Salmon Brook Lake
Perham
Vital Statistics:
- Size: 1,053 acres
- Regulated: 610 acres
- Non-Regulated: 443 acres
- Upland: 363 acres
- Forested Wetland (NWI): 370 acres
- Non-Forested Wetland: 253 acres
- Open Water: 69 acres
- Roads: trails-1 mile
- Biophysical Region: Aroostook Highlands/Aroostook Lowlands
- BPL Region: North
Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Community Table for Salmon Brook Lake
| Type | Common Name | Latin Name | S-RANK | G-RANK | State Status | EO-RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exemplary Natural Communities | Acidic fen | S4 | N/A | N/A | E | |
| Acidic fen | S4 | N/A | N/A | E | ||
| Circumneutral fen | S2 | G3 | N/A | B | ||
| Circumneutral fen | S2 | G3 | N/A | B | ||
| Forested bog | S4 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Forested bog | S4 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Northern white cedar swamp | S4 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Northern white cedar swamp | S4 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Unpatterned fen ecosystem | S4 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Rare Plants | Lapland buttercup | Ranunculus lapponicus | S2 | G5 | T | B |
| Lapland buttercup | Ranunculus lapponicus | S2 | G5 | T | E | |
| Marsh valerian | Valeriana uliginosa | S2 | G4Q | SC | B | |
| Pygmy water-lily | Nymphaea leibergii | S1 | G5 | T | C | |
| Showy lady’s slipper | Cypripedium reginae | S2S3 | G4 | T | E | |
| Small round-leaved orchis | Amerorchis rotundifolia | S1 | G5 | T | B | |
| Swamp fly-honeysuckle | Lonicera oblongifolia | S3 | G4 | SC | B | |
| Rare Animals | None found |
Description
Located in eastern Aroostook County, the Salmon Brook Lake reserve captures many ecological features characteristic of Maine’s northeastern limestone belt, including circumneutral fens, northern white cedar swamps, and numerous rare plants. While only 363 reserve acres are upland, 610 acres were classified as regulated, suggesting that much of the forested wetlands support merchantable timber. Saturated soils cause slow growing conditions, however, and a six inch tree was aged to be over 200 years old. There is little information on harvesting history within the reserve. Much of the industry lands surrounding the reserve have been heavily cut.
Resources
Rooney, S.C. and J.E. Weber. 1994. Final Report of a Landscape Analysis and Field Survey of the Salmon Brook Lake Bog Unit, Bureau of Public Lands, Augusta, Maine. 9 pp.