Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
SUBSECTION VII.2. Highplains
DISCUSSION: Subsection is a high plateau formed from glacial outwash and end moraines. Relatively high elevation and distance from the lake combine to give the subsection a more continental climate than the rest of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
The topography and soils are diverse enough to justify further dividing it into three sub-subsections, which have distinct glacial landforms and soils.
SUB-SUBSECTIONS: The Cadillac sub-subsection (VII.2.1) is sandy end-moraine topography at the southwest end of the subsection; the Grayling sub-subsection (VII.2.2) is an extensive outwash plain at the northeast end, which contains steep ridges of sandy ice-contact topography; and the Vanderbilt sub-subsection (VII.2.3) is a relatively narrow band of sandy end-moraine ridges broken by outwash channels along the northern edge. (See figure 5.)
ELEVATION: 580 to 1,725 feet (177 to 526 m).
AREA: 8,335 square miles (21,604 sq km).
STATES: Michigan.
CLIMATE: Due to its inland location, northern latitude, and relatively high elevations, the subsection has the most severe climate in Lower Michigan. Growing season ranges from 70 days in northern lowland areas to 130 days in the south (Eichenlaub et al. 1990). There is a great chance of late spring freezes. Extreme minimum temperatures recorded range from 28½F to -50½F. Snowfall is heavy; at the western margin of the high plateau, lake-effect snowfalls are 140 inches. Further east, snowfalls are as low as 60 inches. Average annual precipitation is relatively uniform across the subsection, 28 to 32 inches.
BEDROCK GEOLOGY: There are no bedrock exposures, and glacial drift is 100 to 1,000 feet thick (Akers 1938). Underlying bedrock consists of Jurassic, Pennsylvanian, Mississippian, and Devonian marine and near shore sedimentary rocks, including limestone, dolomite, gypsum, shale, and sandstone (Milstein 1987, Dorr and Eschman 1984). Major oil and gas fields, using underlying Devonian petroleum reservoirs, are found here.
LANDFORMS: A high plateau. Outwash plains cover most of the subsection, but there are also large areas of sandy ground moraine, end moraine, and ice-contact ridges. See sub-subsections.
LAKES AND STREAMS: Several large lakes, primarily in Sub-subsections VII.2.1 and VII.2.2. Several large streams originate within the subsection. See sub-subsections.
SOILS: Almost the entire subsection has sandy surface soils. Sands of the large outwash plains are excessively well drained, except near streams. Depth of sand deposits ranges, from a few feet to several hundred feet. Most of the soils on end moraines are also sands or loamy sands. Soils are classified as Spodosols, primarily Orthods, with some Boralfs and Psamments (USDA Soil Conservation Service 1967).
PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION: Jack pine barrens, with northern pin oak, dominated most of the outwash plains, but red pine was also present. White pine, red maple, and trembling aspen were major species on poorly drained outwash. Willow swamps, alder swamps, and marshes occupied the wettest outwash. Both northern hardwood forests of beech and sugar maple, with some white pine and eastern hemlock, and forests of white oak and white pine grew on the moraines. See sub-subsections.
NATURAL DISTURBANCE: Both fire and wind were important natural disturbances, but fire impacted a much greater percent of the landscape. See sub-subsections.
PRESENT VEGETATION AND LAND USE: Most of the subsection remains forested and is managed for forest products, wildlife, and recreation. See sub-subsections.
RARE PLANT COMMUNITIES: See sub-subsections.
RARE PLANTS: See sub-subsections.
RARE ANIMALS: See sub-subsections.
NATURAL AREAS: See sub-subsections.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS: See sub-subsections.
CONSERVATION CONCERNS: See sub-subsections.
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