Shelly Creek

This area, which includes the headwaters of Shelly Creek and portions of the Diamond Creek watershed, supports a typical north coast mixed-evergreen forest interwoven with serpentine vegetation. In the mixed-evergreen forest are Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, tan-oak, Lithocarpus densiflora, big-leaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, mountain dogwood, Cornus nuttallii, Rhododendron macrophyllum, and huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum. Douglas fir occurs as the dominant in portions of the area.

In the serpentine areas there is a ponderosa pine forest, with Pinus ponderosa. There are also some bogs and seeps, with Darlingtonia californica. Seven rare plants occur here, Antennaria suffrutescens, Minuartia howellii, Castilleja hispida ssp. brevilobata, Epilobium rigidum, Lomatium howellii, Monardella purpurea, and Tauschia glauca. Other plants of note here include Arnica spathulata, Arnica cernua, Lilium bolanderi, Poa piperi, Poa rhizomata, and Veratrum insolitum.

Animal life is abundant and includes black bear, Ursus americanus, and golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, among numerous other species.

Mesozoic ultrabasic and metavolcanic rocks have created a mosaic of soils.

Integrity: Various trails and roads are located within the area, including remnants of the 1860 toll road, as well as several cabins along the creek. There has been mining in the area and some logging.

Use: Research, educational, observational.

January 1978