Bell Meadow Research Natural Area Establishment Record

The Bell Meadow Research Natural Area is distinguished by its well-developed aspen forest, riparian thickets, and wet and dry meadow vegetation. It is underlain primarily by granitic rock and riverine and lacustrine alluvium, with a small amount of Pliocene volcanics in the northeast portion. The meadow is a product of repeated overbank flood deposition separated by non-flood periods of organic accumulation. The meadow may be divided into an upper and lower part, separated by a narrows bordered on each side by granitic outcrops. The present meadow vegetation is a mosaic of riparian willow thickets, wet meadow, aspen groves, dry meadow, and bordering coniferous forest. On the surrounding granitic and volcanic outcrops and slopes are forests of Jeffrey pine, white fir (Abies concolor), and red fir, and extensive montane chaparral and sparse outcrop vegetation. The aspen groves are typically tall and successionally stable, with a well-developed understory. They vary somewhat in age and stature, but the majority of them are mature.