Black Creek Wilderness is a 5,052-acre (20 km2) wilderness area in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Located within the De Soto National Forest, Mississippi's largest wilderness lies in the broad valley of Black Creek, stained a deep caramel color by the tannic acid of decaying vegetation.[1] The upland areas protect significant areas of longleaf pine forest, while the river creates bottomland hardwoods and shorelines with sand bars. It is therefore an important representation of typical coastal plain ecosystems that existed before forests were cleared[2] and the rivers dammed. The Pascagoula River is nationally significant as one of the largest unimpeded rivers remaining in the lower 48 states.[3] Rare species include the Pearl darter and the Yellow-blotched map turtle, both found only in this river and its tributaries. This wilderness area is surrounded by De Soto National Forest, which is also one of the nation's most important areas of coastal plain ecosystems.[4]
Black Creek bisects Black Creek Wilderness, creating a hardwood floodplain of oxbow lakes and thick stands of sweet gum, sweet bay, red maple, oak, pine, and bald cypress.[1] These represent the sort of forests that form when natural levels of water, including spring flooding and summer drought, control the distribution of species.
^Williams, M. 1989. The lumberman’s assault on the southern forest, 1880–1920. pp. 238–288. In M. Williams. Americans and Their Forests: A Historical Geography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^The Nature Conservancy. "Pascagoula River Watershed Conservation Profile". Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^Keddy, P.A. 2009. Thinking big: a conservation vision for the southeastern coastal plain of North America. Southeastern Naturalist 8: 213-226.
^Black Creek Wild and Scenic River, Mississippi 2010-06-10 at the Wayback Machine - National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
External links
Black Creek Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- GORP
- Backpacker.com
January 18, 2023
black, creek, wilderness, acre, wilderness, area, state, mississippi, located, within, soto, national, forest, mississippi, largest, wilderness, lies, broad, valley, black, creek, stained, deep, caramel, color, tannic, acid, decaying, vegetation, upland, areas. Black Creek Wilderness is a 5 052 acre 20 km2 wilderness area in the U S state of Mississippi Located within the De Soto National Forest Mississippi s largest wilderness lies in the broad valley of Black Creek stained a deep caramel color by the tannic acid of decaying vegetation 1 The upland areas protect significant areas of longleaf pine forest while the river creates bottomland hardwoods and shorelines with sand bars It is therefore an important representation of typical coastal plain ecosystems that existed before forests were cleared 2 and the rivers dammed The Pascagoula River is nationally significant as one of the largest unimpeded rivers remaining in the lower 48 states 3 Rare species include the Pearl darter and the Yellow blotched map turtle both found only in this river and its tributaries This wilderness area is surrounded by De Soto National Forest which is also one of the nation s most important areas of coastal plain ecosystems 4 Black Creek WildernessIUCN category Ib wilderness area Wild and Scenic Black CreekLocationPerry County Mississippi USANearest cityWiggins MississippiCoordinates30 58 47 N 089 01 41 W 30 97972 N 89 02806 W 30 97972 89 02806 Coordinates 30 58 47 N 089 01 41 W 30 97972 N 89 02806 W 30 97972 89 02806Area5 052 acres 20 km2 Established1984Governing bodyU S Forest Service Contents 1 Wild and Scenic River 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksWild and Scenic River EditBlack Creek a tributary of the Pascagoula River is Mississippi s only designated National Wild and Scenic River Designated in 1986 21 miles 34 km of the creek are classified as scenic 5 Black Creek bisects Black Creek Wilderness creating a hardwood floodplain of oxbow lakes and thick stands of sweet gum sweet bay red maple oak pine and bald cypress 1 These represent the sort of forests that form when natural levels of water including spring flooding and summer drought control the distribution of species See also EditList of U S Wilderness Areas Wilderness ActReferences Edit a b Black Creek Wilderness Wilderness net Williams M 1989 The lumberman s assault on the southern forest 1880 1920 pp 238 288 In M Williams Americans and Their Forests A Historical Geography Cambridge Cambridge University Press The Nature Conservancy Pascagoula River Watershed Conservation Profile Retrieved 29 May 2012 Keddy P A 2009 Thinking big a conservation vision for the southeastern coastal plain of North America Southeastern Naturalist 8 213 226 Black Creek Wild and Scenic River Mississippi Archived 2010 06 10 at the Wayback Machine National Wild and Scenic Rivers SystemExternal links EditBlack Creek Wilderness Wilderness net Black Creek Wilderness Mississippi GORP Black Creek Wilderness Backpacker com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Black Creek Wilderness amp oldid 1052944087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
