Southern
Research Station

RNA: Chuquatonchee Bluffs

State: Mississippi

County: Chickasaw Co.

Forest: Tombigbee National Forest

District: Tombigbee Ranger District

Established: 1991, Acres: 216

To view Establishment records for Chuquatonchee Bluffs RNA in PDF format, Click Here

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Ecological/Physical Description:

Physical and Climatic Conditions  

Nearest weather station, with distance and direction from RNA: Climatological data is from the weather station at Chickasaw Tower five miles southeast of the RNA.

Annual precipitation (type, seasonal distribution): The total annual precipitation is 64.7 inches (1643 mm). The area is susceptible to tornadoes especially in the spring. Hurricanes may pass through, especially in the summer and fall. Thunderstorms may occur throughout the year.

Maximum and minimum temperatures: The mean temperature from 1986-1990 was 50.4 in December, the coldest month, and 90.0 in July, the warmest month.

Elevation: 350-450 feet 106 7-137 2 meters

Geology and Soils: The bedrock of the area consists of mainly the Wilcox Group principally the Eocene Series consisting of the Ackerman Formation. The Ackerman Formation extends east into Oktibbeha County and southward into Winston County. The dominant soils are fine mixed thermic ultic hapludalfs. The soils are deep and have a fine sandy loam surface layer and a loamy or silty clay subsurface stratified with gray shale. Slopes are gently graded to steep and have well drained or moderately drained moisture regimes. Soils are composed of 27% Maben soils, 25% Smithdale soils, 18% Ora soils and 30% soils of minor extent.

Aquatic Features: No information is available

Biological Information

Plant Communities: Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) occurs in the coves and north facing slopes and several large yellow poplars and sweetgums (Liquidambar styraciflua) occur in the drain bottoms. Site qua1ity changes from the steep cove bottoms up the slope toward the ridge tops and as a result white oak Quercus alba, northern red oak (Q. rubra) black walnut (Juglans nigra) and other associated hardwoods increase in number.

SAF Cover Types:
76       shortleaf pine oak
82       loblolly pine hardwood
57       yellow poplar
46       eastern redcedar

At Risk Species: Several herbaceous species and one arborescent species considered sensitive by the Mississippi Natural Heritage Program occur on the steep north facing bluffs and adjacent areas located above Chuquatonchee Creek floodplain. Some of these are known only from a few sites in Mississippi. Butternut (Juglans cinerea) represented by several individuals that grow near the drains is probably near the southern 1imits of its range in the United States. Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reutans) and wi1d ginger (Asarum canadense) are rare in Mississippi and are at the southern 1imits of their range. Other rare species include enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana), 1iverleaf (Hepatica acutiloba), ginseng (Panax quinquefo1ium) and strawberry bush (Euonymus atropurpureus).

Common Shrub Species: Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), a small tree, and strawberry bush (Euonyrnus atropurpureus), a shrub, occur in the RNA.

Common Herbaceous Species:

Common Mammal Species: The following terrestrial vertebrates are among those most likely to be found on the RNA:

Common Bird Species:  No information is available

Related Reports and Publications:

Additional reports and publications can also be found by clicking on the “RNA Publications and Products” link in the site menu or by clicking here.

Last Modified: 1/11/2016 by Margaret Devall (mdevall@fs.fed.us)