can elm, various oaks and hickories, red cedar, and 
Iowa crabapple. Some ofthe shrubs present are prickly 
ashand rough-leaved dogwood. 
Cole Creek hill prairie is presently in private 
ownership. 
10. ROCKY BRANCH 
Rocky Branch is the name applied to a small 
stream in northern Clark County. This small stream, 
not more than 1.5 miles in length, has its source in 
the east half of section 30, T. 12 N., R. 12 W.; it 
empties into the West Fork of Big Creek in section 29 
of the same township. The area of greatest interest 
to naturalists is more than 300 acres in extent. It 
centers on the small stream, on the surrounding forest, 
and on much of the forest on the south bank of Big 
Creek, including its tributary ravines. By road, the 
Rocky Branch natural area is 1.5 miles east and 1 
mile north of Dolson (known also as Clarksville). 
Rocky Branch has long been attractive to the 
lover of natural beauty (Stover 1930). The small stream 
has cut deeply into the sandstone to form a valley 
with steep walls and, in some places, perpendicular 
cliffs, fig. 17. Sizable undercuts in many of the cliff 
bases clearly show the eroding power of the stream 
when in flood. During flood stage the water in Rocky 
Branch may rise 8 feet above its gravel and sandstone 
bed, as evidenced by the debris left in trees and 
shrubs along the bank. Several small tributary ravines 
enter Rocky Branch from the south. Their streams 
have carved beautiful gorges in the sandstone. 
The vegetation of Rocky Branch is chiefly de- 
ciduous forest. In wide parts of the valley are small 
plots that were once cleared of trees, maintained for 
Fig. 17.-- Rocky Branch area, This view, which is from the bed of Rocky Branch, shows a cliff, the undercut formed 
by the stream, and the steep slope above the cliff. 
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