Vegetative History of Cinnabar Park in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming
1975
Miles, S. R. | Singleton, P. C.
A study was initiated to determine the vegetative history and boundary stability of Cinnabar Park, a small park located in Medicine Bow National Forest, Albany County, Wyoming, typical of many high altitude parks scattered throughout our National Forest Lands. The park and the forest immediately surrounding the park occur on an erosional remnant of uplifted Tertiary aged sediments at an elevation of 2,758 m. The soils of the park are classified as Cryoborolls, and those of the forest surrounding the park are Cryochrepts. Vegetation in the park consists of a variety of forbs, shrubs, and grasses, while that of the surrounding forest is mainly lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.), with some Engelmann's spruce (Picea engelmanni (Parry) Engelm.) intermixed. Various soil characteristics of the park were compared with those of the surrounding forest in an effort to obtain clues which might point to the vegetative history of this area. The content of plant opal and the pH of the soils, together with field observations, led to the conclusion that the park boundaries are slowly shifting in an eastward direction. Strong prevailing westerly winds and drifting snow appear to be the forces responsible for the boundary movement.
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