Mohawk RNA

Mohawk Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent an old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) forest in the Willamette Valley foothills. The RNA has a north to northeast exposure with a slump bench, a steep slope-scarp face, and a relatively broad ridge top. There are several small marshy areas with permanent standing water. The RNA is drained by a number of intermittent streams which feed into the McGowan Creek drainage. Forests are dominated by Douglas fir, although western hemlock and western redcedar (Thuja plicata) are also abundant. There are occasional stands of Grand fir (Abies grandis), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), red alder (Alnus rubra) and black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) as well. Dwarf Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa) and salal (Gaultheria shallon) are common understory.