Many Lakes RNA

Many Lakes Research Natural Area (RNA) was chosen to represent a montane lake, subalpine pond, and associated fens and shrubs. Many Lakes is located on glaciated uplands of the  Western Cascades. The area is characterized by kame and kettle topography which has resulted in a mosaic of irregularly shaped hills, depressions, lakes and small ponds.  Rock outcrops and escarpments are scattered throughout the area.  The RNA slopes generally to the east and there are a few shallow drainages that flow toward Little Cultus Lake. The lodgepole pine-long rhizome sedge (Carex inops ssp. inops)-silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) plant association is present on Mount Mazama airfall ash/pumice and pumice alluvium/lava colluvium. The Lodgepole pine/grouse huckleberry (Vaccinium scoparium) plant association grows on cold, well-drained sites. The Lodgepole pine/pinemat manzanita (Arctostaphylos nevadensis) is common on soils with deep Mount Mazama ash and pumice deposits. The engelmann spruce - fir (Abies sp.) bottoms plant association is scattered throughout much of the RNA. The mixed conifer/snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus)/long-rhizome sedge plant association is common in the northwestern portion and along the northeastern boundary. The Mountain hemlock/grouse huckleberry plant association grows on cold, well-drained sites. The bog blueberry/few-flowered spikerush (Eleocharis quinqueflora) and wet meadow plant associations form on air-laid pumice and peat in basins, drainages and on flats.