CO 



OKLAHOMA O 



General description: Oklahoma lies in the east-west transition between the east- ^ 



em deciduous forest and the grasslands. Flood-plain forests are best developed q 



along the rivers in the eastern part of the state. Here can be found, especially in 2 



the southeastern part of the state, a northward extension of the southern ^* 



cypress, swamps such as the Little River Flood Plain included in this study. 

 Hardwoods, including red gum, black gum, and river birch, are frequently as- 

 sociated with flood-plain forest in the eastern part of the state. In central 

 Oklahoma cottonwoods, elms, and ashes are more common, and in the drier 

 western section cottonwoods, box elder, and elm are among the distinctive spe- 

 cies (Bruner 1931). Boggy sites, such as Van Sickle Bog, are very localized. 

 Saline areas, such as Great Salt Plains, are also represented. 



Status of the wetlands: Data are meager on encroachments. From information 

 received, lumbering and public use are among the problems to be dealt with in 

 protecting the more significant wetlands in the state. 



Sources of data: Data were obtained from college and university biologists. 



Recommendations: Information on three major types of wetlands was received. 

 Eagle Lake and the Little River Flood Plain represent the swamp forest or 

 flood-plain type communities in which bald cypress occurs with other lowland 

 hardwoods. Some of the largest cypress in the state are found within the 640- 

 acre Eagle Lake area. Both areas demand consideration. Information regarding 

 the acreage of the Little River Flood Plain was not available. The Van Sickle 

 Bog is defined as a hillside bog with marsh vegetation. Although the acreage is 

 limited, including an upland buffer zone, such habitats are presumably rare in 

 Oklahoma and therefore merit consideration for landmark status. The only 

 saline area reported, the Great Salt Plains, is an outstanding federally owned 

 wetland and presumably protected as a National Wildlife Refuge. Further field 

 study should reveal additional flood-plain communities. 



Literature cited 



Bruner, W. E. 1931. The vegetation of Oklahoma. Ecol. Monogr. 1:99-188. 



