry | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Erigeron hyssopifolius | hyssop daisy | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Calamagrostis canadensis) | bluejoint | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Carex stricta and C.. aquatilis | sedges | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Carex spp. | sedges | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorex sp. | Shrew | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Lepus americanus | snowshoe rabbit | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Eutamias sp. | least chipmunk | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | red squirrel | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Peromyscus maniculatus | deer mouse | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Ondatra zibethicus | muskrat | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Erethizon dorsatum | porcupine | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Canis latrans | coyote | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Canis lupus | gray wolf | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Ursus americanus | black bear | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Mustela vison | American mink | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Lutra candensis | river otter | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Felis rufus) | bobcat | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Odocoileus virginianus | white-tailed deer | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Alces alces | moose | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Bald eagle | Common Bird Species | ||
| Pandion haliaetus | osprey | Common Bird Species |