Tunk Lake Focus Area Description, December 2003 1 
Tunk Lake Area 
Franklin, Sullivan, T9 SD, T10 SD, T16 MD 
Description: 
The mountains and lakes formed by the Tunk Mountain pluton (a broad intrusion of igneous 
rock) constitute one of the most distinctive landmarks of Maine’s Downeast Coast. This focus area 
includes the picturesque mid-elevation (~1,000 foot) summits of Schoodic Mountain, Tunk Mountain, 
Black Mountain, Caribou Mountain, and Catherine Mountain, as well as numerous undeveloped or 
sparsely developed lakes and ponds, including Tunk Lake, Spring River Lake, and Donnell Pond. 
The bedrock and surficial geology of the area create a variety of ecological zones that follow 
gradients of slope, aspect, and moisture and have been modified to varying extents by past land use 
and fire. 
From upper to lower elevations, these mountains include Heath-Krummholz summits and 
Low-Elevation Summit Balds, intact Spruce-Fir-Broom-moss Forests on steep slopes, drier Oak-Pine 
forests on south facing slopes, post-burn early successional hardwood forests, and forests regenerating 
from past harvest. In general, forests at mid and higher elevations show greater evidence of past fire, 
whereas lower elevation stands have a less apparent fire history but more obvious evidence of recent 
harvesting. The effects of fire varied with fire intensity – in most areas medium intensity fires 
appeared to limit shrub and sapling development but did not kill the forest canopy. Other areas, such 
as the southeastern side of Caribou Mountain, apparently burned at a higher intensity, resulting in an 
early successional stand dominated by paper birch (Betula papyrifera), grey birch (Betula populifolia), 
and red maple (Acer rubrum). 
The view from Black Mountain, looking south across Frenchman’s Bay

Tunk Lake Focus Area Description, December 2003 2 
Among the more noteworthy ecological features of this area is a small stand of old growth red 
spruce (Picea rubens) around Wizard Pond in a saddle near the summit of Black Mountain. This 
stand, which has been inaccessible because of surrounding steep terrain, has little to no evidence of 
human disturbance and numerous trees over 250 years old. 
Sizable Low Elevation Summit Balds occur on Schoodic Mountain, Round Mountain, and 
Black Mountain. The balds were likely created (or at least enhanced) by repeated fire, and they are 
recreational destinations because they offer stunning views. Two of these locations support the rare 
smooth sandwort, a plant restricted to acidic outcrops. 
The focus area also includes two large peatlands – the 400+ acre Downing Bog and the 135 
acre Schoodic Bog. Downing Bog is of sufficient size and diversity to qualify as an Unpatterned Fen 
Ecosystem of statewide significance. 
The focus area also includes undeveloped lands north of the state land in T10 SD and T16 MD 
and south of the West Branch of the Narraguagus River. Much of this area has been recently 
harvested, but a description of Tucker Branch Mountain in T10 SD from 1998 describes the general 
oak and pine-dominated forest types of this area. The lower slopes of this mountain support early to 
mid- successional oak-pine forest that extends to mid-slope. Red oak (Quercus rubra) and eastern 
white pine (Pinus strobus) are co-dominants in the tree canopy and red maple (Acer rubrum) is present 
in the sapling layer. The north side of the summit contains a small red pine (Pinus resinosa)/eastern 
white pine woodland with little soil development. Huckleberry (Gaylusscia baccata) and eastern 
white pine dominate the shrub layer. Notable herbaceous species include poverty oatgrass (Danthonia 
spicata), panic grass (Panicum sp) and the sedge Carex tonsa. Charred stumps indicated prior fire 
activity. 
The beaches of Donnell Pond offer are a popular recreational asset, and many of the ponds and 
lakes in the focus area support noteworthy fisheries of native species. 
Rare Species and Exemplary Natural Community Table for the Tunk Lake Area 
Common Name 
Latin Name 
S-RANK 
G-RANK 
State 
Status 
Exemplary Natural Communities 
Aspen-Birch Woodland/Forest Complex S5 N/A N/A 
Bluejoint Meadow S3 N/A N/A 
Heath-Krummholz Summit S4 N/A N/A 
Hemlock Forest S4 N/A N/A 
Level Bog Ecosystem S4 N/A N/A 
Low Elevation Summit Bald S3 N/A N/A 
Mixed Graminoid Shrub Marsh S5 N/A N/A 
Oak -Birch Talus Woodland S3S4 N/A N/A 
Oak-Pine Woodland S4 N/A N/A 
Red Pine Woodland S3 N/A N/A 
Spruce-Fir-Broom-Moss Forest S4 N/A N/A 
Rare Plants 
Wiegand Sedge Carex wiegandii S3 G3 SC 
Smooth sandwort Minuartia glabra S2 G4 SC 
Alga-like pondweed Potamogeton confervoides S3 G3G4 SC 

Tunk Lake Focus Area Description, December 2003 3 
Small purple bladderwort Utricularia resupinata S1 G4 E 
Other Habitats Mapped by MDIFW: 
Waterfowl / Wading Bird Habitat 
Conservation Considerations: 
• The southwest side of this area (south of Route 182) coincides with a large "roadless block" that is 
the second largest such block in the Eastern Coastal region. 
• Most of the areas of highest ecological significance are within public ownership. The Maine 
Bureau of Parks and Lands is currently (Decenmber 2003) updating its management plan of the 
area. The Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Frenchman’s Bay Conservancy have been working to 
protect additional key parcels. 
• Inappropriate use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) has led to the disturbance of some sensitive 
habitats, such as the summits of Schoodic Mountain and Round Mountain, as well as access to 
some of the remote ponds. The state’s management planning process is currently evaluating ways 
to direct appropriate ATV usage. 
• More research is needed to determine the natural fire frequency in the region. 
• Recent ill-advised introductions of non-native small-mouth bass into Donnell Pond, Long Pond, 
and Round Pond have led to the reduction or elimination of native fisheries, including landlocked 
salmon Pond and brook trout. 
Current Protection Status: 
Over 17,000 acres are permanently protected in the area. The Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) owns 
over 14,221 acres, and BPL holds a conservation easement on 349 acres. The Maine Department of 
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife holds a conservation easement on 972 acres at Tunk Lake, and MDIFW 
owns 1,587 acres along the Narraguagus River. In January 2001 two proximal ecological reserves 
were designated in this area: 1,940 acres east of Donnell Pond and 4,010 acres northeast of Spring 
River Lake. The Department of Conservation has established a long-term monitoring program for 
Ecological Reserves.