Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
SUB-SUBSECTION IV.3.2. Chippewa River Ravines
DISCUSSION: This sub-subsection is designated on the basis of extensive sugar maple-basswood-dominated forests, concentrated in the steepest, most fire protected topography within the section. Several north-south-oriented ravines provide such fire protection.
ELEVATION: 720 to 1,320 feet (219 to 420 m).
AREA: 864 square miles (2,239 sq km).
STATES: Wisconsin.
CLIMATE: See section.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Ordovician dolomite underlies the sub-subsection (Ostrom 1981, Morey et al. 1982).
LANDFORMS: See section.
LAKES AND STREAMS: No natural lakes. The Chippewa River flows through the sub-subsection.
SOILS: Soils are developed from silt loam (loess) over pre-Wisconsinan till (Hole 1976, Hole and Germain 1994). The till ranges from leached (acidic) to calcareous. Soils are classified primarily as Udalfs (Hole 1976).
PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: Maple-basswood forest occurred within the highly dissected topography of the sub-subsection. Fire protection is provided by several north-south-oriented ravines.
NATURAL DISTURBANCE: Several areas of windthrown forest were noted by GLO surveyors (Canham and Loucks 1984). Fire was probably less prevalent within the maple-basswood forest than in adjacent oak savanna or prairie.
PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the forest has been cleared for agriculture except on the steep valley walls.
RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: None identified to date.
RARE PLANTS: None identified to date.
RARE ANIMALS: None identified to date.
NATURAL AREAS: Wisconsin: State Natural Areas: Plum Creek Woods.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS:
CONSERVATION CONCERNS:
BOUNDARIES: Boundaries are based on my interpretations of soil surveys, topographic maps, and the distribution of forest types as mapped by Finley (1976).
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