The 415 ha Wet Weather Creek RNA, located in the eastern portion of the Olympic Peninsula in Jefferson County, Washington, encompasses the entire Wet Weather Creek drainage. Slopes are moderate to very steep and elevations range from 854 to 1863 m. Vegetation in the natural area is typical of the northeastern Olympics. Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)/rhododendron - salal (Gaultheria shallon) plant communities, with doghair stands and rocky balds, are found in lower Wet Weather Creek. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and fire scars on trees show evidence of an extensive fire history in this area. Old-growth forests occur in the valley bottom. Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)/common juniper and subalpine fir/rhododendron communities are located at higher elevations. Subalpine fir krummholz and subalpine cushion plant communities exist on ridge tops. The krummholz communities are areas of shrublike trees where wind and snow have resulted in dense areas of low growth trees. 135-year-old lodgepole pine and subalpine fir trees in these areas are only 8 to 10 feet high. A narrow endemic plant, Viola flettii, has been documented in the area, and blunt sedge, a sensitive species, is also present. Two Federally threatened species, the marbled murrelet and the northern spotted owl, inhabit the area.

Township/Range/Section:

Parts of secs 9, 10, 11, 15 and 16, T27N, R3W.

Latitude:

47,50N

Longitude:

123,02W

Quad Map:

Threatened or Endangered Species:

One documented population of the sensitive plant "Carex obtusata" (blunt sedge) occurs in the RNA. The narrow endemic plant, "Viola flettii" (Flett's violet) also has been documented in the RNA (found only in the Olympic mountains).

Exotic Species Present:

Plant Communities:

Includes a variety of western hemlock and Pacific silver fir plant communities. Tsuga heterophylla/Rhododendron macrophyllum-Gaultheria shallon, Abies lasiocarpa/Rhododendron albiflorum, alpine dwarf shrub community dominated by Salix reticula, Tsuga heterophylla/Rhododendron macrophylla, Abies lasiocarpa/Juniperus communis, Tsuga heterophylla/Gaultheria shallon, Abies amabilis/Rhododendron macrophyllum, rocky bald dominated by Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Abies lasiocarpa krummholz.

Aquatic Features Present:

Includes a perennial stream - Wet Weather Creek. The complete stream drainage is within the area. Wet Weather Creek is a headwater tributary to the Big Quilcene River, a domestic water supply for the City of Port Townsend.

Soils:

Soil information on the area is available from the Olympic National Forest Soil Resource Inventory. Some descriptions include: Bedrock outcrops, craggy peaks, shallow colluvial soils; inclusions of small lakes and wetlands. Very steep slopes; shallow to moderately deep colluvial soils; well drained. Deep colluvial soils on mountain toe slopes; compact glacial tills with cement layer at approx. 24" that produces springs and seasonal water tables.

Other Physical Features:

Past Disturbance History:

Other Comments: