Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
SUB-SUBSECTION IX.6.3. Baraga
DISCUSSION: Sub-subsection IX.6.3 consists of broad, ground-moraine ridges (150 to 500 feet high) of well-drained sands and sandy loam soils. Poorly drained soils are not extensive.
ELEVATION: 602 to 1,250 feet (183 to 381 m).
AREA: 583 square miles (1,510 sq km).
STATES: Michigan.
CLIMATE: Relatively cool growing season ranges from 110 to 130 days and is longest near Lake Superior (Eichenlaub et al. 1990). Extreme minimum temperature ranges from -34½F near Lake Superior to -44½F farther inland. Average annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 36 inches. Heavy lake-effect snowfalls, ranging from 140 to 200 inches, characterize the sub-subsection.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Most of the sub-subsection is underlain by Precambrian sedimentary bedrock, the Jacobsville feldspathic to quartzose sandstone and shale (Reed and Daniels 1987, Morey et al. 1982).
LANDFORM: Predominant features are large, broad ridges 150 to 500 feet high. Gullying is severe on the steep slopes of the moraines, especially on the broad ridges near the lake. Lake plain also occurs near Lake Superior; much of the lake plain is poorly drained.
LAKES AND STREAMS: The Sturgeon River flows across both outwash and lake plain. On the outwash and sandy lake plain near the inland edge of the sub-subsection, the river has eroded a deep gorge. Near the Lake Superior shoreline, the river meanders across the flat lake plain. There are many small creeks. Small lakes are concentrated in the west. The largest lakes are Otter Lake, Roland Lake, and Lake Gerald.
SOILS: Acidic, well-drained sands and sandy loams, derived from local sandstone and shale. Rock fragments are common. Poorly drained soils are restricted to stream edges and occasional depressions between the large moraine ridges.
PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: The large, sandy and loamy moraines east of L'Anse and north of Baraga supported mostly forests of eastern hemlock and northern hardwoods (Albert 1990, Bourdo 1954). Isolated American beech were noted in the northern hardwood forests northeast of L'Anse near Lake Superior. In moderately drained soils, eastern hemlock grew along with northern white-cedar, balsam fir, and white spruce.
Most wetlands on these moraines were located along river drainages, with northern white-cedar, tamarack, and white spruce as dominants. Speckled alder also grew in thickets along streams. Large, open swamps grew on the flat sand lake plain near Keweenaw Bay; these swamps were dominated by northern white-cedar, [black] spruce, balsam fir, and tamarack. Coastal marshes, quite bog-like in character and noted as containing cranberries, were located at the north end of Huron Bay and on Sand Bay.
Swamps on the clay lake plain, which was restricted to west of Baraga and L'Anse, were dominated by black ash and northern white-cedar. Better drained sites on the clay plain were dominated by hemlock and balsam fir. Alluvial soils along the Sturgeon River supported extensive northern white-cedar and black ash swamps among meandering sloughs, which were bordered by speckled alder and sweet gale. A broad emergent marsh was located at the mouth of the river.
NATURAL DISTURBANCE: A small windthrow at the southern end of Huron Bay, and just south of L'Anse. No major wildfires noted.
PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the sub-subsection remains forested. Many roads and several sawmills and missions were already established in this area at the time of GLO surveys in 1845. Land use since that time has involved mining, logging, urban development, and recreation. As noted elsewhere in this region, logging-era activities probably greatly reduced the amount of white pine and hemlock in forests here. Many rivers and streams were diverted for use in mining and logging activities, resulting in impacts to associated wetlands. Roads have also altered wetland hydrology in places.
RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: None identified to date.
RARE PLANTS: Arenaria macrophylla (bigleaf sandwort), Calypso bulbosa (Calypso or fairy-slipper), Castilleja septentrionalis (pale Indian paintbrush), Crataegus douglasii (black hawthorn), Elymus glaucus (blue wild-rye), Epilobium palustre (marsh willow-herb), Salix pellita (satiny willow), and Scirpus torreji (Torrey's bulrush), and various Botrychium ssp.
RARE ANIMALS: Erebia discoidalis (red-disked alpine).
NATURAL AREAS: None.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS: National Forests: Ottawa; State Forests: Copper Country; Environmental Areas: Pequaming.
CONSERVATION CONCERNS: Upland conifers, originally common in much of this sub-subsection, have been greatly reduced by logging. There is little conifer regeneration.
Previous Section -- Sub-subsection IX.6.2. Ewen
Return to Contents
Next Section -- Subsection IX.7. Keweenaw
