Wassataquoik Stream
T3 R7 WELS
Vital Statistics:
- Size: 775 acres
- Regulated: 164 acres
- Non-Regulated: 611 acres
- Upland: 326 acres
- Forested Wetland (NWI): 380 acres
- Non-Forested Wetland: 11 acres
- Open Water: 60 acres
- Roads: unimproved-1 mile
- Biophysical Region: Central Mountains/Aroostook Highlands
- BPL Region: North
Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Community Table for Wassataquoik Stream
| Type | Common Name | Latin Name | S-RANK | G-RANK | State Status | EO-RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exemplary Natural Communities | Beech - birch - maple forest | S5 | N/A | N/A | B | |
| Hardwood floodplain forest | S3 | N/A | N/A | A | ||
| Mixed hardwood - conifer forest | S5 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Pine - hemlock/spruce forest | S4 | N/A | N/A | B | ||
| Rare Plants | None found | |||||
| Rare Animals | None found |
Description
The Wassataquoik Stream ecological reserve lies at the confluence of Wassataquoik Stream and the East Branch of the Penobscot River. The central features are stream bank and river floodplain forests. The steep wooded slopes of Wassataquoik Stream give way it its mouth to a broad floodplain, and the vegetational gradients reflect the effects of topography, hydrology and soils.
The mixed forests along Wassataquoik Stream rise 15 – 35 meters above the streambed. Both sides of the stream contain scattered older trees, mostly white pine, among a multi-aged mix of hardwood and softwood. On the north bank, large superstory white pine (over 19 m tall and over 90 cm dbh) emerge over the canopy of hemlock, spruce, pine, and poplar. The south bank lacks these superstory pines, but have some large hemlock, sugar maple, popular and spruce, with some trees over 100 years old. The stumps and traces of logging roads throughout this area are evidence of its past logging history.
The floodplain of the East Brach, on either side of the Wassataquoik’s mouth, is a fine example of a relatively undisturbed hardwood floodplain forest. It is large, over a mile in length, and displays excellent gradations from the river’s edge to the uplands back up towards Hunt Mountain. At the lower elevations near the stream, impressive silver maple (some over 120 cm dbh) form an arching canopy over a carpet of tall ferns and other herbs. Large fallen trees have left canopy gaps, with green ash, young silver maple, and elm regenerating. As one moves away from the river, the gradual change in elevation leads to replacement of the silver maple by sugar maple, and a change in the herb flora composition as well. It is unusual to find terrace floodplain forests like this as intact as seen here.