Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
SUB-SUBSECTION V.1.1. Black River Falls
DISCUSSION: Sub-subsection is level, droughty lacustrine sands originally dominated by pine and oak barrens.
ELEVATION: 800 to 1,331 feet (244 to 406 m).
AREA: 361 square miles (935 sq km).
STATES: Wisconsin.
CLIMATE: See subsection.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Underlying bedrock is predominantly Cambrian sandstone, but Precambrian-age (Archean) gneiss and amphibolite occur at the northern edge of the sub-subsection (Morey et al. 1982). There are numerous buttes of the most erosion-resistant sandstone.
LANDFORMS: The sand lake plain contains scattered sandstone buttes.
LAKES AND STREAMS: No large lakes or major streams.
SOILS: Cambrian bedrock is the parent for droughty, infertile Boone sands, classified as Quartzipsaments (Hole 1976, Hole and Germain 1993).
PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: Jack pine-northern pin oak barrens were prevalent, with some dominance by oak forest. Wetlands, though not extensive, supported mixed conifer swamps of tamarack and black spruce.
NATURAL DISTURBANCE: Fire.
PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the dry barrens of the lake plain remain dominated by original vegetation, although these barrens have probably been altered by fire suppression.
RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: Rare communities include white pine flatwoods, pine barrens, and coastal plain marsh.
RARE PLANTS: Bartonia virginica (screwstem), Carex folliculata (long sedge), Myriophyllum farwellii (Farwell's water-milfoil), Oryzopsis canadensis (Canadian rice grass), Polygala cruciata (cross milkwort), Rhexia virginica (Virginia meadow beauty),Thelypteris simulata (Massachusetts fern).
RARE ANIMALS: Erynnis persius persius (Persius dusky wing), Incisalia irus (frosted elfin), Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Karner blue), Ophisaurus attenuatus (western slender glass lizard). Dendroica kirtlandii (Kirtland's warbler) has been sighted within this sub-subsection, but breeding pairs have not been documented.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS:
CONSERVATION CONCERNS:
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