Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
SUB-SUBSECTION VI.3.1. Berrien Springs
DISCUSSION: Climate in this sub-subsection is modified by Lake Michigan, resulting in intensive agricultural land use as orchard and vineyard. Landforms and soils are similar to those of the end moraines of Sub-subsection VI.2.2, although the ridges are not generally as steep.
ELEVATION: 700 to 998 feet (213 to 304 m).
AREA: 770 square miles (1,994 sq km).
STATES: Michigan.
CLIMATE: See subsection.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Sub-subsection is entirely underlain by Paleozoic bedrock; Devonian shale occurs in the southern half; Mississippian shale, sandstone, and gypsum occur farther to the north (Dorr and Eschman 1984, Milstein 1987). Bedrock of the entire sub-subsection is covered with 150 to 350 feet of glacial deposits (Akers 1938).
LANDFORMS: Sub-subsection VI.3.1 consists of a 10- to 20-mile-wide band of ground moraine and endmoraine ridges running parallel to Lake Michigan. The moraines are bounded by flat lake plain to the west and outwash to the east. Most of the ridges are 60 to 100 feet high with moderate to steep slopes.
LAKES AND STREAMS: Kettle lakes, although present on the end moraines, are much less numerous than on the end moraines of Sub-subsections VI.1.3, VI.2.1, and VI.2.2. There are also a few long, narrow lakes on the ground moraine. Several small streams originate on the upland ridges of the sub-subsection. Three large rivers, the Paw Paw, St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo, cut through the moraine ridges, creating steep ravines.
SOILS: Soils of the northern three-quarters are sandy loams underlain by either gravelly sand or clays. Most of these soils are moderately well drained or well drained. Slopes are moderate to steep. Soils in the southern quarter are silt loams, often underlain by clay subsoils. These soils are also generally well drained or moderately well drained. Poorly drained soils are concentrated on the fine-textured ground moraine. Very poorly drained soils occupy kettle depressions on the end moraine.
PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: The upland ridges were dominated by forests of beech, sugar maple, and white oak or forests of primarily white oak (Comer et al. 1993a). Kettle depressions supported swamp hardwoods, tamarack, wetland shrubs, and bogs.
Most moraines with silt- or clay-rich soils supported forests of beech and sugar maple. Beech-sugar maple forests also dominated many of the moraines with loamy or sandy soils; forests of white oak and black oak also occurred, especially on drier ridge tops. Open oak barrens or savannas were restricted to the steep ridges above the Paw Paw River.
Hardwood swamps or shrub swamps occupied kettle depressions in moraines, regardless of soil texture. Wet prairie and emergent marsh occupied large areas of fine-textured ground moraine; these marshes and prairies contained willow, alder, and scattered ash, [American] elm, and [red] maple. Diverse swamp forest occupied the broad flood plain of the St. Joseph River; species included sycamore, black ash, silver maple, beech, elm, hackberry, and basswood.
NATURAL DISTURBANCE: No natural disturbances were noted in the GLO notes. The oak barrens above the Paw Paw River may have been the result of Native American use of fire for management.
PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the sub-subsection is presently vineyard or orchard, even on steep slopes, including most of the flood plain of the St. Joseph River. The only areas not farmed are the steep ravines along creeks and rivers and small wetlands on the end moraines.
RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: There were originally small prairies and savannas within the sub-subsection, but all of these have been converted to agriculture.
RARE PLANTS: Carex davisii (Davis' sedge), Carex jamesii (James' sedge), Polemonium reptans (Jacob's ladder or Greek valerian), Trillium recurvatum (prairie trillium).
RARE ANIMALS: Clonophis kirtlandii (Kirtland's snake), Dendroica dominica (yellow-throated warbler), Hesperia ottoe (Ottoe skipper), Lycaeides melissa samuelis (Karner blue).
NATURAL AREAS: Michigan Nature Association Preserves: Beck Memorial; The Nature Conservancy Preserves: Bakertown Fen (AMTRAK),
Bakertown Fen Preserve, Dayton Wet Prairie; Other: Fernwood Nature Study Area, Love Creek Nature Center, Camp Betz Boy Scout Camp.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS: Allegan State Game Area.
CONSERVATION CONCERNS: The valuable agricultural lands are being converted to residential developments in the south.
Previous Section -- Subsection VI.3. Allegan
Return to Contents
Next Section -- Sub-subsection VI.3.2. Southern Lake Michigan Lake Plain
