Roaring Branch
Location
County: Polk County
Forest: Ouachita National Forest
District: Caddo Ranger District
SAF Cover Types:
- SAF type 75, shortleaf pine (104 ac, south–facing slope)
- SAF type 52, white oak – red oak – hickory (196 ac, north–facing slope)
View a searchable map for the Roaring Branch RNA.
Related Reports and Publications
- Fountain, M. and Sweeney, J.M. 1981. Ecological Assessment of the Roaring Branch Research Natural Area. USDA Forest Service Southern Forest Experiment Station Research Paper (213). 13 p.
- The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office. 1999. 1998 Reassessment of Roaring Branch Research Natural Area. The Nature Conservancy, Little Rock, AR. Unpublished Report, 36 pp.
Ecological and Physical Description
In the Ouachita Mountains with numerous, year-round flowing springs, limited accessibility.
Old growth hardwood and shortleaf pine.
The annual precipitation is 54 in, and the length of the record is 67 years.
The nearest weather station is at Mt. Ida, AR, 24 miles to the northeast.
The mountains are made up of black and gray folded novaculite with a few thin beds of black shale and some slate. Chert and breccia also occur. This area is similar to all of the Ouachita Mountains. The RNA drops over 600 feet in elevation from one end to the other. Slopes of 60 to 100 percent and elevation increases of approximately 500 ft extend from the valley bottom to the ridges on both sides.
The RNA includes the upper part of the Roaring Branch watershed. Roaring Branch is fed by numerous springs and flows year round, even during droughts.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinus echinata | Shortleaf pine | Plant Communities | Old growth, and possibly virgin stands. |
|
| Quercus spp. | White and red oak | Plant Communities | ||
| Carya spp. | Hickory | Plant Communities | ||
| Nyssa sylvatica | Black gum | Plant Communities | Occurs on both lower slopes. |
|
| Liquidambar styraciflua | Sweetgum | Plant Communities | Occurs on both lower slopes. |
|
| Fagus grandifolia | Beech | Plant Communities | Occurs on both lower slopes. |
|
| Tilia americana | Basswood | Plant Communities | Occurs on both lower slopes. |
|
| Carpinus caroliniana | Ironwood | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Juglans nigra | Black walnut | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Robinia pseudoacacia | Black locust | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Ilex opaca | Holly | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Hamamelis virginiana | Witch hazel | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Castanea ozarkensis | Chinkapin | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Cornus florida | Dogwood | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Cercis canadensis | Redbud | Plant Communities | Occurs along the stream bottom. |
|
| Goodyera pubescens | Rattlesnake plantain | At Risk Species | ✔ | |
| Streptanthus maculatus | At Risk Species | ✔ | ||
| Medeola virginiana | Indian cucumberroot | At Risk Species | ✔ | |
| Trillium sp. | Wake robin | At Risk Species | ✔ | |
| Vaccinium vacillans | Lowbush blueberry | Common Shrub Species | ||
| Witch-hazel | Common Shrub Species | |||
| Common Herbaceous Species | Forty-three herbaceous species were identified in the RNA. |
|||
| Panicum spp. | Panic grasses | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Danthonia spicata | Poverty grass | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Desmodium spp. | Common Herbaceous Species |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procyon lotor | Raccoon | Common Mammal Species | ||
| Sus scrofa | Feral hogs | Common Mammal Species | There was evidence of feral hogs. |
|
| Copperhead snakes | Reptiles |