Tight Hollow
Location
Ecological and Physical Description
Tight Hollow RNA is within the Red River Gorge Geological Area and contains one of the few (72 acres) remaining uncut stands of forest of yellow-poplar-eastern hemlock in the region. It is a tract of predominantly old growth hemlock-mixed mesophytic containing a number of threatened and endangered flora and fauna within the cliff section of the Appalachian Plateaus. Tight Hollow consists of several adjacent mesic sandstone gorges. Elevations vary approximately 340 feet (104m) from mouth of the gorge to the gorge rim. At establishment time, Tight Hollow is home of the “Kentucky Big Tree,” a bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macropylla Michx.) designated as co–national champion.
Annual precipitation is 46.96 inches, ranging from a mean of 2.31 inches (Oct) to a mean of 4.81 inches (Jul).
The Geology of Tight Hollow is mostly the Corbin Sandstone Member of the Lee Formation (Plc). The higher elevations adjacent to Tight Hollow are shales of the Upper Member of the Breathitt Formation (Pbu). Plc: Sandstone (60%), conglomeratic sandstone (35%). Pbu; Shale and siltstone 990%), sandstone (~10%) and coal. Additional descriptions are in establishment record. The soils of Tight Hollow above 1,100 ft are mostly Alticrest–Ramsey–Rock (ArF) outcrop complex, 20–65 percent slopes and the soils below 1,100 feet are mostly Helechawa–Rock (HeF) outcrop complex, 35–55 percent slopes. Additional descriptions are in establishment record.
The area is dissected by one major and three minor streams (Herman and See 1973). The RNA contains Tight Hollow Creek and its tributaries. The headwaters of some tributaries are on private land beyond the cliff line.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia macrophylla Michx. | Big leaf magnolia | Plant Communities | “Kentucky Big Tree” (181 index points) has been designated as a co–national champion. |
|
| Neotoma floridana magister | At Risk Species | ✔ | Federal category: 2. State category: none. Forest category: sensitive. |
|
| Eupatorium luciae–brauniae | At Risk Species | ✔ | Federal category: 2. State category: threatened. Forest category: sensitive. |
|
| Circaea alpina | At Risk Species | ✔ | Federal category: none. State category: threatened. Forest category: sensitive. |