Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
SUB-SUBSECTION IX.4.3. Neillsville Sandstone Plateau
DISCUSSION: Sub-subsection IX.4.3 consists of thin, sandy loams or silty loams over sandstone or shaly sandstone.
ELEVATION: 886 to 1,300 feet (270 to 396 m).
AREA: 853 square miles (2,212 sq km).
STATES: Wisconsin.
CLIMATE: See subsection.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Underlying bedrock, which is locally exposed or near the surface throughout, is sandstone or shaly sandstone (Morey et al. 1982, Hole 1976).
LANDFORMS: Most of this area has not been glaciated for several hundred thousand years (pre-Illinoian); the resulting landscape is variable, including level to hilly landscape. There are exposed bedrock, residuum, sheet-wash sediment, and broad deposits of stream sediment (Hole 1976, Goebel et al. 1983).
LAKES AND STREAMS: No natural lakes; many small creeks and rivers.
SOILS: Soils in the west are primarily well-drained, infertile loamy sands and sandy loams over shallow sandstone bedrock. In the east, poorly drained and very poorly drained silt loams are formed over shaly sandstone (Hole 1976)
NATURAL DISTURBANCE: Windthrows were common throughout (Canham and Loucks 1984).
PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Large parts of the sub-subsection remain forested, either because of low fertility or poor drainage. However, some lands have been converted to either pasture or crop land.
RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: None identified to date.
RARE PLANTS: None identified to date.
RARE ANIMALS: None identified to date.
PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: Upland sites supported several forest types; forests of sugar maple, yellow birch, white pine, and red pine were most common (Finley 1976). There were also forests of sugar maple and basswood with oaks and smaller areas dominated by oak forest. Swamp forests were common and supported diverse hardwood and conifer species, including hemlock, white pine, black spruce, red maple, red oak, white birch, and elm (Hole 1976).
NATURAL AREAS: State Natural Areas: Dory's Bog.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS:
CONSERVATION CONCERNS:
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