Long Creek Research Natural Area

Mount Baker National Forest , USFS

North Cascades Ecoregion

Cell(s):

• Western hemlock/Oregon grape
• Western hemlock/salal
• Pacific silver fir/Alaska huckleberry
• Wester red cedar-western hemlock/devilsclub/ladyfern
• Red alder forest
• Low elevation stream and riparian system

Access by road

Long Creek RNA, which occupies the south slope of Wiley Ridge, is located in Snohomish County, Washington. Elevations in the 259 ha tract range from 1,100 m near the top of the ridge to about 380 m at the foot of the ridge near the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River. Topography is steep to very steep and broken on the slopes, to gentle and rolling in the area where the ridge merges with the river terrace. A permanent stream, as well as about two-thirds of the Long Creek drainage, lies within the natural area. Stands dominated by western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) cover most of the tract; however, associated species vary among communities. Stands of western hemlock mixed with varying proportions of western red cedar (Thuja plicata), and scattered Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) occupy the slopes, while mixed stands of Pacific silver fir and western hemlock are found on some benches and on the upper slopes of the RNA. A concentration of large old growth Douglas fir can be found in the northeast corner of the tract, although western hemlock is the climax species. A community of large western red cedar occurs around streams, seeps, and other moist habitats. Red alder (Alnus rubra) dominated communities are found on the unstable glacial deposits in the southern half of the tract. Black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) are associated with the alder. Human disturbance has been minimal.