Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

SUB-SUBSECTION VII.5.1. Williamsburg

Coarse-textured end-moraine ridges; northern hardwood forest and white pine-red pine forest.

DISCUSSION: Sub-subsection VII.5.1 is a small area of steep end-moraine ridges between the drumlins of the Traverse City sub-subsection (VII.5.2) to the north and the outwash plains of the Newaygo Outwash Plain subsection (VII.3) and the Grayling Outwash Plain sub-subsection (VII.2.2) to the south. It is distinguished from the Vanderbilt sub-subsection (VII.2.3) to the east because it has lower elevations and is not part of the high plateau.

ELEVATION: 750 to 1,220 feet (229 to 372 m).

AREA: 110 square miles (284 sq km).

STATES: Michigan.

CLIMATE: See subsection.

BEDROCK GEOLOGY: See subsection.

LANDFORMS: The narrow band of steep, sandy ridges at the southern edge of the sub-subsection supports northern hardwood forests dominated by beech and sugar maple. This portion of the Williamsburg sub-subsection is very similar to the steep ridges of the Vanderbilt sub-subsection (VII.2.3) to the south, but its ridges are separated from the Vanderbilt by outwash.

LAKES AND STREAMS: No lakes in the sub-subsection; the only major stream is the Boardman River.

SOILS: Soils on the end moraines are well-drained sands. There are few poorly or very poorly drained soils.

PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: The vegetation on the well-drained soils of the endmoraine ridge was northern hardwood forest dominated by sugar maple, beech, and hemlock. More xeric sandy moraines supported white and red pines intermixed with white and red oaks.

NATURAL DISTURBANCE: No mention of disturbances.

PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the sub-subsection remains forested because of the steepness of the landscape.

RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: None identified to date.

RARE PLANTS: None identified to date.

RARE ANIMALS: None identified to date.

NATURAL AREAS: Skegemog Swamp.

PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS: State Forests: Pere Marquette, Mackinaw; State Game Areas: Petobego; Wildlife Areas: Skegemog Swamp.

CONSERVATION CONCERNS:

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