A N E C O L O G I C A L S U R V E Y OF T H E PROPOSED
STONE CORRAL-JOSEPHINE PERIDOTITE RESEARCH NATURAL AREA
(L.E.
H O R T O N - D A R L I N G T O N I A BOG R E S E A R C H NATURAL AREA)
O N T H E SIX R I V E R S N A T I O N A L FOREST, DEL NORTE COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA
(Purchase Order # 40-9AD6-5-907)
T o d d KeeLer-Wolf
D e c e m b e r 1986
INTRODUCTION
ACCESS
SCIENTIFIC I N T E R E S T
JUSTIFICATIONS F O R E S T A B L I S H M E N T
RARE F L O R A
ENDEMIC TAXA
UNDESCRIBED T A X A
THE DARLINGTONIA B O G
P O R T ORFORD CEDAR
GEOLOGY
SOILS
CLIMATE
VEGETATION
BOG F O R E S T
RIPARIAN VEGETATION
DWARF F O R E S T
LOWER DWARF FOREST
JEFFREY PINE W O O D L A N D
DOUGLAS-FIR F O R E S T
C A N Y O N FOREST
IMPACTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
LITERATURE CITED
APPENDIX 1; V A S C U L A R P L A N T LIST
FIGURES
INTRODUCTION
The proposed D a r l i n g t o n i a bog R e s e a r c h N a t u r a l Area,
also k n a w n as t h e L.E.
H o r t o n R N A c o v e r s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1305
acres of e a s t w a r d l y - f a c i n g s l o p e s a b o v e t h e N o r t h F o r k of t h e
S m i t h R i v e r in e x t r e m e n o r t h w e s t e r n California.
The area
lies j u s t f o u r m i l e s f r o m t h e O r e g o n border and i n c l u d e s
portions of S e c t i o n s 24, 25, and 36 T. 18 N. R. 11 W.
(Latitude
41'
55' N.,
Longitude 124'
W.)
Elevations r a n g e
from ca. 600 ft. a l o n g t h e N o r t h F o r k o f t h e S m i t h R i v e r t o
slightly o v e r 2400 ft. a l o n g t h e r i d g e t o p s o u t h of t h e S t o n e
Corral site.
T e r r a i n is s t e e p and r u g g e d in most of t h e s o u t h e r n a n d
c e n t r a l p o r t i o n s o f t h e s t u d y area, but b e c o m e s more g r a d u a l
in t h e n o r t h e r n p o r t i o n ( s e e l o c a t i o n map).
It is in t h i s
n o r t h e r n a r e a t h a t t h e D a r l f n g t o n i a bogs o c c u r ( d i s c u s s e d
as
bog forest in t h e v e g e t a t i o n section).
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e D a r l i n g t o n i a bogs ( F i g u r e
1 ) the site
contains s e v e r a l o t h e r v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s i n c l u d i n g d w a r f
forest, J e f f r e y p i n e w o o d l a n d , lower d w a r f forest, c a n y o n
forest, D o u g l a s - f i r f o r e s t , and two t y p e s of r i p a r i a n
vegetation.
A l l o f t h e s e a s s o c i a t i o n s o c c u r on u l t r a m a f i c
soil derived e i t h e r f r o m p e r i d o t i t e o r gabbro.
An extremely
l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e f l o r a is c o m p o s e d of s e r p e n t f n i t e
(peridotite a n d o t h e r u l t r a m a f i c s ) endemics, m a n y o f w h i c h
a r e rare, e n d a n g e r e d , a n d r e s t r i c t e d to t h e K l a m a t h G e o l o g i c
Province,
The D a r l i n g t o n i a bogs h o u s e a n u m b e r o f t h e s e
interesting taxa, but a g r e a t e r n u m b e r a r e found in t h e d w a r f
and lower d w a r f f o r e s t s ( s e e j u s t i f i c a t i o n s section).
B e c a u s e s o m u c h b o t a n i c a l interest lies ia t h e a r e a
o u t s i d e o f t h e D a r l L n g t o n i a bog forest and because
Darlingtonia bogs a r e o f r e l a t i v e l y c o m m o n o c c u r r e n c e i n
n o r t h w e s t e r n C a l i f o r n i a , I f e e l t h e n a m e of t h e proposed RNA
should r e f l e c t s o m e t h i n g m o r e specific either r e g a r d i n g t h e
attributes of t h e a r e a o r i t s location.
W i t h t h i s in m i n d I
will o f f e r t h e t w o f o l l o w i n g s u g g e s t i o n s f o r a m o r e
appropriate name:
-
1) S t o n e C o r r a l - D a r l i n g t o n i a Bog RNA; t h e s f t e o f S t o n e
Corral i s indicated o n a l l recent Forest S e r v i c e and U S G S
maps and is located w i t h i n t h e proposed b o u n d a r i e s of t h e
area.
This n a m e a f f o r d s s p e c i f i c i t y with regard t o l o c a t i o n
and also i n d i c a t e s o n e o f t h e m a j o r botanical values of t h e
area.
2) Stone C o r r a l - J o s e p h i n e P e r i d o t i t e -'
RNA* the Josephine
P e r i d o t i t e i s t h e n a m e g i v e n t o t h e h u g e ultramafic s h e e t
which c o v e r s t h i s part o f t h e K l a m a t h G e o l o g i c Province.
Many of t h e most i n t e r e s t i n g and u n u s u a l plants of t h e a r e a
are endemic to t h e J o s e p h i n e sheet and t h e proposed RNA i s
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e f l o r a found o v e r m u c h of t h i s r e g i o n ,
The S t o n e C o r r a l p o r t i o n o f t h e n a m e adds locational
specificity,
This is my preferred c h o i c e and t h e o n e 3 w i l l
u s e i n this report.
-Horton-Darlingtonla
The formerly p r o p o s e d L.E.
-
Bog RNA
is u n d e s i r a b l e i n my o p i n i o n because i t is not s p e c i f i c
enough (several
proposed RNA's
and/or botanical areas h a v e
well-developed D a r l i n g t o n i a bogs) and i t also sets t h e
questionable precedent o f naming a n RNA after a still- living
person.
Access:
The study area may b e easily reached by taking t h e W i m e r
Road where it joins r o u t e 197 north west of Xiouchi and
traveling ca, 1 4 miles northeast,
Gasquet R.D.
A shorter route from t h e
makes u s e o f road 17N49, which takes off to t h e
north from highway 1 9 9 ca. 2.5
this route (which
miles west of Gasquet.
Using
is g a t e d and may be closed during p a r t s o f
the year) it is ca. 11 m i l e s to Stone Corral.
Scientific Interest:
Perhaps t h e first s c i e n t i s t to stress t h e botanical and
vegetational uniqueness o f this portion of t h e Klamath
Mountai,ns was R.W.
W h i t t a k e r (1954, 1960) who studied
serpentine plant ecology and compared vegetation o n
peridotite of the J o s e p h i n e Sheet with vegetation on g a b b r o
and granitic rock in t h e Siskiyou Mountains o f adjacent
Oregon,
After Whittaker, many botanists have been i n t r i g u e d
by the floristic u n i q u e n e s s of the area ( e , g ,
1984, Waring 1969, W h i t e 1971).
Kruckeberg
However, specific k n o w l e d g e
o f the components of t h e aerpentinite flora in the K l a m a t h
Province is surprisingly weak.
Kruckeberg (1984),
i n t h e m o s t recent discussion of
California's (and
a d j a c e n t Oregon's)
serpentine flora
acknowledges the K l a m a t h Ranges as a remarkable region f o r
serpentine endemics w i t h o v e r 30 tsxa.
However, he d e v o t e s
only a short paragraph to this area in contrast to much
longer discussions of b e t t e r known, but less diverse
serpentine floras of t h e state.
In fact, t h e number of
serpentine endemics t o t h e Klamath Province probably e x c e e d s
any single region d i s c u s s e d by Kruckeberg including t h e s o u t h
Coast Ranges, t h e S a a F r a n c i s c o Bay region, the N a p a - S o n o m a Lake County area, t h e Mendocino- Colusa-Tehama-Humboldt C o u n t y
area, and t h e Sierra Nevada.
Over t h e past s e v e r a l years much controversy has b e e n
raised concerning t h e p o s s i b l e broad-scale mining of c h r o m i t e
ore from t h e L o w Divide-Hardscrabble Creek-Gasquet M o u n t a i n
area immediately s o u t h
of the study area.
It was only
within the past s e v e r a l y e a r s that botanists working w i t h
environmental impact f i r m s and the Forest Service discovered
the great botanical w e a l t h of this small area.
They, at
least indirectly, led t o t h e nomination of the present
candidate R N A by t h e S i x Rivers N.F.
J U S T X F I C A T I O N S FOR ESTABLISHMENT
Rare and Endemic Flora:
Simply stated, t h e S t o n e Corral-Josephine P e r i d o t i t e R N A
contains a higher p e r c e n t a g e of rare and endangered plant
species t h a n any other C a n d i d a t e RNA s o f a r nominated in
California,
T h e s e r p e n t i n i t e terrain o f northern Del N o r t e
County and adjacent C u r r y and Josephine counties of O r e g o n
holds among t h e highest percentages of rare endemics in t h e
entire North American continent,
A total of 40 taxa (25% o f
the entire vascular f l o r a of t h e study area) are considered
in some way r a r e and endangered (Smith
and York 1984).
These
taxa may be broken d o w n i n t o groups based o n t h e c a t e g o r i e s
in the California N a t i v e P l a n t Society List.
The following
taxa are considered as r a r e and endangered plants of h i g h e s t
priority (CNPS List lb):
Arabis aculeolata
S e d u m laxum subsp. flavidurn
Both of these plants o c c u r at lower elevations in the s t u d y
area on rocky exposed s i t e s in t h e inner canyon of t h e North
Fork of the Smith River.
T h e Arabis was s e e n m o r e f r e q u e n t l y
than t h e Sedum, but b o t h c o u l d be considered uncommon in t h e
area.
Both of these t a x a a r e serpentine endemics to t h e
Klamath Province and b o t h are threatened by mining and
logging operations.
The following s p e c i e s are rare and/or endangered i n
California but are m o r e c o m m o n elsewhere (CNPS List 2):
Horkelia sericata ( l o c a l l y
common i n dwarf forest and
Jeffrey P i n e w o o d l a n d ; Figure 2)
Gentiana affinis ( c o m m o n
i n dwarf forest; figure 3)
Pinguicula macroceras (locally
Eriogonum pendulum
common in bogs; Figure 4)
( f a i r l y common at mid-elevations)
Castilleja elata ( u n c o m m o n
in bogs)
Senecio lingulifolius (occasional
Iris innominata ( o c c a s i o n a l
in dwarf forest)
in dwarf forest)
Only Gentiana affinis and Piaguicula macroceras are
widespread species found outside of the Klamath P r o v i n c e of
NW California and SW Oregon.
The other species are a l l
Klameth serpentine endemics.
The following s p e c i e s are representatives of CNPS List 3
(plants about which w e n e e d more information).
Gentiana setigera (fairly
common in bogs; Figure 5)
Calamagrostis c r a s s i g l u m i s (rare edge o f Douglas-fir f o r e s t )
Lilium voLlm.eri. ( o c c a s i o n a l riparian areas)
Aster
p , a I ~ d i c o l (a c o m m o n
in bogs)
Three of these species a r e uncertain taxonomic entities,
while Calamagrostis crassiglumis, with more information, is
G.
probably referable t o list Ib,
-
setigera and L. v ~ l ' l ~ e r i : .
are considered Klamath s e r p e n t i n e endemics.
The following t a x a a r e considered members of list 4
(plants of limited d i s t r i b u t i o n
-
a watch list);
Darlingtonia c a l i f o r n i c a (common i n bog forest; see Fig. 1)
Lilium bolanderi ( o c c a s i o n a l
in dwarf forest)
Monardella purpurea ( u n c o m m o n
Lomatium howellii ( c o m m o n
in dwarf forest)
in dwarf forest)
Haplopappus racemosus subsp. congestus (common
in J e f f r e y
P i n e woodland and bog edges; Figure 6)
Eriogonum tetnatum ( o c c a s i o n a l Jeffery Pine woodland)
Veratrum insolitum ( o c c a s i o n a l
Tauschia glauca (fairly
dwarf forest)
c o m m o n dwarf forest)
Epilobium r i g i d u m ( f a i r l y c o m m o n i n t e r m i t t a n t c r e e k b e d s a n d
among boulders i n u p p e r r i p a r i a n zone; F i g u r e 7)
. A r i i c a spathulata (occasional
Angelica a r g u t a ( o c c a s i o n a l
dwarf forest)
riparian)
Aster b r i c k e l l i o i d e s ( c o m m o n dwarf forest)
Sanicula p e c k i a n a ( o c c a s i o n a l
Trillium r i v a l e ( u a c o m m o n
dwarf forest)
shaded r i p a r i a n z o n e )
Lathyrue d e l n o r t i c u s ( o c c a s i o n a l
Salix d e l n o r t e n s i s ( o c c a s i o n a l
Salix tracyf ( o c c a s i o n a l
d w a ~ fand c a n y o n f o r e s t )
riparian)
riparian)
(occasional
Antennaria suffru,fescens
Lomatiurn t r a c y f ( o c c a s i o n a l
l o w e r dwarf f o r e s t )
lower dwarf forest, i n n e r S m i t h
R i v e r canyon, n o t l i s t e d for D e l N o r t e Co.)
Vancouveria chrysantha (common
Poa piperf
-
(locally
dwarf forest)
c o m m o n dwarf f o r e s t and J e f f r e y p i n e )
A11 of t h e s e s p e c f e s e x c e p t Angelica a r g u t a a r e endemic t o
t h e K l a m a t h P r o v i n c e a n d a r e at least local s e r p e n t i n e
indicators, if n o t h i g h - f i d e l f t y s e r p e n t i n e i n d i c a t o r s
(Kruckeberg
1984).
T h e f o l l o w i n g t a x a a r e members of A p p e n d i x 1 in t h e
CNPS invsntory ( p l a n t s c o n s i d e r e d a s possibly r a r e and
endangered but n o t included):
A r c t o s t a p h y l o s c i u e r e a (fairly
c o m m o n dwarf forest)
Arctostaphylos p a r v i f l o r a (occasional
dwarf f o r e s t )
Arctostaphylos i n t r i c a t a
(uncommon
Viola c u n e a t a ( o c c a s i o n a l
dwarf f o r e s t and J e f f r e y P i n e
woods)
lower dwarf forest)
Fritillaria glauc,a ( o c c a s i o n a l
dwarf forest)
J u n i p e r u s c o m m u n i s var. f a c k i i (common
T h r e e s p e c i e s i n t h i s l i s t ($. cinerea,
dwarf forest)
&.
-
p a r v i f l o r a a n d J.
c o h n i s jackii) are uncertain taxoaomical1y while the other
h
t h r e e t a x a h a v e been c o n s i d e r e d in past CNPS lists, but a r e
n o w k n o w n t o b e c o m m o n e n o u g h to not warrant consideration.
Endemic Taxa:
Tn a d d i t i o n t o t h e a b o v e mentioned t a x a , a n u m b e r o f
other m o r e c o m m o n p l a n t s
i n t h e proposed R N A
.
restricted t o t h e K l a m a t h Province.
are
It is likely that a l m o s t
all of t h e s e r i l l p r o v e t o be s e r p e n t i n e e n d e m i c s or
indicator species, t h o u g h K r u c k e b e r g (1984) d o e s not l i s t a l l
of them a s such,
T h e f o l l o w i n g t a x a a r e t h o s e not m e n t i o n e d
previously as endemic t o t h e Klamath Province:
Arctostaphylos intricata
Ceanothus pumilus
Chamaecyparis l a w s o n i a n a
Cordylanthus v i s c i d i f l o r u s
Erigeron f o l i o s u s
c o n f inis
Galium ambiguum var. s i s k i y o u e n s i s
Hieracium bolanderi
Holodiscus d i s c o l o r var.
delnortensis
L i t h o c a r p u s d e n s f f l o r a vat. echinoides
Lupinus l a t i f o l f u s var.
virid3folSus
Perideridia oregena
Pinus c o n t o r t a subsp.
nov. (see G r i f f i n and C r i t c h f i e l d
Polygonurn s p e r g u l a r i f o r m e
Rhamnus californica subsp. occidentalis
Rudbeckia c a l i f o r n i c a var. ~ I a u c a
Silene campanulata subsp. g r e e n e i
Trifolium longipes var. shastense
A total o f 53 taxa, o r 33% of t h e total k n o w n f l o r a o f
the study area, a r e K l a m a t h endemics.
high percentage.
T h i s is a remarkably
S t e b b i n s and Major (1965) discuss c e n t e r s
of endemism in C a l i f o r n i a and consider certain portions of
the Central Coast R a n g e s t o be exceptionally high in
endemics,
One of t h e i r highest points of endemism is t h e
area where Napa, Lake, and Colusa Counties abut.
The F r e n z e L
Creek R N A is i n this a r e a and yet only ca. 17% of t h e F r e n e e l
Creek flora is endemic t o t h e Central Coast Ranges ( K e e l e r Wolf 1983).
At t h e t i m e o f their publication the lack o f
detailed k n o w l e d g e o f t h e f l o r a of t h e Klarnath P r o v i n c e
precluded Stebbfns and M a j o r from doing any local a n a l y s i s i n
that area.
Yet it i s l i k e l y that t h e northwestern K l a m a t h
Province contains a p e r - a r e a richness in endemics c o m p a r a b l e
to the highest centers of endemism i n t h e s t a t e ( e . g .
portions of Southern California).
T h e combination o f a mild climate with a great r a n g e i n
precipitation over short distances, topographic diversity,
and geological c o m p l e x i t y h a s provided a rich ground f o r
speciation i n this part o f t h e Klamath Province.
This
coupled with t h e long- persisting geological and e n v i r o n m e n t a l
stability of t h e area ( W h i t t a k e r 1961) has resulted i n a
large n u m b e r of relict s p e c i e s , in addition to the
neoendemics.
Undescribed Taxa:
Two species of p l a n t s encountered i n t h e study a r e a
were not referable t o a n y published description,
The first
haa been k n o w n in t h e a r e a for some years and is a s u b s p e c i e s
of Pinus coatorta.
T h i s i s a very common small tree
throughout t h e mid-and upperdelevations of t h e study area.
It tends to dominate t h e dwarf forest o n relatively g e n t l y -
sloping, but well- drained ground,
seen to exceed ca. 40 ft.
Critchfield (pers.
None of t h e trees w e r e
t a l l and ca. 9 inches dbh,
-
W.B.
c o m m a ) believes that this t a m is
subspecifically distinct from both t h e beach pine ( ~ f n u s
contorta subsp. c o n t o r t a ) which occurs along t h e coast t o t h e
west, and t h e lodgepole p i n e
( E . 5.
subsp.
murrayaaa) w h i c h
m
occurs i n t h e higher p o r t i o n s o f t h e Klamath Mountains to the
east.
The local race a p p e a r s to be m o r e closely related to
the coastal form, w i t h asymmetrical, prickly, serotinous
cones and relatively t h i c k bark.
However, it appears t o be
strongly restricted t o ultramafic soils.
It has been s e e n as
far south as Red M o u n t a i n i n southern Del Norte County (pers.
observ.).
It is probably endemic solely to the J o s e p h i n e
Peridotite.
The other species i s a member of t h e Liliaceae and is
likely to be a S c h o e n o l i r i o n (a.k.a.
Hastingsia).
It i s a
relatively common s p e c i e s i n the grassy understory of t h e
Jeffrey Pine woodland at S t o n e Corral and is scattered
in t h e upper elevation d w a r f forest.
T h e dried pe.rianth
segments appeared l o n g e r t h a n the typical description f o r t h e
widespread S.
album.
-
And S .
album, as it occurs in t h e
study area, i s a larger plant restricted to the r i p a r i a n z o n e
of rivulets and the S m i t h River.
-S .
It is possible that it is
bracteosum, a r a r e s e r p e n t i n i t e endemic to the
northwestern Klamath Province.
consistantly small ( u n d e r
However, t h e local p l a n t s a r e
5 dm) and have simple, unbranched
inflorescences unlike d e s c r i p t i o n s of bracteosum.
-
turn out to be S.
If it d o e s
bracteoeum this will be the first recent
verified locality in C a l i f o r n i a according to Smith and Y o r k
The Darlingtonia Bog:
T h e flora of the b o g g y meadows of the northwestern
'the
species could also be Hastingsia atroputpurea, a recently
described taxon from southwestern Oregon ( B e c k i n g 1986).
portion of t h e study a r e a is unique to t h e lower e l e v a t i o n
Western Klamath Province.
Although Darlingtonia c a l i f o r n i c a
( ~ e l i f o r n i a pitcher p l a n t ) is a widespread species of t h e
Klamath area ranging i n t o adjacent botanical provinces t o t h e
north and south, it o c c u r s in a unique assemblage of plants
in this area.
Several o t h e r candidate
RNA'S
or botanical
areas have D a r l i n g t o n i a bogs including Butterfly Valley,
Cedar Basin and Mt. Eddy.
However these areas are at
substantially higher e l e v a t i o n s and at m o r e inland l o c a t i o n s
than Stone CorraL.
species as Aster
Thus, t h e i r floras are different.
Such
~ a l u d i c o l a , C a s t i L L e f a elata, G e n t i a n s
setigera, Rudbeckia c a l i f o r n i c a var. glauca, Calamagrostis
nutkaensis, Sanguisorba microcephala, Pinguicula macroceras,
and Deschampsia c a e s p i t o s a sabsp.
beringensis have n o t b e e n
recorded from any of t h e o t h e r Darlingtonia bogs in F o r e s t
Service Botanical Areas o r proposed R # A B s (Keeler-Wolf
Whipple and Cope 1979, Knight et al. 1970).
1982,
Other S t o n e
Corral bog species s u c h a s Aster alpigenus subsp. a n d e r s o n i i
and Juncus orthophyllus, a l t h o u g h present at higher e l e v a t i o n
Darlingtonia bogs h a v e n o t been listed as occu$ing
at s u c h
low elevations.
Port Orford Cedar:
Port Orford Cedar (POC) is one o f t h e most d i s t i n c t i v e
relict species of the K l a m a t h region.
It h a s recently had
much attention called t o it because of t h e serious t h r e a t t o
it8 native existence b y t h e Lethal root rot fungus
Phytophthora lateralis ( s e e Zobel 1986, and other d o c u m e n t s
available from Western N a t u r a l Resources L a w Clinic L a w
Center, University o f Oregon, Eugene O R 97403).
Although t h e
stands of P O C in t h e s t u d y a r e a a r e not as dense and as l a r g e
as some others under c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r protection, t h e y a r e
uninfected by t h e f u n g u s and represent a different
association t y p e t h a n a n y listed by Ateet and Wheeler (1984
and see vegetation section).
They also represent t h e o l d e s t
trees and t h e highest b i o m a s s per unit area association o n
peridotite in t h e study area.
One unusual f e a t u r e o f t h e local P O C stands is t h a t at
least s o m e of them a r e m a d e up of clonal trunks which a p p e a r
to have a c o m m o n root s y s t e m
.
Figure 8 depicts a p a r t i a l l y
exposed horizontal root f r o m which arise several main stems,
each of which is at l e a s t 1 6
"
dbh.
This root i n t u r n s e e m s
ultimately related t o a l a r g e dead trunk, which may h a v e been
killed by f i r e ca. 100 y e a r s ago.
Several s u c h clonal c l u m p s
were seen i n t h e boggy a r e a s of the site,
I have not s e e n
obviously clonal P O C s t e m s i n any other POC stand i n t h e
state.
P e r h a p s this t y p e o f reproduction may only be
possible i n extremely m o i s t environments.
GEOLOGY
T h e largest e x p o s u r e s of ultramafic
rock in North
America are i n t h e K l a m a t h Mountains province (1rwin 1981).
The ultramsfic terrane i n t h e vicinity of t h e study a r e a i s
known as t h e J o s e p h i n e P e r i d o t i t e Body ( ~ r w i n1966, 1981).
This huge mass of peridotite, cumulate gabbro, diabaae, and
spilite stretches for 1 5 0 km along t h e western border o f t h e
Klamath Province.
St r i v a l s the Trinity Ultramafic Sheet l a
the eastern part of t h e R l a m a t h Province as t h e largest
single ultramafic body i n t h e province.
The Josephine sheet
is considered t o be a L o w e r or M i d d l e Jurassic slice of t h e
upper mantle o r o c e a n i c
crust (Irwin 1 9 8 1 ) .
T h e entire study a r e a i s within t h e Josephine
Peridotite.
F o r t h e m o s t part t h e rock type in the a r e a i s
serpentS.'tlfzed peridotite, w h i c h may be highly sheared in s o m e
places.
However, much of t h e surface r o c k is highly
weathered into blocky o r rounded reddish-to-greenish b o u l d e r s
up to 10 f t i n diameter (locally k n o w n as "buckskins").
Larger outcrops occur i n t h e inner canyon o f t h e North F o r k
of the Smith River.
S o m e o f these are conglomeratic, w i t h
smaller fragments of s e r p e n t i n i t e cemented together by
calcium carbonate.
T h e only other r o c k w h i c h occurs obviously w i t h i n t h e
study area 2s gabbro.
A s m a l l gabbro intrusion occurs j u s t
south of Stone Corral and is responsible f o r t h e locally
well-developed D o u g l a s - f i r foreat there,
Gabbro also o c c u r s
locally along t h e d r a i n a g e below t h e main Darlingtonia bog.
The study area h a s b e e n rather intensively explored f o r
mining sites (see Impacts).
Presumably t h e majority o f t h e s e
mining claims have' b e e n f o r chromite, which occurs c o m m o n l y
in pods in this part o f t h e Klamath Province (Albers 1966).
The pod deposits c o n s i s t o f clean ore that c a n be mined
easily.
P o d s commonly o c c u r in shear zones and may be up t o
several hundred f e e t w i d e and several miles long (Albers
1966),
Other v a l u a b l e m i n e r a l s associated with ultramafic
rock in the Josephine s h e e t include nickel and mercury.
However, mining for t h e s e elements h a s not proven e c o n o m i c a l
so far.
A copper m i n e ( C o p p e r Creek Mine) occurs ca. o n e
mile west of t h e proposed RNA.
Apparently the copper o c c u r s
in a sulfide deposit w h i c h is closQ to the contact b e t w e e n
the Josephine P e r i d o t i t e and dpper Jurassic metasediments o f
the Coast Range Province.
SOILS
The soils of t h e s t u d y area are generally poorly
developed and rocky,
boundary of t h e area,
L o c a l l y , as o n t h e northern-central
r e l a t i v e l y deep lateritic soils occur,
These are bright rusty in color and may be three or f o u r f e e t
deep before fractured b e d r o c k is reached.
T h e soils
underlying t h e bogs a r e t h e best-developed in t h e a r e a w i t h
dark, organically r i c h u p p e r horizons.
They may be s i x f e e t
thick in t h e largest bogs,
The poorest soils o c c u r o n the steep inner canyon of t h e
Smith River where in many places they only occur in p o c k e t s a
few inches t h i c k s u r r o u n d e d by serpentindite
rocks of v a r i o u s
sizes.
T h e unusual c h e m i c a l imbalance of ultramafic soils, w i t h
extremely high magnesium and extremely low calcium levels, i s
of course,
largely r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e varied and o p e n
stunted, scrubby and e n d e m i c - r i c h vegetation which g r o w s h e r e
in lieu of a luxurious, uniform, and endemic-poor D o u g l a s - f i r
forest.
Unlike other m o r e arid serpentinite areas,
appear to be n o large "barrens".
there
Locally, areas of " blocks"
(relatively solid r o c k o u t c r o p s ) are much larger and m o r e
extensive t h a n sheared, c r u m b l y matrix zones (often c a l l e d
"barrens").
T h i s i t s e l f m a y be a factor of t h e high
precipitation quickly e r o d i n g t h e matrix areas.
Or it c o u l d
b e a factor o f t h e o r i g i n a l structure o f t h e J o s e p h i n e Sheet.
Regardless, even in t h e most highly sheared matrix z o n e s t h e
extremely high p r e c i p i t a t i o n must be compensating for t h e
physically and c h e m i c a l l y h a r s h environment.
Thus, t h e l o c a l
serpentinite vegetation i n t h e study area f a denser and m o r e
highly developed t h a n o n any other serpentinite area I h a v e
seen.
CLIMATE
Despite t h e stunted, o p e n nature of t h e vegetation,
throughout much of t h e s t u d y area, t h e Stone CorralDarlingtonia Bog CRNA r e c e i v e s among t h e highest rainfall
totals in t h e state.
Gasquet R.D.
E s t i m a t e s in Kahrl (1979) and by t h e
suggest t h a t t h e area receives a n a v e r a g e of
between 110 and 125 i n c h e s per year.
However, a s is t r u e
throughout t h e state, y e a r l y rainfall fluctuates widely i n
irregular cycles.
T o t a l s i n excess of 200 i ~ c h e sper y e a r
have been recorded at c o m p a r a b l e elevations nearby in t h e
Siskiyou Mountains (Greg
Peck, pers. comm.)
while during
drought gears totals may be n o more than 5 0 inches.
T h e rainfall is n o t o n l y higher fa this a r e a t h a n i n a n y
other part of t h e s t a t e but it is also m o r e equitably
distributed through t h e year.
Even during August,
the
driest month of t h e y e a r , t h e area probably averages b e t w e e n
1-1.5
inches o f rain.
Due to t h e r e l a t i v e l y low elevation and proximity t o t h e
coast, temperatures t h r o u g h o u t the year are mild,
Fog
probably regularly d r i f t s i n from t h e ocean and either b l o w s
over the rfdgetop or c r e e p s up t h e Smith River Valley during
the summer months.
rose to ca. 87'F
61°F at night.
D u r i n g my stay i n mid August t e m p e r a t u r e s
i n t h e e a r l y afternoon and dropped to 5 8 T h e s e a r e probably c l o s e to t h e mean h i g h s
and lows for this t i m e o f year.
mornings was ca. 1200 ft.
i n the canyon to t h e west of t h e
area and burned off quickly.
during my visit.
T h e fog level in t h e
Fog was absent from the a r e a
W i n t e r lows may occasionally descend t o ca,
2 5 ' ~at t h e upper e l e v a t i o n s above 2000 ft.
January lows are probably m o r e like 30°F.
However, mean
Light snows
probably fall nearly e v e r y year above 2000 ft.,
linger o n t h e ground f o r m o r e than a day o r two.
but do not
VEGETATION
The vegetation o f t h e proposed Stone Corral- Josephine
Peridotite RNA is d o m i n a t e d by a low shrubby coniferous
forest which varies l o c a l l y in its dominant species.
Because
this forest is p h y s i o g n o m i c a l l y rather uniform, but v a r i e s
floristically, I h a v e n a m e d it based o n its physical
characteristics rather t h a n o n its composition.
Thus, in
this report I h a v e c a l l e d it simply dwarf forest.
Several
other major vegetation t y p e s exist in t h e proposed RNA.
These additional v e g e t a t f o n types range from rather x e r i c
( ~ e f f r e yP i n e woodland, l o w e r dwarf forest) through m e s i c
( ~ o u g l a e - f i rforest, c a n y o n forest),
t o hydric (bog
forest,
riparian).
In the field w o r k f o r this report I quantitatively
sampled portions o f t h e d w a r f forest, bog forest, J e f f r e y
pine woodland, and D o u g l a s - f i r forest by using 10x10 m plots.
The remaining v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s a r e described quaLitatfvely.
Bog forest:
This series i n c l u d e s t h e target element for the p r o p o s e d
RNA, Darlingtonia bog.
However, closely associated w i t h t h e
true bog, dominated by h e r b a c e o u s species is a woody
vegetation dominated b y t r e e s and shrubs.
These two t y p e s
meet and intermingle throughout t h e main bog area in t h e
east-central portion of S e c t i o n 24 (see
vegetation map),
Generally in the wettest, muckiest areas herbaceous
vegetation prevails, w h i l e woody vegetatfon predominates in
the slightly drier m a r g i n s or where the soil is not as deep.
Because of t h e fine- grained patchiness of each type (Figure
9 ) , it was unpractical t o differentiate them during
vegetation sampling o r o n t h e vegetation map.
As they a r e
clearly interrelated t h e y a r e considered as parts of a s i n g l e
association i n t h e f o l l o w i n g discussion.
The local bog f o r e s t o c c u r s on gently sloping t e r r a i n
(plots
ranged from 5-15'
slopes) facing an easterly d i r e c t i o n
.(plots ranged from c o m p a s s bearings of 7 5 - 1 0 0 ' ) .
m plots were sampled i n t h i s association.
Ten 100 sq.
Tables 1-4
summarize t h e results.
The bog forest is moderately dense with 1 3 5 stems o v e r 2
m tall per 0.1
ha
able.
I).Port Orford cedar (POC) is
overwhelmingly the d o m i n a n t tree, almost twice as important
as western white pine, t h e most significant subdominant.
Pinus contorta subsp. nov.
on 80% of t h e plots.
is a common associate occurring
K n o b c o n e pine and Douglas-fir a r e
incidental, overlapping from adjacent dwarf forest.
Saplings
and seedlings (Table 2) a r e in similar proportions of d e n s i t y
and frequency t o t h e t r e e s with Port. Orford cedar, w e s t e r n
white pine and " beach pine" predominating.
T h e most
hydrophilic t r e e is POC. It commonly occurs aa saplings and
Table 1:
S u m m a r y of vegetation sampling for trees o v e r 2 m
in ten 10x10 rn plots in bog forest.
Den.
Freq.
Cover
(sq.in.)
Rel.Den.
Rel.Freq.
Rel.Cov.
I.V.
Z
1
POC
0,051
1,OO
7147.44
0.378
0.323
0.791
149.2
3.1
9034.23
1.000
1.000
1.000
300.0
WWP
TOTALS 0.135
Table 2:
Summary of vegetation data for saplings and seedlings on
ten 10x10 m plots in bog forest.
dens.
f req.
rel. dens,
rel.freq,
X.V.
POC
WWP
BP
DF
TOTALS
1
abbreviations are: POC= Port Orford Cedar; WWP-western w h i t e pine;
B P i b e a c h pine (Pinus contorta subsp. nov.); DF-Douglas-fir;
KP=knobcone pine.
s t a n d s for importance value ( r e l a t i v e d e n s i t y
r e l a t i v e c o v e r X 100)
+
relative frequency
+
seedlings even i n t h e wettest portions of the bog.
It is t h e
indicator t r e e of this association and occurs i n much h i g h e r
den-sities
and greater c o v e r than in t h e other associations
where it grows locally (canyon forest, dwarf forest,
streamside riparian).
T h e other tree species tend t o m o c c u r
C
more as a fringing border around the larger expanses of bog
a
and are more widespread i n the more xeric dwarf forest
association beyond.
T h e r e is reason to believe that P O C in
the bogs are the most v e n e r a b l e trees i n the s t u d y area.
31 inch dbh individual w a s ca,
from the base.
A
282 years old at 48 inches
Several l a r g e trees slightly over 3 ft. d b h
are probably ca. 350-400 years old.
A l l of t h e large P O C
observed had fire scars and a few charred stumps were seen.
Another P O C was aged at 146 years ca. 29" from t h e base w h e r e
it was ca.
24" in diameter.
This indfvidual had light
charring at its base indicating at l e a e t one fire in t h e past
1.5
centuries.
Other trees in t h i s association are considerably m o r e
short-lived.
A western w h i t e pine 16
"
dbh aged at 7 1 years
was one o f t h e largest o f that species seen in the
association.
One of t h e largest Pinus contorta seen in t h e
bog forest was only c a m 4"
d b h and was ca. 48 years old.
Heights of the dominant P O C are c a m 16-18 m and t h e t a l l e s t
Pinus monticola are ca, 1 3 rn.
The shrubs o f t h e bog forest are in general rather poor
indicators of t h e association.
Most of these species (Table
3) occur in similar d e n s i t i e s in adjacent dwarf forest except
T a b l e 3:
F r e q u e n c y and c o v e r of s h r u b s p e c i e s in t e n 1 0 x 1 0 m
bog forest v e g e t a t i o n samples.
-
x I. c o v e r
species
frequency
Ledum g l a n d u l o s u m
1
Lithocarpus densiflora
Rhamnus c a l i f o r n i c a
Rhododendron occidentale
Vaccinium p a r v i f o l i u m
Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Quercus v a c c i n f f o l i a
Gaultheria shallon
Vaccinium o v a t u m
Ho'lodiscus d i s c o l o r
Umbellularia californica
1.3
Myrica c a l i f o r n i c a
0.2
1
r e p r e s e n t e d only by t h e s h r u b b y var. e c h i n o i d e s
0.2
for the more abundant G e d u m , Rhododendron occidentale, and
Gaultheria shallon.
S p e c i e s such as Lithocarpus, Rhamnus,
and Vaccinium parvifoli-urn appear surprisingly indifferent to
soil moisture conditions.
Perhaps this is a result of t h e
extremely high rainfall t o t a l s (and
throughout t h e area.
perhaps water table)
Thus, t h e seemingly xeric dwarf f o r e s t
may actually be deceptively moist most of t h e year and
provides a similar s o i l environment to t h e margins of t h e
bog.
Ledum and R h o d o d e n d r o n are t h e only species which
regularly enter t h e s a t u r a t e d soil areas,
T h e most distinctive element of t h e bog flora is t h e
herbaceous component,
T a b l e 4 lists the frequencies of
the sampled herbaceous species.
About 5 3 % of the 38 s p e c i e s
listed are locally r e s t r i c t e d to this association.
The
dominant herbaceous c r o p formers of this association a r e
Darlingtonia californica, Scirpus criniger, Carex serratodens,
Sanguisorba microccphala, and Narthecium californicum.
These
and other hydrophilic h e r b s tend to dominate to t h e e x c l u s i o n
of woody species in t h e centers of moat bogs.
These a r e a s
are typically gently s l o p i n g concavities bisected by flowing
rivulets (figure
10).
This vegetation t y p e has not been discussed in Atzet and
Wheeler's
( 1 9 8 4 ) summary o f t h e P O C vegetation series of t h e
Siskiyou Mountain Province.
If 1 were to define the local
community in their t e r m s I would call It t h e Chamaecyparis
lawsoniena/ Ledum g l a n d u l o s u m / Darliagtonia californica
association.
Apparently n o n e of their samples came from t h e
T a b l e 4;
F r e q u e n c i e s of h e r b a c e o u s s p e c i e s in t e n 1 0 x 1 0 m
b o g f o r e s t v e g e t a t i o n samples.
species
Scirpus cririiger
Rudbeckia c a l i f o r n i c a
Helenium bigelovfi
Sanguisorba m i c r o c e p h a l a
Narthecium c a l i f o r n i c u m
Darlinetonia c a l i f o r n i c a
serratodens
Carex sp.
Tofieldia g l u t l n o a a
Drosera r o t u n d i f o l i a
Aster
,
p~ludicola
P a r n a s s i a palustris
Gentiana s e t i g e r a
Horkelia s e r i c a t a
Danthonia c a l i f o r n i c a
S t i p a lernmonff
Calamagrostfs n u t k a e n s i s
Trifolium o r e g a n u m
Pinguicula m a c r o c e r a s
Deschampsia c a e s p i t o s a
Habenaria sparsiflora
T a b l e 4: (continued)
species
Carex a n g u s t i o r
Juncus o r t h o p h y l l u s
Haplopappus r a c e m o s u s
G e n t i a n 8 affinis
Galium ambiguum
Sanicula p e c k i a n a
Epipactis g i g a n t e a
Agrostfs h a l l i i
Xris i a n o m i n a t a
Delphinium n u d i c a u l e
Lomatium c a l i f o r n i c u m
Trientalis l a t i f o l i a
Lomatium h o w e l l i i
Erfgeron f o l i o s u s
Arnica s p a t h u l a t a
frequency
boggy areas of t h e J o s e p h i n e Sheet (e,g.
Wilderness).
the Kalmiopsis
They i n d i c a t e no meadowy or boggy types.
The
most similar of their P O C communities t o t h e local t y p e is
the Port Orford cedar/box-leaved silktassel type.
This t y p e
is actually more c l o s e l y related to t h e dwarf forest, a s they
state that P O C is f r e q u e n t l y subdominant or codominant w i t h
Pinus monticola,
Emj e f f r e y i ,
z,
attenuata, and P s e u d o t s u g a
menziesii.
Riparian Vegetation:
In addition t o t h e bog forest there are two other h y d r i c
associations in the proposed RNA.
Both occur along f l o w i n g
water and thus they both c a n be considered riparian
vegetation.
T h e first s u b t y p e occurs at t h e outlet s t r e a m s
of the bog forest where t h e gradually sloping, seepy bog a r e a s
give way to more steeply-sloping channelized stream courres.
Three or four small p e r e n n i a l rivulets flow down the s t e e p l y sloping inner canyon of t h e North Fork of the Smith River t o
join it within the s t u d y area.
Lining these small s t r e a m s is
a vegetation type d i s t i n c t from the rfverine riparian z o n e
along the S m i th River,
Streamside Riparian: T h i s vegetation i s domfnated b y
herbaceous species w h i c h form a narrow border only a foot o r
two wide along t h e s t r e a m s flowing through t h e steep g u l l i e s
of the RNA.
Typically t h e surrounding vegetation is
dominated by woody s p e c i e s of the c a n y o n forest association.
may occur i n this riparian z o n e , but
Occasional
C
they n e v e r form a w e l l - d e f i n e d tree strata.
The following
species are c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of this vegetation: Lilium
-
voLl,,meri, Trilium r i v a l e
Adiantum pedatum var.
>
aleuticum
Carex serratodens
Schoenolfrion album
Epipactis gigantea
Lathyrus delnorticus
The vegetation is n o t particularly well-developed f o r
two reasons; 1) t h e s u r r o u n d i n g steep gully slopes and
overhanging vegetation f r o m canyon forest shades out a n u m b e r
of halophilic species,
and 2) t h e steep,rocky and bouldery
substrate provides limited s p a c e fox rooting of h y d r o p h i l i c
plants.
Riveriae Riparian:
T h i s ia the better-developed o f t h e
two riparian a s s o c i a t i o n s i n t h e RNA, although t h e c o v e r
along t h e Smith R i v e r i s by n o means extensive.
The North
Fork of t h e Smith R i v e r is a large,clear bouldery stream 2 5 50 ft. wide bounded by s t e e p banks (Figure 11).
It is
s u b j e c t to major f l u c t u a t i o n s in water level through t h e
year; thus flooding p e r i o d i c a l l y scours t h e stream c o u r s e and
restricts t h e s i z e and c o v e r of t h e dominant vegetation.
The
major woody s p e c i e s a r e typically only shrub-sized even
though s o m e s u c h as A l n u s oregona
becoL/ming large trees.
h a v e t h e potential o f
O t h e r woody species include t h e t w o
Klamath endemics: S a l i x delnortensis and
as yet undetermined S a l i x , and
-S.
tracyi, a third
Physocarpus capitatus.
Sub-
shrubby and herbaceous s p e c i e s include Lotus oblongifolius,
Erigeron sp.,
Angelica arguta, Agrostis hallii, Brickelia
greenei, Chrysopsia o r e g a n a , Trifoliurn longipes, and
EpiXobium rigidurn.
T h e l a t t e r species ( ~ i g u r e7) is
characteristic of b o u l d e r y substrate at or n e a r h i g h s p r i n g
runoff levels,
Dwarf Forastz
This forest, t h e m o s t extensive vegetation type o f t h e
study area h a s a p e c u l i a r quality about it.
Despite t h e f a c t
that t h e highest e l e v a t i o n s i n the area are under 2500 f t .
the physiogynomy o f t h i s forest, as manifested by the h a r s h
chemical properties o f t h e soil, is reminiscent of a n u p p e r
montane or even s u b a l p i n e forest.
T h e stunted, compact
nature o f many of t h e t r e e s and shrubs i n conjunction w i t h
the presence of t y p i c a l l y montane species s u c h as P f n u s
contorta,
x. monticola,
z,
jeffreyi, Quercus vaccinffolia,
Juniperus communis, and Arctostaphylos nevadensis aids in
this deception (Figure 12).
T h e dwarf forest i s best developed on t h e more gentlysloping upper e l e v a t i o n s o f t h e study a r e a .
T h e r e it f o r m s a
nearly continuoua s p i n d l y forest, broken only occasionally by
'
small herbaceous o p e n i n g s o n more steeply sloping, rocky, o r
otherwise xeric sites ( F i g u r e
western portion o f S e c t i o n 24.
sampled 10 plots i n t h e
Tables 5-8 summarize t h e
data.
The t r e e s t r a t i e ( T a b 1 e 5 ) i s d o m i n a t e d by s p i n d l y
individuals of Pinus contorta.
Pinus attenuata, P.
m o n t i c o l a , a n d P s e u d o t s u g a m e n z i e s i i may a l s o b e l o c a l l y
dominant.
P i n u s c o n t o r t a p r e d o m i n a t e s on t h e most g e n t l y
s l o p i n g a r e a s w h e r e i t s d e n s i t i e s may e x c e e d 50 t r e e s p e r 1 0 0
sq.
m.
T o t a l s t e m d e n s i t y i s 196 p e r 0.1
ha.
As c a n b e s e e n
5
f r o m ~ a b l e ~ h o w e v e rt h, e c o v e r i n t h i s f o r e s t i s e x t r e m e l y
low ( 1 4 7 0 s q .
in./O.l
Dominant i n d i v i d u a l t r e e s a r e
ha).
g e n e r a l l y n o l a t g e t t h a n 10-11 i n c h e s d b h .
typically
E.
monticola.
These are
1. a t t e n u a t a
P i n u s c o n t o r t a and
u s u a l l y n o l a r g e r t h a n c a 4 - 5 " dbh.
The l a r g e s t a n d o l d e s t
t r e e I m e a s u r e d i n t h e d w a r f f o r e s t was a P s e u d o t s u g a c a .
dbh w i t h a h e i g h t o f c a . 9 . 5
me
from t h e b a s e a s 205 y e a r s o l d .
-
The a g e s o f f o u r 1 0 - 1 1 " d b h
c o n t o r t a and P.
a t t a i n ages greater than ca.
20"
This t r e e was a g e d a t 20"
w e s t e r n w h i t e p i n e s r a n g e d from 86- 104 y e a r s ,
n u m e r o u s small P.
are
.
-
The
a t t e n u a t a appear t o never
60 y e a r s and a v e r a g e c a .
40
years,
The y o u n g a g e s o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e t r e e s i n t h e d w a r f
f o r e s t s e e m s t o b e p r i m a r i l y a c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e e x t r e m e l y
wet e n v i r o n m e n t r a t h e r t h a n t h e f r e q u e n c y o f f i t e .
Disease
( b l i s t e r r u s t , dwarf m i s t l e t o e , o t h e r f u n g u s ) i s e x t r e m e l y
common o n t h e t r e e s ,
p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e beach p i n e s and t h e
western white pines.
F a l l e n s t e m s o f r e c e n t l y k i l l e d 4- 5
-
i n c h d b h P.
attenuata,
P.
monticola,
and P.
contorta r o t very
rapidly giving evidence of t h e f a s t decomposition r a t e .
T a b l e 5:
Summary o f v e g e t a t i o n sampling data for t r e e s on t e n 10x10
m plots in dwarf forest.
f req.
den.
cover
(sq.in.)
rel. den.
BP
0.104
0.6
445.86
0.531 ,
KP
0.049
1.0
287.6
0.250
WWP
0.025
0.8
435.79
0.128
DF
0,016
0.8
288.51
0,082
JP
0,001
0,i
POC
0.001
TOTALS 0.196
Table 6:
-
0.1
3.4
12-57
0.2
1470.43
rel.freq.
rel.cov,
I.V.
'
0.005
0.029
0.009
0,005-
0.029
0.000
1.001
0.999
1.000
300-0
Summary of v e g e t a t i o n d a t a for seedlings and s a p l i n g s on
t e n 10x10 m plots i n dwarf forest.
density
WWP
BP
DF
POC
TOTALS
frequency
r e l , dens
re1.f req.
1,V.
A p p a r e n t l y t h e r e h a v e been no w i d e s p r e a d f i r e s i n t h e
dwarf f o r e s t fo"r s e v e r a l d e c a d e s .
-
c h a r r i n g o n t h e 9 0 + y e a r o l d P.
The l a c k o f f i r e s c a r s o r
m o n t i c o l a ox on t h e 200 y e a r
old Pseudotsuga suggest t h a t recent f i t e influence has been
minimal.
However,
-
P. c o n t o r t a a n d P.
t h e many 40 - 50 y e a r o l d -
a t t e n u a t a s u g g e s t t h a t p e r h a p s t h e r e was a f i r e c a .
50 y e a r s
ago.
A s m a l l l i g h t n i n g f i r e burned c a .
f o r e s t n e a r t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t (ca.
5 a c r e s of dwarf
2400 f t . )
i n t h e R N A on
-
T h i s f i r e k i l l e d a l l o f t h e d o m i n a n t P.
August 8, 1981.
-
e o n t i c o l a a n d P.
c o n t o r t a a t t h e h e a r t o f t h e burn.
-
seems u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e o l d e r P.
Thus,
it
monticola scattered
t h r o u g h o u t the d e n s e s t a n d s o f s p i n d l y P.
-
c o n t o r t a a n d P.
a t t e n u a t a i n t h e dwarf f o r e s t c o u l d have a 1 1 s u r v i v e d a n
extensive fire.
S a p l i n g and s e e d l i n g d a t a
a able 6 ) i n d i c a t e t h a t o f t h e
f o u r most i m p o r t a n t t r e e s l i s t e d i n t a b l e 5 o n l y P i n u s
attenuata i s n o t p r e s e n t l y reproducing w e l l .
t h a t f i t e may b e n e c e s s a r y t o p e r p e t u a t e t h e
This suggests
g.
attenuata,but
i s probably n o t n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e o t h e r dominant s p e c i e s ,
-
The u b i q u i t y o f P. a t t e n u a t a a s i n d i c a t e d i n T a b l e 1 , m a y n o t
n e c e s s a r i l y come f r o m o n e w i d e s p r e a d f i r e 5 0 y e a r s a g o ,
but
f r o m a f e w s m a l l e r f i r e s w h i c h d i d n o t e f f e c t the e n t i r e
dwarf f o r e s t .
-
O f a l l t h e C a l i f o r n i a c l o s e d - c o n e p i n e s P.
a t t e n u a t a h a s t h e g r e a t e s t s e e d wing l e n g t h / s e e d s i z e r a t i o
( P e a t t i e 1953).
winged (1.25" )
Thus,
t h e r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l (0.25"),
long-
s e e d s c o u l d b e s c a t t e r e d by t h e wind w e l l
beyond the edges of a fire.
-
The varying denslty of P.
atteuuata o n t h e s a m p l e p l o t s (from 1-11 per 100 sq. m )
suggests that c o l o n i z a t i o n was not uniform and this m a y h a v e
resulted from varying d i s t a n c e s from source areas.
On t h e
-
-
recent 5 a c r e burn s e e d l i n g s of P. monticola and P. c o n t o r t a
-
were common, however P.
a t t e n u a t a was not represented, as
apparently t h e r e were n o burned parent trees.
Beneath t h e s p i n d l y t r e e layer 5s a typically w e l l -
deveLoped shrub cover ( F i g u r e 14).
T a b l e 7 indicates 15
species of shrubs o n t h e 10 sample plots.
over 50% of t h e s u r f a c e in s o m e areas.
Shrubs may c o v e r
T h e most i m p o r t a n t
species is probably L i t h o c a r p u e densiflora
var. echinoides,
followed by Quercus vaccinifolia, Rharnnus californica,
Arctostaphylos n e v a d e n s i s , and Umbellularia californica.
A l l o f t h e i m p o r t a n t apecies o f shrubs in this
association resprout a f t e r fire.
On t h e 1981 burn r e s p r o u t s
of Lithocarpus, U m b e l l u l a r i a , Juniperus communis, Rhamnus,
.-
Rhododendron occidentale, and Quercus vaccinifolia w e r e
vigorous, having g r o w n as much as 4 ft. in t h e past 4 y e a r s
(Figure 15).
T h e s p r o u t s o f Lithocarpus, Rhamnus and
Umbellularia w e r e a l r e a d y bearing fruit.
In addition,
seedlings o f L i t h o c a r p u s a n d Arctostaphylos cinerea w e r e
common.
T h e herbaceous l a y e r i s also well developed i n t h e dwarf
forest.
A s mentioned by Whittaker (1960)
t h e h e r b and e h r u b
layers may freqpently f o r m a two phase understory with
essentially clohed p a t c h e s o f shrubs alternating with
T a b l e 7:
F r e q u e n c i e s a n d m e a n percent c o v e r f o r s h r u b s o n
t e n 10x10 m p l o t s i n d w a r f forest.
species
frequency
Rhamnus californica occidentalis
1.0
Lithocarpus densiflora echinoides
0.9
-x
X cover
Arctostavhvlos nevadensis
Vaccinium parvifolium
Umbellularia californica
J u n i p e r u s c o m m u n i s jackii
Holodiscus discolor d e l n o r t e n s i s
0.6
0.5
Ceanothus pumilus
1.3
Rhododendron occidentale
0.7
Arctostaphylos cinerea
1.5
Rosa gymnocarpa
-
tr.
Amelanchier florida
0.2
Arctostaphylos parviflora
0.2
Vaccinium ovatum
tr.
h e r b a c e o u s openings.
T h e herbaceous openings tend to
dominate on the relatively xeric, steeply sloping areas
(Figure
1 6 ) , while s h r u b s dominate on more gradual slopes.
T a b l e 8 l i s t s 42 s p e c i e s of h e r b s o n t h e 10 s a m p l e
plots.
M a n y of t h e s e h e r b s a r e w i d e l y s c a t t e r e d and c o m p r i s e
o n l y a s m a l l p o r t i o n o f t h e t o t a l g r o u n d cover.
However,
such s p e c i e s as X e r o p h y l l u m and t h e g r a s s e s F e s t u c a
-
c a l i f o r n i c a , S t i p a l e m m o n i i , A g r o s t i s h a l l i i , and P o a p i p e r i
may l o c a l l y c o v e r up t o 3 5 X of t h e plots.
Herb cover and
d i v e r s i t y is g e n e r a l l y l e s s o n m o r e s t e e p l y s l o p i n g , r o c k y
areas.
T h e r e c e n t f i r e i n t h e d w a r f f o r e s t had a n i n v i g o r a t i n g
effect o n m o s t of the c o m m o n h e r b a c e o u s species.
Species
w h i c h a p p e a r e d to i n c r e a s e p a r t i c u l a r l y in f r e q u e n c y o n t h e
burned a r e a i n c l u d e d G e n t i a n a a f f i n i s , P h a c e l i a sp.
W h i p p l e a modesta.
and
T h e P h a c e l i a was the only species not
e n c o u n t e r e d o n t h e 10 n o n - b u r n e d plots.
C o l o n i z a t i o n of t h e r e c e n t m i n i n g r o a d s i n S e c t i o n 24
a p p e a r s t o be r e l a t i v e l y slow.
The most noticeable d w a r f
f o r e s t c o l o n i z e r is t h e g r a s s A g r o s t i s hallii.
Most s h r u b s
and h e r b s h a v e n o t b e g u n t o c o l o n i z e t h e s e 4-5 y e a r o l d cuts.
However, o n s o m e of t h e ca. 10 y e a r old c u t s y o u n g
i n d i v i d u a l s o f s u c h s p e c i e s as R h a m n u s c a l i f o r n i c a and
C e a n o t h u s p u m i l u s o c c u r a l o n g w i t h v a r i o u s herbs.
L o w e r D w a r f Forest:
T h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e d w a r f f o r e s t c h a n g e s b e l o w ca.
1200
T a b l e 8:
F r e q u e n c i e s o f h e r b a c e o u s s p e c i e s o n t e n 10x10 m
plots s a m p l e d i n d w a r f forest.
species
frequency
X e ~ o p h y l l u m tenax
Galium ambiguum siskiyouensfs
Vancouveria chrysantha
Iris chrysophylla
-
& innominata
Gentfana affinis
Arnica s p a t h u l a t e
Lomatiurn h o w e l l i i
Phlox m
a occidentalis
C a r e x sp.
Delphinium nudicaule
Lupinus latifolius
Senecio ligulifolius
Aater b r i c k e l l i o f d e s
Berberis pumila
Trientalis latifolia
Horkelia sericata
Achillea milLefolium
Cslystegia occfdentalis
Sanicula peckiana
Cordylanthus viscidus
Erfgeron foliosus confinis
Festuca californica
Stipa lemmonii
T a b l e 8 continued:
Lilium bolanderi
Schoenoliron bracteosum ( 1 )
Zigadenus micranthus
Castilleja p r u i n o s a
Perideridia o r e g a n a
Haplopaepus racernosus c o n g e s t u s
Poa piperi
Agrostis h a l l i i p t i n g l e i
Smilacina racemosa amplexicaulis
Trifolium o r e g a n u m
Festuca i d a h o e n s i s
Onychium d e n s u m
Lathyrus d e l u o r t i c u s
Tauschf a g l a u c a
Disporum h o o k e r i
Whipplea modesta
Polygonurn s p a r g u l a r i f o r m e
Aster 1 p a l d d i c o l a
ft. i n t h e steep inner c a n y o n of t h e Smith River.
Pinus
contorta n o longer o c c u r s , apparently being restricted t o t h e
upper, more gradual slopes, and the density of P i n u s m m
-
monticola, and P. a t t e n u a t a decreases.
Densities of
.I
Pseudotsuga appear t o i n c r e a s e slightly and t h e i n c e n s e c e d a r
( ~ a l o c e d r u sdecurrens),
w h i c h is r a r e i n upper dwarf f o r e s t
becomes one o f t h e d o m i n a n t species.
T r e e densities i n
general a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y lower t h a n at higher elevations and
the overall effect i s m o r e o f a dwarf woodland than a d w a r f
forest (Figure 17).
T h i s i s particularly t r u e o n t h e s t e e p e r
southerly slopes w h e r e s h r u b s tend t o dominate.
Tree stature
is still small, yet s o m e w h a t larger t h a n t h e dwarf forest,
The dominant Calocedrus a r e ca. 12-14 inches dbh,
Shrub cover also c h a n g e s in this lower level type w i t h
species such a s A r c t o s t a p h y l o s cinerea and Garrya b u x i f o l i a
increasing in i m p o r t a n c e and Lithocarpus and Quercus
vaccinlfolia decreasing.
I n addition, species rare o r absent
from upper elevations s u c h as Erfapoaiam pendulum,
Eriodictyon californlca, Arctostaphylas parviflora, and A.
intricata appear.
T h e herbaceous c o m p o n e n t is also substantially d i f f e r e n t
than at upper elevations.
P h l o x speciosa, Penstemon azureus,
Chrysopsis oregana, S e d u m laxum subsp. flavidum, S e l a g i n e l l a
wallacei, T o x i c o d e n d r o n diversiloba, Arabis aculeolata,
Lomatium tracyi, S t i p a lemmonii, Phacelia nemoralis ( ? ) , and
Arenaria nuttallif (or
species.
A.
rosei) are among t h e most c o m m o n
Cover is g e n e r a l l y lower t h a n at t h e higher
elevations due mostly t o t h e steeper, rockier slopes.
Jeffrey Pfne Woodland:
A small portion of t h e upper elevations at and n e a r t h e
Stone Corral site is v e g e t a t e d by an open woodland of P i n u s
j e f f r e y i (Figure 18).
T h i s association differs considerably
from the adjacent e x t e n s i v e dwarf forest and from the s m a l l
patch of Douglas-fir f o r e s t below Stone Corral.
Jeffrey Pine
woodland extends southwestward across the Wimer Road f r o m
Stone Corral on t h e broad, rounded south-facing ridgetop.
Apparently the basis f o r t h e vegetation differences is
edaphic with t h e open r i d g e t a p composed of relatively deep,
sheared serpentinite w h 5 l e the surrounding dwarf forest is
underlain by blocky peridotite.
However,
the difference is
less obvious at Stone C o r r a l where t h e soil at least in part
is derived from blocky peridotite similar to adjacent dwarf
forest.
Three 1 0 x 1 0 m plots w e r e sampled in t h e Jeffrey pine
woodland at Stone Corral.
Tables 9- 12 summarize t h e data.
As Table 9 shows, t o t a l t r e e density is low (73 per 0.1 h a )
while total basal covet is high (ca.
versus only ca. 147 sq.
in./lOO
1 1 6 0 sq. ia./100
m.
sq.
sp. m in dwarf forest).
The
only other t r e e species, P i n u s monticola, i s an unimportant
member.
Seedling and s a p l i n g density is low (Table
10) w i t h
Jeffrey pine predominating.
Shrub cover is m u c h lower in this association t h a n i a
typical dwarf forest as is the diversity (Table 11).
The
Table 9:
Summary o f vegetation sampling for trees on three
10x10 m plots in Jeffrey pine woodland.
. .. .-
den.
freq,
JP
0.070
1.0
WWP
0.003
TOTALS
0.073
Table 10:
cover
releden.
rel.freq.
- - - - -.-
rel.cov,
-
I.V.
3459.03
0.959
0.752
0.994
270.5
0.33
19.63
0.041
0.248
0.006
29.5
1.33
3478.66
1.000
1.000
1,000
300.0
S u m m a r y of vegetation sampling for saplings and seedlings
on three 10x10 m plots in Jeffrey pine woodland.
dens,
freq.
rel.den.
rel.freq.
I.V.
JP
0.013
0.667
0.813
0,667
148.0
WWP
0.003
0.333
0.188
0.333
52.1
totals
0.016
1,000
Table 11:
Mean c o v e r a n d f r e q u e n c y of s h r u b s o n t h r e e 1 0 x 1 0 m plots
i n J e f f r e y pine woodland.
species
frequency
Arctostaphylos n e v a d e n s i s
1.0
-x
I. cover
16.0
Quercus v a c c i n i f o l i a
Rhamnus c a l i f o r n i c a o c c i d e n t a l i s
1.0
Holodiscus d i s c o l o r d e t n o r t e n s i s
0.67
Umbellularia c a l i f o r n i c a
0.67
Ceanothus p u m i l u s
tr.
Amelanchier f l o r f d s
Juniperus c o m m u n i s j a c k i i
T a b l e 12:
tr.
F r e q u e n c i e s o f h e r b a c e o u s s p e c i e s o n t h r e e 1 0 x 1 0 m plots
in J e f f r e y p i n e w o o d l a n d .
species
frequency
Festuca calffornica
Erigexoa f o l i o s u s c o n f i n f s
Achillea m i l l e f o l i u m
Schoenoliron
bracteosum ?
Haplopappus r a c e m o s u s c o n g e s t u s
Calystegia o c c i d e n t a l i s
Trifolium o r e g a n u a
Galium a m b i g u u m s i s k i y o u e n s i s
C a r e x sp.
Iris sp.
-
1.0
Table 1 2 continued:
H o r k e l i a sericata
Gentiana a f f i n i s
S t i p a lemmonif
Poa p i p e r i
ELyrnus g l a u c u s
Onychium d e n s u m
Danthonia c a l i f o r n i c a
Perideridia oregaaa
Lomatium h o w e l l i i
moat important crop f o r m e r is Arctostaphylos nevadensis.
The
largest percentage o f g r o u n d cover is provided by the 1 9
species of herbs and g r a s s e s noted in t h e association ( T a b l e
12), especially Festuca califarnica, which may cover up to
4 0 % of t h e plots.
The size and ages of t h e trees a r e not great.
P. jeffreyi a r e ca. 20-22 m tall 20
dominant 100 years old,
microclimate.
"
Typical
dbh and ca.
However g r o w t h rates vary depending on
The largest tree measured was 24" dbh ca. 24 m
tall and was 105 years old at 18" from the base.
This
individual occurred in t h e bottom of a swale adjacent t o
well-developed Douglas- fir forest.
Another t r e e ca. 1 0 1
years old at 18 inches f r o m the base was only 12.5"
dbh.
This iadivfdual grew n e a r t h e upper edge of t h e Jeffrey p i n e
woodland adjacent t o d w a r f forest,
-
A third P. j e f f r e y i
growing under typical m o d a l conditions was 19" dbh and 87
years o l d at 14" from t h e base.
#o fire scars were s e e n o n
any of the trees, s u g g e s t i n g very low f i r e frequency i n t h e
past 100+ years.
Douglas-fir Forest:
As I mentioned previously, i f the soil type of t h e S t o n e
Corral-Darlingtonfa Bog C R W A w a s not ultramafic, it would
probably support a l u s h Pseudotsuga-dominated forest.
Some
indication of what this forest might be like is given i n a
small patch of forest o n gabbro (ultramafic,
but less h a r s h
than peridotite-serpentinite) in the extreme west-central
portion o f t h e p r o p o s e d RNA.
Here Pseudotsuga dominates
over a s u b c a n o p y of A r b u t u s menziesif, C h a m a e c y p a r i s
lawsoniana, t r e e - s i z e d L i t h o c a r p u s , and Q u e r c u s c h r y s o l e p i s
(Table
13).
The s h r u b and h e r b layers a r e not as d i v e r s e a s
the m o r e o p e n a s s o c i a t i o n s and o n l y 6 s p e c i e s o f s h r u b s a n d 7
s p e c i e s of h e r b s w e r e t a l l i e d in t h e t w o 1 0 x 1 0 m p l o t s
sampled
able 14).
G a u l t h e r i a s h a l l o a and P o l y s t i c h u m
munitum w e r e t h e most i m p o r t a n t u n d e r s t o r y m e m b e r s a l o n g w i t h
a t h i c k c a r p e t of m o s s i n m a n y a r e a s ( F i g u r e
19).
T h e s i z e and a g e o f t h e d o m i n a n t P s e u d o t s u g a a r e n o t
great.
T y p i c a l d o m i n a n t s a r e ca. 20-23
95 -111 y e a r s old.
"
dbh, 26 m t a l l , a n d
N o n e of t h e D o u g l a s - f i r s or Port O r f o r d
cedar in t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n had f i r e scars, h o w e v e r t h e
m u l t i p l e 11-19" d b h t r u n k s of m a d r o n e in t h i s a r e a s u g g e s t
that perhaps it was b u r n e d s l i g h t l y o v e r 1 0 0 y e a r s ago.
No
larger D o u g l a s - f i r w e r e s e e n a n y w h e r e i n t h e R N A and t h e o n l y
o l d e r t r e e s a r e t h e o c c a s i o n a l isolated s t u n t e d D o u g l a s - f i r
i n t h e d w a r f f o r e s t a n d t h e v e n e r a b l e P O C u p t o 300+ y e a r s
old in t h e bog forest.
T h u s , it a p p e a r s l i k e l y t h a t s l i g h t l y
over 1 0 0 y e a r s a g o (ca.
1 1 2 - 1 2 0 ) t h e r e was a m a j o r f i r e
w h i c h burned a s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n of the proposed RNA
effecting large portions of the dwarf forest, Jeffrey pine
woodland, and D o u g l a s - f i r forest.
Canyon Forest:
Lining t h e n a r r o w , s t e e p g u l l i e s w h f c h descend t h e
s l o p e s to meet t h e N .
F o r k of t h e S m i t h R i v e r is a plant
T a b l e 13:
D e n s i t y a n d c o v e r (sq.
in. basal area) f o r t r e e s o n t w o
10x10 m plots in D o u g l a s - f i r forest o n gabbro.
species
Pseudotsuga menziesii
density
cover
0.065
Arbutus m e n z i e s i i
Chamaecyparis l a w s o n i a n a
Lithocarpus d e n s i f l a r a
Quercus chrysolepis
totals
T a b l e 14: S h r u b s and h e r b s present o n two 1 0 x 1 0 m p l o t s i n D o u g l a s r
f i r f o r e s t o n gabbro.
shrubs:
Lithocarpus d e n s i f l o r a e c h i n o i d e s
Rubus u r s i n u s
Vaccinium p a r v i f l o r u n
Gaultheria shallon
Vaccfnium ovatum
Umbellularia c a l i f o r n i c a
herbs:
Disporum hookeri
Goodyera o b l o n g i f o l f a
Bromus m a r g i n a t u s
Whipplea m o d e s t a
Chimaphila menziesii
Iris s p .
-
association related t o b o t h t h e dwarf forest and the D o u g l a s fir forest.
Despite t h e fact that t h e substrate in most o f
these small canyons is peridotite (with
outcrops of gabbro),
occasional s m a l l
t h e s t a t u r e of the vegetation is
substantially greater t h a n in the surrounding dwarf f o r e s t
(Figare 20).
T h e most important members of this association
are Lithocarpus d e n s i f l o r a . (typically
meaziesii (up
t o ea. 1 0
"
10-12"
dbh), ~ r b u t u s
dbg, Quercus chrysolepis,
occasional Calacedrus, Chamaecyparis, Pseudotsuga, and P i n u s
monticola (up
to 45" dbh,the
study area).
Understory shrubs are shared with t h e
largest tree anywhere in t h e
surrounding dwarf and l o w e r dwarf forest and include: G a r r y a
buxifolia, Lithocarpus densiflora, var. echinoides, Q u e r c u s
vaccinifolia, Rhamnus californica, and Vacciaium ovatum.
Berberis piperiana was t h e only shrub species apparently
restricted t o this type.
H e r b s are typically more m e s o p h i l i c
than those o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g dwarf forests and include:
Vancouveria chrysantha, Whipplea modesta, Pteridium
aquilinum, Hierochloe occidentalis, Disporum hookeri,
Trientalis latifolia, and what is probably a species o f
Heuchera.
The density of t h e t r e e stems, particularly of t h e
tanoak and canyon oak is o f t e n high, making travel through
the ravines difficult.
T h e comparatively high biomass of
vegetation i n this a s s o c i a t i o n is a result of the more mesic
nature of the environment (sheltered
and adjacent to
permanent or semi-permanent water, as well as possibly a
locally favorable s u b s t r a t e (gabbro
outcrops).
IMPACTS
By f a r t h e greatest impacts threatening t h e proposed
Stone Corral- Darllngtonia bog R N A involve the effects of
mining operations.
As of mid-August 1985 there were s e v e r a l
rough buldozed tracks regularly punctuated with exploratory
pits in t h e proposed RNA.
At least one of these pits w a s
marked with a metal tag which indicated grid coordinates, a
pit number, the depth of excavation (6
22, 1980).
m) and the d a t e (Sept.
Apparently, m a n y of the buldozed trails and t h e
pits dug in Section 24 w e r e constructed after June 1980 (the
date of the most recent a e r i a l photography I saw of t h e area).
As of May 1975 (when a n earlier set of aerial photos w a s
taken) there w e r e n o n e o f t h e extensive excavations in t h e
northeastern 1/4 of S e c t i o n 24 and fewer in t h e western
portion of Section 24.
Apparently t h e buldoeed road which
now exists approximating t h e Z O O 0 ft.
contour reaching f r o m
the northernmost point o f t h e proposed boundary nearly t o
Stone Corral was made a f t e r 1980.
The impact o f t h e s e various excavations is not a s s e v e r e
aa one might think o n a f l o r a with such a high percentage of
rare t a x a .
T h i s is p r i m a r i l y a factor of t h e relatively e v e n
dispersion of most of t h e members of the dwarf forest flora.
The most localized m e m b e r s of the Stone Corral dwarf f o r e s t
flora are not those w h i c h a r e t h e most threatened and
sensitive as indicated b y t h e 1984 CNPS list.
Perhaps t h e
most threatened taxa l o c a l l y are Lilium bolanderi,
Schoanoliron bracteosum ( T ) ,
-
and Poa piperi.
These species
are both rare regionally and localized in t h e dwarf forest in
areas with mining damage.
The two most threatened s p e c i e s of
the local flora listed by CNPS, Arabis aculeolata and Sedum
laxum subsp. flavidum a r e both locally uncommon, but t h e i r
apparent restriction t o t h e undisturbed lower canyon of t h e
N.
Fk.
of t h e Smith R i v e r offers them more protection t h a n
the above taxa.
Because of t h e h a r s h ultramafic soil, t h e recent mining
spurs have not become colonizatioa routes for introduced
ruderals.
T h e only n o n - n a t i v e s seen in the a r e a were a f e w
scattered indfviduaLs o f Lolium per en?^ along t h e Wimer Road
and one individual of t h e grass Setari.a viridis growing i n a
can with non-ultramafic s o i l in it.
Hence, there is n o
threat of competition f r o m non-natives i n this area.
A greater threat t o o n e important member of t h e bog
forest, Port Orford cedar, is presented b y the proliferation
of roads fn and adjacent t o the up-slope parts of t h e s t u d y
rea.
Because t h e f u n g u s Phytophthora lateralis is e a s i l y
transported on muddy f e n d e r s of cars and trucks, there is a
distinct possibflity o f infection of t h e local P O C stands.
This is particularly t r u e i n t h e northernmost portion o f t h e
area where roads come w i t h i n only a f e w meters of welldeveloped bog forest.
Fortunately, d e s p i t e t h e number of buldozed tracks i n
the study area, there is little evidence of recent v e h i c u l a r
or foot travel on them.
S o m e of them are already heavily
eroded in parts and a r e virtually impassible t o all but t h e
most ardent 4x4 enthusiasts,
Fortunately erosion of
undisturbed areas a d j a c e n t t o these roads is not a major
problem,
T h i s is b e c a u s e most of the roads in Section 24
cross relatively gentle terrain.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The great botanical value of t h e area, with its w e a l t h
of rare and endemic taxa, perhaps unsurpassed i n t h e state,
is certainly enough t o recommend the establishment of t h i s
area as an RNA.
D e s p i t e t h e disturbance created by mining
exploration in Section 24 there are still large areas of t h e
site which are totally undisturbed, including virtually a l l
of Sections 25 and 36 lying within the proposed boundaries.
Because Section 24 h o u s e s t h e best-developed dwarf forest and
the only areas of bog f o r e s t i t is important t o include it
within the proposed boundaries, in spite of t h e local
disturbance there.
Certainly any f u r t h e r disturbance related to mining
exploration will be c u r t a i l e d by t h e establishment of t h e
RIA.
However,
a d d i t i o n a l a c t i o n should be taken t o p r e v e n t
vehicular travel.
I recommend c l o s i n g o f f a l l a c c e s s r o a d s
i n t o t h e s t u d y a r e a i n c l u d i n g even t h e s h o r t s p u r s i n o r d e r
t o prevent t h e spread of r o o t r o t fungus.
This c a n be done
e f f e c t i v e l y u s i n g a backhoe a t t h e p o i n t where t h e s e r o u t e s
j o i n t h e Wimer Road..
I n addition, t h e jeep road leading t o
t h e Hole- in- the- Ground Mine, which forms t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n
boundary of t h e a r e a s h o u l d be g a t e d a t t h e j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e
Wimer Road.
If a t a l l p o s s i b l e v e h i c u l a r t r a v e l o n t h i s r o a d
s h o u l d b e l i m i t e d t o t h e d r y p a r t o f t h e y e a r , when t h e
t h r e a t o f s p r e a d o f r o o t r o t f u n g u s i s minimal,
B e c a u s e t h e Wimer R o a d f o l l o w s t h e r i d g e l i n e a l o n g m o s t
of t h e w e s t e r n boundary o f t h e s t u d y a r e a c a r f u l l s t e p s
should a l s o be taken t o prevent t h e spread of r o o t r o t v i a
d r a i n a g e c u l v e r t s a n d c h a n n e l s i n t o t h e RNA.
Wherever
p o s s i b l e t h e r o a d s h o u l d b e b a n k e d t o d r a i n t o t h e west i n t o
t h e Copper Creek d r a i n a g e .
L I T E R A T U R E CITED
Albers, J.P.
1966.
Mountains.
E c o n o m i c deposits of the Klamath
pp.
-
5 1 - 6 1 IN E . H .
Bailey (ed.)
Geology a f
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol.
Northern California.
Bull,
190.
Atzet, and Wheeler.
1984,
Preliminary Plant associations o f
the Siskiyou M o u n t a i n s Province.
Unpublished r e p o r t o n
file at PNW, P o r t l a n d , Oregon.
B e c k i n g , R.W. 1986.
( s e e i n s e r t at end o f l i t e r a t u r e cited).
Griffin, J. and W. Critchfield, T h e distribution of forest
trees in California.
USDA Forest Service Research P a p e r
PSW-82/1972.
Irwin, W.P.
1966.
province.
G e o l o g y of the Klamath Mountains
-
p p , 1 7 - 3 8 I N E.H.
Northern California.
Bailey (ed.)
Geology of
Calif. Div, Mines and Geol.
Bull.
190.
Irwin, W.P.
1981.
Mountains.
T e c t o n i c accretion of t h e Klamath
-
pp. 29- 49 I N W.G.
Erast (ed.) T h e
Geotectonic D e v e l o p m e n t of California.
Prentice- Wall,
EngLewood Cliffs, N e w Jersey.
Kahrl, W.L. (ed.)
1979.
T h e California Water Atlas,
State
of California.
Keeler-Wolf, T.
1982.
An ecological survey
of the proposed
Cedar Basin R e s e a r c h Natural Area, Siskiyou County
California.
U n p u b l i s h e d report on file at PSW,
Berkeley.
Keeler-Wolf, T.
1983.
A n ecological survery of the F r e n z e l
Creek Research N a t u r a l Area, Mendocino National Forest.
Unpublished report o n file at PSW Berkeley.
Knight, W.,
I. Knight, and J . T .
Howell.
1970.
A vegetation
survey of the B u t t e r f l y Botanical Area, California.
Wassrnan Jour. Biol.
1984.
Kruckeberg, A.R,
28:l-246.
California Serpentines: Flora,
Vegetation, G e o l o g y , Soils, and Management Problems.
U.C.
Press, Berkeley.
Peattie, D.C.
1953.
A Natural History of Western Trees.
Bonanza, New Y o r k
Smith, J.P.
and R. York, 1984.
Inventory of Rare and
Endangered V a s c u l a r P l a n t s of California.
California
Native Plant S o c i e t y , Berkeley, California
and J. Major. 1965.
Stebbins, G,L,
in the Calffornia flora.
Waring, R.W.
Endemism and s p e c i a t i o n
Ecolog. Monogr. 35: 1-35.
F o r e s t Plants of t h e Eastern Siskiyous:
1969.
their environmental and vegetational distribution.
Northwest S c i e n c e 43:l-17.
White, C.D.
V e g e t a t i o n - s o i l chemistry correlations i n
1971,
serpentine ecosystems.
Ph.D.
dissertation University o f
Oregon, Eugene.
Whipple, J.J.
and E. Cope.
t h e proposed Mt.
1979
Eddy Research Natural Area.
Unpublished report o n file at PSW, Berkeley.
Whittaker, R . H .
1954,
Introduction.
Whittaker, R.H.
T h e ecology of serpentine soils. I.
E c o l o g y 35:258-288.
1960.
Vegetation of t h e Siskiyou
Mountains, Oregon and California.
Ecolog. Monogr,
30:279-338.
Whittaker, R.H.
1961.
Vegetation history of the P a c i f i c
Coast States and t h e *'centralt' significance of t h e
Klamath Region.
Zobel, D.B.
1986.
Cedar.
Madrono 16~5-23.
A land-allocation program for Port Orford
Unpublished report on f i l e at Western N a t u r a l
Resources Law Clinic, University o f Oregon, Eugene.
Beckfng ,Ill,
W.
1986.
Ha.stl.n.gsia p u r p u r e a (Li1iacea.e : A s p h o d e l e a e ) ,
a new species from s o u t h w e s t e r n Oregon.
Madron.0 3 3 ~ 1 7 5 - 1 8 1 .
A P P E N D I X I:
L i s t of Vascular P l a n t s
This list o f ca. 1 6 2 e n t i t i e s includes only t h o s e
taxa I identified from t h e area between August 11 and 13,
T h e t a x o n o m y f o l l o w s Munz (A
1985.
Supplement, 1968 U . C .
C a l i f o r n i a Flora and
P r e s s ) unless o t h e r w i s e noted.
The
parentheticaL "in A b r a m s " r e f e r s to t h e taxonomy a c c o r d i n g t o
Abrams'
An I l l u s t r a t e d F l o r a of the P a c i f i c S t a t e s (in
voLume8) Stanford Press.
four
T h o s e s p e c i e s followed by a n
asterisk are endemic t o t h e K l a m a t h area.
S y m b o l s f o l l o w f n g t h e n a m e of t h e t a x a d e n o t e t h e
folLowing habitat types:
df...................,.dwarf
lower df......,........low
dff..............,..,..douglas-fir
jp......................Jeffrey
b......................bog
bf.....................bog
r......................riparian
cf.....................canyon
forest
e l e v a t i o n ( < 1100 ft.)
forest
pfne woodland
d w a r f for.
forest
forest
Achillea m i l l e f o l i u m ; df
Adiantum pedatum var. s l e u t i c u m ; r
Agrostis h a l l i i var, p r i n g l e i ; df
ALnus oregana; r
Allium campanulaturn 1 ; df
Amelanchier florida; d f
Angelica a r g u t a ; r
Antennaria s u f f r u c t e s c e a s ; * df
Arabis a c u l e o l a t a G r e e n e ( i n Abrams);* df
Arbutus menelesii; dff, l o w e r df, cf
Arctostaphylos cinerea;* df, jp, lower df
Arctostaphylos g l a n d u l o s a ; df
Arctostaphylos i n t r i c a t a ; * df
Arctostaphylos n e v a d e n s i s ; df
Arctostaphylos parviflora;* d f
Arenaria n u t t a l l i i subsp. g r e g a r i a ? (or A, rosei*); l o w e r d f
Arnica spathulata;* d f
Aster a l p i g e n u s subsp. a n d e r s o n i i ; b, not list < 4000ft.
Aster brickellioides;* df
Aster - paladicola;* ( i n A b r a m s ) b
Berberis pumila; df
Berberis piperiana; c f
BrickeUia g r e e n e i ; r ( b o u l d e r s a b o v e river)
Bromus m a r g i n a t u s ( p o s s i b l y brevirostris) jp, dff
Calamagrostis c r a s s i g l u m i s dff- jp border
Calamagrostis n u t k a e n s i s ; b
Calocedrus decurrens; d f
Calystegia o c c i d e n t a l i s ; df, j p
Carex s p . b
Carex s p . ; d f
Carex angustior? b
Carex serratodens; b
Caatilleja elata;* b
Castilleja pruinosa; df
Ceanothus pumiLus;* jp, df
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana;* bf, df
Chimaphila menzfesii; d f f
Chrysopsis o r e g a n a ; r b o u l d e r s a b o v e Scott River.
Cordylanthus viscidus;* d f
Danthonia c a l i f o r n i c a ; b
Darlfngtonia c a l i f o r n f c a ; b
Delphinium n u d f c a u l e ; df
Deschampsia ca$epitosa; b
Descharnpsia c a e s p i t o s a subsp. beringenais; b
Disporum hookeri; d f f , c f
Elymus glaucus subsp. j e p s o n i i j p
Epilobium rigidurn;* r, d f
Epipactis g i g a n t e a ; r , b
Eriodictyon californicurn; l o w e r df
Erigeron sp.; r
Erigeron f o l i o s u s var. confinis;* df, j p
Erfogonum n u d u m ; d f
Eriogonum pendulum;* l o w e r d f
Eriogonum ternaturn;* j p
Festuca c a l i f o r n i c a ; j p , df
Festuca i d a h o e n s i s ; j p
Festuca subulata; m o i s t c a n y o n
Fritillarfa glauca; j p , d f
Galium ambiguum var. sfskiyouensis;* df
Garrya buxifolia;* d f
Gaultheria shallon; d f f , bf,
Oayophytum r a m o s i s s i m u m ; j p
Gentiana affinis; df, j p
Gentiana setigera;* b
Goodyera o b l o n g i f o l i a ; d f f
Graninae; Melica?, B r o m u s ? broad glumes and florets, l e m m a s
c i l i a t e o n m a r g i n s and s c a b d o u s o n t o p s with s h o r t awned e m a r g i n a t e t i p s , df
Habenaria s p a r s i f l o r a ; b
Haplopappus r a c e n o s u s subsp. congestus;* df, j p , b f
Helenium bigelovii; b
Hierachloe o c c i d e n t a l i s ; c f
Hferacium bolanderii* df
Holodiscus d i s c o l o r var. delnortensis;* df, bf
Horkelia sericata;* df, jp, bf
Iris innorninata;* df, jp
Iris chrysophylla;* df
Juncus confusus jp
Juncus orthophyllus; b, heads 2-4 flowered, below elev, range
Juncua phaeocephalus; b, r
Juniperus communis var. jackii;* df, jp
Lathyrus delnorticus;* df
Ledum glanduloaum subsp. columbianum; b
Lilium bolanderi;* df
Lflium vollvmeri;* r
Lithocarpus densiflora; dff, cf
Lithocarpus densiflora var. echinoides;* df, bf, jp
Lolium perenne; along road
Lomatium californicum; df, bf
Lomatiurn howeLlii;* df
Lomatium tracyi;* lower df
Lotus oblongifolius; r
Lupinus latifolius subsp. viridifolius;* df
Monardella purpurea;* df
Myrica californica; b
Narthecium californicum; b
Onychium densum; jp, df
Oryzopsis? sp.; Stipa-like but deciduous awn, df
Pernassia palustris; b
Penstemon azureus; df
Perideridia oregana;* df
Phacelia neaoralis or corymbosa; df, lower df
Phlox diffusa; df
Phlox speciosa subsp. occidentalis; d f
Physocarpus capitata; r
Pinguicula macroceras b
Pinus attenuata; df,
Pinus contorta subsp, nov.;* df, bf
Pinus jeffreyi; jp, df
Pinus rnonticols df, bf
Poa piperi;* df, jp
Polystichurn muniturn; dff, cf
Polygonurn spergulariforrne;* jp
Pseudotsuga menzieaii; df, tiff, cf
Pterfdium aqualinum; df
Pyrola picta subsp. dentata; d f
Quexcus chrysolepis; dff, canyon forest
Quercus vaccinifolia; d f , b
Rhamnus californica subsp, occidentalis;* df, bf, j p
Rhododendron occidentale; bf, r
Rhododendron macrophyllum; df
Rosa gymnocarpa; df
Rudbeckia californica var. glauca;* b
Rubus ursinus; dff
Salix delnortensis;* r
Salix sp.; leaves entire and narrow (cf. hfndsiana, breweri)
but not pubescent
Salix tracyi;* r at 6-700 ft., not listed above 500 ft.
Figure 1: Typical d e n s e aggregation of Darlingtonia
californtca backed b y bog f o r e s t dominated by
~ h a m a e c y p a r i s l a w s o n i a n a in central portion of S e c t i o n
24.
.
Figure 2 : The silvery- eilky b a e a l l e a v e s o f the r a r e Horlcelia
sericata in u n d e r s t o r y of Jeffrey Pine w o o d l a n d at S t o n e
Corral.
Figure 3 1 The rare G e a t i a n a affinis in understory of d w a r f
forest.
F i g u r e 4: The i n s e c t i v o r o u s basal leaves of t h e rare
Pfnguicula m a c r o c e i a s i n a mucky section of bog forest.
Figure 5: The rare G e n t i a n a s e t i f f e r a
w e t portion of bog f o r e s t .
se en do ciao
s en ti an) l a
F i g u r e 6: The rare H a p l o p a p p u s racernosus subsp. congestus in
understory o f J e f f r e y pine woodland at S t o n e C o r r a l .
The r a r e E p i l o b i u m r i g i d u m festooning b o u l d e r s
above the banks of t h e North Fork o f t h e Smith River.
F i g u r e 7:
Figure 8: Detail of a c l o n a l stand of Chamaecyparis
lawsoniana i n bog f o r e s t showing two stems connected by
a common large s u r f a c e root. Another root, w h i c h
connects t o t w o m o r e stems continues off to the Left
rear o f the p h o t o .
F i g u r e 9 : T y p i c a l m o s a i c o f herb- dominated and t r e e - d o m i n a t e d
s e g m e n t s of b o g forest.
F i g u r e 1 0 : Detail o f herb-dominated portion of bog f o r e s t
surrounding a s m a l l rivulet.
View looking northeast a l o n g the North Fork o f
t h e Smith R i v e r .
T h e boundary of the proposed R N A is o n
left bank. Note s p a r s e riparian vegetation.
F i g u r e lit
Figure 1 2 : Typfcal m o n t a n e specie6 such as Juaiperur
c o m m u n i a and A r c t o s t a p h y l o s nevadtnsts a t 1500 ft.
elevation among p e r i d o t i t e boulderr.
Note small
Figure 1 3 : V i e w n o r t h e a s t a c r o s s dwarf f o r e s t .
T a l l e r trees are
herb- dominated o p e n i n g i n foreground.
Pinus m o n t i c o l a o v e r s h o r t e r , more uniform P . c o n t o r t a
and P .
att.enuata.
-
-
Figure 14: A section o f d w a r f f o r e s t w i t h dense u n d e r s t o r y o f
shrubs.
Figure 15: A v i e w of t h e dwarf forest burned in August 1981.
Note vigorous r e s p r o u t i n g of L i t h o c a r p u s and other
shrubs and c o m p l e t e l y killed canopy of Pinus m a n t i c o l a
and P.
contorts.
-
Figure 1 6 : Typical h e r b a c o u r opening in dwarf forest
dominated by g r a s s e s s u c h a s Festuca californica, Pea
piperi, and S t i p a lemmonif. The low shrubs in the
opening a r e A r c t o s t a p h y l o s nevadensis.
F f g u r e 1 7 t Low e l e v a t i o n dwarf f o r e s t - w o o d l a n d about 2 0 0
v e r t i c a l feet a b o v e Smith R i v e r ,
Trees i n foreground
are P i n
-
a r e mas
F i g u r e 18r J e f f r e y p i n e woodland l o o k i n g southeast a t S t o n e
Corral.
Mote t h i c k c a r p e t of grass ( m o s t l y F e e t u c a
californica) i n understory.
Figure 198 Dense, lush u n d e r s t o r y of Gaultheria s h a l l o n and
masses at t h e b a s e o f Peeudotsuga trunks in D o u g l a s - f i r
forest on grbbro.
-
F i g u t e 20s Tall s p e c i m e n s of P f n u s monticola and Arbutus
meacfesii in canyon forest.