Richter Lake
Location
Potential Research Topics:
Surveys of ecological information are needed on this RNA including systematic flora and fauna surveys; particularly of herbaceous plants, bats, reptiles and amphibians. The ice-walled lake plain end moraine glacial features in this area are unique because of its unmodified status.
Ecological and Physical Description
Richter Lake Hemlocks Research Natural Area (RNA) is a mosaic of natural plant communities: northern mesic forest, northern wet-mesic forest, northern hardwood swamp, and a collapsed ice-walled lake plain glacial geologic feature. It contains a microcosm of many of the predominant natural features associated with the Perkinstown End Moraine glacial deposit. The complex topography within this RNA permits rapid changes in tree cover over short distances promoting a heterogeneous forest of many types including old-growth pockets of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Two rare plants, little goblin moonwort (Botrychium mormo) and autumn coralroot (Corallorhiza odontorhiza), occur here.
Annual precipitation averages 33 inches (84 cm), 71% of which falls between April and September. Average seasonal snowfall is 40 inches (102 cm).
Medford 1 SW (station no. 475255) located about 12 mi (19 km) to the southeast of the RNA.
Bedrock of the Perkinstown End Moraine includes igneous, metamorphic, and volcanic rock. Bedrock is between 100 feet and 50 feet (30 - 15 m) of the land surface. Geomorphologic processes include till and lake deposition.
The soils of this RNA are well to moderately well drained sandy loams and silt loams. Moisture regime is dry-mesic to mesic to wet-mesic. Nutrient status is medium to rich. Sandy loam, loam, and fine sandy loam occur on 5-30% slopes. These are steep rolling soils over a loamy sand glacial till and outwash complex. These soils formed within glacial till areas but show evidence of outwash influence and occupy the backslope positions of well drained loamy pitted outwash hills. On the shoulders and backslope of end moraine hills are steep, hummocky soils that are moderately well-drained. Surface textures are sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, and occasionally silt loam on top of ice-walled lake plain features. These soils are generally found on 10-30% slopes.
For its relatively small size, the RNA contains numerous perennial and ephemeral woodland ponds. The forested areas occur as low islands within a matrix of mixed conifer-hardwood swamp drained by black ash-dominated drainages. An ephemeral stream drains a marshy wetland on the southern edge.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpinus caroliniana | American hornbeam | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Acer spicatum | mountain maple | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Hamamelis virginiana | witchhazel | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Osmorhiza claytonii | sweet cicely | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Aralia nudicaulis | sarsaparilla | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Uvularia sessilifolia | Aralia nudicaulis | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Hydrophyllum virginianum | Virginia waterleaf | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Lycopodium dendroideum | tree groundpine | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Botrychium virginianum | rattlesnake fern | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buteo lineatus | red-shouldered hawk | Common Fauna | ||
| raptor | Common Fauna | |||
| white tailed deer | Common Fauna | |||
| Ursus americanus | black bear | Common Fauna | ||
| Vulpes vulpes | red fox | Common Fauna | ||
| Mustela nivalis | least weasel | Common Fauna | ||
| Lepus americanus | snowshoe hare | Common Fauna |