CFC Forests

Forest Description

The Cloquet Forestry Center is located at a latitude 46 31' N and longitude 92 30' W and at a elevation of 1265 feet above sea level.

The forests are associated with the boreal forest biome. Upland forest cover types occupy about two-thirds of the Center with lowland cover types occupying the remaining one-third.

Upland Forest Cover Types Lowland Forest Cover Types

Red (Norway) Pine

21%

Black Spruce

7%

Aspen

19%

Northern White Cedar

1%

Jack Pine

12%

Tamarack

4 %

White Spruce/Balsam Fir

8%

Mixed Swamp Conifers

7 %

Paper Birch

6%

Black Ash

1 %

Upland Brush

1%

Non-productive Lowland

13%

Predominate soils associated with the upland forest cover types are classified as the Omega-Cloquet-Cromwell association. These soils are nearly level to steep, somewhat excessively drained, having sand and gravelly sand underlying material. This association consists of nearly level glacial outwash plains, eskers, kames, and kettles. Local relief ranges from about 5 feet in areas of gently sloping soils to 150 feet in areas that have eskers and kettles. The Center has one major esker near the center of the forest upon which a fire tower was erected in the 1930's.

Lowland forest cover type soils are primarily typified by mucks and peats. Mucks and peats are poorly drained highly acidic soils formed in organic materials, forming small to large bogs in depressions of outwash plains and moraines. The Mooselake, Greenwood, Dawson and Newson series's dominate the Center's lowland soil types.

Otter creek and Little Otter creek are the two significant stream corridors within the Center's ownership. Otter creek stretches along and through the Center's northern and eastern ownership. Otter creek is a designated trout stream by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, requiring special protection considerations. Little Otter creek originates in and exits in the Center's southeastern corner. Little Otter creek is not a designated trout stream.

Topography, soils, and underlying material in the Cloquet, Cromwell, Omega Association

The Center's large contiguous land base provides a variety of habitats for wildlife associated with the boreal forest. The center is home to resident or transient populations of moose, grey wolf, bobcat, lynx, black bear, porcupine, fisher, pine martin, snowshoe hare, goshawk, ruffed grouse, and many other species that can be found inhabiting the boreal forest.