Silver Creek

Silver Creek Research Natural Area (RNA) was selected to represent old growth ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) with pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens), old growth ponderosa with elk sedge (Carex garberi), and Sedge meadows in the riparian corridor. The RNA lies on a steep sided canyon with numerous seeps that help feed the sedge stands. Delinament Creek and Silver Creek lie within the RNA. The upper part of the canyon is dominated by an open ponderosa /pinegrass forest while the bottom of the canyon is dominated by an open ponderosa/elk sedge forest. The riparian zone adjacent to Silver Creek is dominated by (Carex lanuginose) and (C. nebraskensis). Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albu) and waxcurrant (Ribes cereum) dominate under the forest canopy. At the confluence of Silver and Delinament Creek lies a large stand of basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus).