Burke Museum Home
TrilobitesTlingit chief's pipeOcean spray, Holodiscus discolorWater lizard fossilpink fairiesHolding a specimen at Bug BlastIvory seal carvingPorcupine, Erethizon dorsatumHalibut fish hookBlue-eyed Mary, Collinsia parvifloraanglerfishStriped whipsnake, Masticophis taeniatusEskimo dollGinkgo leaf fossilMaori flax basketSwainson's thrush eggsColumbia River petroglyphGateway, MaoriCedar-root basketSauropod egg nestHaida bird maskPelt lichen, Peltigera sp.Photo by Gregory C. JensenPeruvian textileKorean alphabetFilipino skirtNorthwest Coast drumSkull of Probactrosaurus gobiensisAustralian jumping spider
Herbarium

Herbarium Research



» Research
2010 Foray participants (l to r): Russ Holmes, David Giblin, Ben Legler, Jim Duemmel, Becky Peace, Mignonne Bivin
Photo: D. Giblin
2010: Grassy Balds on East Shore of Ross Lake

The destination of the 2010 North Cascades National Park Foray was the grassy balds found along the east shore of Ross Lake near the outlet of Lightning Creek. The southwestern exposure and thin soils of this area provide a more arid microhabitat that supports vegetation more typically found in the forests of the East Cascades. Because of these dry conditions we had to schedule our trip in mid-May (11th-13th) in order to species while still in flower before drying up and going dormant during the summer's heat and drought.

Our base of operations was the Lightning Creek Campground, which we accessed by boat from a launch just above the Ross Lake Dam. The 800-foot drop in elevation from the parking area to the boat launch made carrying the presses to the boat a test of hand strength. We were treated to excellent weather and spectacular views of the snow-laden peaks that surround the lake. Our work required off-trail maneuvering among the ledges and outcroppings. Dominant forest trees included Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine), Pinus contorta var. latifolia (lodgepole pine), and Juniperus scopulorum, and in the understory we found Balsamorhiza sagittata (arrowleaf balsamroot), Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass), Delphinium nuttallianum (upland larkspur), and Lomatium ambiguum (streambank desert-parsley). All of these are considered classic "East side" species.

The support for the trip was outstanding. Mignonne Bivin and Becky Peace represented the National Park Service, and WTU Collections Manager David Giblin was joined by Jim Duemmel, Russ Holmes, and Ben Legler. Together we made 128 collections, 10 of which represented new additions to the North Cascades National Park Herbarium. Many of the species that we collected represented first-ever West Cascades records.



# Collections: 128
# Specimens: 241
# Taxa: 113
# New Taxa: 10

  
Trip Map

Yellow dots represent collection sites. Click on a site to view a list of collections.

15 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area; east of trail; approximately 1.0 kilometer northeast of Lodgepole Campground. 6 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Area between Ponderosa and Lightning Creek campgrounds. 2 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area; approximately 2.0 kilometers south of Lightning Creek, east of trail near upper reaches of bald. 8 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area. South of Lightning Creek at top of first large bald. 29 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Lightning Creek trailhead along trail to Desolation Peak; east side of Ross Lake. 35 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Lightning Creek north along along trail to Desolation Peak, approximately 2 kilometers from campground. 17 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area. South of Lightning Creek above Ross Lake, just beyond bridge. 16 collections: Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Random walk from Lightning Creek Campground to Cat Island along east shore of lake.
Map created with TOPO!. © 2006 National Geographic.
Trip Results
 # Collections  128  »View Collection List
Download as Text
 # Specimens  241  
 # Taxa  113  »View Taxa List
 # New Taxa   10   

New Park Records:
The following taxa were not previously documented from within the NOCA park complex with a voucher specimen at the NOCA Herbarium:

Athysanus pusillus
Cardamine hirsuta
Cardamine pensylvanica
Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa
Eriophyllum lanatum var. lanatum
Montia linearis
Ranunculus glaberrimus var. ellipticus
Sanicula bipinnatifida
Taraxacum erythrospermum
Veronica peregrina var. xalapensis


Photos

Click on any photo to enlarge.