Birch Creek Cove
Ownership: FS
Ecoregion: Blue Mountains
Forest: Umatilla NF
District: North Fork John Day RD
Ecological and Physical Description
Birch Creek Cove proposed Research Natural Area (pRNA) was chosen to represent grand-fir (Abies grandis) plant communities and associated old-growth vegetation. The topography is flat to very gently sloping with a former pond margin and a filled-in pond. Grand fir is the dominant tree species while lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), western larch (Larix occidentalis), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) are also common. Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) and aspen (Populus tremuloides) dominate the former pond region while small-fruited bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus), several sedges (i.e. Carex, lenticularis, C. stipata, C. limnophila), mannagrass (Glyceria elata), and Sierra bog orchid (Habenaria dilatata var. leucostachys) dominate the filled-in pond.