Rock River Canyon
Location
MI Natural Community Types:
Rock River Canyon RNA is primarily composed of Mesic Northern Forest (66% of the total area) and Limestone Cliff (26%).
Potential Research Topics:
Rock River Canyon RNA provides a diversity of fauna and flora to study in detail or in conjunction with climate change research and its effects on northern hardwoods and refugia sites.The stream system and non-acid moist cliffs provide opportunities for studies on amphibians, reptiles, or bats endemic to the RNA.
Ecological and Physical Description
Rock River Canyon RNA features an excellent example of essentially virgin northern hardwood stands containing sugar maple (Acer saccharum), American basswood (Tilia americana), and some American beech (Fagus grandifolia). This forest surrounds a 200-foot-deep, ¼ mile wide canyon with nearly vertical sandstone cliffs which are soft and easily eroded. Rock River, a remnant of the drainage of glacial Lake Duluth, runs through the canyon. Floristic composition of the stand is diverse due to the change in gradient and the unmodified character of the area. *Found in Rock River Canyon Wilderness Area
Annual precipitation averages 33.3inches (84.7cm);24% received during the growing season. Average seasonal snowfall is 178.6 inches (453.6cm).
Chatham Experimental Farm station, (I.D. # 201486, latitude 46 ̊20’N, longitude -86 ̊55’W). The station is about five miles due southeast of the RNA.
The RNA is located in the Central Lowland physiographic region and is characterized by Munising Formation and Jacobsville Sandstone bedrock with a surficial geology of thin to discontinuous glacial till over bedrock, glacial outwash sand, and gravel.
The northeastern plateau of the RNA is represented by Munising sandy loam at 0 to 6 percent slopes. This soil is moderately drained with moderately available water capacity above the fragipan. The south side of the Rock River Canyon is represented by Carbondale series. These soils were formed in depressions on till plains and are composed of organic material that can reach a depth of up to 51 inches (129.5 cm) with a medium acid to alkaline reaction.Shallow soils of the Onota-Deerton complex are found along the North Slope bordering Rock River.
The Rock River is approximately 20-ft wide (6.1 m) with a moderate current. The river is relatively shallow and rocky and therefore not easily navigable by kayak or canoe. Within the RNA, Rock River is confined by steep canyons, and there are no wetlands along this stretch.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corylus cornuta | Beaked hazelnut | Common Flora | ||
| Ribes cynosbati | eastern prickly gooseberry | Common Flora | ||
| Adiantum pedatum | northern maidenhair | Common Flora | ||
| Aralia nudicaulis | wild sarsasparila | Common Flora | ||
| Caulophyllum thalictroides | blue cohosh | Common Flora | ||
| Dentaria cucullaria | Dutchmen's breeches | Common Flora | ||
| Impatiens capensis | jewelweed | Common Flora | ||
| Maianthemum canadense | Canada mayflower | Common Flora | ||
| Osmorhiza claytonii | sweet cicely | Common Flora | ||
| Smilacina racemosa | false Solomon's seal | Common Flora | ||
| Trientalis borealis | starflower | Common Flora | ||
| Trillium grandiflorum | trillium | Common Flora | ||
| Viola pubescens | downy yellow violet | Common Flora |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canis latrans | coyote | Common Mammals | ||
| Tamias striatus | Eastern chipmunk | Common Mammals | ||
| Procyon lotor | raccoon | Common Mammals | ||
| Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | red squirrel | Common Mammals | ||
| Odocoileus virginianus | white-tail deer | Common Mammals | ||
| Sphyrapicus varius | Yellow-bellied sapsucker | Common Bird Species | ||
| Picoides villosus | Hairy woodpecker | Common Bird Species | ||
| Catharus guttatus | Hermit thrush | Common Bird Species | ||
| Seiurus aurocapilla | ovenbird | Common Bird Species | ||
| Cyanocitta cristata | bluejay | Common Bird Species | ||
| Sitta carolinensis | white-breasted nuthatch | Common Bird Species | ||
| Corvus brachyrhynchos | American crow | Common Bird Species |